You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar

Have you ever heard someone say, "You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar"? For some reason this really irks me. Okay, first things first, who in the world is trying to catch flies and why do people still say this?  (Not literally, I get the point behind it but seriously?) Even if I deserve to hear this, spare me, please and thank you.  Are there any sayings that just "rub you the wrong way" or just don't "float your boat"? heehee