To wonder why people fuck about so much?

Isn't there some kind of queuing paradox (?) or something though because you're just standing there doing nothing it feels like the active people are taking an absolutely ages, but then when it's your turn it feels really quick because you were actually doing something and you only had to do it once rather than wait through 20 people doing it.

In other words some of you enraged people possibly aren't quite as efficient as you think you are, nor are some people faffing quite as much as you think they are. You probably also have moments other people would consider faffing, like occasionally dropping your purse or having to choose a different cheese as the one you usually buy is out of stock.

Maybe they were there also collecting from after-school club but just got there a bit earlier than you did and used it as an opportunity to have an adult conversation outside of work?

Yep it's Luton that traumatised me 😂😭

@AlpacaMittens there are definitely airports that easier to mosey about in than others, Luton airport is particularly horrendous. Even getting to your gate at a normal pace feels hectic, it always seems to have about twice as many people in it than it can actually hold.

You're right. However... When it's really packed, so you can't easily move past people, I wish people walked around a bit more consciously. Instead they change direction suddenly because they spotted something in the shop across, or they stop suddenly to check their phone, or they walk very slowly in one direction then drag their suitcase over your toes while starting to walk almost zigzagy, or all the above

Can you tell I've been recently traumatised 🤣🤣🤣😭😭😭

We just sit and wait until everyone else is off.

Dammit, @Tigergirl80, don't tell everyone the secret! They'll all want the plane to themselves, and nobody will get off!

But it actually is, you have to get there well before it's time to get to the gate and all there is to do is wander about, not to mention the people who are waiting for a connecting flight with a 4 hour lay over! Obviously there will be some people in a rush but then you just ask them politely to let you past.

I knew the parents where still there at half 6 as I would be racing down the road,trying not to be late to pick the kids up from after school club

Pissed me off,having to push them out of the way so I wouldn't get into trouble for being late (I never was,but I was scared of being that person)

A bit like me ALWAYS getting in the wrong queue at the tills. I excelled myself one day, Poundland (when everything was a pound) I joined a queue absentmindedly and realised the mistake I’d made after a couple of minutes. Her bill came to £99.

I take a darn sight more notice now!

It was really autocorrect gone rogue and me not paying attention. I use my iPad for work and end up with a lot of city names that end up coming to the forefront in my predictive text. 😁

Fair dos. If you'd put carmel (sic) I'd have got it.

They do indeed pronounce it carmel - I'm sorry I missed your satire!

You think I was going to take the time to edit that nonsense? I think I was over generous to write it all out for your amusement in the first place considering I already lived it!

EDIT: never mind go with what @Namechangerage said that makes it sound intentional and clever 🤣

It’s a parody on how Americans pronounce caramel. It wouldn’t be the same if it was spelled caramel because people reading it in their head would pronounce it CA-RA-MEL

After all that, I'm sure it's Caramel.

Carmel is a place in America - something to do with Clint Eastwood or whoever.

If you took forever then the toasties would probably go "over" and then she risks complaints or the smoke alarm going off or any number of problems. She doesn't know whether you're going to be a "regular latte please" or a "caramel frappe with oat milk and cinnamon and do you have any gluten free cookies, I can't see them? What do you have that's gluten free? Can I see them please? And have you got any other crisps out the back I don't fancy plain, and.....".

They could be for her. They could be on the side for whoever is dealing with handing orders over to collect.

It was at 9.30 in the morning. It was also 3 toasted sarnies.

It as probably for her, and she was about to go on her lunchbreak right after serving you.

It's not necessary to charge anywhere if your arse is on fire. Counter productive.

Stop. Drop. And roll.

Totally agree with you. This morning I nipped into Costa for a takeaway coffee. Women behind the counter faffing with putting food in the ovens fair enough. She ignored me for a bit Then she turned and said I'll be with you in minute, again fair enough. However, she then waited for both ovens to finish, packaged up the toasted sarnies and put them in a huge takeaway bag...I assumed to pass to a customer who was waiting whi h would again be fine. Instead she just left them on the counter to go cold and turned to serve me.....no idea where the recipient of the hot lukewarm food was!

Most of the things described here aren’t really faffing though, just normal life?

The tip - not everybody goes there all the time, I rarely go so I’m not too familiar with it and do need to spend a few minutes reading the labels on the containers to make sure I’m putting stuff in the right one.

