Things people do that baffle you 2

[jenzzi]

Following this thread https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/5520735-things-people-do-that-just-baffle-you?page=40

Things included
talking on loudspeaker in public
very elderly people who shop on Saturday morning
people that stop at shop entrances
people park next to you in a car park that is about 20% full

It IS okay not to uphold standards when you're in a casual environment. My everyday speech is very far from how I speak in a professional capacity too: I pride myself in being able to converse with anyone anywhere, & I've made sure my DC do too, despite being raised in an area with a very strong dialect.

Of course you may borrow it! Language is for everyone. I particularly love a colloquialism. 🙏

Sorry if this has been mentioned already, but I cannot fathom why in cafes etc they sometimes put a paper napkin UNDER your cake, sandwich, sausage roll etc.

It means you can't use the napkin and you have to remove it before eating your cake, really.

Just why?

Can’t let go of their shopping trolly to look for something on a shelf which then blocks 6 foot of shelving. No one is going to pinch your trolly, because they would need to pay for it before running off down the car park with it !

Parents that give their kids names which spelt differently to the normal spelling. Then they spend many years saying “it’s actually spelt…” Then when the DC are old enough spend the rest of their lives saying “it’s spelt…”

This is bonkers behaviour - especially if it's a creamy/sticky cake. Added strips of paper napkin rarely enhance the taste.

My driving one is people who don’t know where the middle of the road is when waiting to turn right. It baffles me because it’s not exactly difficult. But no, they’d rather sit on the middle of their side of the carriageway, instead of positioning themselves correctly, so other cars can continue their journey.

And much as it pains my feminist soul to admit it, it’s usually women.

I’m just puzzled why you would NOT use both lanes if they’re available. Why leave the other lane free for 800 yards?

People side eyes old friend who post a check in at hospital then after 20 odd "You ok hun? PM me" comments update to say it was a routine appointment.

People who move over as soon as they see a sign for a lane closing nearly a mile away, then get angry at people who understand that they WANT you to use all lanes right up until the cones then merge in turn, because it keeps the tailback shorter in length freeing up junctions further back.

If they wanted you to merge at the first sign they would put the cones there! No one is pushing in, it's literally how you are supposed to drive 🤦

I've had this with fish & chips, goodness knows why.

I remember this happened on the A23 when there were loads of roadworks going on. A police traffic vehicle went down the free lane with a sign in flashing lights saying "follow me. Use both lanes" so if that's not conclusive I don't know what is.

I'm sure my friend from last night is apoplectic with amusement now 😄

A few months ago I came across a dual carriageway with 1/4 mile of cars in the left lane while the right lane was empty until it was coned off. I drove past them down the right lane and indicated to merge at the end. To my amazement, someone (correctly) let me in straight away!

I think the next step is to conquer the fear of moving over into the closing lane, to fill it up until merging at the end.

'Normal' spelling as in english spelling? Bit parochial

Drives me nuts when people (and I see it all the time whilst sitting working from home) wander down the length of the road instead of walking on the path. It seems that as the road links foot and cycle paths, they use it as a continuation of this and it’s mental. The amount of people with dogs, toddlers, prams constantly walking the length of the road is insane but what’s even more annoying is if you want to drive on the road they look at you like they can’t believe the audacity of it 😂 genuinely though I do worry that a child or a dog is going to get run over before long 😢

It can also be cheaper to have your shopping delivered

People in the UK are convinced that changing lanes is horrendously dangerous and want to do it as little as possible or when they have as much control over it as possible, so they will get into the correct lane ASAP rather than wait in case it is more dangerous later. That seems to be my observation from many years of lane threads on various forums and particularly speaking to older relatives. I don't know if it's because motorway driving wasn't allowed at all by learners until recently. When I had driving lessons in Germany I was on the Autobahn on about lesson 3, as soon as I had basic control over the car my instructor wanted me on there. I was terrified but it was actually fine! I quite quickly got used to it and didn't find it any worse than driving on any other kind of road.

It's true you need to be aware of where other cars are around you when changing lanes but you should be aware of that anyway. TBH I now find it very strange how much British drivers (on average) worry about this.

But I also think the German signs for zipper merging are great:

Those signs are better! We would need PSA ads played on TV and in reels to get people to understand it 🤣

I didn't do motorway driving as a learner (no motorway close but it also wasn't part of the test then I don't think), but did some duel carriageway driving. A week after I passed I drove on the motorway and I love motorway driving, much prefer it over driving through towns!

Not waiting for people to get off the train / bus or out of the lift before trying to enter

People who hit a cat with their car and don't bother to find the owners or even just take it to a vet, leaving it to suffer.

Eating caviar, I've tried it several times and I do not understand.

People who buy their kids illegal e-bikes/scooters

Cyclists, usually MAMILs, who use the shared footpath/cycle track as if they are trying to get selected for the Olympics .
Cyclists who insist on cycling on the road creating a tail back of other road users, when there is a cycle track right next to said road. I've even seen it happen on the 70mph sections of the ring road around Bristol (ironically the hq for the national cycle network).

"they always seem to forget to tell you that the main purpose of the job is very frequently to kill (or threaten to kill) people and to have a very good chance of being killed yourself."

That is understood, but young men think they're immortal.
They were lying about their age and signing up at 15 for WWI...

😂😂😂

That’s really helpful thank you I’ll check it out.
I quite often have a shopping trolley wheelie thing with me and it’s a nightmare navigating round the cars with that, so I really feel for wheelchair users or people with buggies /prams etc.

I’ve got plenty of photos as it’s almost a daily occurrence with that car in particular.

Because they're addicts.