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...

Especially people in big 4x4s presumably built to tackle off road in the Atlas Mountains. But apparently can’t cope with a suburban speed hump

They cannot all have had strokes, upset about an argument with someone or don’t speak English! Some people just don’t think and it comes as a complete surprise that they will need to pay for something after queuing in the supermarket.

Airports are not great places these days but honestly - the women in front of me last week had 7-8 clear bags full of bottles and potions. She said she didn’t realise that she could just take one and started ranting and shouting when security told her she would have to dump most of it.

Maxus · Today 14:07

Smellyshelley · Today 13:51

@Maxus I'm not sure what you're not getting here. The example we were talking about was people blocking a section in a supermarket while they compare dates or whatever on the produce. You say:
"But I'm not in someone's way, it takes a minute or two compare prices etc not 3 hours, the problem today is people expect instant gratification including expecting people to just jump out of the way instead of waiting"
But this is bloody ridiculous. If I can see exactly what I need on the shelf, and I need to just reach out and grab it why the hell should I have to wait for you to finish your "minute or two" comparing prices? Why can't you just move aside and compare your prices there? Why do you feel the need toake me "wait my turn"?
Obviously if I was planning to do the same as you and spend a couple of minutes examining stuff then fair enough, I'll wait. But why should I have to wait otherwise? When it makes absolutely no difference to you.
And yes walking slowly directly in the middle of a path is the same. There's no need. It is no hindrance to that person to walk slightly to the side so that other people can get past.
It's common manners. I'd never hold someone up for absolutely no reason.
Have I said I walk though in the middle of a path? No I haven't. At the fridge just wait your turn, if everybody tried grabbing something while I was making my selection I would be their all day making way for people. Just wait, it's not hard.

This is such a ludicrous comment I can only assume you're on a wind up.

Or those who are first in line at a set of traffic lights which are on red for 4 minutes and green for 30 seconds. The lights go green and they check mirrors, go into first gear and move slowly off. BE READY TO GO!!!!!

Considering most of the ones around here have potholes in them I can't bring myself to get annoyed at people for slowing down!

People who wait in a queue with their pint of milk, don't have their purse/wallet out, refuse to tap their card, spend ages adjusting the unit and putting the card in, then enter their pin at a snails pace, and also want a receipt. Its a pint of milk - get on with it or pay with cash! And no - I don't think they are expensing.

I completely agree 👏🏻

New M and S Foodhall nearby, the queues and the faffing. Omg. They closed a perfectly good one and opened this one which is smaller and understaffed. No sign of management anywhere whilst staff stand around chatting about their weekend or bitching about their rota. There is even a long queue at self service which generally goes wrong evidenced by the loud beeping.

It is generally staff who work there, off duty, in the queue talking to the check out assistant about the new biscuits, walking back to the shelves, then asking about shift patterns etc, etc whilst we all stand by in a very British fashion silently fuming.

Are you shopping in a group - because 3+ of us now kids are adult sized and you only have to stop a second or two to get shoved aside.

I hasten to add it's rare occurrence - as we mainly grocery shop online but sometimes need items for school or treat or coming back from somewhere and grabbing stuff quick - and we may be 3 +. IL never believed it happened till they experienced it. DMum thinks it's because we now look like a group so people see a group and believe they are missing out on something - if they say anything it's often they are in a hurry.

The really infuriating thing is 9 times out of 10 after shoving you aside they pick nothing up before wandering off - sometimes even giving you a disgusted look like you mislead them.

Mostly they are unsure, unaware, or unclear about what they're supposed to be doing. The arrogance for me lies more in the assumption that because YOU are able to understand where your appointment is, navigate transport systems and know all about the little plastic bags at the airport anyone who doesn't is an inferior and a nuisance.

I’d agree if there weren’t emails, letters and texts that tell you where an appointment is (and one can choose which they prefer depending on the surgery/hospital) bus schedules on bus stops with the bus numbers, times and locations they stop at (usually) , map apps for buses and trains and many buses and trains have their own apps, and signs in the airport as well as emails with links to the information one needs before even showing up at the airport sent after booking, when checking in, and before you leave (including what you can and can’t bring through security and the one bag allowance.)

The information is usually all there if people bothered to read what is sent to them, be aware of their surroundings and the signs around them or even politely ask someone. I will also including leaving early to give oneself time to look around if they’re unsure about where things are which is something I do when I am unsure of things especially when it comes to appts and travel.

