# No, actually, you CAN'T butt in line **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 12, 2003, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-actually-you-cant-butt-in-line/174748 "2003-05-12T17:51:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![kabbes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e99b99/32.png) [@kabbes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kabbes)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2003, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-actually-you-cant-butt-in-line/174748/61 "2003-05-14T15:32:32Z")
I like my friend’s approach. Once we were in a supermarket, in the 6 items or less line and someone joined behind us with helluva items. So after we had paid he waited and counted her items: “1… 2… 3… 4… 5… 6” and then he slammed his arm down on the conveyor belt and said, “That’s all, now you have to go to the back of the queue”. The woman went ballistic, the people in the queue cheered and the cashier was forced to back my friend up. Classic. pan ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2003, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-actually-you-cant-butt-in-line/174748/62 "2003-05-14T15:35:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Fin\_man \*\*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by jarbabyj \* > > Oh lord. Now you’ve done it. I’m officially fucking rattled. A woman was ahead of me in line at the express lane a few days ago. She was two people ahead so I couldn’t see what was in her cart, but certainly it couldn’t be more than ten things. She chortled as if she beat the system by putting 12 cans of cat food, 5 2 Liters of Pop and about three packages of toilet paper on the cart…then guffawing at her own cleverness, she turned to us and said… > > > > “It’s only three DIFFERENT things…HAW HAW HAW HAW.” > > > > Fortunately I had my flamethrower, and I toasted her face off, carrying home her charred skull to add to my collection. > > Actually, **jarbabyj** , I think she was correct. At least this is what I have been taught. It has to do with the checker being able to hit “12 at” and then scan one thing versus scanning 12 different things. Just like a six-pack of soda is scanned as “6 at” and scanning on can (since some places will sell single cans). Would that be 1 or 6? \*\* I’ve worked in a grocery store and what the woman did with the 20 or so items was wrong. A six-pack of soda is _intended_ to be sold as a single item, as is a dozen eggs, a case of beer, a package of toilet paper, etc. Individual cans of cat food and two liter soda bottles are intended to be purchased _seperately_. It would have been a different matter if the 12 cans of cat food were in two units of six instead of being seperate. ---
**Author:** ![Fin\_man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@Fin\_man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fin_man)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2003, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-actually-you-cant-butt-in-line/174748/63 "2003-05-14T15:40:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jeff Olsen \* > \*\*I’ve worked in a grocery store and what the woman did with the 20 or so items was wrong. A six-pack of soda is _intended_ to be sold as a single item, as is a dozen eggs, a case of beer, a package of toilet paper, etc. Individual cans of cat food and two liter soda bottles are intended to be purchased _seperately_. It would have been a different matter if the 12 cans of cat food were in two units of six instead of being seperate. \*\* Then I stand corrected. Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![Gazelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Gazelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gazelle)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2003, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-actually-you-cant-butt-in-line/174748/64 "2003-05-14T15:43:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by GMRyujin \* > \*\*And then one of the _Angels of the SDMB (The people who always drive the speed limit, never smoke or drink, never wish misfortune or violence on anyone, never giggle at someone slipping on a banana peel, etc. and instead spend their time looking pious)_ has to come by and “Tut” and say “For shame! These line cutters have families! And puppies! What if someone got hurt and really needed to cut in line? Meanies!” \*\* Finally, a Pit thread about me! ::primps:: (Italics mine.) Thanks **GMRyujin**! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Gazelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Gazelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gazelle)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2003, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-actually-you-cant-butt-in-line/174748/65 "2003-05-14T15:46:01Z")
Gawl durn smilies messin’ with my ::primping:: ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2003, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-actually-you-cant-butt-in-line/174748/66 "2003-05-14T15:48:11Z")
You’re quite welcome. 🙂 BTW: there’s a detergent commercial (Gain?) that features some guy trying to prove three bottles of detergent are a single item so he can go through the express line. He also has a dozen eggs and argues that because the eggs are a single item, so are the detergent bottles. I hate that commercial but at least the guy is forced to take his detergent to a different line. ---
**Author:** ![LurkMeister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@LurkMeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkMeister)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2003, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-actually-you-cant-butt-in-line/174748/67 "2003-05-14T16:00:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jarbabyj \* > \*\*but the scanner didn’t do that. She scanned each one individually. Don’t count on the 15 year old goth behind the counter to work efficiently. \*\* One time when I was buying 18 cans of cat food at the local Jewel (I was not in the express lane BTW, as this was only part of a cartload) the checker mentioned as she was scanning each one individually that if I had gotten at least 24 she would have been able to just scan one and use the quantity purchase button. It seems kind of silly to me that there would be a minimum number of items required to avoid individual scanning. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2003, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-actually-you-cant-butt-in-line/174748/68 "2003-05-14T16:00:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jkusters \* > \*\*Well, eight people cutting in to line ahead of me, especially for something like a very popular movie, would certainly cheese me off. Especially if several groups were doing it. \*\* Noted, and won’t be repeated, and my apologies on behalf of linecutters everywhere. Learn something new every day! Daniel ---
**Author:** ![shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ab992/32.png) [@shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shrew)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2003, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-actually-you-cant-butt-in-line/174748/69 "2003-05-14T16:09:04Z")
**Zenster** , first of all, locate your zen. Take a breath. Chill out. [QUOTE] \*Originally posted by Zenster \* > [@](#): > > Uhh, gee, I only let people cut in front of me when there is absolutely _ **NOBODY** _ else behind me. I did not criticize you letting people in front of you; I think that’s marvelous. > [@](#): > > What is it with you presumptuous assholes that makes you so desperate to paint me up as some sort of villain just because I avoid being a hidebound bastard who refuses to bend the rules a little when it hurts no one? Uh. Where the hell did that come from? I have no problem with you asking to be let in front if you only have one item. It shows assertiveness, which is good. My question related to this comment > [@](#): > > CAVEAT: I always ask if the person I’m about to cut in is paying with cash. If not, they are out of luck. I refuse to have the line held up any more than necessary. Are you talking about the person asking to cut in? Or are you talking about when you break queue and ask someone to let you in, and they say no, you then ask them if they’re paying with cash or not. If they say no, you break line anyway. That’s how it read to me. Tell me if I’m wrong; just don’t lose your mind again. The term “cut in” isn’t one we use here (in Georgia or London), so I may have misread you. > [@](#): > > I wish you could see the looks of gratitude and relief I get from poor schnook stock clerks who are faced with waiting in line for half their break time just to buy a breakfast or lunch snack. You might have a change of your (putative) heart. I always let the clerks go first; to me that’s an unwritten rule. ---
**Author:** ![tiny\_ham](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a183cd/32.png) [@tiny\_ham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tiny_ham)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2003, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-actually-you-cant-butt-in-line/174748/70 "2003-05-14T16:34:06Z")
Jesus Cristo at The Kroger, Zenster! Over react much? ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2003, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-actually-you-cant-butt-in-line/174748/71 "2003-05-14T17:11:00Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by kabbes \* > \*\*I like my friend’s approach. Once we were in a supermarket, in the 6 items or less line and someone joined behind us with helluva items. So after we had paid he waited and counted her items: “1… 2… 3… 4… 5… 6” and then he slammed his arm down on the conveyor belt and said, “That’s all, now you have to go to the back of the queue”. The woman went ballistic, the people in the queue cheered and the cashier was forced to back my friend up. > > Classic. > > pan \*\* Holy shit, that took balls! ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2003, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-actually-you-cant-butt-in-line/174748/72 "2003-05-14T17:29:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jarbabyj \* > \*\*Fortunately I had my flamethrower, and I toasted her face off, carrying home her charred skull to add to my collection. \*\* Well, I hope you didn’t just leave her headless corpse there for the cashier to clean up, 'cause that would have been rude… 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Doomtrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/0ea827/32.png) [@Doomtrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doomtrain)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2003, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-actually-you-cant-butt-in-line/174748/73 "2003-05-15T02:01:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Gazelle \* > \*\*Finally, a Pit thread about me! ::primps:: (Italics mine.) > > Thanks **GMRyujin**! 😃 \*\* You didn’t “Tut” or tell us how we were all bad people cause we occasionally have bad thoughts. YOU FAIL! NO HALO FOR YOU! ---
**Author:** ![Zenster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/cdc98d/32.png) [@Zenster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zenster)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2003, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-actually-you-cant-butt-in-line/174748/74 "2003-05-15T02:34:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by shrew \* > … Are you talking about the person asking to cut in? … Yes, or the person I’m about to let cut in line. If they have cash, I have no problem. If they don’t, tough noogies. CAVEAT: I always ask if the person **I’m about to cut in** is paying with cash. If not, they are out of luck. I refuse to have the line held up any more than necessary. > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by shrew_ > Zenster isn’t being an asshole or defending cutting perse, but he/she is saying it’s okay to think your time is more important than others’. Am I the only one who reads the post that way? NOT “_CUT IN FRONT OF_,” FUCKING “CUT IN” AS IN ‘CUT INTO THE LINE I’M ALREADY STANDING IN.’ WHY DID YOU NOT PERCEIVE THIS? How does making sure that a person I’m about to admit into line before me is paying with cash constitute thinking my “time is more important than others?” I’m not sure if any of you have noticed, but I’ll state it here. There seems to be a few (or more) people at these boards that automatically assume my assertive demeanor means I also routinely impose myself upon people. While such posters are completely entitled to their own opinion, I’m entitled to take umbrage and tell them to fuck off. In my open mic night thread, people automatically assumed that I walked up and horned in on other acts that were performing on stage. Look at the “Vaginal Cavity of a Neighbor” thread. Because my animal barks at someone who is hostile to me, a poster automatically assumes that my pet is dangerous. It’s that sort of shit which really frosts my dick! ---
**Author:** ![Tony\_Barber\_s\_Underwear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/58f4c7/32.png) [@Tony\_Barber\_s\_Underwear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tony_Barber_s_Underwear)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2003, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-actually-you-cant-butt-in-line/174748/75 "2003-05-15T06:13:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Zenster \* > \*\* > NOT “_CUT IN FRONT OF_,” FUCKING “CUT IN” AS IN ‘CUT INTO THE LINE I’M ALREADY STANDING IN.’ WHY DID YOU NOT PERCEIVE THIS? > \*\* Probably because you didn’t phrase it very well in the first place. > [@](#): > > \*\*There seems to be a few (or more) people at these boards that automatically assume my assertive demeanor means I also routinely impose myself upon people. \*\* If by assertive demeanor, you mean you jump all over people who ask you an innocent question, then yes, you have an assertive demeanor. Take a chill-pill daddy-o. - Bubba. ---
**Author:** ![Sister\_Vigilante](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@Sister\_Vigilante](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sister_Vigilante)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2003, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-actually-you-cant-butt-in-line/174748/76 "2003-05-15T12:33:43Z")
Perhaps it should have been written, “I always ask if the person I’m about to **let** in…” ---
**Author:** ![shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ab992/32.png) [@shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shrew)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2003, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-actually-you-cant-butt-in-line/174748/77 "2003-05-15T17:19:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Zenster \* > NOT “_CUT IN FRONT OF_,” FUCKING “CUT IN” AS IN ‘CUT INTO THE LINE I’M ALREADY STANDING IN.’ WHY DID YOU NOT PERCEIVE THIS? Maybe because people exist outside of Silicon Valley and local colloquialisms differ around the world. You have used the term “cut in” interchangably, meaning both to break line and to allow someone to break line in front of you. How was someone outside of your head to know which you meant? > [@](#): > > I’m not sure if any of you have noticed, but I’ll state it here. There seems to be a few (or more) people at these boards that automatically assume my assertive demeanor means I also routinely impose myself upon people. No, we probably haven’t noticed. Again, maybe it’s because we don’t exist in your head. Take a step back and look around, **Narcissus**. > [@](#): > > While such posters are completely entitled to their own opinion, I’m entitled to take umbrage and tell them to fuck off. And you thought I was one of those posters? You really need to pay closer attention to **tone**. > [@](#): > > In my open mic night thread, people automatically assumed that I walked up and horned in on other acts that were performing on stage. Look at the “Vaginal Cavity of a Neighbor” thread. Because my animal barks at someone who is hostile to me, a poster automatically assumes that my pet is dangerous. It’s that sort of shit which really frosts my dick! What’s that shit got to do with me? Don’t transfer your anger with them onto me. I asked an innocent question and you retaliated with great hostility. Chill out. ---
**Author:** ![mlskmom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@mlskmom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlskmom)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2003, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-actually-you-cant-butt-in-line/174748/78 "2003-05-15T18:58:14Z")
Several years ago M and I went to Tar-jay to see “WishBone” - for all of you without kids around 10 - it was a PBS show that featured a dog that would be the main character for classic books. M was soooo excited about seeing that dog - I decided that I didn’t want to be stuck at the end of the line, and since it was a beautiful day, we went to stand in line an hour and a half before the event was supposed to begin. There were a few people ahead of us, but not many, and we all had a great time talking while the kids played. SOO, finally it’s five minutes until it’s start time and the line is HUGE - like 100 parents with kids. When this white trash ho and her boyfriend lift up the rope barrier and step in line in front of us!! I polietly told her that the line was wayyy over there and that she could not cut in front of us. Her response was - well , I just want a quick picture for my kid. Honey, We all did - that’s the whole reason we were there!! So I told her that she still couldn’t cut in front of me - and she had the balls to ask if she could cut behind me! I told her No - but to go ahead and ask the people behind us. At this point about fifty people realized what was happening and they were all pretty mad - so when she asked the people behind her if she could cut in line - about 10 people shouted NO!!! It was wonderful! I love it when we can all stick together and kick people like that in the pants!!! ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2003, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-actually-you-cant-butt-in-line/174748/79 "2003-05-15T19:03:56Z")
Welcome to the SDMB, **mlskmom** , and great first post you have there. ---
**Author:** ![byter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e480ec/32.png) [@byter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/byter)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2003, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-actually-you-cant-butt-in-line/174748/80 "2003-05-16T18:57:03Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Fin\_man \* > \*\*If there was a ticket holders line after the ticket buyer line, the other 7 could stand in that line (since you don’t have to show the ticket to get in line) and then wait for your friend. Not only would one person be “cutting”, but it is (IMO) acceptable to do this. \*\* Excellent idea. It does get a little embarassing though when the holder line moves faster than the buyer line. You sometimes end up with a group of people at the front of the line waving people behind them on through. No biggie though. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-actually-you-cant-butt-in-line/174748.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-actually-you-cant-butt-in-line/174748.md?page=5)