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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think this rude comment was unwarranted? (Supermarket rage!)

326 replies

CrossFitAddict · 15/01/2021 17:07

Just popped to the supermarket for a few bits and on exiting the checkouts I come out behind an elderly lady with another woman walking with her side by side (probably her daughter). It’s about 50ft to the exit and the elderly lady is walking extremely slowly holding onto a trolley (no problem with her at all), the other woman with her is walking at the same pace and blocking the walkway (she was rather large) so there’s a queue of us behind them.

As the area widened I walked quickly around them, a good distance from the elderly lady, and sped up to the entrance hearing the other woman shout loudly ‘some people can’t wait for other people can they’. I turned as I heard her (as did everyone else) and wanted to say that she should have moved to the side and walked single file behind the older lady if she had any manners but didn’t bother and just shook my head.

AIBU to think that if you’re walking with a slow moving person, you should move to the side rather than hold up everyone else and then take umbrage if someone overtakes you Angry.

OP posts:
Brighterthansunflowers · 15/01/2021 17:26

I generally get annoyed with people not going to single file but if the old lady was so slow and frail, I would have assumed the other lady needed to be next to her to support her if she stumbled.

YANBU to go around her when there’s space and SWBU to comment. But YABU to reply back so rudely. And there’s no need to mention her size in your post other than to be nasty.

RedMarauder · 15/01/2021 17:27

YANBU some people get upset when you remind them they aren't the only people in the world.

Oh and when I'm out with a disabled person if I'm blocking someone I move.

Fromage · 15/01/2021 17:27

You did nothing wrong. You didn't huff or tut, you didn't even say "excuse me, may I get past?" which wouldn't have been impolite anyway. You waited till you could get past and off you went.

The remark from the slow walker does indicate she thought you had a problem but it's not like went OI MOVE IT FATTY and coughed on them as you shoved past fgs. You did nothing wrong.

SharedLife · 15/01/2021 17:27

The travelator comes out directly at the entrance of our tesco. If a queue formed it would clog up people getting off.

TeachesOfPeaches · 15/01/2021 17:28

She was just stating facts, you couldn't wait

WorraLiberty · 15/01/2021 17:28

@Brighterthansunflowers

I generally get annoyed with people not going to single file but if the old lady was so slow and frail, I would have assumed the other lady needed to be next to her to support her if she stumbled.

YANBU to go around her when there’s space and SWBU to comment. But YABU to reply back so rudely. And there’s no need to mention her size in your post other than to be nasty.

The OP didn't reply at all.
MissBaskinIfYoureNasty · 15/01/2021 17:28

Yanbu the daughter/friend should have done the shopping for both of them at the moment anyway. Supermarkets just give me rage anyway. People holding everyone else up shuffling around daydreaming or stopping for a gossip.

Ohdoleavemealone · 15/01/2021 17:29

How dare you OP! You should have stood still and waited patiently for however long it took for them to walk. The lady was entitiled to have a chat and walk side by side because she was there first and you are inferior so must wait!

OR...back in the real world, where you waited patiently for an opportunity to pass, and STILL got a rude remark from people clearly blissfully aware of people around them, yanbu.

sofiaaaaaa · 15/01/2021 17:29

I hate this too.

The other day dozens of train passengers left Worcester station but were blocked in, some had to wait on the stairs.

A large, shouty woman and her large boyfriend were standing abreast and blocking the exit doors because their puppy wanted to sniff things and mark. So they just stopped dead in their tracks at the doors to let the dog do what it liked, leading to a queue building up as there was no way to navigate past them. I walked past and they had the audacity to moan at me! Sorry but if you care so much about social distancing, take the initiative to actively move out of the way yourself.

Edel2019 · 15/01/2021 17:29

@TheoriginalLEM

Could you not have just waited? Like, two minutes
Please tell me this is a joke
ShinyMe · 15/01/2021 17:29

My father is disabled and has limited mobility and is slow. He can walk, but he's slow and he needs someone beside him just in case. You can't walk behind him, you have to be next to him.

SoupDragon · 15/01/2021 17:29

but women have to be kiiiind

No, people should be kind regardless of their genitalia.

That said, walking round slower people when there is space to do so is not a problem at all.

Edel2019 · 15/01/2021 17:29

@ExclamationPerfume

You were rude and impatient.

Maybe the elderly lady couldn't shop on her own.

Oh Christ
AnnieAreYouOkHun · 15/01/2021 17:30

Yanbu I would have done the same.

Edel2019 · 15/01/2021 17:30

@SomewhatBored

Some people go through life looking for confrontation - sounds like you had the misfortune to meet one, OP.
💯

YANBU!!!!!

Ohdoleavemealone · 15/01/2021 17:30

@Brighterthansunflowers

I generally get annoyed with people not going to single file but if the old lady was so slow and frail, I would have assumed the other lady needed to be next to her to support her if she stumbled.

YANBU to go around her when there’s space and SWBU to comment. But YABU to reply back so rudely. And there’s no need to mention her size in your post other than to be nasty.

Surely she mentioned her size to indicate that there wasn't room initially to pass?
SoupDragon · 15/01/2021 17:31

OP, can you just clarify: did you wait until the space was wide enough to walk safely past or did you barge through like a rugby player, shoving both women to the floor? From the responses here I can't tell.

Brieminewine · 15/01/2021 17:31

YANBU, if you’re that large to block the aisle you’ve got to walk single file.

kowari · 15/01/2021 17:31

YANBU. If the elderly woman had a trolley to hold on to then the large woman could have walked behind in single file.

YouBoughtMeAWall · 15/01/2021 17:31

She was rude to shout out to you. I don’t know why it was a problem for her that you got out of the shop faster than her Confused you didn’t kick her on the way past did you? Wink

However if it had been my granny as the elderly lady she would need someone beside her as she walks. She is wobbly and despite a trolley to steady her would feel anxious without one of us there beside her. Realistically it wouldn’t be my granny as she is so hyper aware of how slow she is she won’t go out anymore as she thinks people are looking at her and frustrated with her so she hasn’t left the house in months. Sad

Brighterthansunflowers · 15/01/2021 17:32

@WorraLiberty

Oops! Sorry I missed the “wanted to say but didn’t part!” Sorry OP!

user1471453601 · 15/01/2021 17:33

I can understand why they were not walking in single file. If you are unsteady on your feet, it's helpful to have someone who can help if you wobble, I wobble a lot, and really appreciate someone ( even a stranger) lending me their arm.

I can kind of understand why the lady became angry, although it wasn't reasonable. You were, however inadvertently pointing out her frailty. But, and it's a big but, she still had no reason to be rude to you

SkiWays · 15/01/2021 17:34

What? We can't pass someone now?

AlbusSeverusMalfoy · 15/01/2021 17:36

I would of done the same as OP. YWNBU.

midlifecrash · 15/01/2021 17:38

Some people do get annoyed when you overtake them. As long as you are allowing plenty of distance (and obviously not queue jumping or anything) I don't get it. A man once shouted after me "there's plenty of trains!" as I passed him on the stairs going down to the Tube platform. Weird