# Is this a dickish move at the grocery store? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 17, 2018, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-dickish-move-at-the-grocery-store/809028 "2018-02-17T23:59:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Roy\_Batty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/4af34b/32.png) [@Roy\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roy_Batty)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2018, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-dickish-move-at-the-grocery-store/809028/121 "2018-02-24T05:36:32Z")
> [@phreesh](#): > > If they stay in one line, they put out only the people in line behind them. If they split lines, they now impact two lines - arguably dickish. > > However, at some point they return to one line. This annoys the people behind them, but the people in the line they moved from are now happier because someone up front left. > > Overall, there’s no change, so I’m okay with it. Incorrect. There is a change & this is inconveniencing people. I.e., if you pick a line to stand in based on the amount of groceries the person ahead of you has - and then suddenly someone joins that person & they now have double the amount of groceries, then you are inconvenienced because it’s going to take you LONGER to get through the line than you initially thought. It’s misleading and not only a dick move, but a douche-bag move. ---
**Author:** ![anomalous1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e56c9b/32.png) [@anomalous1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anomalous1)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2018, 8:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-dickish-move-at-the-grocery-store/809028/122 "2018-02-24T08:42:19Z")
Arguably not as bad as that scene in Me Myself & Irene, where Charlie lets the woman go and her kids come up with two carts full of things. I vote Not Dickish. Meh it is as **Sunny Daze** said. It’s a free for all so its basically a way of surviving the store and getting out faster. I promote a different technique. Keep an eye for the cashier with the fastest hands while coming in and out of aisles/shopping. Next, Find the line with the most stereotypical single guys in it/those without produce and stuff by the cart undercarriage. I’m always in and out of stores. Well this all depends if Grocery stores still have more than 2 checkout lanes open anymore. It’s a rare sight. ---
**Author:** ![JustinC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justinc/32/8083_2.png) [@JustinC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JustinC)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2018, 10:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-dickish-move-at-the-grocery-store/809028/123 "2018-02-24T10:00:07Z")
If it’s just an armful, it’s no more dickish than having a lengthy conversation with the checkout operator, or being surprised when it comes to paying and you have to search for your purse/wallet. What IS REALLY DICKISH happens at my local noisy, dirty, crappy airport, a lot. You’re waiting in a painfully long, slow queue to check your bags, and just as the guy in front reaches the counter his family joins him with their 12 f\*\*king suitcases and 6 passports. When you finally get to the counter, the seat you’ve booked has been given to someone else (because a couple are too stupid to book ahead and don’t want to be separated). ---
**Author:** ![Roy\_Batty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/4af34b/32.png) [@Roy\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roy_Batty)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2018, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-dickish-move-at-the-grocery-store/809028/124 "2018-03-02T15:33:31Z")
> [@JustinC](#): > > If it’s just an armful, it’s no more dickish than having a lengthy conversation with the checkout operator, or being surprised when it comes to paying and you have to search for your purse/wallet. It’s still dickish if it’s an armful of groceries - because, again, you’re misleading people who are in line behind you into thinking you only have a set amount of groceries. Then, you’re suddenly joined by someone who has more than you do - thereby causing the wait time in the line to be longer. This kind of thing should be banned at grocery stores. Anyone trying to justify this obviously practices this themselves & doesn’t deserve to be shopping at a brick & mortar store. Do all of your shopping online, and stay the fuck away from the rest of us. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2018, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-dickish-move-at-the-grocery-store/809028/125 "2018-03-02T15:40:10Z")
Conclusion: Much like beauty, “dickishness” is in the eye of the beholder. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2018, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-dickish-move-at-the-grocery-store/809028/126 "2018-03-02T15:52:33Z")
> [@Roy\_Batty](#): > > Anyone trying to justify this obviously practices this themselves & doesn’t deserve to be shopping at a brick & mortar store. I’ll justify it despite not doing it because I think it’s fine. No matter how forcefully you express your opinion, it’s still, like, your opinion, man. ---
**Author:** ![Roy\_Batty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/4af34b/32.png) [@Roy\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roy_Batty)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2018, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-dickish-move-at-the-grocery-store/809028/127 "2018-03-02T16:11:58Z")
> [@wonky](#): > > I’ll justify it despite not doing it because I think it’s fine. No matter how forcefully you express your opinion, it’s still, like, your opinion, man. * * * Again, it’s a dickish move because you’re inconveniencing others by making them initially think a line is shorter than it actually is. There are no “opinions” involved here - this is a fact: When an extra person with additional groceries suddenly appears in front of you - in your line - it will take longer to get through the given line. \*\*\* This isn’t rocket science, and shouldn’t be that difficult to understand. However, you’re obviously not understanding or comprehending what I’m saying here. Go take an English language comprehension class, because you obviously don’t understand the language well enough to comprehend what you’re reading. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2018, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-dickish-move-at-the-grocery-store/809028/128 "2018-03-02T16:15:28Z")
> [@Roy\_Batty](#): > > * * * > > Again, it’s a dickish move because you’re inconveniencing others by making them initially think a line is shorter than it actually is. There are no “opinions” involved here - this is a fact: When an extra person with additional groceries suddenly appears in front of you - in your line - it will take longer to get through the given line. \*\*\* This isn’t rocket science, and shouldn’t be that difficult to understand. > > However, you’re obviously not understanding or comprehending what I’m saying here. Go take an English language comprehension class, because you obviously don’t understand the language well enough to comprehend what you’re reading. Did someone ram you with a cart in Reno or something? ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2018, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-dickish-move-at-the-grocery-store/809028/129 "2018-03-02T16:43:15Z")
