Bug List
For most of this past week, I've noticed both minor and major inconveniences and issues throughout my everyday life. I've identified and listed twenty of these "bugs" below and they are as follows:
1. The TransLoc Rider app frequently shows “no prediction” for buses, especially at night after around 8:00 PM, making it difficult to achieve reliable and inexpensive (free) transportation. I heavily rely on the buses, so, I asked a few people why the "no prediction" message kept appearing. From various sources I learned that the message was either a result of a malfunction of the software or that the trackers are simply turned off at times.
2. The RTS buses frequently pass bus stops with a "full bus" message; however, the TransLoc Rider app still shows the bus as approaching the bus stop, misleading people into thinking that an available bus is on its way to a given bus stop. This is particularly irksome when I'm trying to get to a class on time. The unreliable nature of the buses causes excess anxiety about arriving on time. The system of communication between the buses and the app is likely flawed, either due to the software, or human error (with noting the number of people who get on the bus), or a combination of the two.
3. During the (work/school) week, parking on campus is horrendous. There are rarely available parking spots and the spots that are available are generally far from where I need to go. There are significantly more people who wish to drive to campus than there are parking spots, resulting in a surplus of cars combined with a shortage of parking spaces. The parking spot deficit is also partially a result of a misuse of space. Rather than building up vertically with parking garages for cars, there are simply numerous smaller lots around campus (which is not efficient).
4. Getting into cars after they have been parked outside for any amount of time, but especially for long periods during daylight hours, is treacherous, as the heat is seemingly unbearable. It is Florida, so, heat is to be expected. The lack of coverage from the sun, however, increases this problem tenfold. Parking lots are typically not artificially covered and the trees provide an insufficient amount of shade, making the perfect environment to (essentially) bake a car.
5. Remembering where I parked, especially in a large, dark parking lot, is challenging. Parking in Gainesville (at least where I have been so far) has no markers for the rows/columns of spots; so, remembering where I parked is hard, as it is not as easy as remembering a number or letter.
6. Carrying around belongings to events proves extremely difficult, as women's clothing has little to no pockets. Simple items, such as keys, IDs, money, and phones, require a separate carrying device (bags/purses), which is generally inconvenient to bring to events, especially events that don’t allow bags. Designers of women's clothing purposely leave out pockets from their clothing (which dates back hundreds of years), even having the audacity to include fake pockets.
7. On numerous occasions, I have nearly been hit by bicyclists speeding past me while walking around campus. Many bicyclists (or at least the ones that cross paths with me) don’t know the road rules and don’t yield to pedestrians. People are either not taught these rules or simply ignore them, making the streets (well sidewalks) less safe.
8. When it's raining or dark out, it's expected that drivers should put their lights on; however, some drivers fail to meet this expectation, making driving all the more difficult. These drivers either forget to turn their lights on, intentionally fail to comply with the laws that require the use of headlights during rainstorms (or when it's dark out), or never learned the law before getting out on the streets.
9. Although not as common of a nuisance, sticks falling from trees and hitting me in the face are quite annoying. The combination of nature, gravity, and bad luck is the reason behind this "bug". While it may not be a constant issue, the landscaping and upkeep of greenery around campus could contribute to alleviating this issue.
10. Actual bugs. Real, live bugs that buzz and/or bite are a constant annoyance that appear both inside and outside throughout the day. They can be distracting while driving and cause unwanted itching. Not only are insects a part of our natural environment, but the Florida climate also fosters the growth of mosquitoes, ensuring the maximum level of discomfort in relation to bugs.
11. The lack of calendar syncing is unnecessarily inconvenient, as I have to manually enter events from numerous different platforms into my main calendar that I use everyday. Easily adding events is not quick and simple because of the lack of communication between platforms. Groups of people and individuals prefer different forms of communication (especially various social media platforms), making a one-stop shop for all event notification and calendar needs nearly impossible.
