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Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To wonder why people fuck about so much?

510 replies

comeandhaveteawithme · 23/06/2025 14:40

My local skip is a very busy place. There is often a huge queue of cars and once you are in the queue, you absolutely cannot leave, there is no way of driving out of it or turning around due to the way it's structured. You're going through the skip, and that's that.

Today, I was in the queue of doom and a worker walked along the line of cars and told everyone that they just needed to use the crusher before they could let anyone through and to do that, they needed to wait until the cars already parked up and using the skips, had all left, then they could use the crusher and start letting people in again. It was my lunchbreak so I was in a bit of a rush, but nothing I could do.

But watching the people already using the skip was so irritating. They knew there was a line of approximately 20-30 cars waiting, they knew no one else could enter until every car had gone, but they all sauntered back and forth with their stuff from their boots, they stopped and chatted to one another, one guy had a quick cigarette before getting in his car, another sat in the drivers seat and did something on his phone before slowly putting on his seatbelt and leaving...

I just cannot understand people who are so incredibly slow and insist on doing unnecessary things in busy places where people are clearly waiting to use the thing they are using.

The other day, a waitress bringing our food to out table stopped mid-way and chatted to a customer she knew, while holding our plates of food, letting them get cold - why? talk on the way back if you must!

And the amount of people I see letting their toddlers use their debit cards to pay while smiling indulgently as the kids drops the card or taps it wrong with a queue of people waiting, or who stand at the till transferring money, or ask the bus driver an endless series of questions with a whole busload of people waiting, plus the 50 cars behind the bus....

If you are one of these people who fuck about, why? and are you also irritated by the fucking about or am I just far too angry?

OP posts:
OneVividJoker · 29/06/2025 22:24

comeandhaveteawithme · 23/06/2025 14:40

My local skip is a very busy place. There is often a huge queue of cars and once you are in the queue, you absolutely cannot leave, there is no way of driving out of it or turning around due to the way it's structured. You're going through the skip, and that's that.

Today, I was in the queue of doom and a worker walked along the line of cars and told everyone that they just needed to use the crusher before they could let anyone through and to do that, they needed to wait until the cars already parked up and using the skips, had all left, then they could use the crusher and start letting people in again. It was my lunchbreak so I was in a bit of a rush, but nothing I could do.

But watching the people already using the skip was so irritating. They knew there was a line of approximately 20-30 cars waiting, they knew no one else could enter until every car had gone, but they all sauntered back and forth with their stuff from their boots, they stopped and chatted to one another, one guy had a quick cigarette before getting in his car, another sat in the drivers seat and did something on his phone before slowly putting on his seatbelt and leaving...

I just cannot understand people who are so incredibly slow and insist on doing unnecessary things in busy places where people are clearly waiting to use the thing they are using.

The other day, a waitress bringing our food to out table stopped mid-way and chatted to a customer she knew, while holding our plates of food, letting them get cold - why? talk on the way back if you must!

And the amount of people I see letting their toddlers use their debit cards to pay while smiling indulgently as the kids drops the card or taps it wrong with a queue of people waiting, or who stand at the till transferring money, or ask the bus driver an endless series of questions with a whole busload of people waiting, plus the 50 cars behind the bus....

If you are one of these people who fuck about, why? and are you also irritated by the fucking about or am I just far too angry?

Just like the idiots who pack their bags in slow motion at the supermarket.....then mess around digging out their phone to pay......ooh it's not working.....have a chat with the cashier.....another 5mins digging thro their bag to find their purse......then the search for the debit card......another chat.....by this time I'm about ready to explode.

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 29/06/2025 19:53

Atina321 · 29/06/2025 18:46

It is you. Stop beeping at people and relax. Nobody is going to die because it took 2 mins more for you to get petrol.

A quick sip of water before you set off from the petrol pumps seems fine to me, @Atina321 - but stopping to have your lunch while a queue of people wanting petrol is building up behind you is taking the piss.

