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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:
YouBoughtMeAWall · 15/01/2021 17:56

Did she need to be out in a supermarket being that frail if she had someone to shop for her hmm?

You’re right, she should give up her independence entirely and stay at home because faster people need to get places fast

Hmm
SnoozyLou · 15/01/2021 17:57

Could you not have just waited? Like, two minutes

If you did that with everyone, you'd never get around. The amount of times you walk through the door and the person in front of you just stops dead.

If the younger lady was supporting her, I think walking side by side is reasonable. I really don't see the need for her to be rude though. I would have gone around them.

TheQueef · 15/01/2021 17:57

Not 'rather large' Shock

Chloemol · 15/01/2021 17:57

I am with you op, especially in a pandemic. I want to spend as little time as possible in the shop

supersop60 · 15/01/2021 17:58

YANBU - I would have done the same.
And her response - guilt!

Donelurking · 15/01/2021 17:59

You seem a bit precious. Not worth posting about.

B33Fr33 · 15/01/2021 18:00

It's not a road. It was a supermarket. Wait.

PurpleFlower1983 · 15/01/2021 18:00

You could have waited.

Ilovenewyear · 15/01/2021 18:01

Did she need to be out in a supermarket being that frail if she had someone to shop for her hmm?
Has it ever occurred to you that may have been the one time she had left the house that week? Or maybe her trip to the supermarket is her last chance to maintain some form of independence?

I don’t believe you managed to keep 2 meters away from them when you over-took. You should have waited (regardless of the size of the person who was walking in front of you).

People are just cunts really aren’t they?
You said it.

Ansterdame · 15/01/2021 18:01

How could walking round someone be unreasonable? You weren’t unreasonable at all.

Hugoslavia · 15/01/2021 18:01

In normal circumstances I would wait. However, if she was causing others to get backed up/too close to each other, then I would seek an escape route and overtake.

Iknowwhatudidlastsummer · 15/01/2021 18:01

Back in the real world, no one waits patiently behind a slower person when there's plenty of space to walk past politely, leaving them at their own pace instead of making them feel under pressure to hurry Hmm

Of course YANBU OP, what kind of idiot would try to spend any longer than necessary in a supermarket especially in the middle of a pandemic.

VinylDetective · 15/01/2021 18:01

@SomewhatBored

Some people go through life looking for confrontation - sounds like you had the misfortune to meet one, OP.
They certainly do. A woman once had a go at me because she didn’t like the expression on my face when her child ran straight in front of me and nearly tripped me up. I was so taken aback I was speechless.
M0rT · 15/01/2021 18:02

I am a very slow walker because of health issues, so I walk to the side of paths, exits, entrances etc so people can pass me.
When I'm with people they go infront of me if necessary to let someone pass(I'm not wobbly just slow).
I much prefer people to overtake me than walk behind sighing!

DuckonaBike · 15/01/2021 18:03

YANBU. Can’t stand people who stroll everywhere slowly like this flaunting their time wealth.

Russellbrandshair · 15/01/2021 18:03

Theyre both selfish and rude.

When I was on crutches after breaking my leg I made sure I wasnt holding anyone up. I let people go past me because I'm not a selfish idiot who thinks the world has to stop just for me or wait for me. Just as she has needs to go slow, others have little time available and have to go faster. I would have told her to fck off and stop being so selfish and entitled.

lljkk · 15/01/2021 18:04

If 0.5 seconds in close proximity is all it takes to get covid then we'd all be dead by now. YANBU.

OwlWearingGlasses · 15/01/2021 18:05

@Hoiking

I'm with you OP, but women have to be kiiiind Hmm so expect a pasting.
Women don't have to be niiiice but it makes the world a much nicer place to live in. Same goes for men. I have brought my children up to think of others before themselves.
Mrsjayy · 15/01/2021 18:06

Sounds stressful least you are home now ready for your evening of elderly bashing on the Internet Smile

Sorka · 15/01/2021 18:06

YANBU and I would’ve done the same. Except I would’ve answered back when shouted at, so well done for your restraint.

I also think the younger woman should’ve done the old lady’s shopping for her. Not because she’s slowing people down but because we’re in a pandemic and a) the frail lady is vulnerable, b) it helps with social distancing for everyone as one less person in the supermarket and c) it’s a basic thing that we’ve been asked to do.

I’d be surprised at youboughtmeawall leaping to the conclusion that people saying an elderly frail person should stay home during a pandemic because they’re impatient, but given how self-entitled some people are on MN about family outings to the supermarket I’m not shocked at all.

islockdownoveryet · 15/01/2021 18:06

Meh I would of done the same and not cared Im a busy woman and I want to be in and out of the shop as quickly as possible.
I wouldn’t even give it a second thought. I’m not sure why you are bothered you are only going to get people on here telling you are rude ( I don’t think you are by the way ) .

itispersonal · 15/01/2021 18:08

YANBU not everyone finds it comfortable to walk slowly! Or have all the time in world!

I had this in primark before Christmas. On the way round into the shop, couple with a pram were walking incredibly slowing into the store and then on the the long windy ramp to get onto the shop. Behind the couple was a young lady and then me. I'm in a rush, car park metre running and generally fed up of shopping and so half way down the ramp, I overtake the lady. She shouts at me, about social distancing, covid, which causes me to stop and turn round. She then calls me ignorant. I just laugh behind my mask and carry on. If you are that bothered about covid and someone passing by you for 1 second you really shouldn't be in primark!

ExeterMummaMia · 15/01/2021 18:08

YANBU

Russellbrandshair · 15/01/2021 18:09

I also think the younger woman should’ve done the old lady’s shopping for her. Not because she’s slowing people down but because we’re in a pandemic and a) the frail lady is vulnerable, b) it helps with social distancing for everyone as one less person in the supermarket and c) it’s a basic thing that we’ve been asked to do

I agree. Ive seen plenty of people screeching that families shouldn't be out shopping together and kids certainly shouldn't be out shopping with their parents yet because she's elderly its suddenly "she needs to get out!". Well, so do my children- theyre going stir crazy in the house all the time but I dont take them shopping with me because I'm not an arse

Mummyoflittledragon · 15/01/2021 18:09

@DuckonaBike

YANBU. Can’t stand people who stroll everywhere slowly like this flaunting their time wealth.
Are you aware that about 90% of disabilities are invisible??