Men pushing in in queues and not social distancing.

I went to our small local supermarket a few days ago. Myself and another woman arrived at the door at the same time. There is a big sign about 2 metres in front of the door saying you have to wait for a member of staff to tell you to come in.
Other woman and I stood waiting both having said to each other "you go first when staff member comes".
Then, behold a man arrives. He walked straight past us, past the sign and into the shop (automatic door).
Open mouthed female staff member told him to piss off back outside and read the sign and WAIT HIS TURN.
It was like we were totally invisible to him (of course as both average looking women in our 40s).

I went shopping yesterday and the people who stood out to me were the man ambling, arms clasped behind his back, down the centre of each aisle while his wife did all the shopping. Impossible to social distance from someone in the centre of the aisle. Then the man who got right up in the supermarket worker's face while asking where something was. Two other men sauntering about with no care whatsoever to socially distance. It was actually a very frightening experience. I did look at the ambling, very relaxed, middle aisle man and feel angry and resentful. It was just so lacking in awareness and the walking equivalent of man-spreading.

I can't get my head round this.

DidoLamenting yes there’s a lot of shooting down or unfounded accusations either at the OP as soon as a thread starts, or at consequent posts which join the conversation but happen to be different. No attempt to contextualise or see the bigger picture. All over MN on pretty much any topic.
I really like that people are sharing different experiences. And trying to interpret them together. Discussions are enlightening. Limiting the contributions has the opposite effect.

I was in Tesco yesterday morning.

There were two women not distancing, leaning across people, stopping in the middle of aisles, being asked to step back by the assistants. And about 40 men. They were either completely unaware of other people’s concerns, or they honestly believed the rules apply to everyone is except them.

The second group was men shopping with phone clamped to ear “ do you want the blue one or the green one? Should I get 400g or 800g” while he blocks the aisle.
Ffs just pick up a bag or rice and move on.

And the third bunch of men shopping WITH their wives. Why? Why trail around behind her, performing no useful purpose when he could sit in the car or stay at home and leave space for others’ safety.

Apologies to sensible, competent men, but Christ, there are a lot of arrogant idiots out there.

Not being sexist but I've only been out shopping twice and both times I noticed it was men not doing what they were asked. Had a man push in front and the man behind trying to stand right next to me to talk about how he was fed up with the supermarket rules. A couple of guys pushing past people to get their shopping in a hurry, and being asked to observe social distancing by the shop worker. Let's be honest here, men generally don't like having to follow the rules (generally) while women (generally) tend to be more compliant.

I haven't had this problem with either sex.

What I have noticed a couple of times is men in our local Tesco apologising (for no need , they weren't in my way) and stepping back if we were both about to head down the same aisle. I haven't noticed this with women.

Maybe their perception of 2m is less than women's?

It's quite common for men to estimate sizes as much longer than they really are.

Mainly had this problem with other women.

Sorry if this goes against OP’s (rather prejudiced) hypothesis.

Branster I'm glad that post was deleted. I thought of reporting it but didn't.
I get so fed up of the attitude that any thing which goes against the acceptable position means a poster is a man and or a liar.

In terms of social distancing, it's all people. Pavements aren't that wide anyway but I always try to squeeze myself to one side when I see others coming. They don't always do the same, and I have observed no particular sex being better or worse at it. What unites them is the fact that they are selfish assholes

So why not pipe down with your generalisations?

DH is off to Tesco now, he will stand in a queue for hours. He will be quiet and considerate as he always is.
He is a rock at the moment, probably the only thing keeping my teen DD sane.
He is 56 years old! I

They’re probably whistling too

Don't think it is men in particular, seems to be a generational thing

DidoLamenting quite right. Saw your post just before it got removed - I think because you quoted from the other one.
It is probably just people in general, some of us had one particular experience, at one particular time and drew a personal conclusion based on that. I, personally, didn’t draw the conclusion until I saw this thread and thought back at my personal 2 very limited experiences.
Someone’s bound to make the comment that it must be me, maybe I look non threatening to women and they feel comfortable in getting closer or maybe I look insignificant so they don’t notice me or I look way too ugly for men to get anywhere near me. It’s really nothing to do with anything. It’s simply that some people, men and women, forget to keep themselves and others safe. For what it’s worth, joggers seem to be equally split in this, again, from personal observation.

I have also noticed that there seemed to be more men shopping when I was getting groceries

Me too.

I assumed it was because all these men at home are driving their partners crazy so are sent out to the shops to get them out their hair.

Or because the men prefer to shop than do housework or childcare.

It certainly changes the dynamic in store because

1. They move slowly down the aisles as they don’t know where anything is or because they are reading lists or making phone calls on the move

1. They often stop in the middle of the aisle and block it, presumably because they are unaware of supermarket etiquette

1. They usually assume that women will give way to them, whereas IME other women see this as a mutual obligation.

1. Their lack of familiarity with the task means they spend ages standing in front of say, the mayonnaise , wondering which one of the 20 types to buy.

theBewildernessisWeetabix

I have also noticed that there seemed to be more men shopping when I was getting groceries. I hadn't really thought about it before that, but generally when I go there are more women, but all of a sudden there were slightly more men than women and the difference was noticeable. I assume it's because people's regular home routines are changed with people home from work.

A man did it to me in the Aldi queue. I did a loud 'hck humm' and he turned and apologised and we had a good laugh and he popped in behind me. He did accuse me of leaving too much of a gap but I really hadn't!! Maybe their perception of 2m is less than women's?? a bit like how they leave smaller gaps when they're driving etc

This reminds me of an old joke - a man is teaching a woman to park and tells her to leave a six inch gap. She parks one inch away from the obstruction and he points this out to her. Her response - ‘but, darling, you told me it was six inches’.

Not a massively funny joke but it always pops into my mind when there are differences between the sexes and their spatial awareness. It all comes down to penis size in the end!

I have only been out to the local grocers once since I started voluntary isolation on February 19th.
I chose the least busy time of day and there were only about twenty people shopping.
What surprised me is that they were mostly men. I am used to seeing more men shopping at lunchtime and after work but it was quite unusual at ten in the morning. It should not have been difficult to keep our distance with so few people there, should it? It was.

Actually have found out running that its the opposite to usual for men.

When on a pavement and a male runner coming at me always prior to lockdown it would be a game of chicken that I refuse to lose and I'd get sneered at when they have to move at the last minute.

Now they dart out into the road 100 metres ahead....running bliss!

Oops wrong emoticon

Meant

Yep

I pointed out out to DH and he has been observing and agrees

Sometimes women but usually men

On the pavement if a couple the woman scampers to the side to give space and the man ploughs on in middle of pavement

My DH is not a crazed misandric feminazi by the way

A man did it to me in the Aldi queue. I did a loud 'hck humm' and he turned and apologised and we had a good laugh and he popped in behind me. He did accuse me of leaving too much of a gap but I really hadn't!! Maybe their perception of 2m is less than women's?? a bit like how they leave smaller gaps when they're driving etc