Apr. 17/09: Complaints, complaints...

Hey Sook-Yin,
I enjoy your show and listen to DNTO when I can. Dumb? You? I hardly think so...
Here's my thinking; First, you are so artistically inclined. People who are not - either may not be aware of the artistic mind's view and take of the world around them, or they cannot appreciate that there is a difference. Second, your being so gorgeous, some people will automatically want to be critical of or attack you for that. Third, earlier in my life I was identified as abnormal - due to a high IQ. I assure you that this does not necessarily equate with being 'not dumb', but I have to tell you that you are intellectually challenging to your audience. I really, really admire you for that, but some others may resent it, resulting in yet another reason for them to try to mock you.
I think that you are so hugely cerebral, so very sharp, so incredibly smart that I am in awe of you. At the very least I admire you and truly enjoy, and am thoroughly entertained by you. Thank you for sharing your passionate, artistic, totally cool and interesting mind with us on DNTO.
Regards, James

Hey Sook-Yin,
I enjoy your show and listen to DNTO when I can. Dumb? You? I hardly think so...
Here's my thinking; First, you are so artistically inclined. People who are not - either may not be aware of the artistic mind's view and take of the world around them, or they cannot appreciate that there is a difference. Second, your being so gorgeous, some people will automatically want to be critical of or attack you for that. Third, earlier in my life I was identified as abnormal - due to a high IQ. I assure you that this does not necessarily equate with being 'not dumb', but I have to tell you that you are intellectually challenging to your audience. I really, really admire you for that, but some others may resent it, resulting in yet another reason for them to try to mock you.
I think that you are so hugely cerebral, so very sharp, so incredibly smart that I am in awe of you. At the very least I admire you and truly enjoy, and am thoroughly entertained by you. Thank you for sharing your passionate, artistic, totally cool and interesting mind with us on DNTO.
Regards, James

So I'm not a complainer. In fact I generally stuff all the complaints of daily life, way down inside and simply smile condescendingly at whatever schmuck has visited the nastiness of the moment on me. This afternoon though, I was driving along listening to your show and enjoying it immemnsly. I decided to get a coffee at that greatest of Canadian institutions, Tim Horton's. Now, for whatever reason, I decided today that I wanted a donut as well which is really a departure from routine for me since I almost never buy donuts with my rocket-fuel. Today though, all I could imagine bringing me joy and satisfaction in life was contained in a plain sour cream donut. Pay special attention here because this is the root of my tale of woe. I also for some mysterious reason, went through the drivethru on this pilgrimage to gastronomic Nirvana. Imagine the shock, horror, and exasperation as I drove away opening the bag, reached in and found...a GLAZED sour cream donut!

At that moment I was inspired. The story of your compatriot in the line-up at the liquor store became my catalyst for action. I pulled a u-turn and made my way back to the scene of the injustice. After skidding to a dramatic stop, taking up two parking spaces in the very front of the store. I marched in like the very wrath of God and loudly declared as I stormed the counter, "You gave me the wrong donut, I wanted sour cream plain!". The guy at the counter looked irritated and said "But we don't have any plain ones". My stunned disappointment could only be matched had the sky collapsed in that moment.

Recovering quickly though, I declared I would take an old-fashioned plain instead (that damn glaze is like chewing through a wall of sugar to get to the doughy prize inside). I was triumphant! I felt like a hero as I turned and clipped out the door, my resolution to make things right, the envy of everyone in the store.

The sad footnote here though is that an old-fashioned plain donut is a sad and sorry substitution when your whole being is bent on sour cream plain.

Thanks for inspiring me with your show today, I know now that I have the strength to move through the world and unload at any moment on anyone who tries bamboozle me with sugary treats.

Resolute in Vernon, BC

thank you for the most refreshing afternoon on the radio I've heard in ages. I loved your topic and found the show captivating. I'm off to the complaintfreeworld website to take a peek and thought I'd drop off a thank you along the way. Great show!

Many thanks to you for the most refreshing afternoon of radio I've heard in ages. I loved your topic and the show was captivating, amusing and even (dare I say) helpful. I'm off to the complaintfreeworld website to take a peek and thought I'd drop off a thank you along the way. Great show!

Who was the guy you interviewed who wrote the book about complaining. I want to read it being a professional complainer myself. Maybe I'll figure out why I do it (attention I think) and how to stop!

Who was the guy you interviewed who wrote the book about complaining. I want to read it being a professional complainer myself. Maybe I'll figure out why I do it (attention I think) and how to stop!

