Queueing etiquette

Inigo_Montoya

Had an irritating queueing issue today

I went to the post office today & there was a small queue of 2 people & a pram behind them blocking the way forward

As soon as I realised the pram didnt belong to anybody in the queue i squeezed past

About a minute or so later the owner of the pram who had been getting served at the nearby local shop counter (post office & shop all in the same building) said I should rejoin the queue behind him

I told him that you cant hold your place in a queue with a pram so then he decided to physically put himself in front of me & accused *me* of being rude (yea right !)

I left it at that as I had neither the energy nor the inclination to get into a physical confrontation with him over it (young fit looking black guy so probably would have got the better of me anyway)

Just wondering if people agree with me that trying to save a place in a queue with a pram while you get served at another counter isnt fair or acceptable ?

The other people in the queue looked back at us arguing but didnt say anything - if it happens again I'll probably ask other people what they think as Im pretty sure Im in on the right side on this one

KateBob

I would say you were definitely in the right but like you I would probably decide that discretion is the better of valour.
Was there a child in the pram?



Also I have to say .... You killed my father, prepare to die.

Inigo_Montoya

yes there was a young child in the pram - another reason I didnt want to escalate things

Like you say potentially getting beat up over a single place in a queue wouldnt have been a wise choice

iammumtoone

Inigo_Montoya wrote: »

Had an irritating queueing issue today

I went to the post office today & there was a small queue of 2 people & a pram behind them blocking the way forward

As soon as I realised the pram didnt belong to anybody in the queue i squeezed past

About a minute or so later the owner of the pram who had been getting served at the nearby local shop counter (post office & shop all in the same building) said I should rejoin the queue behind him

I told him that you cant hold your place in a queue with a pram so then he decided to physically put himself in front of me & accused *me* of being rude (yea right !)

I left it at that as I had neither the energy nor the inclination to get into a physical confrontation with him over it (young fit looking black guy so probably would have got the better of me anyway)

Just wondering if people agree with me that trying to save a place in a queue with a pram while you get served at another counter isnt fair or acceptable ?

The other people in the queue looked back at us arguing but didnt say anything - if it happens again I'll probably ask other people what they think as Im pretty sure Im in on the right side on this one

Yes you were totally right and I was totally with you until I read that the young man was black. Why mention this, it has no relevance on your story? You stated he was young and fit which is fair enough by why mention the colour of his skin?

I have now lost sympathy with you and feel for the man in question as I wonder if you would be writing this rant it the person involved was white?

Azari

iammumtoone wrote: »

Yes you were totally right and I was totally with you until I read that the young man was black. Why mention this, it has no relevance on your story? You stated he was young and fit which is fair enough by why mention the colour of his skin?

I have now lost sympathy with you and feel for the man in question as I wonder if you would be writing this rant it the person involved was white?

I think you are over-reacting, here. A lot of people mention a person's race and/or colour together with their age and sex, as it enables others to form a mental picture.

In any case, the colour of the person's skin has no bearing on whether or not he was being unreasonable.

Inigo_Montoya

iammumtoone wrote: »

I wonder if you would be writing this rant it the person involved was white?

yes I definately would - so its ok to describe someone as a young fit looking white guy but not a young fit looking black guy ?!? - I have to omit the word black for fear of being accused of racism ? - geez

also are you are saying because hes black then in your eyes he can play the race card & gets to do whatever he wants ?

its exactly that sort of polictically correct thinking that led to the rotherham abuse scandal

sounds like you are the racist, not me

Inigo_Montoya

Azari wrote: »

I think you are over-reacting, here. A lot of people mention a person's race and/or colour together with their age and sex, as it enables others to form a mental picture.

In any case, the colour of the person's skin has no bearing on whether or not he was being unreasonable.

exactly that

iammumtoone

Inigo_Montoya wrote: »

yes I definately would - so its ok to describe someone as a young fit looking white guy but not a young fit looking black guy ?!? - I have to omit the word black for fear of being accused of racism ? - geez

also are you are saying because hes black then in your eyes he can play the race card & gets to do whatever he wants ?

its exactly that sort of polictically correct thinking that led to the rotherham abuse scandal

sounds like you are the racist, not me

What is wrong with just saying he was a young fit guy, why the mention of any colour at all? why is relevant?

iammumtoone

Azari wrote: »

In any case, the colour of the person's skin has no bearing on whether or not he was being unreasonable.

exactly so why the need to mention it?

tomtontom

Inigo_Montoya wrote: »

yes I definately would - so its ok to describe someone as a young fit looking white guy but not a young fit looking black guy ?!? - I have to omit the word black for fear of being accused of racism ? - geez

also are you are saying because hes black then in your eyes he can play the race card & gets to do whatever he wants ?

its exactly that sort of polictically correct thinking that led to the rotherham abuse scandal

sounds like you are the racist, not me

!!!!!!?!!

There was only one reason you mentioned the man's colour - to put across a negative stereotype.

iammumtoone

Azari wrote: »

I think you are over-reacting, here. A lot of people mention a person's race and/or colour together with their age and sex, as it enables others to form a mental picture.

In any case, the colour of the person's skin has no bearing on whether or not he was being unreasonable.

Age and sex yes I agree with, but why do people need to know skin colour when forming a metal picture, you might as well start saying what colour jumper they were wearing.

totally agree the persons skin colour has no bearing on whether he was being unreasonable so why mention it?