Sophiehoney · 29/06/2025 19:41

BoomerAllTheWay · 29/06/2025 19:03

Having a tough day today, Sophie old gal? I was simply making a point, not complaining. I can’t understand many things you Brits say, and it is not a complaint. We may both speak english, but it is very different. For example, your ‘chips’ are our French fries. Your ‘boot” is our car trunk. (To us a boot is something we wear on our feet in the snow). Many Americans don’t know that. So, with that being said, why should I not follow along here? Also, I am a man. Bet that gives you a ‘squeaky bum”! (Average American has no idea what that means, but I watch Wrexham, so I figured it out during a stressful game they were playing.)

I suppose it's just annoying because during almost every conversation I have online, an American pops up with "oh,you brits! I can't understand a word you're saying tee hee"

And then we all have to explain it to them and quite often it derails the conversation while everyone just starts talking about the differences between the US and UK and it's so boring and tedious.

It's happens in pretty much every group I'm on on Facebook. We usually get a break from it on mumsnet because it's a British forum, not "momsnet" but honestly, it's not original and you coming on here and telling us all you don't understand us adds nothing to the conversation.

Australians don't do this. Neither do Canadians, Kiwis, or people from any other English speaking nation. But Americans do it every damn day and it's tedious AF.

We're not quaint little tourist attractions. If you want to join in with the conversation use Google. Don't just sit there saying "I can't understand a word of this" putting in no effort.

Gettingbysomehow · 29/06/2025 19:37

smallglassbottle · 29/06/2025 19:24

Because others are waiting and absolutely no one of sane and reasonable mind would consider it's okay to sit next to a petrol pump and eat a snack 🤦🏼‍♀️

People have to get to work, pick children up, attend appointments, catch trains or flights etc. etc. etc.

Absolutely, if that was me I'd drive to the next parking spot then eat. .madness.

smallglassbottle · 29/06/2025 19:24

Atina321 · 29/06/2025 18:48

Why is your time more precious than theirs?

Because others are waiting and absolutely no one of sane and reasonable mind would consider it's okay to sit next to a petrol pump and eat a snack 🤦🏼‍♀️

People have to get to work, pick children up, attend appointments, catch trains or flights etc. etc. etc.

BoomerAllTheWay · 29/06/2025 19:03

Sophiehoney · 29/06/2025 10:58

Go to a US site you can understand then :)

Having a tough day today, Sophie old gal? I was simply making a point, not complaining. I can’t understand many things you Brits say, and it is not a complaint. We may both speak english, but it is very different. For example, your ‘chips’ are our French fries. Your ‘boot” is our car trunk. (To us a boot is something we wear on our feet in the snow). Many Americans don’t know that. So, with that being said, why should I not follow along here? Also, I am a man. Bet that gives you a ‘squeaky bum”! (Average American has no idea what that means, but I watch Wrexham, so I figured it out during a stressful game they were playing.)

Atina321 · 29/06/2025 18:48

Sophiehoney · 29/06/2025 15:11

Count 30 seconds to yourself in your head. It's longer than you think. A bus doesn't sit at a bus stop for as long as 30 seconds. A train rarely stays at the station that long. People have places to be. Time is precious.
And noone minds people that can't help it. People are annoyed at those that do not care who they inconvenience and who waste others precious time for their own selfish wants. Not their needs, just their wants. You don't have to block a petrol station just because you have decided that's where you would like to eat your sausage roll. There's a million places you can eat a sausage roll so please don't stop me from using the petrol pump while you do it!

Why is your time more precious than theirs?

Atina321 · 29/06/2025 18:46

MyKingdomForACat · 29/06/2025 11:58

I did beep. She didn’t even acknowledge I was there. Oh and another one. Queuing at the busy petrol station. I was behind a bloke and next to use the pump. He went to pay then strolled out. Got in the driving seat and started eating a sausage roll whilst staring at me in his rear view mirror. I beeped and he stuck a finger up. It must be me! 🤣

It is you. Stop beeping at people and relax. Nobody is going to die because it took 2 mins more for you to get petrol.

