MY PET PEEVE: Karma.
I don't have anything against the idea of Karma itself, it's just the way people who have little understanding of it seem to throw it around like their mantra. I've even had a devoted atheist (devoted to their atheism, that is) tell me they believe in Karma. If a devoted Hindu person spoke to me about Karma, it would not bother me. I suppose I don't even mind (that much) how Westerners seem to have adopted the word to fit their own meaning.
(I don't really know that much about karma, so I could be wrong, but from what I understand of it is that it's something that may take lifetimes before consequences manifest, I find it interesting the way that Westerners seemed to have Big Macced it - it's more about Instant Gratification than anything of real substance.)
No, language evolves and we adopt different words to fit our meaning. It used to annoy me more than it does, but I've gotten past that aspect. The thing that annoys me is the way that, when somebody complains about that jerk of a co-worker, they, or their friend who's trying to make them feel better by validating their complaints, makes a comment like, "Don't worry, Karma will get them." Or, "I hope they get a taste of their own Karma!"
What happens to others as a result of their actions has little to do with me, and I have better motivations for trying to do right and not doing wrong than hoping or fearing that it will come back to me. I don't believe in Karma, but even if I did, taking satisfaction in imagining that Karma will avenge your petty grievances seems unworthy of the concept.
Another thought:
When I hear somebody say "God will punish you!" I flinch. It goes against my sensibilities as a follower of God to think that a human can be so arrogant to command God or even anticipate his wrath. For someone who claims to follow the ways of Karma, isn't just as grating to say, "Karma will get you!"?
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