Just had a very bizarre experience...

[Ryan]

So I'm at the grocery store about to turn down an aisle and there is a lady who is blocking the aisle while trying to get a case of soda. I stop in the aisle and wait till she is done and a guy walks up from the other direction looking to go down the same aisle. He says 'excuse me' and I move out of the way thinking thus he's trying to go past me. He then says 'I want to go down this aisle' and I say 'yeah, I'm waiting to go down the aisle'

The guy then flips out and says 'don't give me that attitude' and tells me that if I give him attitude, that he can take it to the next level. At this point we are walking down the aisle and I say 'hey man, I just told you I was waiting to go down the aisle. Chill out'. and he says "I know what you were saying'. Maybe I said it like kind of a dick but I thought it was really obvious that someone was blocking me since my cart was pointing down the aisle and I was stopped while staring forward. Eventually, I said ' all right, you said your peace' and he walks away.

The guy was old, like 50 years old and he had his teenage daughter with him who was staring at her phone (embarrassed I'm assuming). I kept thinking how does this guy get through life without having a heart attach everyday if something like this upset him that much.

It was seriously the most bizarre thing that has happened to me in awhile.

[Jaguar]

People are strange, and some are even stranger.

[Deleted]

Eh. I've seen worse. DH worked for a grocery store before his involuntary retirement and people are just nuts. It's not you, it's them. Believe me, it's them.

Hell, I would be walking around waiting for him to punch out and I'd get the "Where is this?" question. Since I spent so much time there, I usually knew where to steer them! Sad, but true.

[toomuchreality]

Don't look at me, with that tone of voice! 

[Shooby]

People are Bastard coated bastards with bastard filling!

[Shooby]

  Honestly, I get so sick of these people.  They block the aisles with their carts .  So, fine, I will just down another aisle instead or wait my turn.    But, then when I pull my cart off to the side and try to look at something, then someone will stand behind you huffing and puffing or reaching over you.  I'm like Bitch, I waited my turn, now cool your jets and wait YOURS! 

[suesinfl]

Nov 6, 2015 23:48:41 GMT -5 Ryan said:

The guy was old, like 50 years old 

50 is NOT old.

I try to think of people that act like this must have some serious stress in their lives and unfortunately, you were the one that he took it out on because you were a person that just happened to be there.

On the other hand, he may always be like this and I truly do feel sorry for people who cannot find happiness in life.

[gooddecisions]

I don't understand. Was the aisle not wide enough for somebody to have the cart to the side and still allow people moving to move through? One cart stops and the whole aisle is backed up? If the lady parked her cart in the middle of the aisle blocking movement from all directions, well she's the rude one. Just my opinion. But, I shop during low peak times because I want to get in and out. I don't hold other people up and I don't like it when they hold me up, but I try to keep my crazy to myself.

[Bluerobin]

You should have given him attitude and asked if he took his meds that day!

[Ryan]

Nov 7, 2015 7:42:58 GMT -5 suesinfl said:

Nov 6, 2015 23:48:41 GMT -5 Ryan said:

The guy was old, like 50 years old 

50 is NOT old.

I try to think of people that act like this must have some serious stress in their lives and unfortunately, you were the one that he took it out on because you were a person that just happened to be there.

On the other hand, he may always be like this and I truly do feel sorry for people who cannot find happiness in life.

It's old to be acting out like that.  I mean, how can you get through life by having that short of a temper.  Can you imagine what happens if I were to cut him off on the road...haha.  

[imanangel]

Nov 7, 2015 6:56:11 GMT -5 Shooby said:

People are Bastard coated bastards with bastard filling!

It is so rare that I agree with Shoobs....but I agree with the above!

[Ryan]

Nov 7, 2015 7:54:22 GMT -5 gooddecisions said:

I don't understand. Was the aisle not wide enough for somebody to have the cart to the side and still allow people moving to move through? One cart stops and the whole aisle is backed up? If the lady parked her cart in the middle of the aisle blocking movement from all directions, well she's the rude one. Just my opinion. But, I shop during low peak times because I want to get in and out. I don't hold other people up and I don't like it when they hold me up, but I try to keep my crazy to myself.

I was entering the aisle from the back (perpendicular) of the store.  The lady was coming from the opposite direction and had her cart on MY left side of the aisle while standing in the right side of the aisle trying to get something from a lower shelf.  

I was probably partially frustrated how this lady choose to park.  The cardinal rule of grocery shopping is that you don't take up both sides of the aisle.  

Still though, if I was a d*ck to him, it was probably because I thought it was such a dumb comment in the first place.  I literally had my cart pointing down the aisle and I was looking at someone (who he couldn't see) and he says "I'm trying to go down this aisle".  It's not like I was standing there reading the back of a cereal box.  What the h*ll did he think I was trying to do?  It was the equivalent of someone waiting in a drivethru line and then telling the guy in front of him that he's trying to get to the front to order some food.  

