to think that if people HAVE to walk really slowly or stop at this (busy) time of year they could at least do it at the side and not in the middle of the walkway?!

[MrsSeanBean]

Honestly, if I ever need to stop or slow down when out shopping I try to have some consideration for my fellow shoppers by looking over my shoulder indicating and pulling over to the left hand side before stopping. Especially if it's really busy and crowded. I don't just suddenly stop (usually in a big huddle of about 4 people) and block everyone's path so they have to pull up with a grinding halt, reverse and walk around me (with a fully laden pushchair).

Grrrr. Had a difficult afternoon as you may gather. Some people are very inconsiderate. Or maybe it's just me BU?

[SparklyBaubleFeast]

well if you give the elderly a motorised scooter, as they do at my local shopping centre, you run the chance of being run over

as i nearly was last week, and she was annoyed with me

[psychohohohoho]

oh god, yes......it is as bad as those who block doorways going intoout of shops cos they have bumped into someone they haven;t seen in ages and they stand and natter and when people asked them to move they glare and tut and moan about how RUDE some people are, without getting the irony that in fact, THEY are the ride ones!!!

[ggirlsbells]

god it is ssssoooooo irritating isn't it?

they should simply be shot on the spot and pushed to the side

[TheDevilWearsPrimark]

I could have killed out shopping last week in central London. Although then yesterday we were the ones doing it as I had four kids with me who wanted to stop and coo at any interesting window display.

[yama]

This has annoyed me for years. Thought I was the only one.

[MrsSeanBean]

I could forgive it if it was children and they were looking into a window Primark; it's those (often large groups of) people who just stop and look vacant for no apparent reason RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE of the path / shopping centre leaving a sliver of space to each side for everyone else to shoehorn past.

[lilacclaire]

OMG, my gran used to do this all the time, its so annoying!!

[PaddingtonBore]

YANBU

Oxford Circus used to be my nearest shopping venue. I could have quite cheerfully throttled those who came, on the weekend before Christmas, just to look at the lights. the hoards would stand, without a carrier bag between them, ten abreast the pavement, whilst I went hoarse bellowing ignored excuse mes.

[Ashantai]

There should be slow, middle and fast lanes on pavements! We also need the same thing in shops too, because bloody hell when you know exactly what you want and some numpty is standing there looking vacant, i want to give them a short sharp shock with a cattle prod!

[HarktheheraldAnglepoise]

But I thought a doorway or bottom of the stairs was an ideal place for a chat ... ?

YAsoooooNBU

[SantasNuttySTaff]

ugggghhh i hate this YANBU at all

[AMeadowfullofChristmasTrees]

OMG i get soo annoyed by that. Although they need to watch out because i will say excuse me once but if they ignore/dont hear then they run the risk of having their ankles taken out

[PaddingtonBore]

we're not talking about people with illnesses, disabilities, older people, or those with young children. We're talking about people who choose to stop in the middle of the bloomin' pavement for a chat, entirely oblivious to the fact that they are blocking the pavement for everyone else.

[MrsSeanBean]

Yule - by 'have' I mean intentionally not involuntarily due to disablement etc! What annoys me is (perfectly able bodied/ young people just stopping for no obvious reason) and not budging when it is clear they are blocking a busy thoroughfare.

[AMeadowfullofChristmasTrees]

That's what really annoys me about MN. People try to take offence even when there isnt any to take.

Obviously it doesnt apply to disabled or the old.

People with prams/buggies really should show more courtesey and move over if they need to sort out their child. I have 2 children and always move over to the side before i try and put shoes back on, or find something that has dropped on their chair etc.

[MrsSeanBean]

Meadow - MN has made me reassess the clarity of my communications big-time! I'm never sure if people are playing devil's advocate or genuinely taking offence. It certainly seems that some things which are generally taken as 'a given' need to be spelled out on here otherwise someone takes issue with it!!

That said it's good to get all points of view, I guess that's what AIBU is all about.

[ilovejonty]

Lately I have been getting irritated/ dirty looks when I say 'excuse me' so I can pass by with a pushchair when someone is blocking an aisle. They then move about 1 inch. I now worry that I am using the wrong term, or should say something else?!

I am sure they would be even more unhappy if I ran over their feet but what can you do?

[cheshirekitty]

The worst is when people step off the escalator and stand still.

So you either end up getting mauled by the escalator, or knock the people down who have stopped.

YANBU. People who do not say thank you when I have opened doors for them annoy me too.

[bettysboobs]

teenagers and people who are obviously fully capable of using stairs and escalators using the lifts and making all the pram and wheelchair pushers wait! grrr...

[TinselianAstra]

YANBU

To clarify (just in case): lots of people seem to be very unthinking and to have no spatial awareness or consideration for other pavement users, and you are not being unreasonable in being annoyed at them.

Those who have to walk slowly for a good reason are of course not deserving of annoyed thoughts, and in fact on average tend to display much better manners than the average able-bodied numpty.