MONEY MORAL DILEMMA. Should Gwyneth give the lady her reduced steak?

ceridwen

Twiggy_34 wrote: »

Generally, I think my opinion follows the majority here, this being that if she'd genuinely picked it up already and wanted it, it would be in her basket, not on the shelf, so I would keep it.

I've never witnessed it myself, but have heard of scenario's whereby the older generations will try to use their advanced years to work things in their favour, as might be the case here.

Frankly though, if the older lady was the polite and upstanding member of society most people are assuming her to be, and was indeed telling the truth, then I think she would have kept her mouth shut and accept that she'd made a mistake by putting it back on the shelf (it's what I'd do anyway if I'd made such an error, and just silently kick myself for missing out on a good bargain).

As a lady of "a certain age" - I do have to point out here that sometimes one assumes/knows that something (of whatever type) is obviously one's "property"......until someone else nips in and tries to "grab it" under your nose because they havent followed the normal "rules of civilised behaviour". Hence - O.L. may not have "opened her mouth" in the first place because it was obvious what manners/consideration would dictate and she then only had to open her mouth subsequently because someone else had been unaware (or pretended to be) of what manners/consideration dictated was appropriate behaviour on that occasion.

ceridwen

Brecon_Beacons wrote: »

I cannot believe some of the comments I have seen on this thread. Some of you are positively feral.

Have we fallen so far that we would - almost unanimously - elbow aside a pensioner who is asking you for cheap food?

I would NOT snatch food away from an old person who had humbled themselves to ask me for it. I'm not starving, I'm not a savage - and no matter how hard done by I may think I am, I haven't yet fallen far enough that I would fight with an old lady over a reduced steak.

Where is dignity in all this? I would hand it over, no question. Most of those replying aren't pensioners, they haven't had to live on a fixed income for years and years, they haven't experienced age abuse (some of the comments on here!!! Some of the terms used! Hang your heads in shame!)

I feel disgraced for all of us. Is this what society has come to?

QUITE! A lot of posters on this thread have shown themselves up something rotten - but it is the case, all else being equal, that many old people will be feeling ill for instance (a problem less likely to be bothering younger people) and a little bit of thought/consideration ought to be given to the fact that if someone is visibly OAP age then they may well be feeling ill and merit a bit extra consideration.

EDIT: and yes...I say this as one who has a parent who is well capable of "playing the age card" if they want to - so I've had to learn to "fine tune" my judgements about appropriate conduct to take into account both factors...infirmity and a good "excuse" to get one's own way...

tallgirld

I would tell her to fight me for it!!!! Nah actually I would RELUCTANTLY give it to her whilst muttering under my breath. SHE'S TAKING THE MICK !!:-)

Talent

Of course not, 'little old ladies' are the worst for trying it on. Just say sweetly, don't put it down next time luv and walk off.

Talent

I've just skimmed through some of the replies after posting mine (I don't like to be swayed!). I can't believe the rubbish put out by some. Brecon Beacons is such a gullible fool. What on earth is a little old lady doing buying steak anyway? Go and dip you toast in some hot milk and suck that!! It's called 'Pobs' by the way.

Cumbrian_Male

No she shouldn't.

If she has put it back on the shelf she has no right to it. If she wanted it and to continue to browse the reduced items she should have placed it in her basket. She could have returned it to the shelf if she found something else she preferred.

Cloudane

ceridwen wrote: »

As a lady of "a certain age" - I do have to point out here that sometimes one assumes/knows that something (of whatever type) is obviously one's "property"......until someone else nips in and tries to "grab it" under your nose

I think this is a fair point - even if she's not holding it, there is still "personal space" - an area that can be thought of as a little bubble around them. It's obvious if someone is actually looking at / considering something they're right in front of, and if you have to invade their personal space to "grab it" from under their nose then I consider this quite rude and (I was assuming it was on the shelf but not right in front of her) it should be obvious to anyone with an ounce of social grace that you don't just reach into someone's "bubble" and grab things.

It's like when I saw 4 nice bottles reduced at the real ale section (yes Booths has a whole section dedicated to it - awesome place), my dad was with me as well, I was stood right in front of them and mentioned them to him. This guy overheard, reached right in front of me without saying a word and snatched all 4 for himself. I know you should really go for things as soon as you spot them and keep your trap shut, but that was ridiculous really and did come across as very rude to me. He could at least have offered to share, 2 for him 2 for us, but it is indeed obvious when someone conveniently "forgets" their manners out of selfishness.

Once again it's a question that is very much open to the situation itself and the common sense that it demands.

I just wouldn't "race" someone to something if it's obvious they've spotted it first, or grab it from their personal space.

mushypeaman

shimmeronhorizons wrote: »

In theory, she should. But in theory, the little old lady is a pleasant upstanding member of the older generation.

In practice, the old ladies who hang around my local supermarket would slit your throat for a 10% reduction (and I live in a posh part of London). Not content with elbowing me in the crotch should I venture anywhere near their perceived territory (generally the reduced bin coincides with the sandwich and snacks fridge, making lunch an oft painful experience), they harass the staff and guard anyone with a pricing gun with a vigour usually reserved for the canine species.

So, for all their hypocrisy about the younger generations having bad manners, to hell with them. What do they think shopping baskets/trolleys are for?

:T Spot on mate. These old fogies will try anything - I know, I am one.

mr-tom_2

OK. Let's set age, item and price aside for a minute.

Principle. Turn it around. If you're shopping and there's one item left and you want it or think you might, do you put it in your basket while you make up your mind, or do you expect the rest of the shop to magically know? If you plump for the second option, how the hell do you then have the nerve to ask one of the non-telepathic shoppers to give it back.

Get real!

So, now consider price, age, item.

We're talking about a saving of £4.50. Frankly I have trouble getting too bothered about something that's that price. I'd far rather spend my time and energy on something more valuable.

Item. It's a bit of meat and if it's down to 50p, it's probably past its best. I'll give it a miss.

Age. Thought we weren't supposed to discriminate? And don't assume she is old therefore she is poor. It really doesn't work that way.

hundredk

mr-tom wrote: »

we're talking about a saving of £4.50.

£5.50;)......