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AIBU?

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Original poster

Get in the damn queue!

243 replies

TakesallSortsofPotatoes · 03/04/2025 16:58

Is anybody else irritated at people who stand miles away from the queue, so you think they're not in the queue? You either have to ask them if they're in the queue (if you're able to successfully get their attention), assume they're not, because why would they not be standing actually in it and walk past, or wait like an idiot behind them with a huge disjointed queue.

I'm also noticing loitering people blocking gateways, with no regards for anybody else who should need through. What are these people doing?

Anybody else want to partake in a rant at situations like this that irritate you?

OP posts:
Original poster
TakesallSortsofPotatoes · 03/04/2025 22:17

BeeDavis · 03/04/2025 21:51

People that try to cross a road in a random spot when there’s literally zebra crossings or traffic light crossings metres away. It absolutely baffles me. Today I saw a lady walk past where you’d stand to cross at a zebra crossing and she walked a few steps and then stopped to cross!!! Hello there is a CROSSING it annoys me so much I’m that petty I don’t stop unless they’re at the crossing 😂

This reminds me of cyclists without helmets and such like, wearing dark colours in dimly lit areas, and on main roads! Why, just why? Do they have a death wish?!

OP posts:
12use12 · 03/04/2025 22:06

Nanny0gg · 03/04/2025 21:23

Saves blocking things at the back (see: long car queues)

Show quote history

Point taken. It is unlikely to get that bad, but tbh if there were that many in a queue I’d either be asking for another check out to be opened, and maybe chuntering about lack of staff, or start a conga at the back as we snake around the shop.

DaisyDooordont · 03/04/2025 22:02

They will be the same people who stroll across the driveway entrance to nursery as they take their kid to school next door with you so much as a glance if there’s anything turning in/out.

JudgeJ · 03/04/2025 21:54

GrandHighPoohbah · 03/04/2025 17:14

For me, it's people who get to the ticket barriers at the station, and only then start ferretting about in their bag looking for their ticket, blocking the barrier for anyone else.

They're probably the same people who make a massive performance of packing their shopping at the till, special bags for specific things and only then decide to get their payment method out, the cashier and the queue standing/sitting there waiting like lemons.

BeeDavis · 03/04/2025 21:51

People that try to cross a road in a random spot when there’s literally zebra crossings or traffic light crossings metres away. It absolutely baffles me. Today I saw a lady walk past where you’d stand to cross at a zebra crossing and she walked a few steps and then stopped to cross!!! Hello there is a CROSSING it annoys me so much I’m that petty I don’t stop unless they’re at the crossing 😂

PyongyangKipperbang · 03/04/2025 21:49

Re: stopping at the top of escalators.

This was a fair few years ago now, DD (now 13) was about 2 or 3 and terrified of escalators so I always carried her. A woman of about ....70 or so (yes, this is relevant) saw her friend at the top who was about to go on the down escalator. They start chatting so I realise I cant get off and a queue starts to form behind the other woman. I ended up basically being shoved into her by the escalator despite saying "EXCUSE ME!!" several times. The people behind the other woman were pissed off and starting going past her and they both had a right go at all of us for being so rude. She said to me "You young people are so rude these days!" I was 41 so actually quite chuffed she said that, but I did say back "And you are rude for holding up so many people so you can have a chat" didnt go down well!

LollyWillow · 03/04/2025 21:40

Minesril · 03/04/2025 19:32

My ticket will not work unless I wait for the barrier to close, which is just as annoying for me. It’s either wait a millisecond for the barrier to close, or wait several seconds while I wave my phone at the barrier getting more and more annoyed before giving up and stomping over to the attended ones, pushing through all the people behind me.

Show quote history

Fair point. I was thinking of London Underground specifically where the gates don't need to shut and will just stay open if everybody keeps moving and slapping their cards down.
I should be more patient ...

DiscoDown18 · 03/04/2025 21:39

Aliceglass · 03/04/2025 17:15

The “Get inside a shop and stop” people are out in force at the moment. They then look surprised that other people want to enter the shop and barge them out of the way. By people, I mean me 😂

A lady in a mobility scooter did this in our local Asda which has an automatic gate thing at the entrance. She was completely oblivious to the near pile-up of customers behind her while she decided which direction to head off in.

