why do you need to stand so close?

[hulagirl87]

This has happened to me before, but it just happened twice this morning so I had to post about it...

Why do people feel the need to stand so close when waiting in line? Take a few steps back! I feel like my personal space is being invaded. I can't really go anywhere because I'm waiting in the same line as you!

It just happened at Target and at Starbucks. The guy at Starbucks was so close I almost turned and said "you seem to be in a hurry, do you want to go ahead of me?" It's like he was breathing down my neck!

Thanks for letting me vent. And in the words of the Police "Don't Stand So Close to Me!"

 

[dawson5]

I hate it when they do that and I'm using my debit card. I turn the little pad and cover it as much as possible when keying in my numbers. I usually say something to the cashier that I hate that happening too.

 

[tinkntraining]

I totally get it!
People, don't you see my invisible bubble????

 

[cybrkitn]

I've had it happen to me several times as well. At one point the person behind me was so close that his hand touched (not a private area) that I actually turned to him and asked if would please back off

I also find that my DS7 will sometimes get a little too close to the person in front of him that I tell him to back up and give the person some space. If for some reason that person takes a step back, they will trip over DS7.

 

[starrzone]

Oh, I hear you! What I do at the grocery store checkout is to sort of stand with my feet way apart. That way, the person can't get any closer without running over my foot. Personal space invasion is one of my biggest pet peeves!

 

[krcit]

Ughhhh!!! One of my biggest pet peeves. I am usually a pretty easy going person but that just gets me going. I have been known to ask someone if they would like to get into my pocket. Totally different if you are in a very crowded place and people are close to you, like last week I was at a benefit and it was wall to wall people. It was impossible to not be touching someone else,lol, but in line at a store or at a bar? Get out of my space!!!!!!

 

[ckay87]

I have a little passive-aggressive strategy that works in amusement park lines. You know, when it's 230 degrees in Florida and that person behind you is going to get on the ride SO much more quickly the closer they stand to you?

Picture this: I put my hands on my hips. Normal enough, right? When it's hot I like to stand with my hands on my hips. But then, oh....what was that sound behind me? I must swing around quickly (keeping hands on hips) to see what that sound was. Oh sorry, did I hit you with my elbows? Didn't bother you? Well.... oh, do I hear someone calling my name from the other direction? I must swing around quickly the other way (keeping hands on hips) to hear who is calling me.

I have sharp elbows. It eventually works.

 

[torinsmom]

In the grocery store or anywhere with carts, I get in front of my cart, so there is a cart between me and the next person in line. Makes it easier to unload anyway. After I have unloaded, I move up to where the bagging is happening, so I am not blocking the next person putting their stuff on the belt behind mine.

How about at the parks? Sometimes people get almost on top of you, and if it is a hot day....well, it's more than the proximity that can get to you.

 

[RF536]

I hate it when people insist on standing so close to you they are breathing down you neck. When DH and I are waiting in line, I always make sure I am in front of him, so he can deal with those people.

One time when we were at Cedar Point a couple of years ago, it was about 95 degrees out and they kept announcing in the lines to please stand close to the person in front of you to make the wait time shorter. I looked at Dh and said "Really? It doesn't matter how close I stand to the person in front of me, the ride only holds so many people at a time, so I will still have to wait just as long, but I will be hotter while I wait."

 

[torinsmom]

Now that song is stuck in my head....."Don't stand so, don't stand so, don't stand so close to me...."

Maybe we should all put that on our ipods and play it loudly when someone invades our personal space, LOL

 

[sbell111]

The only time that I've ever felt that people were too close to me is when we were at the Beijing olympics. I chalked it up to a variant definition of 'personal space'.

 

[Pakey]

Yes, I was going to say that you certainly don't want to travel outside of the U.S. if this bothers you. We have encountered this in many places but the worst was in a church in Italy when the man behind me actually had his chin resting on my shoulder. He had gotten between my husband and I and while his chin was lounging there on my body, I could hear my husband behind him trying to be so quiet as he was laughing at me.

 

[PirateSnowmen]

This happened to me yesterday
I was standing in line and the girl behind me was standing so close to me she was actually pushing up against my backpack. She was also talking VERY loudly on her phone, which just made it so much more enjoyable

 

[Darsa]

UGH! I hate this and it happens SO often! I also take the more "violent" approach to this offense, and tend to step back casually and *oops* stepped on someone's foot, oh dear!

 

[ericamanda01]

I hate that more than anything else! If people stand too close to me I will stand sideways, that usually makes them back off. I have on a couple of occasions turned completely around and stood face to face with people. When they see how close they are to my face they ALWAYS back up.

 

[paintnolish]

My kids do this to people sometimes in line, particularly my dd. I'm always telling her- Take a step back. Yo are practically up this lady's butt in front of us!
I initially thought this would be about close talkers. I work with one. I'm always thinking- This doesn't feel awkward to you? You're like 3" from my face!

 

[MIGrandma]

I hate it too, and sometimes if I'm in that kind of mood I'll actually take a step backwards, without looking, so that I "accidentally" bump into them. Then I'll turn to them and gush "oh, I'm so sorry, I didn't realize you were that close to me, I'm so sorry!" That usually makes them back off.

 

[pyrxtc]

this is why I have always taught my children about bubble !! personal space bubble are the best learning tool. I tell them to pretend every person has a bubble around them and that they have a bubble around them and the bubble shouldn't touch and you shouldn't get in someone else bubble. Of course they are always popping mine and jumping in with me but that's what happens when you have kids ?!

 

[PRmamiDEdos]

I've had it happen to me several times as well. At one point the person behind me was so close that his hand touched (not a private area) that I actually turned to him and asked if would please back off

I also find that my DS7 will sometimes get a little too close to the person in front of him that I tell him to back up and give the person some space. If for some reason that person takes a step back, they will trip over DS7.

Ha! Try being on a crowded subway car!!! I actually felt someone "GROW" behind me. I kept elbowing him so he'd move and he'd come right back. Even though it was crowded, he could've turned a different way and not pressed himself so.

 

[pixie921]

This is a huge pet peeve of mine, too.

The time that it bothered me the most was on our last trip to WDW. Dh and ds were riding Everest and I was waiting for them by the restrooms. There's a bricked area that's shaded, so it's a perfect spot to wait out of the sun. I was literally the only one sitting there, so there was lots of empty space. Anyway, I was rummaging through my bag for something and someone dropped down RIGHT next to me. I turned and looked up to greet him, expecting that it was my husband, and it was some random guy instead!

I gave him a look and gathered my things and left. It totally creeped me out ... I mean, there was a TON of empty space, and the only person ever sitting THATCLOSE to me better be related to me, LOL!!