Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

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:
Alwaysworriedwoman · 08/11/2023 18:26

I was in supermarket at the weekend, only needed a few things, got to the staffed till and another couple got to the till at the same time they had a trolley load but still huffed and puffed that I got there moments before them and put my stuff on the belt. I had my back to them and they actually pushed passed me to put their stuff on the belt. I felt someone make physical contact with me and my bag twice and they didn't apologise. I thought this was really arsey so I made a point of not moving forward and to pick up all the items I had and discussed them with my partner at length and said "oh this was made in England" "grown in Herefordshire" etc etc fully aware that the couple were now tapping their fingers expecting me to move. Point I'm making is yes they were probably very aware what they were doing. Do I regret holding them up no. Will do it again yes.

likethislikethat · 08/11/2023 18:39

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.

There is, it is called business / first class.

Allthegoodnamesarechosen · 08/11/2023 18:49

Stressedafff · 07/11/2023 12:39

People who’ll stand and hold a queue up in a shop talking to the person behind the desk. I’ve noticed this is mainly old people, and a lot of these annoyances are done by old people. It’s like they’ve no concept of time for others.

You might be old one day, you know. Although probably your impatience will have lead you to an early demise.

TrixieMixie · 08/11/2023 18:57

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.

This. And people who stand at the top of an escalator waggling their foot in apparent trepidation for five minutes instead of just stepping on. And people who stop, in a group, in a shop doorway for a chat, oblivious that others want to go in and out of the shop by the, er, doorway. And people who, at the front of the queue, having been served, just step backwards without looking and barrel into the person standing behind them, because who could have guessed someone would be there? I sometimes think there should be a ‘going about your normal business test’ like a driving test before some people are let out.

Maxus · 08/11/2023 19:01

Badbadbunny · 08/11/2023 16:56

There's a difference between disabled people who clearly have no choice and deserve extra time/space, and the others who are just oblivious and self absorbed (of all ages).

But even disabled/elderly who are slow should keep to one side of the pavement or walkway, rather than hogging it entirely by taking the centre line meaning people have to push past. If they were on one side or the other, people could pass more easily.

As for groups, yes, they need to narrow themselves when they're walking 3/4 abreast and expecting people to move for them. A few months ago I was walking on our canal towpath (narrow, no wider than 2 people side by side) and Tyson Fury was jogging towards me with his full entourage (yes, he lives in our area part of the time), a group of around 6, taking up the entire footpath in 2 or 3 rows of 2 abreast. They clearly expected me to jump into the hedgerow so they could jog past, but I stood my ground and they appeared shocked, and had to go into single file to pass!

No you don't need to push past, just say excuse me.

phoenixrosehere · 08/11/2023 19:43

Maxus · 08/11/2023 19:01

No you don't need to push past, just say excuse me.

Lovely idea if you’re dealing with sensible people, yet if they were sensible people, they likely would be aware of their surroundings and standing to one side to begin with.

SamW98 · 08/11/2023 19:47

Ilovecleaning · 08/11/2023 18:05

The world is full of tw*ts and the older I get, the less patience I have.

100% this.

CaramelMac · 08/11/2023 20:28

When I was heavily pregnant I went into a department store and ended up stood in the queue behind an elderly couple while they went up to the cashier and said “we don’t want to buy anything we just want to complain that you’re playing Christmas music in November” the shop assistant politely told them several times that head office controlled the music but they would pass their feedback on, but they would not take the hint and just kept repeating how it was ridiculous and they weren’t happy about it, and the assistant kept trying to get them to move on and in the end I had to interrupt and say look if you’re not buying anything can you get out of my way and let me pay 🙄

Yourcatisnotsorry · 08/11/2023 20:42

People who leave a shop and just stand in the doorway.

CheshireCat1 · 08/11/2023 20:59

If there’s a queue I just put my stuff down and walk out, strangely enough I’ve never missed the stuff I didn’t buy.

wesurecouldstandgladioli · 08/11/2023 21:05

CheshireCat1 · 08/11/2023 20:59

If there’s a queue I just put my stuff down and walk out, strangely enough I’ve never missed the stuff I didn’t buy.

You should put it back in its place. It’s rude to just put stuff down, fairies don’t pick it up for you.

CrashyTime · 08/11/2023 21:12

wesurecouldstandgladioli · 08/11/2023 21:05

You should put it back in its place. It’s rude to just put stuff down, fairies don’t pick it up for you.

