AIBU to wonder if queuing is a British thing, what on earth do the rest of the world do??

[RubyCav]

I have heard quite a few people state "queuing is a British thing". So what I really can't work out is, how general life would work without people forming nice orderly ques. So I'm turning to mumsnet wisdom to help me understand.

It has happened to me quite a number of times in London, (as a visitor from overseas), that I have waited patiently for my turn, and when I finally reach the top of the queue and am mid-purchase, someone else comes along and interrupts, and seem to think it's fine to do so.

Rachel0Greep you must be doing something wrong, perhaps in your body language. That has NEVER happened to me.

I immediately thought of my time in Rome when this subject came up. Queues did not seem to have much of an impact on some people there. I had a bit of an argument with some guys that tried to push in front of me (without knowing any Italian) they did back down and piss off eventually though. I'm sure they understood me even though they pretended not to :D

It interested me that it happened in London, because of the thing I had often heard about being British and queueing.
In all cases, I advised them to queue, just as I had done, and continued with my transaction.

i also point blank refused to let some teenage jumpers get passed at Alton Towers recently. They called me all sorts of names. Then I pointed to the sign saying people Queue jumping would be ejected from the park and they buggered off. Family behind us referred to me as tough :P