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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU - 2 metre rule

29 replies

ksohh0 · 18/10/2020 15:29

It's hardly a significant problem, but it's been playing on my mind since it happened! A couple of days ago, I was stood in a shop waiting to pay. The man in front was right at the counter. I was approx 2 metres back. The line markings on floor have one line about a metre from the counter - guy was stood in front of that right against counter - and then another line 2 metres back from the 1st. I was stood in front of that one. I acknowledge that I was in the wrong for not standing on the line but genuinely I was not close to him. I believe there were still 2 metres between us given we were both standing in front of our respective 2 metre markings.

He turned around and very rudely told me to get back behind the line, when I didn't shuffle back enough he was like 'keep going, I said get behind the line'. It felt very confrontational and was out of nowhere so I just obeyed and apologised.

Then he had brief rant to the shop assistant 'about fucking people never adhering to the rules' and some other mumbling I didn't hear.

I understand he may have been a vulnerable person, but AIBU to feel like this was unneccessary on his part? On the one hand I feel bad about it because I wasn't on the line, but neither was he so the space was still there. The lines aren't magic.

OP posts:
ventanaperrito · 18/10/2020 15:31

Yabu. The lines are there for a reason and everybody has to use them including you.

flaviaritt · 18/10/2020 15:33

I think his tone would have meant I told him to fuck off, but you were in the wrong not to be behind the line and you probably made him feel crowded.

Original poster
ksohh0 · 18/10/2020 15:33

@ventanaperrito but not him?

OP posts:
Brefugee · 18/10/2020 15:35

just stand behind the line. it's not hard

Brighterthansunflowers · 18/10/2020 15:35

YABU for not standing on the line, HIBU for being rude

But focusing on it now benefits no one. Just let it go and pay attention to the lines where you should stand next time

ventanaperrito · 18/10/2020 15:44

[quote ksohh0]@ventanaperrito but not him?[/quote]
Everybody has to, read my pp.

PardonMyFrancais · 18/10/2020 15:47

Lot of jobsworths on here today. It sounds like you were plenty far behind him, I imagine you’d have both been wearing masks as well.

YANBU and he sounds like a rude twat. A pandemic is no reason to talk to people like shit.

Original poster
ksohh0 · 18/10/2020 15:48

@ventanaperrito my question wasn't AIBU to expect not to have to follow the rules. I made a mistake. I literally say that in my post. I'm questioning was it really enough of a mistake to publicly berate me in a shop.

OP posts:
CraftyGin · 18/10/2020 15:49

Just stand 2m back and then you won’t upset anyone.

MoggyP · 18/10/2020 15:49

You should have been behind the line, and you should have moved right back when reminded

I know people don't like being told off, but in this case it was appropriate

Original poster
ksohh0 · 18/10/2020 15:50

@CraftyGin I did.

OP posts:
CraftyGin · 18/10/2020 15:52

[quote ksohh0]@CraftyGin I did.[/quote]
You just said you were in front of the line.

I’ve asked quite a few people to give me 2m, and they have always apologised and shuffled back. Nothing to make a scene about.

Original poster
ksohh0 · 18/10/2020 15:53

@MoggyP That's what I was wondering (genuinely). Is it really appropriate to tell people off now by talking to them like shit and it appears it is. At least I know his reasoning. It seems to be socially acceptable, so of course he didn't see an issue with it.

OP posts:
ventanaperrito · 18/10/2020 15:54

[quote ksohh0]@ventanaperrito my question wasn't AIBU to expect not to have to follow the rules. I made a mistake. I literally say that in my post. I'm questioning was it really enough of a mistake to publicly berate me in a shop.[/quote]
Yes it was.

Original poster
ksohh0 · 18/10/2020 15:58

@CraftyGin I also said he was in front of his line! Thus 2 metres. I've no problem being asked or told, I have a problem with the way he did it. Anyway like I said, I just wanted to see if talking to people like shit is normal now, and the responses make it clear that it is, so I'll worry about it no more!

OP posts:
flaviaritt · 18/10/2020 15:59

No, he shouldn’t have spoken to you like that. But equally, you should probably give people as much space as they ask for.

BritWifeinUSA · 18/10/2020 16:00

Do he wax less than 2 meters from the assistant, I assume (you say he was right up to the counter) and was face to face with the assistant but he had an issue with you being as good as 2 meters behind him but he had his back to you? He’s yet another one who thinks that this situation has made him an unpaid police officer. FWIW most countries have revised the 2 meter thing to 1.5 or 1 meter.

Thus really has brought out the worst in some people.

CraftyGin · 18/10/2020 16:01

[quote ksohh0]@CraftyGin I also said he was in front of his line! Thus 2 metres. I've no problem being asked or told, I have a problem with the way he did it. Anyway like I said, I just wanted to see if talking to people like shit is normal now, and the responses make it clear that it is, so I'll worry about it no more![/quote]
Just stand on your line. What are you to gain from brinkmanship?

CraftyGin · 18/10/2020 16:03

@BritWifeinUSA

Do he wax less than 2 meters from the assistant, I assume (you say he was right up to the counter) and was face to face with the assistant but he had an issue with you being as good as 2 meters behind him but he had his back to you? He’s yet another one who thinks that this situation has made him an unpaid police officer. FWIW most countries have revised the 2 meter thing to 1.5 or 1 meter.

Thus really has brought out the worst in some people.

Doesn’t matter what other countries have done. We are 2m.

Retail workers are generally behind Perspex screens.

SchrodingersImmigrant · 18/10/2020 16:09

I think people are getting fed up by some people just not understanding simple rules even in a form of markings and pics, some 7 months into this...

Original poster
ksohh0 · 18/10/2020 16:10

@CraftyGin Obviously I do usually stand behind the line. Unfortunately I'm not infallible. It's a sad state of affairs if it's no longer possibly to ask people to move politely. Or just, you know, not aggressively.

OP posts:
CraftyGin · 18/10/2020 16:13

We obviously only have your side of the story, but perhaps he was giving you a look or uncomfortable body language which you did not react to, before he blew.

Please stop trying to justify yourself.

redcarbluecar · 18/10/2020 16:14

I’d move if someone asked me to (not that anyone has, during the whole of lockdown) but this bloke sounds like a rude twat. There’s no excuse for speaking to someone like that. He could have just given you a brief, polite reminder. Ah well, try to forget it.

QueenofLean · 18/10/2020 16:16

Oh FFS. All these people saying he was right to berate you in public. Have people lost the art of just asking? Like... ‘could you step behind the line please?’. That’s certainly how I’d teach my children to talk to people.

Original poster
ksohh0 · 18/10/2020 16:16

@CraftyGin Oh so now you're adding a fictional element to justify his reaction while telling me to stop justifying myself lol ok. Enjoy your fiction! I've got the clarity I needed from this post now.

OP posts: