This sounds exactly like Ukrops in my town (it could be Ukrops - your description is scarily accurate) - I used to enjoy going there, but lately, I’ve gotten frustrated with the attitude of people who shop there. I get cut off, glared at, knocked into by children (without an apology from them or their parents), and the only thing that makes it worth it is the huge selection of natural products and the staff. I was there last week on a shopping trip with my mother and after a woman literally cut my cart off (when all I was doing was walking down the veggie aisle) and then glared at me because I’d apparently kept going in her airspace, I turned to my mother and said “Did I miss a notice? Is it Asshole Week here?”. I am unfailingly polite and usually in a good mood, but half an hour at that store easily turns even my typically good-nature sour.
When I move, I’ll be doing the majority of my shopping at Kroger’s. The staff isn’t enough for me to pay extra and get my groceries taken to my car. And to be honest, I much prefer the elderly at this store to the Entitlement Yuppies that have taken over.
What has happened to common courtesy? Is losing 13 seconds of your life that big a deal?
If Karma is true, you’ll be decrepit, bitter, and lonely when you are seniors. If you even make it that far.
To the others who are just slightly annoyed, but aren’t egoistic self made gods: Take a deep breath, imagine it’s you who is unknowingly blocking the way, smile. Common courtesy goes a long way.
The word for a person who would choose to block someone, anyone, on purpose is not “old.” It is “jerk.”
You want to complain about people who block you in the supermarket, fine. But to assume that they’re doing it on purpose and to assume that they’re discriminating against you on the basis of your apparent age shows a shocking immaturity.
I’m usually very nice about it. But about the third or fourth time I say “excuse me”, it starts to come out as an angry yell. Then they’re asking why I’m so upset as I calmly mention that I asked them to move five times and they didn’t.
It ain’t just old people, it’s all sorts of people. It’s a problem I have with my wife on occasion. She’ll be standing right in the way, oblivious to the idea that she is the one causing the hold-up. Then when it is pointed out to her, she gets upset and claims that it isn’t her fault, because “I didn’t see you”, or “I don’t have eyes in the back of my head”.
I’m considering making my standard reply, “Then perhaps you should do what the rest of us do and pay attention to your surroundings”.
Sorry, but the “Gosh, you’re in too much of a hurry, settle down!” response comes off as being a bit more selfish and inconsiderate than the idea that the rest of us are being rude by expecting to be able to use the aisles.
No, sorry, you are being rude by being in the way. Intention doesn’t enter being right or wrong here. Move your ass and pay attention, or stay out of public places.
I have to add that when I am at fault, I am always very quick to step aside and apologize, since I recognize that I AM at fault.
Oh, and yesterday’s Grocery Story.
I walked out of the small, neighborhood grocery store. The entrance is on the side, just around the corner from the sidewalk. I walked out the door and around to my right onto the sidewalk. Coming the other way were two women, side by side. One of them was on my side of the sidewalk, with her shoulder almost brushing the wall. She was facing and talking to her friend as they walked along.
I stop dead, expecting her to see me five feet away. Bam, she walks straight into me. Then has the nerve to yell at me for not watching where I’m going. My response was a very calm, “what side of the sidewalk were you on? Where were YOU looking?” as I continued on my way.
Yeah, I’m just so rude that way, rounding blind corners and immobily (sp?) “ramming” into people who are simply minding their own business walking down the wrong side of the sidewalk not watching where they are going.
Chimera, now those are legitimate complaints. Yes, some people are in considerate ass wipes. And some people never quite “get it,” do they? But, come on now. A mistake is a mistake. What’s wrong with being nice to people for a change? Cutting them the same slack you would like?
And now, based on the first sentance of your second post, I have to ask:
Please don’t assume all North Americans found it offensive - it didn’t even register on my PC-o-meter (which, in all fairness, may not have its sensitivity set up to modern standards).
You nailed it. When I’ve been at work for nine hours and I need to get some food, those can be 13 long seconds, and for what? Should all us efficient folks just line up behind the aisle-blockers until their fancy is no longer captured by the four different kinds of Oreos and decide to move their ass?
Thanks for clarifying featherlou, I was a little taken aback as I have often used the word in discussions with North Americans both in person and on the net and have never been jumped on. To me it is below rugrats in potential offensiveness (it doesn’t compare human beings to rodents) but I truly did not mean to be derogatory so best to clear these misunderstandings up.
I used to get mad when my friends referred to my car as “the old people car” and “the geezer mobile.” But over the past year or so, I’ve finally learned to accept the fact that despite the butterfly decal in the window and my high school graduation tassel in the rear-view mirror, my car still looks like it’s driven by a little white-haired old lady. Ah, well.
Ditto from this part of NA too. From the context it sounded more endearing than demeaning. I thought it was a pretty funny coloquialism and it actually made me think of my grandmother for a moment. You aussies are hilarious. Your slang is second to none.
My shot at the OP, why do people park their cart on one side of the aisle, then stand in the other half of the aisle to peruse their pickings? If you are just going to grab something, I have no problem. If you are going to compare unit prices on 20 items, move your ass or your cart, I don’t care which one I run over.
My other shot is, when I see an aisle has a few carts in attendance, I sometimes just leave my cart at the end of the aisle and walk down to get the items of my desire. I don’t understand why some people have to keep that cart attached to themselves at all times. Even I can tote a 24 pack of tp 20 feet without getting winded!
Guin, please go out and find yourself an old copy of “Let’s Stalk 'Strine” (Let’s Talk Australian).
Aussies have an deliciously irreverant sense of humor and often use slightly derogatory euphemisms to conote affection and what have you. It’s like calling someone who’s over six feet tall, “shorty.” Check out the links in my IMHO “Jolly Swagman” thread for a sample of their delightful and incredibly skewed view of things.