12. Almost every time I'm walking toward Library West to get work done (and I go there frequently), people approach me in trying to get me to sign some Florida voter petition of some sort. They don’t let anyone pass them without issue no matter how angry the person may look. These are some of the most persistent and annoying people because they are getting paid. For every form signed they get a commission, ensuring that they just won't leave people alone.
13. The constant spamming of emails from stores and other companies clutters my inbox, making important emails harder to notice. Likely from the advice or instruction of advertisers/,marketing agents, companies send out emails as frequently as possible to get more exposure; therefore, increasing their chances of selling their products or services. There is often an "Unsubscribe" option; however, (in my experience at least) this option does not actually work, as the numerous emails continue to crowd my inbox.
14. Around any meal time, the line at the Subway in the Reitz Union is so slow and long that it stretches past the restaurant's doors (well opening, not actual doors). While the making of the sandwiches is relatively quick and efficient, the process of paying for the food takes way too long. There may be two or three people with their food already prepared, but paying for the food holds up the line.
15. The line for picking up already ordered books and the line to buy books at the UF bookstore is extremely long. The line moves relatively fast, yet, it still takes up most of the length from the start of the line to the stairs to exit the bookstore. Due to the generally efficient service provided at the bookstore, the length of the line must be (at least partially) caused by the sheer quantity of people going to the bookstore at the same time. Coordinating or scheduling times for pickup would likely resolve such issues.
16. While the UF Wi-Fi is pretty fast in certain buildings (specifically libraries), it tends to be slower and weaker around other areas on campus. Slow Wi-Fi is agonizing when trying to complete work, especially during an age in which nearly everything is online. The speed of the Wi-Fi, apart from proximity to routers, is a result of its popularity. Many people around campus are on the Wi-Fi, ultimately causing the speed to slow, as Wi-Fi slows when more devices are connected to it.
17. Any time of day, but especially around the mid to late afternoon, it starts raining without clear notice. It is Florida, so raining is normal, but it seems even more severe here in Gainesville. This renders people helpless in the rain or stuck inside someplace (often without a rain jacket or an umbrella), being particularly irksome if they have somewhere to be (like class). The random raining is purely a result of nature and the lack of knowledge of incoming rain is mostly due to flawed weather forecasts.
18. Whenever it rains, I almost slip and fall on the floor every few yards, making walking an arduous task. People track in water from outside to the inside of buildings. The combination of water and generally flat, shiny floors is a recipe for slipping. While people may walk over mats placed at entrances of buildings that are meant to catch water, these mats are often too flat or not absorbent enough to properly manage the water being brought in.
19. When meal prepping (cooking), I've found that my spices tend to clump up, making measuring or simply using them difficult. The humidity in the air is the likely cause behind the clumping of my spices, despite storing them inside where there is air-conditioning.
20. It's extremely hot outside, causing a lot of people, myself included, to sweat quite a bit. This is annoying in general because sweat makes you feel gross, but it is even more so annoying when you are required to or feel like dressing nicely. Lugging around a change of clothes is an option; however, it is inconvenient and time consuming to change. This problem, unfortunately, is another result of nature and the Florida climate. Shade does lessen the effects of the heat, however, and the lack of shade in some areas (where trees or buildings cast no shadows) only adds to the discomfort of being outside.
Identifying twenty "bugs" that appear throughout my day-to-day life was extremely difficult. I tend to try and think positively and ignore minor inconveniences to improve my overall mood throughout the day; so, looking for problems in my life had to become a conscious effort. Initially, I was only able to think of two bugs, which are both related to transportation, a central aspect of my everyday life. Then, I was able to muster up a few more "bugs" and got to a total of five. At that point, only a quarter of the way through, I had hit a mental block. My issue likely stemmed from my decision to sit and think about things that bugged me in completing this list rather than going out and experiencing things from which I could derive "bugs." Once I finally decided to go out for a change of scenery, I found some "bugs," but that was also due to the sudden appearance of a heavy storm. Even after this occurrence, however, identifying "bugs" took quite a few days to complete. Overall, writing a list of twenty "bugs" was arduous. It was hard! The ultimate solution to my difficulties was to simply go out and experience life, rather than thinking so hard with nothing to show for it.
