# Lady, Please! Buy The Groceries, THEN Talk On The Phone! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 9, 2004, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lady-please-buy-the-groceries-then-talk-on-the-phone/223557 "2004-01-09T02:33:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2004, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lady-please-buy-the-groceries-then-talk-on-the-phone/223557/21 "2004-01-09T16:14:36Z")
Price check at the automated cashier for **Vagasil** , that’s V… A… G… I… S… I… L. [/Jim Carrey] ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2004, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lady-please-buy-the-groceries-then-talk-on-the-phone/223557/22 "2004-01-09T16:14:52Z")
Price check at the automated cashier for **Vagisil** , that’s V… A… G… I… S… I… L. [/Jim Carrey] ---
**Author:** ![Bongmaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Bongmaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bongmaster)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2004, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lady-please-buy-the-groceries-then-talk-on-the-phone/223557/23 "2004-01-09T16:16:59Z")
Sometimes when I read about the level of self-control some of you exercise when confronted with these situations I start to question my sanity. How did you maintain a pleasant demenor with this ignorant bitch holding everyone up? I’d have not only said something to her about moving it along, but I would have included a scathing look and probably muttered nasty things under my breath. And god forbid she had a smart ass comment afterwards outside, she’d have really gotten an earfull then. Some of you guys are the model of calm in these situations, I don’t know how you keep your cool. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2004, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lady-please-buy-the-groceries-then-talk-on-the-phone/223557/24 "2004-01-09T16:41:18Z")
Well, **Bongmaster** it’s like this: 1. I’m a spineless chickenshit who avoids confrontation. 2. I’m a genuinely nice person who always tries to give people the benefit of the doubt and put myself in their shoes and remember that I don’t know everything about somebody else’s situation. 3. I’m a naturally laid-back, calm, god-like sort of person. Actually it’s a combination of all of the above. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2004, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lady-please-buy-the-groceries-then-talk-on-the-phone/223557/25 "2004-01-09T16:53:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by lieu \* > \*\*Price check at the automated cashier for **Vagasil** , that’s V… A… G… I… S… I… L. > > [/Jim Carrey] \*\* We’ve got a customer up here with a full-on fallopian fungus. She’s baking bread, and I think it’s sourdough. Put a rush on that. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2004, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lady-please-buy-the-groceries-then-talk-on-the-phone/223557/26 "2004-01-09T16:59:16Z")
Add the fact there were three kids with the lady to **DungBeetle’s** list. I’ll cut massive amounts of slack before doing anything that might upset a child. ---
**Author:** ![Bruce\_Daddy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/85f322/32.png) [@Bruce\_Daddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bruce_Daddy)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2004, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lady-please-buy-the-groceries-then-talk-on-the-phone/223557/27 "2004-01-09T17:00:44Z")
So **Quasi** , did you enjoy your bread and milk? ---
**Author:** ![scule](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4af34b/32.png) [@scule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scule)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2004, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lady-please-buy-the-groceries-then-talk-on-the-phone/223557/28 "2004-01-09T17:02:17Z")
You know it’s situations like these that make me think that the governments of our respective nations should enact legislation forcing, upon penalty of torturous death, _every single person_ to work in some sort of retail setting before they pass the age of 20 (fast food, restaurant, shopping mall, grocery store or whatever). I learned so much about etiquette just from working at A&W, the Westin Hotel, and a car rental place, that I pride myself on being an excellent customer. I was in the grocery store the other day with my sister, and aside from idiots holding up the line my biggest pet peeve is those jackasses who leave their carts in the middle of the aisle while they go off to get something. Oh sure, they think, I’ll just be a second, but it’s actually longer and that’s the time when I want to pass but can’t because your fucking cart is blocking my path. It requires the same effort to put the damn cart against the side but can they think of that, no. So this dumb bitch was blocking both the exit from and aisle and the area around that exit, and I bitched loudly about how ignorant it was, and she heard me. I’m glad she did. I applaud you, **Quasimodem** , for your restraint and tact, because I think one of these days my tact is going to go out the window and I will become a headline in teh next day’s paper. And **Lobsang** , I couldn’t agree more, it seems some days that everyone is like that. Especially the blocking the street thing (the street I live on has many trendy shops that are very busy on weekends and that’s a frequent problem). ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2004, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lady-please-buy-the-groceries-then-talk-on-the-phone/223557/29 "2004-01-09T17:07:21Z")
Deal with some of 'em every night in my ER. It’s really good “basic training”. And before you ask, no I’m not a doc, but an RT (Respiratory Therapist) who _works_ in the ER, and I am sometimes present when people get really indignant after finding out they’re not getting the narcotic they came for. I love _this_ one: “No, I’m allergic to Tordal, but I can take that other one. Starts with a **D** , I think. Dem… Dem… something.” “Demerol?” “Yeah! That’s the one! **Demerol**! They usually give me 75 milligrams of _that_ along with 25 of Phenergan!.. I.V.!” Sorry to hijack my own thread there, but as they leave after not getting their fix, you can hear 'em all the way down the hall: “Where’d you get your license, K-Mart?!”, and other assorted comments designed to raise our Doc’s dander, but by that time he or she’s already on their next case. Yeah, I know: It’s sad, not funny, but I just told you that to demonstrate how sometimes we have to put our thick hides to use and just not take it personal. And to re-iterate: It’s my natute to be “laid-back” and calm too, but sometimes that ol’ debbil’s just gotta show his ass, ya know? Thanks for your comments. Q ---
