Some people
I was in a shop yesterday queuing to pay for just two items. But when it was my turn at the till, the old woman who was standing in the queue behind simply walked forwards as if I was invisible, and plonked her intended purchases in front of the checkout girl. “Er, excuse me,” I said, “I was before you.”
For this bold defence of my right to go first, I got the evil eye. “You could try being a gentleman,” she said. “You could try at your age learning to be a lady,” I replied. I got my way. There was never any doubt that I would.
I believe we should respect our elders. But they should respect those younger than them as well, and that’s actually quite rare. The youth of today want everything their way? Er, maybe—but so do the elderly a lot of the time.
tags: manners, old people, queue-jumping, respect
3 comments on “Some people”
June 25th, 2008 at 2:29 pm
As a Feminist I find her attitude reprehensible. Being a gentleman does not include allowing rudeness and bowing down to whatever a woman says. She was rude and ignorant. Good on you for sticking up for yourself! I hope, but doubt, she learnt something. Such as manners.
June 25th, 2008 at 7:35 pm
Unfortunately I agree with TLJ, I doubt she’ll learn. Good for you for speaking up, it’s surprising the number of people who simply stand and let this happen. They might roll their eyes at the people behind them in the queue but never say anything.
June 25th, 2008 at 9:04 pm
Beautifu1 » Yeah, I don’t think she’ll learn either. Sad woman. x
TLJ » I suspect she deluded herself into thinking I was the one with bad manners. x
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