Image source: https://imgur.com/gallery/kgvMT4g :))
1. The TransLoc Rider app frequently shows “no prediction” for buses, especially at night after around 8:00 PM, making it difficult to achieve reliable and inexpensive (free) transportation. I heavily rely on the buses, so, I asked a few people why the "no prediction" message kept appearing. From various sources I learned that the message was either a result of a malfunction of the software or that the trackers are simply turned off at times.
2. The RTS buses frequently pass bus stops with a "full bus" message; however, the TransLoc Rider app still shows the bus as approaching the bus stop, misleading people into thinking that an available bus is on its way to a given bus stop. This is particularly irksome when I'm trying to get to a class on time. The unreliable nature of the buses causes excess anxiety about arriving on time. The system of communication between the buses and the app is likely flawed, either due to the software, or human error (with noting the number of people who get on the bus), or a combination of the two.
3. During the (work/school) week, parking on campus is horrendous. There are rarely available parking spots and the spots that are available are generally far from where I need to go. There are significantly more people who wish to drive to campus than there are parking spots, resulting in a surplus of cars combined with a shortage of parking spaces. The parking spot deficit is also partially a result of a misuse of space. Rather than building up vertically with parking garages for cars, there are simply numerous smaller lots around campus (which is not efficient).
4. Getting into cars after they have been parked outside for any amount of time, but especially for long periods during daylight hours, is treacherous, as the heat is seemingly unbearable. It is Florida, so, heat is to be expected. The lack of coverage from the sun, however, increases this problem tenfold. Parking lots are typically not artificially covered and the trees provide an insufficient amount of shade, making the perfect environment to (essentially) bake a car.
5. Remembering where I parked, especially in a large, dark parking lot, is challenging. Parking in Gainesville (at least where I have been so far) has no markers for the rows/columns of spots; so, remembering where I parked is hard, as it is not as easy as remembering a number or letter.
6. Carrying around belongings to events proves extremely difficult, as women's clothing has little to no pockets. Simple items, such as keys, IDs, money, and phones, require a separate carrying device (bags/purses), which is generally inconvenient to bring to events, especially events that don’t allow bags. Designers of women's clothing purposely leave out pockets from their clothing (which dates back hundreds of years), even having the audacity to include fake pockets.
7. On numerous occasions, I have nearly been hit by bicyclists speeding past me while walking around campus. Many bicyclists (or at least the ones that cross paths with me) don’t know the road rules and don’t yield to pedestrians. People are either not taught these rules or simply ignore them, making the streets (well sidewalks) less safe.
8. When it's raining or dark out, it's expected that drivers should put their lights on; however, some drivers fail to meet this expectation, making driving all the more difficult. These drivers either forget to turn their lights on, intentionally fail to comply with the laws that require the use of headlights during rainstorms (or when it's dark out), or never learned the law before getting out on the streets.
9. Although not as common of a nuisance, sticks falling from trees and hitting me in the face are quite annoying. The combination of nature, gravity, and bad luck is the reason behind this "bug". While it may not be a constant issue, the landscaping and upkeep of greenery around campus could contribute to alleviating this issue.
10. Actual bugs. Real, live bugs that buzz and/or bite are a constant annoyance that appear both inside and outside throughout the day. They can be distracting while driving and cause unwanted itching. Not only are insects a part of our natural environment, but the Florida climate also fosters the growth of mosquitoes, ensuring the maximum level of discomfort in relation to bugs.
11. The lack of calendar syncing is unnecessarily inconvenient, as I have to manually enter events from numerous different platforms into my main calendar that I use everyday. Easily adding events is not quick and simple because of the lack of communication between platforms. Groups of people and individuals prefer different forms of communication (especially various social media platforms), making a one-stop shop for all event notification and calendar needs nearly impossible.
12. Almost every time I'm walking toward Library West to get work done (and I go there frequently), people approach me in trying to get me to sign some Florida voter petition of some sort. They don’t let anyone pass them without issue no matter how angry the person may look. These are some of the most persistent and annoying people because they are getting paid. For every form signed they get a commission, ensuring that they just won't leave people alone.
