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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:
Bagamoyo1 · 15/01/2021 17:40

@TeachesOfPeaches

She was just stating facts, you couldn't wait
You know that’s not true
swimlyn · 15/01/2021 17:40

You were NOT rude and impatient.

‘some people can’t wait for other people can they’

But you DID wait for them, didn’t you, until there was space to get by? Commenting out loud like this is plain stupid.

If you pushed by them it would be warranted…

honeylulu · 15/01/2021 17:40

and it's a big but

Sounds like a big butt actually!

CoolCovidCat · 15/01/2021 17:41

Eh? Since when can you not walk around a slow walker?

Batshit.

1Morewineplease · 15/01/2021 17:42

You did nothing wrong OP.
My mum is elderly and very slow. She needs support to walk. When we're at the supermarket she leans on the trolley and so I can move out of the way easily.
Nothing worse than creating a massive queue behind you . It's embarrassing. My mum would be mortified at causing a queue behind her.

JanewaysBun · 15/01/2021 17:42

The woman's a cunt.
Same sort of thing happened to me, except I was rushing as i needed to access a loo urgently as I have IBS and birth injuries!

rwalker · 15/01/2021 17:42

The only thing you were being unreasonable was not telling her to fuck off .
We're in different times and from what you say no need to walk side by side . She just showed zero consideration for people behind .

Bourbonic · 15/01/2021 17:42

Depends really doesn't it. I've often stood at the side of my slow moving mother so she can grab me if she needs support.

And I didn't realise there were minimum walking speeds now. Why is everyone in such a rush? The less than a minute difference has no impact on anybody so why get so wound up about it?

Maverickess · 15/01/2021 17:44

@SoupDragon

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.
😂😂😂

You weren't unreasonable to pass them where it was appropriate. And the woman didn't have to say anything as your actions really didn't affect her if you were 2m away.

Though I think you are a bit U about the comment about her size, morality is not bound to size, large people can be nice and not looking for a row or make rude comments for no reason. I also think you're U for saying about them shopping together, my neighbour doesn't trust anyone (and really shouldn't either) with her bank card. If she's got money out of the bank I get her shopping and she gives me cash, but another neighbour takes her to the bank to get her cash out, and they do a monthly shop then. It worries me she has so much cash in the house but I totally understand and agree with her not trusting anyone with her bank card, meaning at some point she needs to leave the house accompanied to shop/get cash.

AlexisCarringtonColbyDexter · 15/01/2021 17:45

YANBU.

Its fine for them to take their time but they cant then get pissy if they are blocking the way for people to get past them. If you are very slow moving you should ensure people can get around you.

Some people are on their lunch breaks etc and dont have time to travel super slowly.

SpongeBobJudgeyPants · 15/01/2021 17:45

blocking the walkway (she was rather large) so there’s a queue of us behind them.

I don't think you needed to fat-shame. There wasn't room to get past until the widening of the entrance/whatever, would have done here. Hmm Other than that, YANBU.

Original poster
CrossFitAddict · 15/01/2021 17:46

There was only one trolley that the elderly lady was pushing. The other woman wasn’t standing close to her to steady her but close enough that you couldn’t get between them politely even without Covid. Did she need to be out in a supermarket being that frail if she had someone to shop for her Hmm?

I certainly didn’t push past. I did a wide semi circle around them.

She obviously did it deliberately. I didn’t say anything as I didn’t want the elderly lady to think I was having a dig at her walking slowly.

People are just cunts really aren’t they?

OP posts:
Scarcity20 · 15/01/2021 17:46

Don't understand the responses here? She didn't drop kick the old lady or trip up the large one... Just walked past? I'd do the same (except until the rude comment, I might have resorted to the above after that!!) well done on only shaking your head.

Covidcovid · 15/01/2021 17:46

Yanbu, I’d have done the same. I don’t have time to waste dawdling behind people. I’d be a bit more cautious at the minute because of covid and I wouldn’t want to pass someone too closely but if there’s a big enough gap I’m going for it!

MynephewR · 15/01/2021 17:47

YANBU
I'm a fast walker so this is one of those things that really gets on my nerves. Fair enough some people may need someone next to them but there was no need to be rude to someone passing them if there is plenty of space.

When my snails pace 2YO is walking I am constantly checking behind us to make sure that there is no one who needs to get past, if there is then we move to the side. I expect people to overtake us not to wait behind us. It's basic manners IMO.

SpongeBobJudgeyPants · 15/01/2021 17:48

I think if you are indeed a Cross Fit Addict, your attitude may have showed, about your problem with her size....

Plussizejumpsuit · 15/01/2021 17:48

Well she was probably supporting her mum to shop so Yabu to say only one should shop.
But one thing I do think is many people seem to not know what single file is. Something I've really notice in the pandemic.

2021vision · 15/01/2021 17:48

I would have done the same as you OP. People walk/move so slowly and are seemingly completely unaware of what's going on around them except they are not are they. Those 2 people clearly knew there was a queue behind them, the daughter should have moved over behind the mother to let people pass. These days most people want to exit the supermarket asap. From what you've outlined the woman was ignorant and rude as was her daughter, they were lucky you didn't tell them they should move over and make way.

AlexisCarringtonColbyDexter · 15/01/2021 17:48

@Covidcovid

Yanbu, I’d have done the same. I don’t have time to waste dawdling behind people. I’d be a bit more cautious at the minute because of covid and I wouldn’t want to pass someone too closely but if there’s a big enough gap I’m going for it!
totally agree. Yes, she may have to walk slowly and some people have to walk fast for various reasons. Both can exist together if we are considerate of each other and that woman was an utter bitch to be so effing rude
Neenan · 15/01/2021 17:51

I was waiting for someone to ask why you nipped to the supermarket for a few bits in a pandemic and couldn’t you have added them to your priority home delivery slot instead of going out an upsetting vulnerable old lady’s overweight daughter and risking her getting Covid from you passing within six feet.

😂

CuriousaboutSamphire · 15/01/2021 17:52

I do agree that waiting for a wide space and passing is fine but...

... yesterday I was walking out behind an older coue with trolley and walker. No problem, I'd have to follow them all the way out at their snails pace, but hey! It is what it is. Got to a slightly wider area and a woman rushed past me, slid between the security post and the wall and started to walk away.

I was surprised, the older man was a bit shocked but the security man was great! He called her back and asked her to go through the security posts properly. She looked shocked and argued a bit, he kept asking. The older couple caught up with her and we all three walked passed her. At which point the security guard waved her on her way 😂

Made me smile for quite a while and I am not even sure she realised what he did!

KatherineJaneway · 15/01/2021 17:52

YANBU. If someone is walking slowly, that's fine, just don't expect me to wait for you if I can safely pass.

FairytaleOfLancashire · 15/01/2021 17:53

People always bleat on about rudeness in these posts, but for me, it's fucking rude of the twat blocking your way and making you late and flustered.
Just fucking so ENTITLED.

Barton10 · 15/01/2021 17:55

I would have done the same

Robbybobtail · 15/01/2021 17:55

I don’t agree she should’ve been shopping alone - you don’t know the circs - but of course it wasn’t wrong to overtake. If we all slowed down to walk behind every old person/group of people in the park etc we’d never get anywhere!
I think the atmosphere at the moment is bringing out the very worst in the type of people who just love to have a whinge and a moan. If she’s that bothered about people going anywhere near her, she shouldn’t be out and about in public.