ThomasShelbysfagend · 29/06/2025 17:27

comeandhaveteawithme · 29/06/2025 16:01

did the buggy people not ask her to move? or the staff??

Not sure. Looking back she seemed to have collected her belongings and piled them in her case so maybe they did.

Miserableaf · 29/06/2025 16:37

Paying for parking. People have queued then get to the front and look for their ticket. Then they seem surprised they have to pay so the hunt for a card starts. So annoying when time starts ticking to going over into another hour.

Caroparo52 · 29/06/2025 16:24

Love this... The Victor Meldrew post. I'm all in

comeandhaveteawithme · 29/06/2025 16:01

ThomasShelbysfagend · 29/06/2025 15:35

Recently in the snake queue at the airport to security, not even at the security but the bit where you keep moving towards towards the security belts… a young woman stops dead in lane, lays her case down, opens it, empties it picking out liquids trying to force them all, lots of them, into one teeny tiny clear plastic bag.

Obviously wouldn’t fit but she kept trying. So hand luggage suitcase opened up fully, belongings spread out on the floor.. no room for anyone to get past unless they stepped over her and her belongings until.

Large queue of people building up behind her so we all started to step over her and her belongings until the family with the buggy and toddlers came upon her and of course could not pass. So no one could pass, no one.

Let me be clear, she was unhurried, unbothered and took her own sweet time. She did not appear to be in the least bit concerned or to notice anything around her at all. People stepping over her, she just carried on still trying to ram a large amount of liquids into the little bag until as I looked back, it split sending bottles flying.

It honestly appeared that she had zero idea of the chaos she had caused, that anyone else was around.

I got through and she looked to have shoved everything back into her bag and was alarming at the body scanner and of course her bag was rejected from the scanner.

Just the epitome of self absorption right there.

did the buggy people not ask her to move? or the staff??

OP posts:
smallglassbottle · 29/06/2025 15:40

I can't understand how these people have absolutely no awareness of what's going on around them or of other people's needs. Humans are social creatures and are designed to be aware of other humans in their vicinity.

ThomasShelbysfagend · 29/06/2025 15:35

Recently in the snake queue at the airport to security, not even at the security but the bit where you keep moving towards towards the security belts… a young woman stops dead in lane, lays her case down, opens it, empties it picking out liquids trying to force them all, lots of them, into one teeny tiny clear plastic bag.

Obviously wouldn’t fit but she kept trying. So hand luggage suitcase opened up fully, belongings spread out on the floor.. no room for anyone to get past unless they stepped over her and her belongings until.

Large queue of people building up behind her so we all started to step over her and her belongings until the family with the buggy and toddlers came upon her and of course could not pass. So no one could pass, no one.

Let me be clear, she was unhurried, unbothered and took her own sweet time. She did not appear to be in the least bit concerned or to notice anything around her at all. People stepping over her, she just carried on still trying to ram a large amount of liquids into the little bag until as I looked back, it split sending bottles flying.

It honestly appeared that she had zero idea of the chaos she had caused, that anyone else was around.

I got through and she looked to have shoved everything back into her bag and was alarming at the body scanner and of course her bag was rejected from the scanner.

Just the epitome of self absorption right there.

Antigny86 · 29/06/2025 15:19

Lilsami · 24/06/2025 14:21

The one that makes me the most angry is drivers 🙈 40 in a 60 is a popular one like why the feck you even on the road get a mobility scooter for god sake. Or stopping at a roundabout you can see is clear half a mile away. Some people just have way too much time to p about i think. I have autism and adhd so I get quite angry very easily

You have road rage

Antigny86 · 29/06/2025 15:14

Ablondiebutagoody · 23/06/2025 15:07

Presumably at midday on a Monday they are mainly pensioners with all the time in the world. Although you would think they might want to make the most of what's left rather than fannying around at the tip. Or for there to always be 2 queuing for air in the petrol station at 8am.