13. The constant spamming of emails from stores and other companies clutters my inbox, making important emails harder to notice. Likely from the advice or instruction of advertisers/,marketing agents, companies send out emails as frequently as possible to get more exposure; therefore, increasing their chances of selling their products or services. There is often an "Unsubscribe" option; however, (in my experience at least) this option does not actually work, as the numerous emails continue to crowd my inbox.
14. Around any meal time, the line at the Subway in the Reitz Union is so slow and long that it stretches past the restaurant's doors (well opening, not actual doors). While the making of the sandwiches is relatively quick and efficient, the process of paying for the food takes way too long. There may be two or three people with their food already prepared, but paying for the food holds up the line.
15. The line for picking up already ordered books and the line to buy books at the UF bookstore is extremely long. The line moves relatively fast, yet, it still takes up most of the length from the start of the line to the stairs to exit the bookstore. Due to the generally efficient service provided at the bookstore, the length of the line must be (at least partially) caused by the sheer quantity of people going to the bookstore at the same time. Coordinating or scheduling times for pickup would likely resolve such issues.
16. While the UF Wi-Fi is pretty fast in certain buildings (specifically libraries), it tends to be slower and weaker around other areas on campus. Slow Wi-Fi is agonizing when trying to complete work, especially during an age in which nearly everything is online. The speed of the Wi-Fi, apart from proximity to routers, is a result of its popularity. Many people around campus are on the Wi-Fi, ultimately causing the speed to slow, as Wi-Fi slows when more devices are connected to it.
17. Any time of day, but especially around the mid to late afternoon, it starts raining without clear notice. It is Florida, so raining is normal, but it seems even more severe here in Gainesville. This renders people helpless in the rain or stuck inside someplace (often without a rain jacket or an umbrella), being particularly irksome if they have somewhere to be (like class). The random raining is purely a result of nature and the lack of knowledge of incoming rain is mostly due to flawed weather forecasts.
18. Whenever it rains, I almost slip and fall on the floor every few yards, making walking an arduous task. People track in water from outside to the inside of buildings. The combination of water and generally flat, shiny floors is a recipe for slipping. While people may walk over mats placed at entrances of buildings that are meant to catch water, these mats are often too flat or not absorbent enough to properly manage the water being brought in.
19. When meal prepping (cooking), I've found that my spices tend to clump up, making measuring or simply using them difficult. The humidity in the air is the likely cause behind the clumping of my spices, despite storing them inside where there is air-conditioning.
20. It's extremely hot outside, causing a lot of people, myself included, to sweat quite a bit. This is annoying in general because sweat makes you feel gross, but it is even more so annoying when you are required to or feel like dressing nicely. Lugging around a change of clothes is an option; however, it is inconvenient and time consuming to change. This problem, unfortunately, is another result of nature and the Florida climate. Shade does lessen the effects of the heat, however, and the lack of shade in some areas (where trees or buildings cast no shadows) only adds to the discomfort of being outside.
Identifying twenty "bugs" that appear throughout my day-to-day life was extremely difficult. I tend to try and think positively and ignore minor inconveniences to improve my overall mood throughout the day; so, looking for problems in my life had to become a conscious effort. Initially, I was only able to think of two bugs, which are both related to transportation, a central aspect of my everyday life. Then, I was able to muster up a few more "bugs" and got to a total of five. At that point, only a quarter of the way through, I had hit a mental block. My issue likely stemmed from my decision to sit and think about things that bugged me in completing this list rather than going out and experiencing things from which I could derive "bugs." Once I finally decided to go out for a change of scenery, I found some "bugs," but that was also due to the sudden appearance of a heavy storm. Even after this occurrence, however, identifying "bugs" took quite a few days to complete. Overall, writing a list of twenty "bugs" was arduous. It was hard! The ultimate solution to my difficulties was to simply go out and experience life, rather than thinking so hard with nothing to show for it.
Image source: https://imgur.com/gallery/kgvMT4g :))
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