No shop staff can do that, and they can also feed back to their managers that people are leaving stuff because the checkout process is a clusterfuck, if these shops can make big profit they can employ people to open checkouts, and put stuff back when customers walk out due to lack of checkouts, IMO.

Stressedafff · 08/11/2023 21:20

Allthegoodnamesarechosen · 08/11/2023 18:49

You might be old one day, you know. Although probably your impatience will have lead you to an early demise.

It isn’t impatient to not want to stand about for 15 minutes when I have somewhere I need to be.

Pepsi2001 · 08/11/2023 21:21

Hopefully you stay as perfect as you obviously think you are.

sqirrelfriends · 08/11/2023 21:25

Oh this annoys me so fucking much. Especially if it’s their mate from work, having a jolly old chat while I’m left waiting like a lemon.

If I did that to a client they’d be off to a competitor and would probably let higher ups know why. Why is it ok in retail?

Fedupwitheveryone · 08/11/2023 21:36

I've always wished we had fast and slow lanes on pavements (maybe even travelators) :-)

sqirrelfriends · 08/11/2023 21:38

Smellyshelley · 08/11/2023 14:34

"This is it in a nutshell really for me.
When I was a child it was drummed into us about being patient and possessing good manners. Also to show compassion for others.
Sadly I see very little of this these days amongst younger people so I can only assume these soft skills aren't taught anymore because their parents feel the same.
Some of the posts on here are shocking in their lack of thought for others 😳.
We've become a me me me society and sod everyone else. 😕"

See I see this the opposite way around. The "me me me" is the selfish person holding up a queue of other people.

And all the idiots telling people to stop "rushing". This is honestly the most short sighted ridiculous comment. Why on earth would anyone want to always be rushing around if they didnt have to? As I said earlier I have no choice. Every single day I have a very slim window between work ending and catching my train. If I miss my train I can't collect my kids from after school club and social services would potentially be called to collect them instead. I HAVE NO CHOICE but to rush. I can't be patient. And I'm sure loads of other people are in similar situations. Having the time to dither and faff to your heart's content is a luxury most people don't have. YOU are the selfish one.

you’ve hit the nail on the head, we have to rush because for a lot of us there is no choice. I would much rather have a nice slow day, I hate running round.

I had to be that person a few weeks ago, I needed to pick up dinner before getting my DS from school and the shop assistant was on her phone instead of serving. I was very polite while stating I was in a huge rush. She sighed and raised her eyebrows at me but at least I got what I needed before pick-up. 🤷‍♀️

Maxus · 08/11/2023 21:41

phoenixrosehere · 08/11/2023 19:43

Lovely idea if you’re dealing with sensible people, yet if they were sensible people, they likely would be aware of their surroundings and standing to one side to begin with.

Your not a sensible person if you think pushing is the answer. That's actually assault

Olderbutt · 08/11/2023 21:42

Totally agree!

YorkshirePuddingsGreatestFan · 08/11/2023 21:42

I was in a car park lift and two ladies with a bag laden buggy approached as the doors were closing, so I pressed the door open button to let them in. While I was in the lift, I got my card out ready to pay for the parking at the single machine.

The ladies got out first and blocked the machine with the buggy while they rummaged about in several bags looking for a purse to pay the fee.

I regretted being kind and holding the lift for them!

Hammy65 · 08/11/2023 21:55

Sometimes the nice check out lady is the only human being that elderly person will speak to all day. Be kind.

AtomicPumpkin · 08/11/2023 22:00

Allthegoodnamesarechosen · 08/11/2023 18:49

You might be old one day, you know. Although probably your impatience will have lead you to an early demise.

I'd rather have an early demise than become a dodderer.

HurkleDurkling · 08/11/2023 22:13

‘It’s nice to be nice’ and it’s free!!
Those who complain about dottery older folk please read:-
‘What you are I was. What I am you will be’

emziecy · 08/11/2023 22:33

x2boys · 07/11/2023 11:20

It would be exceptionally. Unlucky for them both to.be afflicted .

🤣

MrsCarson · 08/11/2023 22:46

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 07/11/2023 20:21

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.

I'll come with you and we can stand in the middle of the isle chatting.
I do the big shop on my day off during the week, and don't rush. Sometimes I have the cheek to be there at Lunchtime too.

Swipe left for the next trending thread