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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Slow clueless people holding up queues

497 replies

AuntyMargeAuntyFlora · 07/11/2023 10:38

What is it with these people?

My latest experience was at a walk-in centre. Only two women ahead of me in the queue to book in. Goodness knows what they were doing, most of it seemed to be standing there looking at each other before saying a few quiet words to the receptionist who had to keep explaining the same things to them (that they had missed their appointment and needed to go immediately to another hospital if they wanted to see x department). Then they'd stare at each other again. Occasionally one would half-heartedly search in a bag or look at their phone. Absolutely no sense of urgency at all, and apparently oblivious (despite glancing in our direction several times) to the massive queue gradually building up behind them. By the time the queue had almost reached the door, another member of staff was called to come and help book everyone else in, and these two women were still slowly doing nothing.

I don't mind if someone has genuinely got a difficult query/situation that takes ages to unpick, or if they are perhaps elderly/overwhelmed/etc and these things take longer. But its usually these people who are first to apologise for holding up the queue or even suggest others go ahead!

What I'm talking about is the entitled people who don't seem to register that other people exist, and who ponder and confer at a snail's pace, oblivious to any sense of urgency of the queue building up. I can imagine someone coming in with a serious injury, and these two women glancing over periodically as the person bleeds everywhere and slowly collapses, as they carry on with their inane time wasting non-query...

OP posts:
TulipOH · 07/11/2023 10:44

I went through several airports last week. Good lord, the people at security who fanny about with no apparent clue about putting liquids in the clear bags, despite the 50 signs telling you so before you get to the front, and the 10 staff members holding out clear bags. Then the messing about transferring stuff from handbags to cabin cases.

Aaaaarrrrggghhh. There needs to be a frequent flier queue, and a separate slow imbecile queue.

CesareBorgia · 07/11/2023 10:52

My little annoyance is, if I am queuing in a cafe to buy a sandwich and a bottled soft drink, getting stuck behind people ordering complicated coffees which have to have this, that and the other added to them. It's OK if it's the sort of place where you stand to one side and wait for your coffee, but if there's one person going back and forth to make the complicated drinks and take payment, it drives me up the wall.

DrunkenKoala · 07/11/2023 10:52

The people who step off an escalator and then stand there. The people behind them have nowhere to go except into the back of them - which then gives the standers the hump as someone has ‘pushed’ them.

Maxus · 07/11/2023 10:52

You have no idea what to as going on with these women. They could have a stroke, dementia or something as long these lines which makes processing information much more difficult. Perhaps next time show consideration instead of assuming they are clueless.

BillStickersWillBeProsocuted · 07/11/2023 10:53

CesareBorgia · 07/11/2023 10:52

My little annoyance is, if I am queuing in a cafe to buy a sandwich and a bottled soft drink, getting stuck behind people ordering complicated coffees which have to have this, that and the other added to them. It's OK if it's the sort of place where you stand to one side and wait for your coffee, but if there's one person going back and forth to make the complicated drinks and take payment, it drives me up the wall.

See also:

People ordering complicated cocktails that take 15 minutes each to prepare when I just want a glass of wine or a cider!

Manadou · 07/11/2023 10:54

Maxus · 07/11/2023 10:52

You have no idea what to as going on with these women. They could have a stroke, dementia or something as long these lines which makes processing information much more difficult. Perhaps next time show consideration instead of assuming they are clueless.

Edited

There's always someone who comes along to spoil a good rant.

Doglover19 · 07/11/2023 10:55

It always astounds me when you're in a queue waiting to be served and the person in front has spent just as long as you in the queue so a good while then they get to the counter and need to find an email on their phone to access the service , they have to get their purse from the bottom of their bag and search looking for their store card / vouchers/ etc or the biggest one is when they stand at the bus stop for 20 mins then when they get on the bus they THEN search for their money to pay holding up the bus ...

When you've been waiting for how long , why didn't you sort this out before ?!!!
It absolutely drives me mad . Its like many people think the world revolves around them !!
Another one is when I'm busy at work with a customer and someone else comes over and interrupts expecting me to stop what I'm doing to engage with them "Coz it's only a quick question then they proceed to tell me their life story?!"

I genuinely feel like people have no manners anymore and their time is more important than anyone else's!!

CesareBorgia · 07/11/2023 10:55

Not quite the same thing, but people barging onto public transport before other people have got off drives me bonkers, especially if you're queued down the aisle so there's a real risk you won't actually be able to get out before the doors close.

BrimfulOfMash · 07/11/2023 10:56

People who get to the tube / train barrier and THEN start rummaging for their ticket / card etc

People who get off an escalator or through a tube / train barrier and then stop dead to gaze around for signs

People who stand in a long checkout queue and don’t start looking for payment card until after the total is done and all bags packed

cyclamenqueen · 07/11/2023 10:57

TulipOH · 07/11/2023 10:44

I went through several airports last week. Good lord, the people at security who fanny about with no apparent clue about putting liquids in the clear bags, despite the 50 signs telling you so before you get to the front, and the 10 staff members holding out clear bags. Then the messing about transferring stuff from handbags to cabin cases.