A very good morning to you Sook-yin. I really enjoyed the program this morning. The most fun was in your description of what people found complaint with you. Well, like you, I have 3 major issues that people find fault with me.
1) I am too cheerful. I have never been a night person. Most nights find me pleading with myself to go to sleep around 10:00 pm. I am up by 5:00 am. The awakening morning is my time of peace and worship. The morning is my time. Now by the time I arrive at work I have alrealy been awake for 4 hours. Not so with others. I arrive at work with a vibrant, Good Morning, How are you? Do you know how many people just hang their heads and go on like they haven't heard you? In my experience, its many. I don't know how to correct this. Maybe you could give me some ideas.
2) You know that for most people their favourite day of the week is Friday. You would think that, as a somewhat sane person, I should like Friday too. No, my favourite day of the week is Monday. Think about it. The beginning of a brand new weeek. There is so much promise and potential at the beginning of a period of time. People are tired by the end of that period. Friday is my 2nd favourite day. I suppose I could not tell people of my favourite day.
And then we come to the big number 3)I am,as is the most accurate understatement of the year, like you Sook-yin, a little bit of an excitable personality. In my eyes, a beauatiful sunny morning is a cause for excitement. Add peers and friends to that equation and I am in excitment overdrive. I have always, like you, been an interrupter of conversations. While listening to co-workers conversations, if one theme or story is being told, and I have a related tale to tell, I get excited and jump right in. And then there is the rolling of eyes. There I am, butting in again! Hey, I might forget my story! For this shortfalling, I have been trying to censor my tongue. I have been getting a little better. Now I realize I am butting in after I utter the first word. That is much better than my usual steamroller behaviour. So I really try to be conscious of that habit. It is difficult to break bad habits.
There are probably many more faults if you'd ask friends. But, I have a great time and just love life. Keep trying Sook-yin. You may not be able to entirely censor yourself. But, what a blast getting there. Sincerely, have a great day, Bonita Diamond

A very good morning to you Sook-yin. I really enjoyed the program this morning. The most fun was in your description of what people found complaint with you. Well, like you, I have 3 major issues that people find fault with me.
1) I am too cheerful. I have never been a night person. Most nights find me pleading with myself to go to sleep around 10:00 pm. I am up by 5:00 am. The awakening morning is my time of peace and worship. The morning is my time. Now by the time I arrive at work I have alrealy been awake for 4 hours. Not so with others. I arrive at work with a vibrant, Good Morning, How are you? Do you know how many people just hang their heads and go on like they haven't heard you? In my experience, its many. I don't know how to correct this. Maybe you could give me some ideas.
2) You know that for most people their favourite day of the week is Friday. You would think that, as a somewhat sane person, I should like Friday too. No, my favourite day of the week is Monday. Think about it. The beginning of a brand new weeek. There is so much promise and potential at the beginning of a period of time. People are tired by the end of that period. Friday is my 2nd favourite day. I suppose I could not tell people of my favourite day.
And then we come to the big number 3)I am,as is the most accurate understatement of the year, like you Sook-yin, a little bit of an excitable personality. In my eyes, a beauatiful sunny morning is a cause for excitement. Add peers and friends to that equation and I am in excitment overdrive. I have always, like you, been an interrupter of conversations. While listening to co-workers conversations, if one theme or story is being told, and I have a related tale to tell, I get excited and jump right in. And then there is the rolling of eyes. There I am, butting in again! Hey, I might forget my story! For this shortfalling, I have been trying to censor my tongue. I have been getting a little better. Now I realize I am butting in after I utter the first word. That is much better than my usual steamroller behaviour. So I really try to be conscious of that habit. It is difficult to break bad habits.
There are probably many more faults if you'd ask friends. But, I have a great time and just love life. Keep trying Sook-yin. You may not be able to entirely censor yourself. But, what a blast getting there. Sincerely, have a great day, Bonita Diamond

What if I started to complain that I have absolutely no complaints about the show or the main host or the guest host?

And if you keep most of your complaints inside your head (but occasionally voice them via the mouth or the blog or the commentary page), are they still complaints?

And what if most of the complaints I have about me are FROM me? (since most of the time, people say nothing about me, but might say or write something without my knowledge)...

America has become one big Complaination...

Hey Sook-Yin,

Laughed hard at the story about your mother's olympian complaining abilities. Being in a similar/yet different situation, how did the complaining affect your relationship with her? Don't mean to get too personal but I do enjoy hearing about you and your experiences throughout the years.

K 8

Hi Anna,

I think the gentleman you're thinking of is Will Bowen. He wrote a book called "A Complaint Free World," which you can get at his website: http://acomplaintfreeworld.org/.

Hope that helps!

Cheers,

Joff Schmidt
Assoc. Producer, DNTO

I would like to call Godwin's law on the GRIPE guy.