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Covid

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Original poster

Fed up with selfish shoppers using their shopping trip as an excuse to socialise

46 replies

anyname147 · 25/04/2020 15:42

I have been kept waiting in shopping queues whilst (usually older ladies) talk nineteen to the dozen to shop staff and other shoppers. In the small grocery stores I go to where the aisles are very narrow, they will stand and block the aisles chatting away for ages. Don't they understand they are putting shop staff and other customers at risk? I am sorry that they are lonely or bored during lockdown, but this is short sighted selfishness. There is an army of volunteers who will call them/befriend them if need be. I know because I tried to volunteer to be one myself but there's no vacancies as it appears the number of volunteers exceeds those who require help.

OP posts:

FreierFall · 25/04/2020 15:49

How about politely asking if you could get by?

BilboBercow · 25/04/2020 15:51

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

FliesandPies · 25/04/2020 15:57

There is an army of volunteers who will call them/befriend them if need be. I know because I tried to volunteer to be one myself

Sounds like a narrow escape for someone!

Original poster

anyname147 · 25/04/2020 15:59

sounds like you are in the selfish shopper category then

OP posts:

Original poster

anyname147 · 25/04/2020 16:00

@BilboBercow not if people take the piss and talk for hours. Exchanging pleasantries is fine - it's the chatting for ages whilst holding up queues and blocking aisles I have a problem with

OP posts:

SunShine682 · 25/04/2020 16:02

Oh god, just walk past them and get over it.

LilacTree1 · 25/04/2020 16:02

I’ve only been to the supermarket twice

They seemed like they really wanted to chat. I go near closing though so there’s not a queue.

I never start a chat but found it noticeable that they did - in Aldi, where it’s normally a speed contest!

rookiemere · 25/04/2020 16:06

I've met friends twice whilst shopping - met as in they were in the shop at the same time as me, not pre-arranged. We did stop and have a chat, in one we got asked to move on as there was a queue of people outside . But those social interactions are worth more to me than a month of zoom meet-ups and I'm sorry if it upsets you, but people will meet and people will talk.

AutumnCrow · 25/04/2020 16:11

What the fuck is an 'older lady' anyway? Other than the victim of ageist prejudice ...

UnderTheIroningBoard · 25/04/2020 16:20

The younger ones are the idiots in my local supermarket- ignoring the one way system, shoving on front of people to take stuff of the shelf and two adults with three children turning up all together...

CuriousaboutSamphire · 25/04/2020 16:21

That'll be me then! I stopped to chat to an event older lady in a mobility scooter. We chatted about the oddness of what had been left on the shelves.

She thanked me. No bugger else had spoke to her, she'd been hissed at by a young man and had been feeling awful. She had gloves and a mask and cleaning kit in her basket. Told me she hadn't spoken to anyone for a couple of weeks and that I had made her feel human again.

So, chances are that both she and I will stop and chat when shopping again, with anyone who looks like they need it!

MordredsOrrery · 25/04/2020 16:26

It's no win here, isn't it?

Someone gets a home delivery or click and collect, neighbours comment on how they're not vulnerable and shouldn't take up space on the service. Someone shops in store, they're castigated for their non essential shopping and, as is the case here, daring to have a conversation.

It seems the very first casualty of C19 was tolerance.

MillicentMartha · 25/04/2020 16:32

Gosh, you are a bit of a grump.

I’ve been making a point of chatting to the checkout staff from behind the new screens on my weekly shopping trip, so that they realise I appreciate them and the fact that they’re more at risk than I am.

I saw a friend in the queue this week who I hadn’t seen for 2 months. Yes, we chatted, while observing social distancing. Turns out she hadn’t left the house in 5 weeks and was feeling frightened. The normality of a chat with a friend made her feel a lot better, she said.

Original poster

anyname147 · 25/04/2020 16:33

I am shocked at everyone's selfish attitude. Spare a thought for the grocery store staff who are risking their lives coming into work and other customers who may want to adhere to the lockdown message. I am sorry you are lonely but there are charitable services out there you can make use of. We have the telephone and internet these days. Lockdown isn't easy but that's no excuse to go round prolonging it for everybody by increasing covid hospital admissions, spreading your germs and getting pointlessly sick yourself thus taking up precious hospital resources.

OP posts:

vodkaredbullgirl · 25/04/2020 16:36

Iamclearlyamug · 25/04/2020 16:38

My best friend IS a staff member in a grocery store and was thrilled when I happened to come in while she was on shift. She hasn't seen her mum (who is just recovering from a skin cancer op), little sister or nan for 5 weeks. A 10 minute socially distanced chat with her best mate made her week, and mine too. We were out of the way as much as possible and moved when asked. Other customers even joined in our conversation if they overheard.

I'm selfish everyone!! And so is my key worker grocery store best friend!! And do you know what? Fuck off because we're ok with that

CuriousaboutSamphire · 25/04/2020 16:40

Oh, I do think of them. I chat to them too. Ask them how they are doing, wish them well, thank them for their time.

NOT ONE has told me to shut up or fuck off. Many have thanked me, mostly for being smiley and wished me well too.

I leave online shopping, deliveries etc for people who really need them.

As Priti Patel has just this second said - shops are open. Observe social distancing and shop on...

SpencerReidsMistress · 25/04/2020 16:40

have a glass of wine and chill out.

isabellerossignol · 25/04/2020 16:42

I love the martyrdom of the 'taking up precious resources' crew.

There's no such thing as deserving and undeserving sick people you know.

Waxonwaxoff0 · 25/04/2020 16:42

I'm sick of threads like these policing people's every movement.

lifestooshort123 · 25/04/2020 16:43

Wow. Why selfish? Surely lifting someone's spirits by having a quick chat is a good thing to do? Perhaps you've just had the odd slow experience but most on here seem to disagree with you thinking it's selfish. If I'm ever the old lady holding up your time, a polite 'excuse me' will do the trick.

Smileyoriley · 25/04/2020 16:45

@ MordredsOrrery- absolutely!

IHaveAMagicBean · 25/04/2020 16:48

Bah-humbug op, you’re being a grinch. Just because we are all in lockdown, doesn’t mean we have to stop with the pleasantries!

Find something important to get worked up about, rather than us “older ladies” chatting.

Greenpoppins · 25/04/2020 16:56

OP if you are worried about getting infected yourself can you shop elsewhere or get online deliveries? I think you need to let others get on with their lives as they choose.

welliesarefuntowear · 25/04/2020 16:57

Just another point of view. A small business in our town that works exceptionally hard, fruit and veg shop has been warned by the police to stop their shoppers talking whilst in the queue. They have gone out of their way to help the community. They will get fined if it carries on. Not exactly their fault. The shop is small and narrow. They have to rely on people being sensible.

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