# Line Jumpers: How do you deal with it? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 6, 2007, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/line-jumpers-how-do-you-deal-with-it/410754 "2007-07-06T16:50:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Cattitude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e19b73/32.png) [@Cattitude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cattitude)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2007, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/line-jumpers-how-do-you-deal-with-it/410754/21 "2007-07-07T01:03:46Z")
I can’t stand line jumpers and have no problem speaking up. I haven’t gotten my butt kicked yet! I agree with WHY NOT, put on “the voice” and most of the time the twerps will cut the crap. Anyway, speak up, as long as there’s a crowd, I bet they’ll speak up too! ---
**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:** [July 7, 2007, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/line-jumpers-how-do-you-deal-with-it/410754/22 "2007-07-07T13:00:54Z")
Ancedote that belongs in this thread. Waiting for the NYC bus back to New Jersey. Long line. I’m first. Bus pulls up. Young, Female, Hispanic woman on cell phone gets in front of me. “You have to wait. My friend is coming to catch this bus.” Me: Where is your friend? Her: On 45th Street. I looked at her. I was not waiting for her friend to come five blocks to catch the bus. I start pushing her to the side. Her: He’ll be here in ten minutes. The next bus doesn’t come for an hour. Me: Too freaking bad. She starts pushing me. I go limp. She loses her balance and goes to the side. I get on the bus and the people behind me follow suit. The bus driver was laughing so hard he had a hard time collecting the money. We left before her friend got there. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2007, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/line-jumpers-how-do-you-deal-with-it/410754/23 "2007-07-07T13:27:36Z")
I carry curie darts and a blow gun shaped like a pocket pen. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2007, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/line-jumpers-how-do-you-deal-with-it/410754/24 "2007-07-07T13:33:24Z")
Depends on my mood. But usually I say politely but firmly: I’m sorry, but I was here first. Sometimes I let it slide. ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2007, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/line-jumpers-how-do-you-deal-with-it/410754/25 "2007-07-07T13:59:09Z")
[QUOTE=Plan B] I’ve had the same thing happen a few times, sometimes with lighter skinnned people as the perps. [/QUOTE] I could point to Europe as an example where I was surprised to see that apparently lines are only for Americans. “We will now seat boarding area one,” apparently means, “Hey everyone! Push your way to the front regardless of your boarding area!” ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2007, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/line-jumpers-how-do-you-deal-with-it/410754/26 "2007-07-07T16:21:23Z")
[QUOTE=ZipperJJ] \I was in the middle of rolling my eyes, thinking about how everyone in front of and behind me was a nice looking young dude who wouldn’t mind sitting with these hot, “confused” chicks during the movie \ [/QUOTE] That’s part of the problem; if the people who have directly been cut in front of don’t say anything, the rest of the line tends to not butt in. Young guys, I’m sorry but you have to say no to line-jumping females. There will be other, non-idiot girls to hang out with, I promise. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2007, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/line-jumpers-how-do-you-deal-with-it/410754/27 "2007-07-07T16:58:29Z")
[QUOTE=Plan B] First of all I have to say I’m amazed at and pleased by the lack of political correctness in this threat. I’m glad that people are able to say what they want once in a while w/o the PC police yelling “Racist.” I’ve had the same thing happen a few times, sometimes with lighter skinnned people as the perps. I always say the best thing is to tell someone in charge but that’s hard to do anywhere I’ve ever been. [/QUOTE] So you’re saying that there’s no racial basis to what people are saying, but you’re glad they’re comfortable saying it anyway? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![nashiitashii](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7c8e57/32.png) [@nashiitashii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nashiitashii)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2007, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/line-jumpers-how-do-you-deal-with-it/410754/28 "2007-07-07T17:36:15Z")
[QUOTE=gigi] So you’re saying that there’s no racial basis to what people are saying, but you’re glad they’re comfortable saying it anyway? 😕 [/QUOTE] I think he’s trying to say that he’s glad that nobody piled on the OP for mentioning the ethnicity/skin color of the line cutters, and then added his own bit of evidence of line cutting. It seems like almost everyone has a different experience with line cutting and who the perps normally are. I rarely say anything to line cutters, but I almost always give them the dirtiest look I can muster. I’m a bit shy and non-confrontational, and most of the time IME, the line cutter is an arrogant, ditzy female who is likely to call me fat just because I called her on her bad behavior. ---
**Author:** ![Wee\_Bairn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/90db22/32.png) [@Wee\_Bairn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wee_Bairn)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2007, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/line-jumpers-how-do-you-deal-with-it/410754/29 "2007-07-07T17:44:39Z")
Can’t find a link to the video, but there was an infamous real incident in Cleveland (I think) at a pizza place (I think) where a guy calls a chick on this, she goes out and gets her boyfriend, who proceeds to literally beat the guy within an inch of his life. ---
**Author:** ![groman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/73ab20/32.png) [@groman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/groman)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2007, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/line-jumpers-how-do-you-deal-with-it/410754/30 "2007-07-07T18:40:47Z")
I think line jumping is done by any demographic, but I noticed that I can only stand up to young-to-middle-aged males doing so. I am just not comfortable confronting females and elderly males, but if a young guy cuts in front of me I get uppity. I usually deal with it by tactfully saying “Excuse me, the line starts over there.” If the guy gets rude and does not comply a prompt “Please move to the beginning of the line or I will be forced to physically move you there myself” usually gets the job done. I just can’t say something like that to an adolescent girl – it’d be a completely empty threat and I am not that good at bluffing. ---
