AIBU to tell someone to fuck off in Waitrose ( warning, may contain masks)

[UncouthBehaviourInTheCakeAisle]

Is it me? Why are people so fucking rude in Waitrose? I live near three supermarkets, Lidl, Asda and Waitrose and this never happens in Lidl or Asda (or when I'm with DH funnily enough )

I have a lung condition, and sometimes cough - I try not to, I wear a mask, I am discreet, I cough into my elbow. I genuinely do understand the sound of a cough can be alarming these days and if someone looks nervous (especially elderly people) I will explain it and say I don't have CV...this is fine, I understand.

But why do people feel the need to be fucking rude and make direct comments or tut give me disgusted looks? It's happened before and just yesterday I had to remove my mask and use my inhaler (I actually sanitise my hands and put a new mask on) Why the fuck would someone give me a dirty look and tut (and I didn't imagine it)?!

So my question is, what is an acceptable response to people doing this or worse, questioning me in a rude manner, because I am that close to just saying fuck off, quite honestly. The only reason I didn't say this to the last person (who asked me if I should be leaving the house ) was because they had a child with them.

I always have a severe case of esprit de l'escalier afterwards (eg I could have answered rude woman with yes, and should your child be in school with an equally judgy look )

It's getting to the point where I am nervous about going out because I it's actually quite upsetting. Would I BU to say fuck off? (DH thinks this is acceptable and I should also add "you cunt" but I don't think I could bring myself to say cunt in Waitrose...)

[UncouthBehaviourInTheCakeAisle]

I wouldn't cough directly at some one or "ostentatiously" (for want of a better word) as I think that would definitely make me a bit of the dick, and put me on the moral low ground.

Perhaps I do give off an aggressive vibe. And there was me thinking I was just buying an almond croissant in a normal, just nipping to the shop, fashion. How could I avoid this, for people thinking this is the case?

[TheRealJeanLouise]

“You do realise coughing is a perfectly normal bodily function. Being an arse is not, however patronising stare”

This would never happen in my Waitrose. Tesco yes, Waitrose no.

[ToastyCrumpet]

It’s hard isn’t it? I too cough a bit because of asthma and I go purple in the face trying to suppress it because I don’t want to worry people.

[JuliaJohnston]

You sound like a Waitrose shopper... Would you care to elaborate on this? 🙄

[MagicSummer]

I have constant chronic rhinitis - I cough and sneeze every day (unfortunately) - I have been trying to suppress it in shops but sometimes you just have to! I do get looks though!

[UncouthBehaviourInTheCakeAisle]

I don't think that can be the case actually, I'm usually just burbling along, don't like to make eye contact with anyone anyway minding my own business and thinking about cake.

[UncouthBehaviourInTheCakeAisle]

I don't think that can be the case actually, I'm usually just burbling along, don't like to make eye contact with anyone anyway minding my own business and thinking about cake.

(Having an aggressive vibe i mean)

[pinkgin85]

@BigusBumus

My local Waitrose definitely has more polite and respectful people in it than the local Lidl, where people seem to push and shove and reach over you and stand right next to you. 🤷🏼‍♀️

Same at mine, I shop at mine because it literally is the closest shop to us and have always had a lovely experience. We pop in most days.

[Hadalifeonce]

Could you call them out and say you didn't quite catch what they said?

[Tardigraded]

No excuse ever for being rude, but in my experience good manners are the first casualty when people are afraid/stressed, and there's a lot of that about at the moment. Maybe people shopping in Waitrose less accustomed to existential danger than less affluent people who shop in budget supermarkets? Just a guess.

[Coldandwet123]

@Viviennemary you have a very good point.
I agree.
Lock us all up. See how the work force works out then.

[UncouthBehaviourInTheCakeAisle]

@JuliaJohnston

You sound like a Waitrose shopper... Would you care to elaborate on this? 🙄

Come come, don't be disingenuous I think, as is obvious from their prices, (and the responses on this thread) Waitrose is seen as a shop frequented by the wealthier type of person. Who are more likely to be "well spoken" (hate that phrase).

