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Original poster

I wanted to ask the young man behind me in the queue, to move back.

180 replies

Twoforthree · 23/07/2021 09:25

Just this really. He wasn’t right on my heels but pretty close. Given that this age group are the main carriers at the moment, and he wasn’t wearing a mask, I desperately wanted to ask him to social distance a bit more. I didn’t, but I felt very uncomfortable.

Should I have said something? Would you have done?

Overall I was pleasantly surprised how many people were still wearing masks.I did look at those who weren’t, and silently judge them and think how selfish they were. I know some of them would have been exempt for a good reason but a lot of them wouldn’t be.

OP posts:
CrouchEndTiger12 · 23/07/2021 10:09

[quote Kazzyhoward]**@Scottishgirl85* I hope you were only buying fresh healthy produce at the shop, to help reduce the 600 people that die of cancer and heart disease every day in UK.*

What's that got to do with anything? People CHOOSE what to eat and if THEY want to increase THEIR risks of cancer/heart disease, then it's up to THEM. Covid is completely different - it affects OTHER people! See the difference?[/quote]
Thats rubbish

It affects the NHS. Protect the NHS from covid but it is fine for the system to throw huge sums of money at treating entirely preventable illness caused by the fact that people just can't stop over eating, drinking too much or smoking.

It doesn't just affect the individual. The NHS would have more money for other things than self inflicted preventable conditions. What a simplistic view.

Sparrowsong · 23/07/2021 10:09

Maybe it is time to bring back really big Victorian hoop skirts!

stairway · 23/07/2021 10:11

You can say something if you want but they don’t have to move if they don’t want to.

MarshaBradyo · 23/07/2021 10:12

@ChristmasShearwater

Should I have said something?

No

Would you have done?

No

Me either

It’s a queue and everyone facing forward

Worse on public transport and I don’t get anxious about it on there

Original poster
Twoforthree · 23/07/2021 10:13

@Sparrowsong

Maybe it is time to bring back really big Victorian hoop skirts!
I like your thinking 😂

Fashion designers, take note,

OP posts:
FanFckingTastic · 23/07/2021 10:14

I did look at those who weren’t, and silently judge them and think how selfish they were

Judgey-pants pulled up nice and high...

Dntevenknowit · 23/07/2021 10:16

@onelittlefrog

You could have politely said something.

It needs to be normal to say something - people should expect to be asked to distance if they are standing too close to someone.

Of course, there's the risk that they are going to be inconsiderate and get hostile about it. You don't know the person or how they're feeling about Covid.

But if they are standing close to you without a mask they shouldn't be surprised at being asked to move. It's not an unusual thing to want someone to keep away from you right now.

I asked someone to move away from me in a coffee shop the other day and he was absolutely fine about it.

No people shouldn’t be expected to distance if standing too close. Unfortunately because the Government have removed so many restrictions people dont expect this anymore.
5zeds · 23/07/2021 10:19

Of course you can ask someone to stand back a bit. Don’t be so wet.

Helenluvsrob · 23/07/2021 10:19

Ask him or give him the look at leave the queue - which is what I’ve done 😂

TableFlowerss · 23/07/2021 10:34

You should have moved to a different till.

Flamingosarentreal · 23/07/2021 10:38

I always take a trolley and stand in front of it in the queue, whilst keeping a distance away from the person in front of me.

Iwonder08 · 23/07/2021 10:40

You could have moved yourself if you are worried. Or perhaps shop online

DumplingsAndStew · 23/07/2021 10:41

Wow, so many rude, insensitive people on this thread.

OP you are always allowed to ask someone to stand a bit further back if you are uncomfortable, for any reason.

Standing up someone's arse isn't going to get them served any faster.

SissySpacekAteMyHamster · 23/07/2021 10:45

I hate it when people don't have any sense of personal space. It's a bit hard to get used to being so close to people again.

I like the stand in front of your trolley idea, or put something on the ground behind you, so they can't be stood too close.

Lottie4 · 23/07/2021 10:48

I'll be working on self serve at the weekend and am dreading it. Work have backed us up with distancing in the past saying we could insist anyone without a mask was 2m away from us if we wanted, and if they refused not serve them. That's all gone now, I'll be within inches of their faces. I'll wear a mask and if it gets too bad put my visor on as well (others have worn both at times).

Slimmingstar · 23/07/2021 10:52

I did look at those who weren’t, and silently judge them and think how selfish they were.

The only person this attitude affects is you. Negatively so.
Try to focus on more positives daily - you’ll feel less angry and unhappy.

TheVampiresWife · 23/07/2021 10:55

Start coughing. Everyone moves away from you

In the middle of a pandemic? I bet you're one of the first to call people not wearing masks or socially distancing 'selfish' too, aren't you.

Give me strength.

saggymaggie · 23/07/2021 11:01

Casually take a step backwards so you accidentally knock in to them and give it the old "Oh i'm sorry, I didn't realise you were so close"

TheVampiresWife · 23/07/2021 11:02

Overall I was pleasantly surprised how many people were still wearing masks.I did look at those who weren’t, and silently judge them and think how selfish they were. I know some of them would have been exempt for a good reason but a lot of them wouldn’t be

So when you were doing your silent judging, @Twoforthree, how did you know who was able to wear a mask and who wasn't? Can you tell who has a disability/health condition just by looking at them? That's quite a talent.

Or did you just silently judge everyone equally, but put that mealy-mouthed caveat in your post to make it seem like you care?

I can't believe we're still having this conversation over a year in, and after the mask mandate has ended. Stop judging people, silently or otherwise.

megletthesecond · 23/07/2021 11:05

You need a big bag or rucksack and to shuffle around a bit. That does the trick.

sotiredofthislonelylife · 23/07/2021 11:07

@Alpenguin

Start coughing. Everyone moves away from you.

Farting helps too

🤣🤣🤣
ILookAtTheFloor · 23/07/2021 11:07

It airborne anyway, 2 metres is some arbitrary distance they've plucked out of the air to be honest.

CanICelebrate · 23/07/2021 11:10

I’m also silently judging people who are now choosing not to wear masks!

FizziWater · 23/07/2021 11:45

I've never liked it when the person behind tries to inhabit the same space as me in a queue, even pre-covid. Do they think they will get served quicker?
In a supermarket it's easy to enforce SD with a trolley. I stand well back from the one in front and hold the trolley behind me. I've always done this to avoid people breathing down my neck.

gardeninggirl68 · 23/07/2021 11:48

Criticising non mask wearers as being 'selfish'

Yet no balls to speak up yourself to protect yourself and others????

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