[MJ2.0]

I hate hate HATE grocery shopping. It seems to bring out the inconsiderate ass in everyone.

[imanangel]

Nov 7, 2015 9:09:14 GMT -5 MJ2.0 said:

I hate hate HATE grocery shopping. It seems to bring out the inconsiderate ass in everyone.

I would rather scrub toilets than grocery shop. Seriously, Goose and I have gotten into it a few times because he likes to go shopping together...I like to give him a list and make him do it alone.  I hate HATE grocery shopping so much!

[gooddecisions]

Nov 7, 2015 9:05:17 GMT -5 Ryan said:

Nov 7, 2015 7:54:22 GMT -5 gooddecisions said:

I don't understand. Was the aisle not wide enough for somebody to have the cart to the side and still allow people moving to move through? One cart stops and the whole aisle is backed up? If the lady parked her cart in the middle of the aisle blocking movement from all directions, well she's the rude one. Just my opinion. But, I shop during low peak times because I want to get in and out. I don't hold other people up and I don't like it when they hold me up, but I try to keep my crazy to myself.

I was entering the aisle from the back (perpendicular) of the store.  The lady was coming from the opposite direction and had her cart on MY left side of the aisle while standing in the right side of the aisle trying to get something from a lower shelf.  

I was probably partially frustrated how this lady choose to park.  The cardinal rule of grocery shopping is that you don't take up both sides of the aisle.  

Still though, if I was a d*ck to him, it was probably because I thought it was such a dumb comment in the first place.  I literally had my cart pointing down the aisle and I was looking at someone (who he couldn't see) and he says "I'm trying to go down this aisle".  It's not like I was standing there reading the back of a cereal box.  What the h*ll did he think I was trying to do?  It was the equivalent of someone waiting in a drivethru line and then telling the guy in front of him that he's trying to get to the front to order some food.  

Yeah, that's what I thought. She is definitely the inconsiderate one. Everyone knows you push your cart a little passed what you need so you don't block the whole aisle. I probably would have said excuse me to her and pushed on through or turned around, gone down the next aisle so I could come up the other way. Admittedly, I don't have a lot of patience for these sort of scenarios. And, grocery shopping is not a leisurely experience for me. 

[mmhmm]

Nov 7, 2015 9:19:40 GMT -5 imanangel said:

Nov 7, 2015 9:09:14 GMT -5 MJ2.0 said:

I hate hate HATE grocery shopping. It seems to bring out the inconsiderate ass in everyone.

I would rather scrub toilets than grocery shop. Seriously, Goose and I have gotten into it a few times because he likes to go shopping together...I like to give him a list and make him do it alone.  I hate HATE grocery shopping so much!

I do, too, angel! Absolutely loathe it. My late DH always did the grocery shopping because he knew how I hated it. Now, I force myself but I still hate it. I'll admit to ordering a lot online so I can just go get it and it will be ready for me. I will say that if you're an arse to someone you can expect you might get that person being an arse right back at you. If I spoke rudely to someone else, no matter what my reason, I wouldn't be surprised if they gave me the same attitude in response.

[Tennesseer]

We should revisit this thread when Ryan is old, like 50, and see how he sees the world then.

Ryan did say "Maybe I said it like kind of a dick...".   That does not sound like it helped to defuse the encounter. 

[tractor]

I would have filled his cart with all kinds of misc crap when he wasn't looking. It's fun to mess with people like that.

[dannylion]

Maybe someone he couldn't treat like crap at work did something to him earlier that day, and he was just looking for someone else he could take it out on without incurring professional consequences.

Or he is just bat-shit crazy. 

There is no point in trying to figure out what went wrong.  There is no reasoning with crazy and there's no understanding it.  The situation could have been something completely different and he would have gone off on you just the same.  For reasons even he probably doesn't understand, he was looking for a target and you were there. 

[dannylion]

Nov 7, 2015 11:08:30 GMT -5 tractor said:

I would have filled his cart with all kinds of misc crap when he wasn't looking. It's fun to mess with people like that.

Small, expensive things like bottles of cardamom seeds are ideal for this.

[imanangel]

Nov 7, 2015 11:24:59 GMT -5 dannylion said:

Nov 7, 2015 11:08:30 GMT -5 tractor said:

I would have filled his cart with all kinds of misc crap when he wasn't looking. It's fun to mess with people like that.

Small, expensive things like bottles of cardamom seeds are ideal for this.

I like how your mind works...

[chiver78]

Nov 7, 2015 9:09:14 GMT -5 MJ2.0 said:

I hate hate HATE grocery shopping. It seems to bring out the inconsiderate ass in everyone.

and I have to go to Market Basket later...... so totally NOT looking forward to that. that place seems to be worse than anywhere else.