DoodleDig · 03/04/2025 21:37

I've noticed this at bus queues recently and was going to post about it!
It's odd behaviour. The bus stop is obvious but more often than not the first person in the queue stands at least 8 feet away from it. Then everyone else in the queue leaves loads of space in between them and the person in front of them. It makes a queue of 5 people really long and not very obvious.
I'm not one for jumping queues, but this makes me very tempted. Queue properly or don't be surprised if someone goes in front of you!

Original poster
TakesallSortsofPotatoes · 03/04/2025 21:32

Plantmother71 · 03/04/2025 21:17

I do wish people would just stand in a normal line shaped queue - not well away from it. Also the closeness thing - was using public transport last week (unusual for me) and I swear the guy behind me, who was trying his best to push in, was actually bumming me. What a shame when my very heavy shoulder bag started to dig in and I had to hitch it up again, with a backward swinging motion, and it caused me to falter back in my heels. Get out of my personal bloody space! So freaking rude.

Yes exactly. Why can't they stand a normal distance away? They shouldn't be breathing down your neck, or so far away that they don't even look like they're part of the queue. They're always the first to roll their eyes if asked if they're in the queue, or huff and puff if shock horror somebody would join the actual queue that they aren't part of!

OP posts:
TheFatCatsWhiskers1 · 03/04/2025 21:32

dottymac · 03/04/2025 21:00

I was going to say this - people that insist on standing an inch away from your back at the checkout, it won't make you get served any quicker, ignoramus 😑

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I was at Pets at Home a couple of weeks ago, which for some reason attracts people who apparently are unfamiliar with the concept of queuing, waiting to pay when I felt something bump sharply into the backs of my legs. I turned around, outraged, to discover the culprit was a sad looking beagle with a cone on its head. Compromised proprioception is the only excuse for standing too close as far as I'm concerned.

laloue · 03/04/2025 21:27

Lovelynames123 · 03/04/2025 18:01

And the people who for some reason sit on a flat bit of road with their handbrake on, and haven't anticipated that they'll need to pull off soon, so lights change/gap in traffic, and they're putting the car into gear, releasing the handbrake then pulling out instead of being ready to go straightaway!

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Because if someone runs into you from behind you’re in trouble- handbrake on means a pain in the neck but not much else. School friend killed many moons ago by a shunt on to the crossing she was on …the handbrake might have saved her.

Crumpleton · 03/04/2025 21:24

When those lift doors open and those inside are met with a sea of people standing on the outside directly in front of the doors, no one's budging, not putting two and two together that they need to move in order for you to get out so they can get in.

Nanny0gg · 03/04/2025 21:23

12use12 · 03/04/2025 17:46

And @ruethewhirl

The queue does not move any quicker just because the person in front likes their space. You won't get to the front any sooner.

Edited
Show quote history

Saves blocking things at the back (see: long car queues)

Original poster
TakesallSortsofPotatoes · 03/04/2025 21:20

AmiablePedant · 03/04/2025 21:17

Sorry, does the word "random" now mean "annoying"? It acquires new meanings every day!

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It means when somebody is behaving in an unexpected strange way in this scenario.

OP posts:
TheFatCatsWhiskers1 · 03/04/2025 21:19

Takersgonnatake · 03/04/2025 17:18

Ooh I know the ones I hate with a passion! You know when you’re at a traffic light that manifestly only lets 2-3 cars through each time? The people who check their phones or whatever the hell it is they do that distracts them and stops them actually paying attention, keeping up with the traffic flow and passing through the light on green. Only two cars get through the lights because these knobs weren’t paying attention and now everyone in the queue gets to wait even longer. Those are the people that irritate me! Thanks for the moaning opportunity!

There's one of those near me I have to go through regularly, time for maybe 3 cars to go through and turn right. If I'm in front, as soon as the other lights start changing I sit there like a coiled spring, revving my engine like I'm about to perform a Grand Prix blast off.

My moan for today is the person ambling along doing 30 in a 60 zone who BRAKED as they began to ascend a hill.