Petrol station - of course people are going to put their seatbelt on/put directions in the sat nav/have a drink of water etc before driving off, it’s not very safe to do those things while you’re driving so you need to do it before you set off. Yes you could move to the other parking spaces but if it’s busy enough to be a queue for the petrol then chances are the other spaces are taken too. And of course they’ll be driving off slowly, you’re hardly going to go from 0-60 in a petrol station.

Checkouts - People get their purse out at the end because before this they’ve been busy putting the shopping on the conveyor belt, then bagging it up. I do put it in my pocket if I have one, but I’m not always wearing something with pockets and I’m not leaving my purse out on the counter while also wrangling shopping and a young child, I want it safe in my bag until I’m ready to pay.

Young kids helping with shopping/paying - keeps them busy and happy, the alternative is they get bored and run off or tantrum, you’ll no doubt be complaining about that too and it would slow things down even further.

People looking at their tickets and looking for their seats - maybe they don’t have great eyesight or it just takes them a bit longer to get their bearings, especially if they have processing difficulties (which many ND people do)

Public toilets - many medical conditions mean people might take longer

None of the things listed delay anyone by any more than what, 3 minutes max? People saying that those they consider “faffers” are selfish and inconsiderate…well, so are you, expecting everyone to hurry out of your way because you’re so busy and important that you can’t wait a few minutes. I bet you’re the same types of wankers people that drive up my back when I’m driving at the speed limit in a residential area or that tut and barge when I’m out with my elderly mum or aunt, because they can’t walk fast enough for your liking.
For people like that I deliberately slow down. You can wait.

For the sake of my sanity and the lives of others I learned to bypass Starbucks and go to the quick grab window of one of the restaurants that serve breakfast sandwiches and plain coffee. That’s all they have. There is about 4 choices for food. Everything they have for food is in the case (which is unceremoniously popped in the convection oven for 2 min) and your choice of coffee is medium or large.

It’s not the best coffee but it’s quick 😁

I see a number of you have met my DF. He is very vocal about people taking up ridiculous amounts of space, blocking access and fannying around gawping and chatting in the supermarket. Not unreasonable except that he usually says all this while standing at 90 degrees across an aisle with one arm at full extension to his trolley and the other extended to select his item. And all in the sort of ringing tone that would make a Colour Sergeant raise an eyebrow. My DB and I think it is some sort of performance art project.

Haha…I too have found my people!

I think I shocked my DH the first time we went to the airport together. I apparently didn’t warn him that I have an ‘airport speed’. Sad to say he’s a security faffer. Over the years he’s gotten better at being prepared. But it was rough there for a few years.

Speaking of airports… can we talk about coffee? Anywhere else in the world I will roll my eyes as I wait for you to order. But at an airport at 6am you are close to seeing the hereafter.

double half caff latte with 3 pumps of Carmel 2 pumps vanilla-oh wait you don’t have this vanilla what vanilla do you have oh no I don’t like that one ok skip the vanilla maybe instead do you have the hazelnut ok make it 1 pump of hazelnut and change the Carmel to 3 pumps are you sure you don’t have the other vanilla the Starbucks at home has that vanilla they said they were getting complaints about that one ok no I guess the hazelnut will do-, 2 extra shots, light on the foam, use a blend of oat milk and 2% with light cinnamon sprinkle. Chris Chris Chris (Chris is never standing in line so this part is clearly being shouted) Chris what did you want… Chris I’m ordering what did you say you wanted? Chris Did you want a latte or a cappuccino? Chris you should just come here and tell them Chris they’re waiting…I forgot what you wanted was it a latte? Ok whatever let’s get him a vente latte oat milk heavy foam

(Chris ambles up slowly eating a banana) No babe I said I wanted an Americano but with a triple shot of espresso.

Wait when did you tell me that you never order that I thought you liked lattes oh the total. Here let find my card (rummage through 4 different bags) Chris I can’t find my wallet. No my green one not my blue one I know I put it in here but I can’t remember what bag I’m sure it’s here I used it at the store we were at OMG what happened to it no the green one Much rummaging later. oh wait here it is… tink…tink…it doesn’t seem to be working…oh is it ready? Are you ready for me? Should I try now tink

And while all this is going on I’m dying on the inside and finally get to the front card in hand.

Medium black dark roast please. Tink