To the customers who become irate and/or rude about debit fees: The simplest solution to your outrage is not to use your debit. I work at a store and hear the same remarks every day, the most prevalent being, "So you're telling me I have to pay to use my card and spend money here?" Well, that's actually not what's happening. Crazy as it is, you don't have to do anything. You can use cash, credit or utilize your free will and go to any number of stores in the immediate area. You can probably do this without making your cashier miserable, even voice a complaint without being rude. No one is forcing you to use your card and go through with the transaction—you are asked if you would like to accept the fee and it is not hidden, and if you don't like your options you can buy your cigarettes, pizza, gum, etc. at many other locations. It's not that hard to get, people. -Burnt Out

I am so tired of people beating around the bush and being whiny victims of life. Be honest! Say what you mean, and mean what you say. I can't guess what you want, and I don't say things I don't mean. Get over it. Honesty is the best policy. -Just Want Some Truth

I don't know you but I do know your boyfriend. He says he is with you because of the daughter you share, but claims that you are one lazy bitch and he's tired of carrying your ass. He's got a "friend" that you don't know. When I say friend, I mean friend only, but if he had his way, it would be more, lots more. I've been where you are and I won't do that to you. You need to know. -A Real Friend

...right lane is for driving, left lane is for passing. It's not rocket science: drive in the right hand lane, pass in the left. If they are tailgating you in the right hand lane, give them the finger, they are assholes. If they are tailgating you in the left lane, move over, let them pass and then give yourself the finger because you're the asshole. -Just Trying To Get Work

Now that Shannon Park has been sold, and according to news sources the final decision on its status has been handed to city council, the need-for-a-stadium mouthbreathers will increase their push to further bankrupt us. We are already building a white elephant of a convention centre, now to complete the set—and to show the rest of Canada that we are a world-class city (turns head to side and vomits)—we have to have another waste of money. My apologies to the overly sensitive by the use of the word white, when I know all elephants are grey. -Rasputin

Where in the world are people getting their licenses from—like who is teaching them how to drive illegal lane changes stopping in the middle of a highway, U-turns and my favourite tailgating. The province wants to make extra money—have people are tested every four years, the results would be scary. As for seniors who drive, god bless em, someone has to tell them when it's time to hang the keys up. I almost got run over in the crosswalk going to the store, the driver who was a senior never even saw. It was broad daylight. -No U-Turns

What's with the swimming team at Centennial taking over ALL of the deep end and MOST of the shallow end lanes a full THIRTY MINUTES before lane swims end? It's a piss-off to pay for a swim during the advertised times and then only be able to share two lanes with four other people while the teens/coaches breathe down your neck and glare at you through goggles. -David Schwimmer

For a minute there I believed the words you wrote. Why? Because I trusted you. Unfortunately, my trust was misplaced. When it came down to following through on any of it, you didn't. You bailed without a word (again). The difference this time is that I was more prepared for you to take the easy (read selfish and cowardly) way out. I hope some day you look past your own needs and consider that your actions impact others. I should be angry, but I'm not. I'm just disappointed. Perhaps I am the fool after all. -Gullible No More

Is there a Kid-Free Zone in this city? I mean, it really is a toss-up between the binge-drinking, the desperate attempts at cultural relevance, the wannabe thug culture and the screaming children running amok at the otherwise sober/"polite" venues this shithole city offers, but seriously: If you're a parent, then parent your damned child. Otherwise, maybe I should be at a club or vandalizing the innumerable stalled "development" properties in this town like the others with nothing else to do have recourse to. It's not even your tantrum-touting little fuckers that piss me off, it's you inept parents doing fuck-all to raise your children, which is possibly what leads to them perpetuating the black hole atmosphere of this city, which otherwise inspires nothing and no one. Thanks for starting them off of that early on.

If the entire room/public space/establishment is glaring at you and your little heathen terrorizing the joint, and you just stand/sit there, hoping we'll all look away as the little shit proceeds to holler, throw stuff and otherwise destroy the place—take a hint. When you spawn those shrieking creatures, you do realize that you have the obligation to, you know, actually parent them, right?

I don't know if the families of today are just too timid to discipline/tend to their kids/observe general decorum and encourage it in their own kids, or that they hope that someone else will, but seriously, it would benefit each of (a) us who are forced to collectively endure your little monster and your own idiocy, as well as (b) you suffering the shame of letting your kid inflict its tantrum on us and even (c) the youngster itself, who otherwise learns by your ignorant example (since you're clearly ignoring your kid yourself). If you'd just leave the room with your kid for a minute so the thing could chill out and you know, receive whatever affection or necessity you're clearly depriving it of in the first place, since you're depriving all of us of our damned peace and sanity! -YesPleaseKeepKickingMySeat

Well at least it sounds like you guys had fun, whether it was at the expense of others or not. Living where you do you may notice the numerous houses and two apartment buildings on your very own block. Next time you're standing in your backyard (which is still littered with garbage and bottles two days later), stop for a moment and look and see just how many people that is, how many were listening to your stereo cranked through all hours of the night and stupid drunken conversations and screams, not to mention the huge fire you had in your yard (pretty sure that is in no way legal). If people on the sidewalk around the corner and a block down are commenting on the noise, I dunno, maybe it's too fucking loud? Try and be more considerate of the people you are putting out (there are many). And, yes, noise comes with this neighbourhood, but there is still a line to be drawn between being courteous and being a bunch of obnoxious idiots. -Coffeehead