No need to have a go at older people

Sophiehoney · 29/06/2025 15:11

HiEarthlings · 29/06/2025 13:41

Good grief! I cannot believe the sheer impatience of most people here!! A driver take 30 seconds extra to take a sip of water before driving away from a petrol pump and it's the end of the world!? A mother allowing her child to scan her debit card at the till is enough to start WW3!? An awful lot of people on this thread are going to die of a stroke or heart attack if they keep this level of petty impatience going..... 🤦🏼‍♂️

Count 30 seconds to yourself in your head. It's longer than you think. A bus doesn't sit at a bus stop for as long as 30 seconds. A train rarely stays at the station that long. People have places to be. Time is precious.
And noone minds people that can't help it. People are annoyed at those that do not care who they inconvenience and who waste others precious time for their own selfish wants. Not their needs, just their wants. You don't have to block a petrol station just because you have decided that's where you would like to eat your sausage roll. There's a million places you can eat a sausage roll so please don't stop me from using the petrol pump while you do it!

Gettingbysomehow · 29/06/2025 15:10

I,ve just been to the council tip with my garden waste. It was rammed. The queue to get in went half a mile up the road and there were people ambling about in there like farts in a trance no urgency whatsoever. When I got in there I was in and out in 5 minutes with 5 massive bags of tree prunings and I had a hip replacement 6 weeks ago ff's.
Get on with it people, it's not a day out at the tip.

smallglassbottle · 29/06/2025 14:23

HiEarthlings · 29/06/2025 13:41

Good grief! I cannot believe the sheer impatience of most people here!! A driver take 30 seconds extra to take a sip of water before driving away from a petrol pump and it's the end of the world!? A mother allowing her child to scan her debit card at the till is enough to start WW3!? An awful lot of people on this thread are going to die of a stroke or heart attack if they keep this level of petty impatience going..... 🤦🏼‍♂️

Are you a faffer though? 😂

TulipTiptoer · 29/06/2025 14:11

There's a big difference between having a stroke or heart attack through impatience
Or
Being momentarily irritated with faffing dipsticks 😂

I'm the latter...

HiEarthlings · 29/06/2025 13:41

Good grief! I cannot believe the sheer impatience of most people here!! A driver take 30 seconds extra to take a sip of water before driving away from a petrol pump and it's the end of the world!? A mother allowing her child to scan her debit card at the till is enough to start WW3!? An awful lot of people on this thread are going to die of a stroke or heart attack if they keep this level of petty impatience going..... 🤦🏼‍♂️

MyKingdomForACat · 29/06/2025 11:58

I did beep. She didn’t even acknowledge I was there. Oh and another one. Queuing at the busy petrol station. I was behind a bloke and next to use the pump. He went to pay then strolled out. Got in the driving seat and started eating a sausage roll whilst staring at me in his rear view mirror. I beeped and he stuck a finger up. It must be me! 🤣

comeandhaveteawithme · 29/06/2025 11:42

MyKingdomForACat · 29/06/2025 11:04

One Christmas everyone was queuing for a space in the Tesco car park. Completely rammed. Saw a woman coming out with her trolley and I knew I was next for her space. I was signalling to those behind that I’d be pulling in. The queue was snaking round the car park. You couldn’t not see it. She loaded her shopping into the boot, returned her trolley then got into the driving seat and sat reading her receipt. For about 5 minutes. Why? Just why??

WTF? did you beep at her?

OP posts:
CFC1963 · 29/06/2025 11:25

I’m loving these comments - I think I could have written 90% of them - HATE faffers!
back to my previous comment about airport security - bloke in front of me trying to go through the body scanner with his camera round his neck - was told to put it in the bin on the security belt - and to empty his pockets too - he emptied his pockets and then came back with the camera still round his bloody neck while his wife waited & wouldn’t let anyone pass 🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬

MyKingdomForACat · 29/06/2025 11:04

One Christmas everyone was queuing for a space in the Tesco car park. Completely rammed. Saw a woman coming out with her trolley and I knew I was next for her space. I was signalling to those behind that I’d be pulling in. The queue was snaking round the car park. You couldn’t not see it. She loaded her shopping into the boot, returned her trolley then got into the driving seat and sat reading her receipt. For about 5 minutes. Why? Just why??