10 Mildly Infuriating Situations That Are Oh-So Relatable

Most people would likely agree that the feeling of great annoyance—often over relatively minor things—is quite universal; people don’t need to speak the same language or be from the same area to know just how aggravating a sock sliding halfway off in a shoe can be.

Similar annoying occurrences are often depicted on the ‘Mildly Infuriating’ subreddit, which currently boasts over 7.4 million members from all over the place. For many of them, the sub is a source of comfort that they’re not alone in being annoyed by the daily inconveniences in life, and if you’re curious to see what said inconveniences entail, scroll down to find some examples on the list below; but do it at your own risk, as they might leave you mildly infuriated, too.

Below you will also find Bored Panda’s interview with Emeritus Professor of Psychology Joseph Hellige, who was kind enough to answer a few of our questions about why we find certain things mildly infuriating.

10 PHOTOS

#1 When You Tear Exactly Where It Says To, But The Bag Remains Sealed

#2 The Aluminum Foil Is Stuck Like This

#3 That's Probably The Most Infuriating Thing About The Tape

Sometimes it doesn’t take much for us to become annoyed, or say, mildly infuriated; something as simple as uneven or unmatching items or gaps in places they shouldn’t be can make us noticeably irritated. The answer to why that happens seemingly lies in the way our brain is wired.

“In said examples, networks in the anterior cingulate cortex and connected regions activate when our expectations are violated when we see or experience something different from what we expect,” Emeritus Professor of Psychology Joseph Hellige explained. “As simple as a gap when we didn’t expect one and as complicated as an insult when we expected praise. Registering a deviation from expectation is largely automatic.”

#4 The Pocket Size In Female vs. Male Levi’s Jeans. I've Just Bought The "Male" Model Which Fits Me Perfectly. Why Do Jeans Manufacturers Think That Women Don’t Deserve Large Pockets?

#5 This Makes Me Unreasonably Mad Every Time I Walk By

Prof. Hellige continued to explain that whether we find certain things or occurrences annoying or pleasurable depends on numerous different brain networks. “For example, the insular cortex is activated when we experience something physically unpleasant, like biting into rancid meat, or psychologically unpleasant, like overhearing someone criticize us.”

According to the expert, the seemingly minor annoyances vary from person to person based on context and life experience. “One person’s annoyance can even be another’s pleasure. The dissonance in Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring might grate on my nerves but be beautiful to a more trained mind.”

#6 Oh, Come On. Mildly Infuriating Indeed

#7 Nothing Worse Than Rock-Hard Butter, Thin White Bread, And A Whole Lot Of Hunger

#8 New Sports Bra Comes With Over 20 Tags Sewn In. It Takes Surgical Precision To Remove Them Without Damaging The Bra

Dr. Hellige explained that the level of how strongly a person feels about certain annoyances relates to relative levels of activation among brain areas, including those in the limbic system and prefrontal cortex. 

“The level of irritation also tends to increase when a person already feels stressed or is overly tired. Parents know this well; the never-ending questions from our three-year-old are a pleasure when we’re well-rested and unhurried, but after two nights of little sleep with a work project overdue, the same behavior becomes irritating.”

#9 All Of My Bananas Unpeeled Themselves As I Slept Last Night. I’ve Never Seen This Happen Before

#10 Wore These "Waterproof" Hiking Boots For 30 Minutes In The Rain. Now I Have To Walk Home