Aaaaarrrrggghhh. There needs to be a frequent flier queue, and a separate slow imbecile queue.

Justfly from Heathrow 5 or City where you no longer have to do any of this stuff

Manadou · 07/11/2023 10:57

CesareBorgia · 07/11/2023 10:55

Not quite the same thing, but people barging onto public transport before other people have got off drives me bonkers, especially if you're queued down the aisle so there's a real risk you won't actually be able to get out before the doors close.

On my local route (the Transpora 25 in Bristol) the drivers are brilliant and put a swift stop to anyone trying to board before all the alighting passengers are off.

Maxus · 07/11/2023 10:57

Manadou · 07/11/2023 10:54

There's always someone who comes along to spoil a good rant.

Edited

Yes there is always one. Have you had a stroke? I have and yes it takes a while to process information. I have relatives with early dementia, again it takes a while to process information. If you are unable to realise how these things affect people perhaps you are one that is clueless

ssd · 07/11/2023 10:58

Sometimes in a supermarket queue when it comes to pay i realise i haven’t got my phone ready and im all in a faff getting organised.

Ive turned into one of the folk that used to drive me mental.

CesareBorgia · 07/11/2023 10:58

Another one is when I'm busy at work with a customer and someone else comes over and interrupts expecting me to stop what I'm doing to engage with them "Coz it's only a quick question then they proceed to tell me their life story?!"

I had been waiting patiently to check into a hotel room when someone pushed in front of me with the 'quick question' line. I think the receptionist was equally pissed off with the interloper. She gave me an upgrade when I was finally able to check in!

chimichangaz · 07/11/2023 10:58

People whose shopping goes down the belt, they take an age to pack it then are surprised they have to pay and look through their bag for their purse. Then look for the vouchers they think they 'might' have...

People who go through a shop doorway then stop dead to look round or look in their bag.

People who allow their children to stand in said doorway swinging a bag round so you can't get in without risking personal damage.

I could go on.

Manadou · 07/11/2023 10:59

ssd · 07/11/2023 10:58

Sometimes in a supermarket queue when it comes to pay i realise i haven’t got my phone ready and im all in a faff getting organised.

Ive turned into one of the folk that used to drive me mental.

What's wrong with 'money'?

TulipOH · 07/11/2023 11:00

DrunkenKoala · 07/11/2023 10:52

The people who step off an escalator and then stand there. The people behind them have nowhere to go except into the back of them - which then gives the standers the hump as someone has ‘pushed’ them.

YES

AmandaHoldensLips · 07/11/2023 11:00

People who fail to anticipate that when you buy something, you will need to get your purse out of your bag and pay for it.

Upon being asked for payment, cue much faffing about with buckles and zips, searching around for said purse, then - god help us - remembering they might have a coupon at the bottom of their bag for 2p off.

At this point they usually also decide it's an excellent time for a long chat with the cashier about the probable length of a piece of string.

Doglover19 · 07/11/2023 11:00

Another one when people decide they HAVE to stop in the middle of the aisle in the supermarket to have a catch up with someone they haven't seen for ages ! 😡

MrsSkylerWhite · 07/11/2023 11:01

You don’t know the personal circumstances of these women. Perhaps I ought to start a thread about judgemental people?

millymoo1202 · 07/11/2023 11:01

Waiting to pay at car park and they are shocked they need card, phone etc spend 10 minutes looking for them, it’s like they’re shocked they need them!! Love a good rant

PeacockHat · 07/11/2023 11:02

I've never seen such bellendery in an airport as the nonsense I saw in airport security last week. The queue to get into security was massive because people didn't have boarding cards ready to scan, or ignored the gates which were for digital passes only. Thankfully we'd bought security 'fast pass' tickets as the scenes in security proper were something else, it was utter chaos. Security staff yelling to get liquids/electrical items out of bags, they seemed utterly exasperated. Then after x-ray, people deciding to put their stuff back in their bag, put belts back on etc at the conveyor belt instead of taking the tray to the tables.

I've flown numerous times but this was breathtaking.

lilyblue5 · 07/11/2023 11:03

Manadou · 07/11/2023 10:54

There's always someone who comes along to spoil a good rant.

Edited

You are forgetting that in the world according to mumsnet no one is just rude, or entitled, or slow, or selfish etc etc.
There has to be an underlying issue at all times.
I think you can tell in RL whether this is the case.

Taylorswiftserastour · 07/11/2023 11:03

I like to think airport staff, supermarket workers, receptionists, bus drivers etc are always impressed with how efficient I am. I think they'd high five me if they could.

Onethingatatime23 · 07/11/2023 11:10

Perhaps English wasn't their first language and they really didn't want to go elsewhere so thought that by hanging around the receptionist might change their mind.

It can be annoying, but I think in general people should stop rushing about and being impatient, and stop judging others so much.