A 'nice' way to tell someone to SD?

[BBCONEANDTWO]

So was just in a cafe. You had to queue up in an orderly line. The bit where they were selling drinks was more or less empty and I saw this woman who had already been seated come over and get in that queue. Then a man who had gone back to collect his full English joined his wife who was in the drinks queue.

The wife went over to the other bit to pay and the man turned round to the other woman, put his hands in front of himself and loudly told her to 'move back you're in my space, social distance'.

I was down visiting the town for the day and was pretty shocked at how aggressive he was. The woman stepped backwards and said sorry. I just wondered though is there a better way to tell someone you're in their space.

I think we need to be kind to people and I felt sorry or the woman and a few people in the queue rolled their eyes up at the guy. I was also thinking if the woman had been a big strapping man he might not have been as aggressive in the first place.

I just thought if I was in her place I'd have felt upset. I don't know how I would address this. I have seen people in shops telling people off I they touch something and put it back and it amazes me. Everyone was wearing masks until they got to their table.

I just turn around and stare at them, then at the floor marking, then back at them. Usually does the trick. I have a resting bitch face so probably looks like I’m giving them a disgusted look

If not, I’ll just ask them to move back and point at the signs/floor markings.

Also in your example it sounds like the woman was there first, so if anything the man was invading her social distancing space as he arrived 2nd

I got prodded in the back with a brolly at my uncles funeral I think excuse me I think your too close Would have been better

So the space was already set with the mans wife, he stepped into his wife's space and she moved, the lady should have remained at the 2m distance.

He had every right to tell her not to invade his safe space.

Others really need to just respect others space, it's not difficult, just stay 2m apart and be a positive member of society,

1. the cafe is ultimately at fault for not having a better system.

2. he didn't insert himself, he was collecting food.

3. he may have had severe anxiety as opposed to being aggressive: you're being judgemental and are encouraging others to do the same.

4. in my experience you need to be firm as people pay little attention to SD and are often too close together: she won't make that mistake again in a hurry so his warning served it's purpose.

We all have to adjust to the new normal so these are the things that will occurr, I'm not really sure why there is a thread about this, it's not interesting or necessary and it didn't even involve you?

I appreciate that rules are there for a reason, but I tend to agree. Covid is goimg to be around for a good while. If you are genuinely concerned that you are at serious risk being probably 1m away from someone in a cafe, you probably shouldn't be there. The majority of people are not in immediate danger. The majority of people need to get on with life.

Two people have died in the last 24 hours of Covid in the UK (or had Covid at the point of death). I suspect more have died from transport accidents, suicide, heart disease, obesity, alcohol and drug abuse...

Perspective is now required.

I asked a man to move back a bit in the queue in Poundland and he had a massive go at me. Completely freaked out, said I thought I was better than him. He was actually touching me and I thought I was polite. Sometimes you just can’t win!

I appreciate that rules are there for a reason, but I tend to agree. Covid is goimg to be around for a good while. If you are genuinely concerned that you are at serious risk being probably 1m away from someone in a cafe, you probably shouldn't be there.

I’ve a better idea. How about those that are too ignorant, arrogant or scatty to socially distance, stay at home? That way, the rest of us who try to respect each other’s spaces are safer.

The majority of people are not in immediate danger.

Have you some kind of special power that lets you know who is or isn’t in danger, if they catch Covid?

The majority of people need to get on with life.

You can do that, while still respecting social distancing guildlines. The vulnerable people are trying to get on with life too.

FelcisNox, the OP has said that he basically went and stood in front of the woman, so why did he not stand further away? It would still have been clear that he was queuing. The woman was SD quite well by what has been described, and he comes along and starts waving his arms and being rude. Ok, he may have had anxiety, but then the woman may have been very anxious too. If anything, it should have been the woman asking HIM to step 2m away. I agree that the cafe should have a better system, but he could have used a bit of common sense.

That must make me rude then

I was in Aldi, had queued up and was called over to out my shopping on the belt. The store make it clear there is one queue, you stay in it until you are called, so as the person in front is finished unloading and then can move their trolley or basket the end near the till and pack whilst next called I er outs their shopping on the belt.
It's very simple.
Except a woman with about 5 other people ignores this. I've not even unloaded all my weeks shopping yet and she is muttering at me.
I lost my temper as she kept elbowing at me, turned around and said "You are meant to distance yourself and wait to be called over, no bloody well move". She stood where she was so the woman on my till looks over stops serving and she tells her to bloody well move back to the queue. She hadn't even queued according to others she just pushed in. It took for another member of staff to shout at her until she moved.

Then we had masked twat (before they were compulsory) who totally ignored that people were waiting to get round an aisle to allow other space in a busy store. She ended up pushing into me. God I wasn't in the mood for it so I said "a mask does not allow you to ignore Social Distancing, you need to move back, now". She did move sharpish!
Sorry but it's just a nuisance, we all know the risks, if we are ever going to see the end of this awful thing we all must follow the instructions.

I'd have said "Please can you /do you mind stepping back a bit...".
But if he or his wife had jumped the queue I'd be telling him why I was so close and that he was a rude twat.

No special powers, just common sense. Average number of people who die per day in RTAs in the UK is 5. Average number of people who commit suicide in the UK per day is 18. The fear that is currently surrounding Covid is completely out of proportion with reality.

@Raspberryberret

No special powers, just common sense. Average number of people who die per day in RTAs in the UK is 5. Average number of people who commit suicide in the UK per day is 18. The fear that is currently surrounding Covid is completely out of proportion with reality.

All those other things, such as accidents have absolutely no connection to who is vulnerable to serious illness, or death from Covid, so I don’t see the point in mentioning them. If you saw my 25 year old in a shop you, like many others, would assume she wasn’t at risk, even though it has the potential to kill her.

That's my point. There is the potential to kill every one of us. Everywhere. But previously we made a rational decision to make risk assessments and make decisions and act accordingly. We seem to have lost this with Covid. Let's not forget that lockdown was introduced to stop the NHS from becoming overwhelmed. Not to stop the majority of people from.contracting the virus.

Cough.....people will soon move