What the hell is wrong with people?!?

[crispysausagerolls]

Went to the supermarket today during their elderly/vulnerable slot. Heavily and very obviously pregnant. Supermarket extremely clear that this is included in the category.

Was literally torn to shreds by all the over 70s, both to my face and in front of me but to each other, about how I wasn’t allowed there and even if I was I shouldn’t be 😱

Aren’t times shitty enough without needing to face down over 70s Regina George and her allies?! How is this necessary?! Even when the supermarket worker made it clear I was indeed allowed in, the bitching continued.

Have managed to purchase some non alcoholic wine for later.

op is it obvious you are pregnant? A minority of Old people can be cantankerous and nasty so I wouldn’t take too much offence. I can not imagine how worried they must be feeling knowing there is something in the air that wants to kill them if given a chance. The tension is palpable across so many demographics.

Lol its technically more ageist to actually suggest that you're automatically more vulnerable as an individual just because you're over 70. According to their logic, you could be a 72 year old athlete with the heart of an ox, and still get priority over a woman who is pregnant with twins, has gestational diabetes and other health problems.

Ew, I hope theyre proud of themselves and enjoy the probable pile of non essential shite they bought. They clearly don't understand the guidelines so I don't hold out much hope that these individuals weren't out for a copy of the Daily Mail and scratchcards.

It seems to me that as the situation goes on for longer and longer, it starts to bring out the worst in people. To start with we're all positive and upbeat, but the mask slips after a while and people revert to their animal instincts / reptile brain. Or maybe its just an indicator that they're just not very nice people!! I hear what others are saying about perhaps they are frightened, anxious, panicking etc but I dont think thats any kind of an excuse - control yourself, thats when your character and values are supposed to kick in so you can operate as a useful member of society for goodness sake!!

Literally torn to shreds?

Literally?

literally?

Are you sure you didn't accidentally walk in to an audition of the Hunger Games?

Not all the elderly are dear sweet old biddies!

And why should they be, they are human and subject to the same stresses as everyone. And they didn’t choose to get old. Not that that is an excuse for what the OP went through.

OP, if you were unsure that you were still part of the vunerable group then possibly the older people in the queue were also unsure. Maybe suggest to the supermarket that they make it clear who is allowed in which timeslots. Things are changing daily, it's not always easy to keep up.

Yes, they were rude to you, and it was horrible, but one of the reasons* that supermarkets introduced the vunerable hours was that older people are more at risk, so it is natural that they are trying to keep safe, as of course are you, but I don't think many people, young or old, are aware of the guidelines for pregnant women, unless of course they have someone in their family to whom it applies.

[*Another reason of course is that rude, aggressive, greedy, stockpiling younger people initially made shopping impossible for older people who might have mobility issues, be more unstable on their feet etc. ]

Rudeness is something we should not tolerate from any age group.

Read some of the comments on this thread and then tell me MN is not ageist.

I agree with going at normal times

I went to our local tesco at 11am and the queue was orderly and chatty (at a distance!) and not that long.

Very easy inside too.

@Kordelia

It’s how it felt! Considering I was just trying to do some food shopping, it did feel like I was torn to shreds having several people aggressively tell me I was not allowed to be somewhere, yes. And bitching about me to one another and how pregnancy shouldn’t be included on the list IF it was. It was deeply unpleasant

Tbh honest this is why I have never been during that slot. Heavily pregnant, with gestational diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis means I am definitely in that group but knew how it would look.....

@Malbecfan

Damn, good for you!!! 💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻

Gosh there's a plethora of pedants about today isn't there. The Oxford English dictionary acknowledges that literally can be used an in informal context to emphasis a situation, such as by the OP...

@frumpety

Well, to confirm, I didn’t even discuss their age with them - they brought up over 70s. So not really an excuse for
Their behaviour!

Some people are nasty before the age of 70 and stay so after. My mum has been for the elderly and vulnerable shopping hour just before lockdown and wouldn't have let them speak to you like that without saying something, unfortunately I think you were unlucky. Fear can make people crazy.

It's awful , I have a type of tachycardia, but look like a fit and well person in their 30s.I have been upbraided for things like having special assistance in the airport (cause I passed out five times in the airport pre-flight, I don't book it or anything) and sitting on a normal (not priority) bus seat (because I could actually only see all the weird colours you see before you pass out and definitely couldn't have stood up). I've managed to get deliveries so far and am rationing food, but am dreading if I have to go out.

I hope you encounter some kindness today to make up for it.

@JemimaPuddleCat

Not literally, of course not 😂

op is it obvious you are pregnant?

Very! But I told
Them I was anyway in case they were unclear. Thought it would help. Nope!

I am more than able to stand up for myself normslly, but when i was pregnant i was very emotional and felt vulnerable in a lot of ways, physically and mentally. A bunch of nasty snidey biddies being horrible to me would probably have made me cry as well.

OP, iam sorry they were vile to you. Try and rise above their nastiness, have a cup of tea, and a rest. Your baby is more important than their opinions.

Yet another MN thread hating all older people

No.... I really liked that one older lady who came to see if I was ok!

You also agreed with Malbecs comments.

I hope she never taught my children with her disgusting attitude and references to 'nasty old bodies'

It’s very clear on the website and I called to ask before going the first time/have been a few times now, that pregnant women are allowed. But when several people are ADAMANT that you are in the wrong, it can make you doubt yourself.

Agree that the SM should put it on the window or something though.

@TitianaTitsling

Thank you for this!

Thanks to everyone who understands why this might have been upsetting!

YANBU.

Don't expect 'older' people to be pleasant just because they're older Unfortunately there are as many unpleasant people in this age group as any age group. I've met many lovely older people whilst in the supermarket with my children, but I also had an elderly person shout at me 'It's not a fucking nursery in here, all these fucking kids in here every day!" and another stooped low to be face to face with my 4 year old and tell her to stop singing and being so noisy.

Try and put it out of your mind.

@Frankiecandle

I haven’t agreed with any comments in particular - but I do agree with someone standing up for themselves! I wish I had been able to do it more today!

@Frankiecandle why have got such an issue with this? it is relevant to this thread because the people using that slot made it an issue about age - as in you shouldnt be here because you are not over 70.

fuck sake

So you think saying to a pensioner 'who pays your fucking pension' is standing up for yourself?

That pensioner was probably working and paying tax before the mighty Malbec was born.