why do you need to stand so close?

[legalsea]

I agree about the personal space. However, a week ago I experience the opposite.

I was at a Central Market. They were not crowded, but a few people at each register. However I saw one register with no one in line. Except: there was a youngish man standing about 12 feet (no joke, a good 10 to 12 feet) away from the register. At first I thought he was waiting for spouse; however, as I walked up towards the register I asked him “are you in line?”

He gave me a rather snooty (not really snooty, but it began with an S) look and replied “Yes”. I shrugged my shoulders and got behind him, and watched as people not only walked in front of us (going to other places), but several people starting to get in front of us (i.e., behind the person whom was being waited on at the register), only to be told by the man that ‘the line is back here’.

I mean, I am all for personal space, but he was taking it too far.

 

[Shyvioletisme]

I agree about the personal space. However, a week ago I experience the opposite.

I was at a Central Market. They were not crowded, but a few people at each register. However I saw one register with no one in line. Except: there was a youngish man standing about 12 feet (no joke, a good 10 to 12 feet) away from the register. At first I thought he was waiting for spouse; however, as I walked up towards the register I asked him “are you in line?”

He gave me a rather snooty (not really snooty, but it began with an S) look and replied “Yes”. I shrugged my shoulders and got behind him, and watched as people not only walked in front of us (going to other places), but several people starting to get in front of us (i.e., behind the person whom was being waited on at the register), only to be told by the man that ‘the line is back here’.

I mean, I am all for personal space, but he was taking it too far.

was it the fort worth central market? I've had that exact thing happen at the fort worth one...could have been the same guy...

 

[DizBelle]

Agreed - if you're in line, you should at least LOOK like you're in line.

 

[AlleyKat]

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.

Hey, now that's an idea!

Did you stare directly at them?

 

[hogwartsdropout]

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.

 

[Vixen]

Omg this happened to my friend on Saturday! we were at the mall and there was this fashion show going on, we were up stairs and went to the rail to take a quick look.. so them comes this girl and got in between my friend and this other person and just came and leaned against my friend with her arms on her shoulder i was distracted and didnt notice but then i notice my friend has a really uncomfortable look on her face (she's the type of person that wont say any thing ) and i ask her whispering " do you know her?" and she says "no not at all" she didnt say one thing to the girl until she decided to leave!

 

[englishteacha]

There was a man in Walmart yesterday following me so closely I thought he was going to pickpocket me. I sped up, he sped up. It was very disconcerting. I could hear him breathe.

I have a student who has no concept of personal space. I actually have to say to him, "You're in my bubble." He will stand so close that he touches me, and in this litigious (sp) society, I don't need a 13 year old boy that close, ya know??

 

[DisCopper]

I once told a friend from overseas, "Here in America, if you're standing on the same carpet, then you're engaged. Otherwise, back off."

Seriously though, there are some CREEPY stories on here. As a police officer, I'll tell you that if someone comes up to you and is physically touching you (leaning on you, pushing against your backpack, etc...), then you need to move away immediately (regardless of whether you miss what you're watching or not). It may be nothing, but it could be the start of a pickpocketing attempt- or something much worse. If there's someone following you in a store (speeding up and slowing down to match your pace), you need to find a store employee and get security immediately.

It's one thing to stand a little too close in line at the grocery store, but some of this other stuff I've heard is completely inappropriate.

I do realize that customs overseas are very different than ours. But I still wouldn't have let someone I didn't know rest their chin on my shoulder.

 

[S. C.]

I hate when they do that I want my space. I really hate when people think they have to have their face 2 inches from your face when talking.

 

[MidgeD79]

Have you seen (on tv)the lines in Haiti of people waiting for food. No personal space allowed!

 

[LindaR]

OMG! When DD21 and I went to Paris last January that was THE thing that I could not stand! Different country, different culture....it obviously does not bother anyone other than Americans!!!!!

I kept my mouth shut THERE.........but HERE, you WILL get told to back the F up!!!!

 

[Docwoods]

This is a very American trait.We have so much space here that it does feel odd to have a stranger close to us.Go to other countries and see how your personal space is "violated" constantly.Most folks don't mean anything by it.If you live with several generations in a tiny home,the feeling is "what personal space?!".

 

[krcit]

Does anyone remember Oprah at the Inauguration? She had her head on some random guys shoulder. Someone took a picture and it ended up everywhere. She had him on her show!

 

[surfergirl602]

something that really bothers me is when people decide to have an in depth convo in the center of the isles with their carts blocking the way, or right in the entrance of a store and then glare at you when you try to get by like you are invading their personal space. I'm sorry... I didn't mean to run over your heel but you just stopped in the middle of the travel lane to have a conversation.

 

[Disneycrazy!!]

I was at Walmart once not long ago and this lady was all up in my space. She kept bumping into me in the line. I am already paranoid about people being close to me that I don't know. I got to her to give me plenty of room by turning around to her and loudly asking "OMG! What is that smell? Do you smell that? Where is it coming from? I then leaned down to my small baby in carseat and said loudly..."Oh NO! He pooped!" She backed up away from us then!

 

[XTinabell]

OMG! When DD21 and I went to Paris last January that was THE thing that I could not stand! Different country, different culture....it obviously does not bother anyone other than Americans!!!!!

I kept my mouth shut THERE.........but HERE, you WILL get told to back the F up!!!!

Yes I was going to say when we were in Paris we had a problem with this too. At Disneyland in line a woman behind dh put her gut on his back/bum. Dh kept swivelling around and at one point was facing her but she didn't get it. I think just a different culture, she didn't know she was in his space. We don't know French so couldn't really tell her to move her gut.

 

[Poohbear123]

How about the ones that "linger" over the register while I am trying to slide my ATM card...WTH??? Your groceries are IN your Basket, you PAID for them, now get the heck OUT OF THE WAY!!! Or the ones that ram thier basket into my butt...yea I know its big, but I am not wearing a sign that says "stay 3 feet from this A##" you need to back up the cart!

 

[legalsea]

was it the fort worth central market? I've had that exact thing happen at the fort worth one...could have been the same guy...

Yes it was, on Hulen-I-30. Could well have been! Maybe he is from Montana or such where standing even within 20 feet of someone else is 'crowding'!

 

[paintnolish]

How about the ones that "linger" over the register while I am trying to slide my ATM card...WTH??? Your groceries are IN your Basket, you PAID for them, now get the heck OUT OF THE WAY!!! Or the ones that ram thier basket into my butt...yea I know its big, but I am not wearing a sign that says "stay 3 feet from this A##" you need to back up the cart!

ITA! Organize your purse once you move away from the register a bit. They don't seem to care that you are leaning over them to swipe your card. They are probably balancing their checkbooks since they just wrote a check, too.

 

[cybrkitn]

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.

Been there . When we take a day trip into New York City, we will take the subway and 9 times out of 10 you're packed in like sardines.