AmiablePedant · 03/04/2025 21:17

Poonu · 03/04/2025 17:34

A woman left her bag in the post office queue. I explained that's not how queues work and that I was not moving behind her. She yelled to stop talking to her. So random.

Sorry, does the word "random" now mean "annoying"? It acquires new meanings every day!

Plantmother71 · 03/04/2025 21:17

I do wish people would just stand in a normal line shaped queue - not well away from it. Also the closeness thing - was using public transport last week (unusual for me) and I swear the guy behind me, who was trying his best to push in, was actually bumming me. What a shame when my very heavy shoulder bag started to dig in and I had to hitch it up again, with a backward swinging motion, and it caused me to falter back in my heels. Get out of my personal bloody space! So freaking rude.

Harrysmummy246 · 03/04/2025 21:14

Yabu not to ask them if they're in the queue or not.

Ellieostomy · 03/04/2025 21:12

TheBlackSheepbaaaa · 03/04/2025 19:57

When I'm queuing to use a self service checkout and waiting for the people who scan their items, pay and THEN retrieve a carrier bag and slowly start to pack everything.
NO! Just bloody pack your items as you go. Scan your milk and then put it in a carrier, then scan your bread and put that in the carrier too. It's not bloody difficult!

I did this the other day, sorry! I had a basket and only meant to get a couple of bits so put the carrier at the bottom of the basket. Then ended up getting a lot more so when it came to loading it I couldn’t get to my carrier, so had to scan everything then put it in the carrier. If it helps I was annoyed at myself too

AngelinaFibres · 03/04/2025 21:12

People who don't say please and thank you when asked something in a queue in a coffee shop. " Would you like a glass?" No. "Would you like chocolate sprinkles on that ?" No. "Americano with hot milk (PLEASE needed there) ". They arent young and 'cool' they're my age ( 59) and would have been brought up say it and not got anything without using those words. Really odd. "No thank you." " Could I have.....please". So simple to say.

suburburban · 03/04/2025 21:08

TheBlackSheepbaaaa · 03/04/2025 20:57

You can't pack your stuff if you're using one of the self checkouts that has a conveyor belt but I'm talking about the small ones that you'd use if you just had a basket of items.
Your basket goes at one side, you scan and then put the item at the other side, I just have a bag waiting at that side and put things straight into it.

Show quote history

I find it gets upset and starts bleating on about the item in the bagging area (I.e bag) so I wait and pack afterwards

cooldarkroom · 03/04/2025 21:07

Don't get me started, How about the child sitting in the seat behind you on a long flight.
Banging, poking, kicking... hard for ever.
I stood up & said loudly, this flight is 8 hours long, are you going to allow your kid to carry on for the whole flight? because things could get really messy.
Mother did not apologize, kid did calm down, lots of whispering & disgruntled noises.
grrr

Newmumhere40 · 03/04/2025 21:06

TakesallSortsofPotatoes · 03/04/2025 16:58

Is anybody else irritated at people who stand miles away from the queue, so you think they're not in the queue? You either have to ask them if they're in the queue (if you're able to successfully get their attention), assume they're not, because why would they not be standing actually in it and walk past, or wait like an idiot behind them with a huge disjointed queue.

I'm also noticing loitering people blocking gateways, with no regards for anybody else who should need through. What are these people doing?

Anybody else want to partake in a rant at situations like this that irritate you?

Ugh...but the opposite is worse! Why the fuck are you breathing down my neck, it's not going to make the queue go faster!!

GrandHighPoohbah · 03/04/2025 21:04

bostonchamps · 03/04/2025 19:10

@GrandHighPoohbah we're in Hackney and there would be actual riots if they did, but I can dream. I'm literally sitting have a nice glass of wine, trying to get over a rough day in peace, and I can see three just left in stupid places. It's even worse on Sunday mornings when everyone cycled home at 3am. ARGH.

Separate point, I adore my country-abiding DM but when she comes to visit and we get the tube I now grab her hand and essentially drag her along when we get off. She's the kind of step out of the carriage and then ponder for 30 seconds, even when I tell her to just follow me.

Wandsworth have banned the stupid inconsiderate abandoning of these bikes wherever these lazy people feel like. Hurrah for Wandsworth!