The #1 thing people don't understand about X, is Y

[God Stewart]

The number one thing people don't understand about working in a wine shop is that in order for me to help you find the bottle of wine you're looking for, you have to give me more to go on than, "it had a white label."

And for my other "job."

The number one thing that people who don't make comics/paintings/illustrations/etc. don't understand about making comics/paintings/illustrations/etc. is that computers are not magic and they don't just do all the work for you; you actually have to draw.

Now that's an unwieldy sentence.

Great topic, yesno.

[joanna]

the #1 thing people don't understand about massage therapists is that i don't want to give drunk jerks free shoulder rubs at bars and parties.

the #1 thing people don't understand about being a mom is that i'm not turning down your offer to hang out tonight because i have to now that i'm a mom, i'm turning it down because i'd rather hang out with my partner and my kid because they're my favorite people on earth.

[yesno]

The #1 thing people don't understand about email is every last freaking thing about it, from the lack of tone of voice making sarcasm a bad idea, to the continuing importance spelling, to stop sending me all of it.

The #1 thing people don't understand about murder is that it's actually pretty easy to get away with if you're not picky about your victim.

[erika]

The number 1 thing cat-haters don't understand about me is that when you make jokes about a cat's place being under the tires of your car, tell me they're disgusting and filthy creatures, or even laugh at videos of cats being mildly tortured, it makes me want to break your face with my foot.

(PS, cat-hater who I won't name: You're allergic! Did you ever think you might like them if you could get near them without having an asthma attack?)

[Andy]

the one thing that people don't understand about me is how much I enjoy taking pictures of other peoples cats.

[iAmBaronVonTito]

The number 1 thing cat-haters don't understand about me is that when you make jokes about a cat's place being under the tires of your car, tell me they're disgusting and filthy creatures, or even laugh at videos of cats being mildly tortured, it makes me want to break your face with my foot.

(PS, cat-hater who I won't name: You're allergic! Did you ever think you might like them if you could get near them without having an asthma attack?)

no kidding...and that is generally the originating point for cat haters.
which is ridiculous!

[John Junk 2.0]

(PS, cat-hater who I won't name: You're allergic! Did you ever think you might like them if you could get near them without having an asthma attack?)

I just wrote a one-act play.  check it out!

GUY WHO'S ALLERGIC TO PEANUTS
I hate peanuts.  They make me die.  Keep me away from peanuts.

PEANUT LOVER
I wanna punch you in the face!  Did you ever think you might like peanuts if you could get near them without dying?

GUY WHO'S ALLERGIC TO PEANUTS
I have thought of that, but in any case it's irrelevant.  My condition is such that peanuts will kill me and so I hate them.  Sorry.

PEANUT LOVER
Fuming!

 You asked for it!

Punches GWATP in the face.

Now, where have my beloved peanuts gotten to?

[Gilly]

This isn't meant to be mean or anything but the one thing people don't realize about people who don't like pets is that they probably don't have a real need for another companion (or companionship in general...) or need the satisfaction of nurturing something...and we don't get it why people hold their pets in such high regard. We just don't understand the concept.

[Emily]

I don't know that I agree with that. I like companionship and I'm fairly nurturing, I think, I'm just not really a pet person. I have some plants that I like a lot and take care of, but I do not own any animals. 

[Gilly]

I'm not a pet person and most people I know who aren't pet people are private and only need a few companions and prefer to be alone or with a small group of people. That's just my experience.

Another thing that has turned me off to pets is that a lot of people I've been around who own pets hold their animal in higher regard than the people in their lives. I find that disturbing.

Edit: But, you're right Emily, it wasn't fair to put everybody who doesn't care for pets into one personality group.

[God Stewart]

Another thing that has turned me off to pets is that a lot of people I've been around who own pets hold their animal in higher regard than the people in their lives. I find that disturbing.

Oh, I've had to live with someone like that. Those people aren't pet-lovers, they're lunatics. I certainly prefer the company of my cats over the company of intolerable jerks, but the blanket policy of "my pet > people," is not right.

John Junk: You should add a shocking twist ending where the Guy Who Is Allergic to Peanuts runs over some peanuts with his car.

[erika]

Hey I have no problem with people who don't like or want pets. But don't sit there and crack jokes about killing them, or proclaim that they're as filthy as vermin (yes, people have said this to me before) like I'm not going to get offended. My cousin is allergic to cats (to the point of asthma) and it makes her sad that she can't have one. It doesn't turn her into an animal-hater who has no empathy for those who love them.

[masterofsparks]

I guess I'm a lunatic.

[God Stewart]

Sorry, MOS. I'm lumping everyone together when there is one lunatic I had to live with who fits that description.

[masterofsparks]

No big deal. I guess it's inevitable, since I grew up listening to WEBN, the self-proclaimed "lunatic fringe of American FM" (aka typical classic-rock station).