**Author:** ![VunderBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/839c29/32.png) [@VunderBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VunderBob)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2004, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lady-please-buy-the-groceries-then-talk-on-the-phone/223557/30 "2004-01-09T17:14:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Quasimodem \* > \*\* > “I noticed you didn’t offer to _pay_ for my stuff!” > > I just stopped in my tracks, stared and shook my head then went on. > > :rolleyes: > > Q \*\* Day after retort: “Maybe you could scan faster if that phone was shoved up your ass.” ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2004, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lady-please-buy-the-groceries-then-talk-on-the-phone/223557/31 "2004-01-09T17:42:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Dr. Rieux \* > **You should have at least corrected her–the phrase is actually "ch** a\*\*mping at the bit." \*\* I almost scrolled the whole thread, happy that I could offer up a correction, and you steal it from me. \ 😛 ---
**Author:** ![overlyverbose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/9dc877/32.png) [@overlyverbose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/overlyverbose)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2004, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lady-please-buy-the-groceries-then-talk-on-the-phone/223557/32 "2004-01-09T18:33:39Z")
Damn, that lady gets around! I saw her at my gym, too. Only this time she was bouncing up and down on an elliptical machine, talking at the top of her voice and giggling. I wonder if she’s related to that bitch in Forest Park that snarled at me as she whizzed by on her roller blades while talking to “Alan.” Hmmmm… ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2004, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lady-please-buy-the-groceries-then-talk-on-the-phone/223557/33 "2004-01-09T19:12:00Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Gadfly \* > \*\*Man. Some people need to be forced to wear dentures made of live antelopes. \*\* \*Oh give her a phone With a scanner dial tone So her ear Won’t be busy all day So that seldom would be heard A discouraging word Cuz her mouth’s Also got antelope decay Phone, phone of the dang’d Up her rear’s Where it really should stay Where seldom would be heard Any distinguishable word Cuz a terd Done got into it’s way\* ---
**Author:** ![CartoonSuperHero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/35a633/32.png) [@CartoonSuperHero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CartoonSuperHero)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2004, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lady-please-buy-the-groceries-then-talk-on-the-phone/223557/34 "2004-01-09T23:49:09Z")
Maybe she’s related to the witch I encountered the other day at Chik-Fil-A’s while waiting to order my chicken salad sandwich and side salad. The woman in front of me was yakking on her cellphone while simeltaneously (sp???) attempting to corrall her three kids (all under age 10 :eek:). She couldn’t figure out what to order and I stood there, patiently waiting, as the cashier patiently waited for her to make up her goddamned mind about what she wanted for herself and the bratlings. Finally, after about 10 min of standing there, listening to her alternately talk on the phone and grab one kid and say “What do you want honey? NO they don’t have hamburgers…chicken nuggets instead?” about a zillion times, I was tempted to either give her a piece of my mind or leave. In the end…I did neither. I waited for her to order so I could get my food. So I sympathize with you. CartoonSu ---
**Author:** ![Catamount](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/catamount/32/2840_2.png) [@Catamount](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catamount)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2004, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lady-please-buy-the-groceries-then-talk-on-the-phone/223557/35 "2004-01-09T23:55:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by laigle \* > \*\*“There’s a reason that people are flammable.” > \*\* I’m going to steal this and make it a sig line. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2004, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lady-please-buy-the-groceries-then-talk-on-the-phone/223557/36 "2004-01-10T14:08:05Z")
Perhaps we need to get a little more backbone to put these people in their place. I’m not saying we start wholesale brawling in the street, but it seems to me people are too afraid to let others know they are being just plain rude. It doesn’t have to be done with an attitude. I think what **Quasi** did was very classy. Just a polite reminder to the asshats that the universe does not revolve around them. Perhaps lady got snarky because she was embarrassed. Perhaps she was just a bitch. But in any event, hopefully she learned a lesson. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2004, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lady-please-buy-the-groceries-then-talk-on-the-phone/223557/37 "2004-01-10T14:41:34Z")
Today it is one degree out. I have to walk the one mile to the Shop Rite because I have very little food in my house. There is a guy blocking the entrance as he talks on a cellphone in Spanish. While I am standing there in one degree weather, trying to get him to move his ass. He acts like he doesn’t understand my teeth-chattering English. I ended up going in the out door. ---
**Author:** ![Anonymous\_Coward](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/94ad74/32.png) [@Anonymous\_Coward](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anonymous_Coward)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2004, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lady-please-buy-the-groceries-then-talk-on-the-phone/223557/38 "2004-01-10T15:05:48Z")
I know there are idiots everywhere, but generally speaking is this kind of rudeness common in other countries? ---
**Author:** ![Zabali\_Clawbane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ecd19e/32.png) [@Zabali\_Clawbane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zabali_Clawbane)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2004, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lady-please-buy-the-groceries-then-talk-on-the-phone/223557/39 "2004-01-10T15:46:39Z")
I agree, **ivylass** people do need to be reminded that there are others out there, who have feelings, and lives, and schedules to keep. The irony is, I was taught as a child that it’s rude to point out to someone else that they are being rude. Quite a “Catch 22”. I still do it, I just measure the level of rudeness being inflicted on me, versus me making a stand for myself, and asking them politely to stop etc. and take action according to which is the “lesser evil”. ---
**Author:** ![voguevixen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5ac83/32.png) [@voguevixen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voguevixen)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2004, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lady-please-buy-the-groceries-then-talk-on-the-phone/223557/40 "2004-01-10T19:50:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SnoopyFan \* > \*\***I saw her outside later, and she couldn’t resist one last dig at me: > "I noticed you didn’t offer to pay for my stuff!"** > > What planet was she from? You were supposed to offer to pay for her stuff? WTF? \*\* My “day after” retort: “Daymn lady, are you that confused by a man with a job?” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lady-please-buy-the-groceries-then-talk-on-the-phone/223557.md?page=1)