> [@wonky](#): > > Did someone ram you with a cart in Reno or something? I’ve seen things you people wouldn’t believe. Grocery carts on fire off the shoulder of Orion… ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2018, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-dickish-move-at-the-grocery-store/809028/130 "2018-03-02T17:09:06Z")
> [@Roy\_Batty](#): > > This kind of thing should be banned at grocery stores. Anyone trying to justify this obviously practices this themselves & doesn’t deserve to be shopping at a brick & mortar store. Do all of your shopping online, and stay the fuck away from the rest of us. > [@Roy\_Batty](#): > > However, you’re obviously not understanding or comprehending what I’m saying here. Go take an English language comprehension class, because you obviously don’t understand the language well enough to comprehend what you’re reading. So, not only did you not heed the earlier note in the thread to dial it down, but you’ve added personal insults. So now you’re receiving a warning for failure to follow moderator instructions and personal insults. Additionally, **you are instructed not to return to this thread** , since you don’t seem to be able to disagree in a civil manner on this issue. ---
**Author:** ![Ashtura](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ashtura/32/2963_2.png) [@Ashtura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ashtura)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2018, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-dickish-move-at-the-grocery-store/809028/131 "2018-03-02T18:30:41Z")
Not dickish. I don’t do this, though my wife often scouts out for other lines if the one we’re in is going slow. She doesn’t stand in the line though holding it for me. ---
**Author:** ![MonkeyCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@MonkeyCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MonkeyCat)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2018, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-dickish-move-at-the-grocery-store/809028/132 "2018-03-02T20:48:17Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > I was in a moderately busy grocery store today. As I was in line, I overheard a couple behind me debating whether to get in line behind me or the line next to me. > > “You stay here”, says the man, “I’ll wait in that line”. He slides over, and they each occupy a place in a line, each ready to jump ship when it becomes clear which line is more desirable. > > I thought it was quite the dick move, and I’m curious if I’m in the majority on this. > mmm It’s pretty unfair. “Dick move” might be strong words. Ummm… Dick move, though. You are correct. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2018, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-dickish-move-at-the-grocery-store/809028/133 "2018-03-02T22:39:15Z")
> [@Corry\_El](#): > > There’s nothing wrong with holding a place in line IMO. Two people, each has a right to stand in line like any other person in a store. Many ‘it’s a dick move’ answers treat the couple together as equal to any single customer entitled to do one thing, but they aren’t one customer. > > The ‘dick move’ side has a better argument on the secondary issue having to do with the cart: if people have to get out of the way of a shifting cart, people sometimes choose lines based on how much is in the carts ahead of them, etc. But OP seemed to come back and throw that out with ‘no cart’. The issue isn’t the cart. It’s the possibility of an abrupt transition from being behind someone with a loaf of bread and a jug of milk, to being behind someone with 85 items that will take awhile for the cashier to ring up and bag. Moving out of the way of the cart may be irritating, but it can be done in less than a minute. > [@](#): > > As a stripped down example if there are multiple ‘express’ lines (as in one big super market we often go to) and one member of a couple stands in each and consolidates on the faster one, nothing wrong with that IMO. You’ve got a better argument with express lanes, as long as they stay under the limit. If those 2 items are only going to turn into a dozen, it’s not that big a deal. > [@](#): > > Each a person in their own right. 🙂 Although as somebody else said, it also suggests how inefficient it is to have multiple lines when a store is busy rather than one line feeding all the registers (as the Trader Joe’s we go to does, at least on weekends when it is _mobbed_). In most grocery stores, you’d have to shorten the aisles, or totally rearrange the cash register space, to make this happen. (FWIW, the TJ’s I go to isn’t set up like yours. You pick a line and live with it, just like anywhere else.) ---
**Author:** ![Ashtura](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ashtura/32/2963_2.png) [@Ashtura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ashtura)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2018, 7:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-dickish-move-at-the-grocery-store/809028/134 "2018-03-03T07:51:15Z")
A bigger dick move is one my wife does all the time, but it only affects me. We’ll get to the line and she’ll wander of and continue shopping and leave everything up to me. God that’s aggravating. ---
**Author:** ![Roy\_Batty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/4af34b/32.png) [@Roy\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roy_Batty)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2018, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-dickish-move-at-the-grocery-store/809028/135 "2018-04-15T18:55:48Z")
> [@Asimovian](#): > > So, not only did you not heed the earlier note in the thread to dial it down, but you’ve added personal insults. So now you’re receiving a warning for failure to follow moderator instructions and personal insults. > > Additionally, **you are instructed not to return to this thread** , since you don’t seem to be able to disagree in a civil manner on this issue. Thanks very much. You are a great person, and a real benefit to society. I’m glad you’re a moderator on this board - you definitely have my vote!!! ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2018, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-dickish-move-at-the-grocery-store/809028/136 "2018-04-15T19:37:58Z")
You returned a month later to insult a mod and ignore his instructions? Thats a warning. Stay out of this thread. > [@Roy\_Batty](#): > > Thanks very much. You are a great person, and a real benefit to society. I’m glad you’re a moderator on this board - you definitely have my vote!!! ---
**Author:** ![Weisshund](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ba8739/32.png) [@Weisshund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weisshund)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2018, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-dickish-move-at-the-grocery-store/809028/137 "2018-04-16T02:40:33Z")
I have seen people do this and then wedge 3 carts into the line Dickish [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-dickish-move-at-the-grocery-store/809028.md?page=6)