[dannylion]

Nov 7, 2015 11:42:25 GMT -5 chiver78 said:

Nov 7, 2015 9:09:14 GMT -5 MJ2.0 said:

I hate hate HATE grocery shopping. It seems to bring out the inconsiderate ass in everyone.

and I have to go to Market Basket later...... so totally NOT looking forward to that. that place seems to be worse than anywhere else.

I keep forgetting to check the memos before I head out to the grocery store, so I never know when it's complete moron day as opposed to just stupid people day.

Apparently, Thursday was complete moron day at the store I decided to stop at on the way home from the bank.

I've really got to start paying attention to the memos.

[chiver78]

Nov 7, 2015 11:48:38 GMT -5 dannylion said:

Nov 7, 2015 11:42:25 GMT -5 chiver78 said:

and I have to go to Market Basket later...... so totally NOT looking forward to that. that place seems to be worse than anywhere else.

I keep forgetting to check the memos before I head out to the grocery store, so I never know when it's complete moron day as opposed to just stupid people day.

Apparently, Thursday was complete moron day at the store I decided to stop at on the way home from the bank.

I've really got to start paying attention to the memos.

it's been my experience that Tuesday nights (like after dinner hour) have been the best times to shop. the stores are empty, and the few other people in there are sane.

[NancysSummerSip]

Nov 7, 2015 11:24:59 GMT -5 dannylion said:

Nov 7, 2015 11:08:30 GMT -5 tractor said:

I would have filled his cart with all kinds of misc crap when he wasn't looking. It's fun to mess with people like that.

Small, expensive things like bottles of cardamom seeds are ideal for this.

Jars of macadamia nuts are $$$$, too.

And embarrassing items are fun, like packs of tampons or cans of jock itch powder (if the douchecanoe is male), condoms or mustache wax (if female).

You do not want to know how I know this.

[GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl]

Nov 7, 2015 11:42:25 GMT -5 chiver78 said:

Nov 7, 2015 9:09:14 GMT -5 MJ2.0 said:

I hate hate HATE grocery shopping. It seems to bring out the inconsiderate ass in everyone.

and I have to go to Market Basket later...... so totally NOT looking forward to that. that place seems to be worse than anywhere else.

DH works near a MB.  I give him a list.  MB is particuarly full of people on their own personal little mission.  

[GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl]

I will take this opportunity to publicly apologize to all other grocery shoppers.

Because of the kids' food allergies, I am that person intently peering at ingredient lists.  Foods that were safe last week can suddenly become life-threatening with a simple recipe change or change in the manufacturing facility.  We don't eat much in the way of prepared foods, but what we do has to be carefully vetted.  I do try and park carefully so as not to block aisles and be in the way.  And, I do try to shop during non-peak hours.  But, sometimes, no matter how hard I try, I end up in the wrong place at the wrong time.  I apologize.  I will not snap back at you if you ask me nicely to move.  

To illustrate the need to read ingredients, I bought King Arthur cake flour last week.  I didn't check the ingredients --it's flour, right?  I brought it home only to discover that it is made on equipment with tree nuts, eggs, soy, and other foods that are often allergens.  It might be an infinitesimally small chance that one of those allergens will be in the cake flour, but I can't take the chance.  So, now, I will be clogging the baking aisle, too.  

[MJ2.0]

GRG, that's fine. If people want to read labels, that's okay. Hell, I read labels. What's not okay is parking yourself and your cart in front of the whole section of pasta sauce/olive oil/baby food/etc. while you pick up and read 100 different items one at a time without looking to see if you're blocking someone. That happens a LOT, and I usually just excuse myself and attempt to slide by if it looks like that person is going to be a while. I think I was raised by a mom that was super sensitive to being polite and out of people's way because that stuff is drilled into me as basic manners and courtesy. Stand so you're not blocking the aisle. If you see that you are, move. Read labels out of the way if you see other people reaching for stuff in your area. It's not hard.

[TheHaitian]

Nov 7, 2015 9:09:14 GMT -5 MJ2.0 said:

I hate hate HATE grocery shopping. It seems to bring out the inconsiderate ass in everyone.

PREACH SISTER!

Imagine how we feel having to serve them?

This lady I was ringing for told her son loud enough for me to hear (on purpose I am sure): that is why you need to study hard; so you are not here one day ringing and bagging groceries.

Biatch! You just paid for your groceries with an EBT card and you are using me as a lesson? I pay for my own groceries with money I earned ringing/bagging yours.

That is what I wanted to say, instead I smiled and told her son: listen to your mom kid, she is full of wisdom.

Believe me I had to bite my tongue hard for that one!

[chiver78]