[LisaLee333]

@UncouthBehaviourInTheCakeAisle

That sounds very annoying, and yes, I wouldn't blame you if you told them to F-off.

Weirdly, I have had similar happening; not with the mask though. When you had to join queues outside shops, I went into the basket queue outside Morrisons, (as it was separate from the trolley one,) and was barked at 4 or 5 times, for 'pushing in.' I wasn't! I was in the bloody basket queue. It is almost always women in their 50s or 60s. And I am not being ageist, or sexist; I am stating a fact.

Oddly, no-one ever ever EVER says anything when I am with my husband. It's like I never get men saying 'cheer up luv' and 'give us a smile!' when I am with him! Why IS that? And why do men say this?!

Waitrose is an overrated and overpriced dive anyway, so just stick to Lidl, Asda, Morrisons, or Aldi.

[potter5]

Yep. Fuck orf will do fine.

I shop in Waitrose sometimes and back in April had a woman back into me who then started shouting that I was too close to her. I called her a stupid effing cow and she went bright red and shuffled off to look at the foie gras no doubt.

[dooratheexplorer]

Sorry, I find Waitrose to be the nicest supermarket in terms of customers, staff and shopping experience.

I pretty much avoid every other supermarket for that reason. There are rude and pushy customers everywhere.

[workshy44]

You poor thing , I have a friend who has had a persistent cough for years and I was only thinking how hard it must be - people are so rude. I wouldn’t lower myself to their level - just explain and move on and fire the dirty looks back but this must be so difficult

[SweatyAmy]

I have an asthma cough too which makes me feel awkward at the best of times, let alone at the moment!

Every winter I get at least one dreadful cough for over a month after a cold, or bronchitis or a bacterial chest infection. I get glared at on the tube and comments at work - one woman told me I shouldn't be at work if I need to take cough medicine. Another woman said I shouldn't be at work if I need to take my reliever inhaler at work.

I can't take 4-6 weeks off work every time I have a cough after a cold/flu. I also have difficult to control asthma and that means I need to use my inhaler during the day sometimes. I can't just not work because I need an inhaler!

You have my sympathy OP. I wouldn't tell someone to fuck off but I would say 'it's just asthma'. You'd have thought using an inhaler would signify a lung condition but hey ho.

[Aesopfable]

I blame the government - they are the ones who have instilled fear in people.

[Bid876]

Wear a giant tshirt over your clothes saying back the fuck off I have a lung condition, I cough If you don’t like it tough shit. P.s if you think this tshirt is rude, try saying something to my face!

[JamieLeeCurtains]

I'm now the proud owner of a blue badge, courtesy of many fabulous years of debilitating arthritis.

The other day we parked in a disabled spot outside Asda and a woman (no mask) actually peered into my open passenger door to stare at my legs.

I possibly need to learn a repertoire of suitable insults. Or acquire a silver-topped cane and poke people with it, channelling my inner Dowager Countess of Grantham.

[Chocaholic9]

I don't think you should call anyone a cunt or tell people to fuck off.

People can be really rude & horrible and as a fellow asthmatic I understand but personally I wouldn't lower yourself to their level by swearing at people.

[MillieVanilla]

Yeah we've had looks with DS as he doesn't wear a mask. I usually go "well you're lucky DS you are exempt from masks they're such a pest and make people so cross" whilst giving looks at the ignorant wretch who fits who gives stink eye.
They generally have an air of "oops I shall refrain from such twatty behaviour" on them after that

[LadyFlumpalot]

Either:

Paddington stare and a brief stern "I have Asthma"

Or

Threaten to lick them.

[REDLIPSTICKANDNAILS]

Waitrose is full to the brim of people who have nothing better to do than judge others and tut. I hate the place.

[myshoelaces]

I have resting bitch face and if you to,d me to fuck off and called me a cunt I would be reporting g to store manager and asking you to be barred.

Ooh scary!

I don't think you're acting aggressively op, how do you aggressively buy a croissant? Are you kicking them on the floor toward the til? Or stomping across the shop?

Sounds more like people are judging you for your appearance. Maybe throw a croissant at them next time, see if you can get barred.