Slow clueless people holding up queues

[AuntyMargeAuntyFlora]

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...

My dad is retired. His days are full, just yesturday he has 3 hours on his allotment, on his way back he did his supermarket shopping with happened to be a lunchtime. In the afternoon he went to the library and to visit a friend in a care home then went to the pub on his way home. Why should he rearrange his day to avoid the workers at lunchtime. During his working life he had a very demanding labouring job which involved often a 6 day week. Now is his time to lead his life in his retirement, no one would dare tell him him he carnt do his shop during workers lunchtime, why on earth should he rearrange his day for them.😡

To add. Workers expecting the retired to organise their day around them. Sorry but F that. Who the hell do some workers they think they are?

@Chanelbasketballandchain we almost missed our slot on the runway this summer because a group of people just WOULD NOT SIT DOWN. They were faffing about trying to make sure their luggage could go directly above where they were sat, despite being last on the plane, moving other people’s things around and ignoring the steward staff’s calls to sit down and sort it out when we are in the air 🙄🙄

@Maxus okay but it IS inconsiderate if you are retired to go to the post office/pharmacy whatever during lunch time when other people only have a limited 30 minute window to run and errand and retired people could go on any day at any time. I do find this exceedingly irritating and tell my parents off for doing it.

Why is it? Workers have different lunch breaks. Are the retired supposed to avoid doing these thing between 11am-3pm to avoid them,? News flash for you, the world does not revolve around your lunch break.

To add, the if my parents have a gp appointment at 11.30 am you expect them to not pick up their new prescription untill later that day? Sod that

At my GP, the doctor orders meds on their screen, and it goes through straight away. The pharmacy branch is next door and you can go and wait while they get it ready. Depending on the amount of work they have it could take 10 to 20 minutes, but they have chairs.

I am trying to retain a sense of humour on this thread- but the appalling overt and covert ageism is making it very difficult.

@Maxus no of course not but it’s not unreasonable to ask that people avoid peak times if they don’t have any pressing to be there then

I know, it's horrible. I've decided that when I retire I'm going to make sure I go out at lunchtime just to piss off Mumsnetters.

The ones who are paying the pensioner's pension, nhs cost, free bus pass, free prescriptions, etc!!!

That's good but not every surgery does that. I would either be given a prescription or it would be sent electronically to a local pharmacy, where I would go straight away, lunchtime or not.

I feel like I want to start a separate thread about waiting in the pharmacy.

I lived somewhere once where you could opt to get text a code and the retrieve your prescription from a vending machine in the wall any time of day. If we had that everywhere it would solve a lot of these problems.

See also: if the post office modernised itself to be more like inpost

No,she just stomped off and nobody (including my own mother who was with me) asked if I was OK

Hopefully,you where OK too-theres no need for it

I walked past a pregnant colleague the other day and caught her by mistake

I was really upset in case I'd hurt her or the baby-its beyond me how anyone could not give a stuff (she was fine and was laughing at my reaction)

Zebedee55 · Today 18:08

Smellyshelley · Today 15:59

"The view that people lack tolerance could equally be seen as other people lacking consideration and thought for others. Why stand in the way of an escalator? Why not be ready to pay after standing in a queue? Or have your belongings ready at airport security? Or be aware that a huge line is building up behind you and not care?"

Exactly this. It's bloody rude. Just because you have all the time in the world, we're not all so lucky. And no it doesn't mean that I think I'm more important than you, like a PP said, but my time obviously is.

I do think a lot of retired people especially forget what it's like to have no bloody spare time at all to do anything. My in-laws will huff and tell me what a busy week they've had if they've had friends round once, been to a dinner party and been to the doctor's in a week. But that is literally all they've had to fit in. They'll have spent the rest of the time at home gardening, or walking the dog, watch TV etc. It's like they can't remember what it's like to work, whilst running around after young kids, doing school runs and hobbies as well as those things.
Well it's more likely they do remember, but realise there doesn't need to be a drama about it lol 🙄

I mean they are literally the ones making a drama out of how "busy" they are, huffing and looking for sympathy, not me. But ok.

No problem. I’ll just walk the 500 miles to Heathrow shall I?

(I’m the 3rd proclaimer)

Actually it's very unreasonable.

Actually it's the pensioners themselves who have paid for it during their lifetime of work.

I was wtaf at that post too, and I’m only 20 minutes from Heathrow 🤣

Totally agree. It's soooooo annoying when they do this and they had time while waiting on bus to get their ticket/payment ready!!!!!!😾😾😾😾😾😾

Same with lifts - loads of people trying to get in when I'm trying to get out. Have made a fuss about it a couple of times

Maxus · Today 21:15

Badbadbunny · Today 20:23

The ones who are paying the pensioner's pension, nhs cost, free bus pass, free prescriptions, etc!!!
Show quote history
Actually it's the pensioners themselves who have paid for it during their lifetime of work.

Nope. It isn't actually, they paid the pensions of the (much smaller) generation before them. The current workers pay theirs.

And actually I don't think many people would object to elderly people being out at lunchtime, surely? That's nuts. But it isn't the time to dither about for a chat with the cashier.

No they havn't. The taxes they paid were spent years ago.

They're incredibly annoying, I agree.

Absolutely @TulipOH I feel your pain.

Can we also have escalators especially for those who stop at the top of the escalator (or stairs) and look about themselves. And a separate train platform at Birmingham New Street for the people who get to the platform and stand in the opening from the stairs/escalator to the platform - like they're blocking a doorway.