I've been that person by accident. I found out the hard way that one of my cards only has a certain amount of taps before you have to put in the pin. I was caught out and had to open the app to find my pin as it was the only card I had with me.

We can't choose how to be notified by the local hospital, letter only with the name of the unit. Appointments don't even show in the crappy NHS app.

I've also been the person holding everyone up at the airport. I'm a very nervous flier and struggle with crowds and I had a panic attack. It wouldn't have mattered how early I got myself there, I would been the same. All the preparation and signs in the world wouldn't make any difference, I'll still dither and possibly panic at the airport

I thought that. I regularly call my own handbag a Mary Poppins bag. Because I can never seem to find anything in it because it seems to go on forever into an abyss as soon as I'm looking for something! It's nothing to do with age in my case!

Sounds like where I live - we don’t just drive on the left, we drive on what’s left (of the road).

Dh and I joke that our local area is where our county stores all their unused potholes - it’s like a Pot holes Greatest Hits round here.

The people that stop at the top/bottom of escalators risking a pile up of bodies behind them - I have a commuter friend who has perfected a very loud, authoritative "MOVE!", and times it very well so the perpetrator is in no doubt that it's them that has to shift themselves. Quickly. She sometimes changes it up with "DON'T STOP!" if she has enough time, or combines the two with really dense tourists.

She looks like a normal mild-mannered office worker but apparently years of dealing with other people on TfL can bring out your inner steel.

Oh too many of these people everywhere! Just totally oblivious or/and not caring about others. Most recent ones for me have been at roundabouts, when it's at a standstill and some arse will nonchalantly drive right up to bumper of car in front, taking no perspective of situation and had they waited a bit further back the huge queue of those waiting to just progress on to the roundabout could just slip through rather than staring at the side of their car! Have been working in a new place and have noticed this a lot. Now I edge forward, give a wave, then when acknowledged slip slowly through safely.

Oh and those who stand with all the time in the world to spare and chat in supermarket aisles and we have to ask politely to get by when have a half hour time slot to run around.

I do hate the fast pace of life and impatient people bit am also having to live it. I have all the patience in the world for people who need and deserve it, will always help them, just not those who act as though they are entitled to make others wait because they are so important and the world revolves around them or just plain ignorant of anything outside of their peripheral view.

Biggest airport gripe: when going through security and the tray comes down with bags/potions/belts/phones and people attempt to get re-dressed and re-pack their stuff without moving the tray over to the designated areas to get ready there. I can't believe they are all first time flyers - it's either totally selfish or just plain idiotic. I think in the states they have someone shouting 'MOVE YOUR TRAY' - in the UK you just have to move round them or wait for their tray to to stop holding up the whole operation. Maddening!

While I agree it is very annoying, not everyone is as 'with-it' or as bright as other people. So, yes, you are being unreasonable.

My ex used to come to the payment part of the transaction, realise he didn’t have enough money in his current account and then have to log onto his online banking on his ancient phone that froze constantly to transfer money. Every. Time. Even when I said “do you have enough money?”.

I don't think we need to copy the US way of running airports! Last time we were over there I was shouted at by some jumped up little arsehole for setting off the alarm and accused of being a liar when I said I didn't have my phone on me.

Yes - anyone who doesn't work, or only works part-time, can generally avoid weekday lunchtimes.

If I need to go to the shops I usually go between 1.30 and 2.30. I might also go after 3.30 once the school run chaos has died down (as I live near three schools and the pavements are packed, as well as the roads being busy!). But I don't go at between 12 and 1.30 when the shops are at their busiest. And on a Saturday I go late afternoon. It doesn't much matter on Sundays.

If you drive a small car you have to go over them slowly. Maybe not 2mph but definitely significantly slower than the 20/30mph they are apparently supposed to slow you to. If it's a massive SUV going at a snail's pace, well you have a point. But do think about the size of the car when you are next behind someone going gently over them.

And if you can afford to spend the time doing this why don't you go when the place is quieter, or let them go first? They'll probably just take seconds.

I'm a pensioner who is on the rush hour buses, when incidentally I can't use my OAP pass but paying just like everybody else. I'm not out to avoid boredom but to take my young GC to school so that my DD can do her full-time job. Your patronising attitude on the "boredom of retirement" is simply not justified.