**Author:** ![descamisado](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@descamisado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/descamisado)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2007, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/line-jumpers-how-do-you-deal-with-it/410754/31 "2007-07-07T19:28:15Z")
[QUOTE=groman] I think line jumping is done by any demographic, but I noticed that I can only stand up to young-to-middle-aged males doing so. I am just not comfortable confronting females and elderly males, but if a young guy cuts in front of me I get uppity. I usually deal with it by tactfully saying “Excuse me, the line starts over there.” If the guy gets rude and does not comply a prompt **“Please move to the beginning of the line or I will be forced to physically move you there myself”** usually gets the job done. I just can’t say something like that to an adolescent girl – it’d be a completely empty threat and I am not that good at bluffing. [/QUOTE] But if they’re line-jumping, why condone it by commanding them to move to the front of the line. 😃 I know what you meant. ---
**Author:** ![groman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/73ab20/32.png) [@groman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/groman)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2007, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/line-jumpers-how-do-you-deal-with-it/410754/32 "2007-07-07T19:31:48Z")
[QUOTE=5-4-Fighting] But if they’re line-jumping, why condone it by commanding them to move to the front of the line. 😃 [/QUOTE] Maybe it’s a line to a very very drunk dentist who’s all out of Novocaine but is feeling frisky? ---
**Author:** ![Li\_l\_Pluck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ee59a6/32.png) [@Li\_l\_Pluck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Li_l_Pluck)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2007, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/line-jumpers-how-do-you-deal-with-it/410754/33 "2007-07-07T19:55:10Z")
[QUOTE=Harmonious Discord] I carry curie darts and a blow gun shaped like a pocket pen. [/QUOTE] I don’t know what curie darts are, but this sounds cool. I would love to get my hands on some. And the pen, too! [QUOTE=Plan B] First of all I have to say I’m amazed at and pleased by the lack of political correctness in this threat. I’m glad that people are able to say what they want once in a while w/o the PC police yelling “Racist.” [/QUOTE] :rolleyes: Not to burst your bubble or anything, but for your information, the fact that no one here “yelled” “racist” doesn’t mean that the OP’s inclusion of the pieces of shits’ ethnicity and the whole “could this have something to do with race” question didn’t inspire at least a little :dubious: for at least one of us here. Perhaps, however, those of us who took note of what \*could \* be, at best, an ancillary reference to race are just too tired/trying to get some errands done during the quickly dwindling day/whatever to deal with it right now. ---
**Author:** ![athelas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5e9695/32.png) [@athelas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/athelas)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2007, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/line-jumpers-how-do-you-deal-with-it/410754/34 "2007-07-07T20:12:09Z")
Or it could be a perfectly valid observation that shouldn’t be shouted down just because it conflicts with what some people want the world to be like. Just saying. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2007, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/line-jumpers-how-do-you-deal-with-it/410754/35 "2007-07-07T20:13:09Z")
[QUOTE=Li’l Pluck] I don’t know what curie darts are [/QUOTE] [Curare](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curare), no doubt. ---
**Author:** ![Plan\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Plan\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Plan_B)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2007, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/line-jumpers-how-do-you-deal-with-it/410754/36 "2007-07-07T20:23:33Z")
[QUOTE=Li’l Pluck] Not to burst your bubble or anything, but for your information, the fact that no one here “yelled” “racist” doesn’t mean that the OP’s inclusion of the pieces of shits’ ethnicity and the whole “could this have something to do with race” question didn’t inspire at least a little :dubious: for at least one of us here. [/QUOTE] Yeah, but at least no one felt the need to ruin the thread. That’s pretty cool compared to some dumb and disruptive outbursts I’ve seen here before. I don’t care what kind of irrelevant thoughts people have as long as they don’t post them. Bubble remains intact. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Plan\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Plan\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Plan_B)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2007, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/line-jumpers-how-do-you-deal-with-it/410754/37 "2007-07-07T20:25:28Z")
[QUOTE=gigi] So you’re saying that there’s no racial basis to what people are saying, but you’re glad they’re comfortable saying it anyway? 😕 [/QUOTE] I definitely did not say that. ---
**Author:** ![descamisado](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@descamisado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/descamisado)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2007, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/line-jumpers-how-do-you-deal-with-it/410754/38 "2007-07-07T20:48:45Z")
deleted. ---
**Author:** ![Rysdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7cd45c/32.png) [@Rysdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysdad)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2007, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/line-jumpers-how-do-you-deal-with-it/410754/39 "2007-07-07T21:29:53Z")
At Universal Studios in Florida a couple of young kids were in the process of climbing over the fence in orde to shortcut a waiting line. I took a step toward them and told them if they did come over the fence that they would be outside the park within 5 minutes. They didn’t come over–at least while I was there. I’ve been known to step in front of line jumpers and get very, uncomfortably close to them while suggesting they find the end of the line. I won’t allow a line jumper to pass me. Period. If I have to wait, they have to wait. ---
**Author:** ![Acid\_Lamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Acid\_Lamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acid_Lamp)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2007, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/line-jumpers-how-do-you-deal-with-it/410754/40 "2007-07-07T22:04:38Z")
I’m a dick. I get in the way. SERIOUSLY in the way. I’ve been known to lounge across stationary line gaurd at theme parks; feet on one side back on the other like a living toll turnpike. I then refuse to move at all until the jumpers leave. If they try to go under I drop my ass on them. I’ve never had anyone try to push me off , or go over though. 🆒 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/line-jumpers-how-do-you-deal-with-it/410754.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/line-jumpers-how-do-you-deal-with-it/410754.md?page=3)