People cutting in line... what would you do?

dseag2

dseag2

Dallas, TX
Location
Dallas, TX
So, I had jury duty today. Apparently, due to shutdowns during Covid, cases are very backlogged so I arrived at 7:55am and didn't get into the jury room until 8:45am. When I say the line was 1/2 a mile outside of the courthouse I'm not exaggerating. There were people taking pictures because it was so unbelievable.

I waited patiently in line. There was a woman in front of me. Another woman walked right out of the parking garage and greeted her like an old friend. She stood in line next to her. I heard her asking about her mother, who is in poor health, so I figured she would move to the back of the line after they'd had their conversation. She didn't. Then, ANOTHER woman they knew walked from the parking garage to say hello and they welcomed her into the line. The first woman who cut looked at me and said "I'm sure no one would have a problem with you joining us." I think she expected me to smile graciously but I didn't reply at all. She didn't care.

To me, this behavior is just inconsiderate and selfish. But I decided not to say anything because Jury Duty had already ruined my day so why make it worse? BTW, I was called directly into a District Court, but at 10am the judge came out and told us the defendant had taken a plea deal so we could go home and enjoy the rest of our day.
 

Her: "I'm sure no one would have a problem with you joining us."
If it was Me: "You shouldn't be so sure."

I wouldn't insist she move, but I'd want her to know some people do have a problem with others cutting into line. Most do, probably. Especially a long one. But, like you said, she didn't care, and I am sure you're right about that.
 
How much delay did the addition of the two women cause you?

What would I do? Take it in stride because I doubt the addition of two more ahead of me in a line waiting to go into the court house would make a difference. Might even strike up a conversation to pass the time.
 

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Yes, it would have upset me too. Your time is just as valuable as their's. That you had been standing there waiting for your turn, did they not think you wanted to get in out of the heat and sit down. I would have as polite as I could,say, I was expecting you and your new friend to head to the back of the line and wait your turn just as I have.
 
Thanks for the thumbs up dseag2. But what about the question I asked?

How much delay did the addition of the two women cause you?
 
I'd ignore it because I'm not confrontational.

On a side note, what a waste of a bunch of people's time. I don't know if you want to do your duty as a citizen, but I sure didn't. I got a doctors note to excuse me permanently. My excuse is legit. I can't take the confrontation that goes on with jury duty.
 
I am pretty sure I have the world's best cut in line story.

Ok. So this is from before I knew my wife. And this is the story that her mom told me, about her, when I started dating her.

So, Laurie and her parents are at Club Bene, on Route 35 in New Jersey. It's near the Jersey shore. Was a big nightclub back in the day.

So, they are on this long line and it is taking forever and everyone is annoyed.

All of a sudden, someone comes in the club and is cutting the line, right to the front of the line.

But no one is saying a thing. No one is protesting. Not one word.

Why?

Because this guy is the local Mob boss and everyone knows not to cross this guy.

Well, almost everyone.

Laurie is so enraged that this guy is cutting the line, she just can't help herself. And, yes, Laurie, like a school teacher, is berating the local Mob boss, for .......being rude. Can't make this up.

And Laurie just won't let it go. She is going on and on and on about how this guy is the worst, just the worst.

So, what do you think happened?

Did the Mob boss yell at her and have her taken to a back room?

Did his goon bodyguards escort her out of the place?

Did she get threats on her life?


Nope, none of that.

Laurie so harassed this poor guy, he just could not take it anymore. He walked to the back of the line and waited with everyone else.

True story.

(because truth is always stranger than the best fiction).
 
Regarding discourse on here...hey, please let's all be as civil to each other as possible.


Face it, we are all older, we have arthritis or diabetes or 5 different things going on. We all are living under problems and stress...because, face it...we are old.

So, let's all respect that we have been through a lot and survived a lot.

And we are all deserving of respect from each other.

Besides, it is so much more pleasant for everyone, when we get along....
 
A variant on the age old dilemma. Who is the rude person? The one cutting the line or the one objecting to the line cutting?

I would have rudely pointed out how they were being rude to everyone in the line and not just me. Then likely would have called out to others in the line, if they thought it was alright for these women to be breaking the line.
 
I wouldn't say anything. People who do things like this are "Fully Cooked" (a Judge Judy quote) & the only result of saying anything will be an opportunity for even worse rudeness from them.
I'm not confrontational & it ain't worth it.
There was one time I did say something - to my mom when she cut in front of people in line. She was that type of person.
After my dad died, I drove my mom around for a few weeks. Once at a store, she cut in front of people in line. I told her "You be as rude as you want when I'm not with you, but if you do something like that ever again around me, you can find another chauffeur. I won't be in public with someone who makes me ashamed to be seen with them. Now get back in line - or call a cab to take you home."
After cursing at me in 4 different languages, she got back in line. :giggle:
 
It's a rude thing to do but, I don't bother to say anything although, I was once in a supermarket and going towards one of the cashiers when I noticed a couple in front of me so I politely joined a short queue rather than jump on the cash desk which was just opening. The couple glared at me and said they were going to join that queue. I smiled and said "no problem", they jumped in front of me while I pushed my trolley to the newly opened cash desk and got served immediately. I know it's silly but, it did make me smile! :)
 
Murrmurr said:
Her: "I'm sure no one would have a problem with you joining us."
If it was Me: "You shouldn't be so sure."

I wouldn't insist she move, but I'd want her to know some people do have a problem with others cutting into line. Most do, probably. Especially a long one. But, like you said, she didn't care, and I am sure you're right about that.
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I would do the same.
 
If someone cuts in front of me, I nicely say "Excuse me, but I was in line." If they are starting a conversation with someone they know, they usually respond with something akin to "I'm not cutting. I'll just be a minute." If I didn't say anything, I'm pretty sure they would have casually merged in front of me.

If I see someone I know in line when I approach, I'll stop and say hi, then go to the back of the line OR, if I'm really compelled to chat and it's a short line, I'll ask the friend if they want to join me at the back of the line so we can continue our discussion.

In short lines, I've also asked the line as a whole if they mind if my friend cuts - and they almost always say it's fine. Since the "friend" is usually the person who drove me, I will add this information, as well.

I invite people to cut in stores if I have a cart full and others have only a few items. I will also ask permission to cut if I am late for an appointment (extremely rare because I try to be 15 minutes early for everything) or if my water-pill kicks in unexpectedly (which generally gets a sympathetic laugh and a free pass!)
 
dseag2 said:
To me, this behavior is just inconsiderate and selfish.
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Yes it is, but like you I rarely say anything.

I have spoken up a couple of times, but those were more egregious cases. Once I was in a slow moving line for immigration at a German airport. After I spoke up the offenders were called aside to wait for more extensive checks. I appreciated that, the German officers made sure they lost, rather than gaining time.
 
Yep it would irritate the heck outta me. We Brits are known for queuing..people presume we are also known for patience, we are NOT... if someone talks to their friend in the queue, as in your instance, and then used it as an excuse to jump the queue I wouldn't say anything, I'd silently be a little irked, unless I was in a rush...then I;d say and have been known to say in the past..excuse me, there's a queue and your place is at the end of it'' ... mostly they get annoyed, but hey.. manners.. !!
 
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