Queueing etiquette

zagfles

What if it was an older child, not in a pram? What if it was an adult?

If 2 people are in a queue together and one nips off to do something, then returns to join the person they are with, is that OK? That seems to happen all the time and most people don't seem to mind.

Perhaps the OP is being ageist rather than racist

JReacher1

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 agree. First thing I thought when I read the post was why mention the fact the guy was black? It's irrelevant.

dacouch

I like the way the Thai's (I think) queue.

It's far more civilised than our system

Inigo_Montoya

tomtontom wrote: »

!!!!!!?!!

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

so according to your view if he'd been white & I'd said young fit white guy then I'd be putting across a negative stereotype of white people instead right ?

Case of double standards IMO - you're allowed to decribe someone as white but as soon as you identify them as from an ethnic minority you are labelled a racist by the politically correct crowd

Anyhow a persons race/background/culture etc... *does* have a bearing on the issue as people from different cultures may have very different views on what is & is not acceptable when it comes to queueing

This thread appears to has turned into an argument about racial stereotypes rather than the behaviour of the individual concerned
so I wont be back

Inigo_Montoya

zagfles wrote: »

What if it was an older child, not in a pram? What if it was an adult?

If 2 people are in a queue together and one nips off to do something, then returns to join the person they are with, is that OK? That seems to happen all the time and most people don't seem to mind.

Perhaps the OP is being ageist rather than racist

I'd be perfectly fine with another adult or even (self mobile) older child but Im pretty sure most people draw the line at a very young child in a pram (who cannot move up the queue without being pushed by another person)

iammumtoone

I think you are missing the point it is not ok to mention if the person was white either, no one has said it is. The skin colour is irrelevant black/white/pink/green it makes no difference and should not be mentioned at all.

JReacher1

Inigo_Montoya wrote: »

Anyhow a persons race/background/culture etc... *does* have a bearing on the issue as people from different cultures may have very different views on what is & is not acceptable when it comes to queueing

Are black people from a different culture? I will have to ask one of my black friends who was born and bread in Britain (as were his parents, grand parents and great grandparents) whether he has a different policy towards queuing because he is black?

keyser666

iammumtoone wrote: »

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

Just merely describing the situation and the person, I think it is you who has read more into it.

OP I probably would have knocked them clean out but then thats me

JReacher1

keyser666 wrote: »

Just merely describing the situation and the person, I think it is you who has read more into it.

OP I probably would have knocked them clean out but then thats me

Them?

You would have punched the baby in the pram as well as the man?

That is certainly going to extremes to protect your position in the queue....

jrtfan

I think you were right to feel put out by the other person's behaviour, but it happens a lot and I reckon that unless someone wants to end up with high blood pressure, it's much better to let things like this go. We had a local Greengrocer's shop years ago where the Grocer served the customer and everyone had to wait their turn in a queue. There was one very elderly lady who used to surreptitiously edge her way slowly forward, queue jumping, but imperceptibly. At least the fella you encountered wasn't trying to be sneaky about it!

If you saw him again, perhaps you could suggest that he carries a sign with him to place on the pram in such situations, saying "holding my place in the queue - be back very soon" ?! Or something along these lines!