Excuse me okay Pardon me????
By ebsharer
@ebsharer (5515)
United States
November 5, 2008 12:46pm CST
Why bother??Every day we are faced with some situation where the words "excuse me" or "pardon me" should be used - some times they are acknowledged some times they aren't.
Most recently I was at the grocery store trying to pass a lady that had left her shopping cart in the middle of the isle while looking around. I said "excuse me" no response ... "EXCUSE ME" still no response "EXCUSE ME CAN YOU MOVE YOUR CART OR YOURSELF" She looked at me huffed and puffed and moved her cart. Irritated because I had already delt with 3 people like that I said to her "I said it 3 times open your ears or park your cart to the side" and walked away.
I always try to be polite but most of the time it just annoys me! Because people aren't polite back! What do you think? Do you acknowledge people that say excuse me rather then just barrel into you or your cart? What do you do when you try to be polite and its not acknowledged even in the least bit?
8 people like this
17 responses
@thebohemianheart (8827)
• United States
6 Nov 08
Oooh, I hate that, or when someone turns their cart sideways in the aisle.
I say excuse me, if they don't move, I say it again, in a very annoyed manner. If they still don't move, I move the cart myself, even though the person may give me a look, like what the heck do you think you are doing?
I try very hard not to put myself in a position that would cause people to have to do the same thing to me. There are times when it is unavoidable. In those cases, I will smile, apologize and move as best as I can to let them through.
It just seems like more and more people are so wrapped up in their own little world that they fail to acknowledge that they are not the only one in a very publicly used place.
1 person likes this
@ebsharer (5515)
• United States
6 Nov 08
I have moved carts out of my way the set up didn't allow me to with her. I was already so annyoed she got to hear it! If she hadn't been rude she wouldn't have heard it LOL. I don't want to be rude but at this point when some one is rude to me I'm going to be rude back!
1 person likes this
@thebohemianheart (8827)
• United States
6 Nov 08
Oh, I know. Sometimes you feel like you just have to say something to shock some sense back into them, or something.*L*
1 person likes this
@PrincessKazzi (111)
•
6 Nov 08
kinda along the same lines, i was out shopping with my mum shortly after i had broken my arm, (i had to get some ohter clothes so i could actually dress myslef) and we were in this shop and this woman turned around not even looking where she was going and smacked my arm with her bag then gave me a dirty look when i screamed. it was less than a week after id had sugery on my arm which was heavily bandaged and in a sling.
some people are just so rude
1 person likes this
@PrincessKazzi (111)
•
6 Nov 08
ive got 2 metal plates in my fore arm, we intentionaly went shopping thru the week to try and avoid the weekend crush and i still got hurt
1 person likes this
@34momma (13882)
• United States
10 Nov 08
i think we have all had that happen to use more then once. i will admit something it can be a bit much. but i am learning to be responsible for my reaction to the action or non action of others. i am learning not to allow the actions or non actions of others determine my mood. so now when i say excuse me, or pardon me, and people don't hear me or pretend not to hear me, i either go around them, or take a deep breathe and move thier cart and keep on doing my shopping
@whittby (3072)
• United States
8 Nov 08
You made me smile. Maybe not your intent, but I thoroughly enjoyed the description of your telling that woman off a little bit. So often I find myself blocked from getting down the aisle in the store, have even turned around and gone the other way.
I used to stand there silently thinking surely they will see me and move the cart. Then I start with the excuse me and thank them if they move. I truly would like to be a little bit touchy about it though and let them know about it. When someone asks me to move my cart, I usually apologize.
The "I'm sorry" was another discussion somewhere on here I remember.
@littlepinoy (600)
• Philippines
6 Nov 08
Just continue being polite to people. Just don't expect them to be polite back at you. Either way, maybe the person honestly did not hear you because she was occupied with something else in mind. Just be polite in everything you do. We have our reasons.
1 person likes this
@jackiew (915)
• Canada
6 Nov 08
I think its very ignorant when they avoid you.If i know my cart may be in the way,i will move it before being asked to.If i have to say excuse me and they still don't want to move,I will try to get through even if i have to move their cart on my own.You really shouldn't have to ask anyone to move for you,out of common courtesy,if they see you coming they should move for you to get by.
@littlefranciscan (18327)
• United States
6 Nov 08
I hear you on that. I, sometimes, leave my buggy and go up an aisle; but never in the middle. I often feel sorry for the person who experiences my ire when I am flustered ..
I have a long fuse but when htings happen one after another..there sure to be a ban at the end.
I know what you mean ..it's a life long challenge to grow in patience.
@maddysmommy (16230)
• United States
6 Nov 08
It annoys me too but I can understand that some people get so engrossed with their shopping (i've done it too) and often don't hear me when I say excuse me. It is annoying though when you say it ever so nicely and politely and they still don't move LOL
@ebsharer (5515)
• United States
6 Nov 08
Its one thing if you don't hear it the first time but a second time then a third! The way she acted when she finally did move her cart lead me to believe she heard me the first 2 times just didn't want to move her cart. Her huff puff and look was more of a FINE I'LL MOVE.
@ANTIQUELADY (36440)
• United States
6 Nov 08
that is very aggravating to me to. another thing is when two people have just stopped to talk & u are standing there waiting to get by & they just ignore you. people can be very rude & it really isn't necessary.
@redkathy (3374)
• United States
6 Nov 08
I can just hear you saying that too!!! ROFLMAO I am one of those center isle blockers. I do hate it when I leave my cart in the middle of the isle because I'm sidetracked but I always apologize and move the darn thing pronto! There is no reason to be rude.
1 person likes this
@arunmails (3011)
• India
6 Nov 08
Its all because of egoism..... I don't know why they are like to show their egoism towards the people to whom they are going to spend just 5 or 10 minutes..... or else they are like a stone or they might be forgotten that they are humans,,,,, only the animals don't responds to other animals... but, humans.... they must understand their humanity........
1 person likes this
@Rainegurl (2156)
• Philippines
6 Nov 08
hi, ebsharer.
i honestly move away even before the person utters "excuse me". if i was not aware i am blocking another person's way, i would say "sorry" or "ok" when i hear an "excuse me".
you're ok ebsharer. there's just something wrong with those people cannot hear or does not know what "excuse me" or "pardon" means. when i try to be polite and its not acknowledged i react the same way you do :-)
take care and have a nice day!
@ravenbroom (84)
• United States
6 Nov 08
I love your last remark actually. I usually just turn my cart around and go back around, but thats just me. Unless it is a younger person, then I will say, excuse you...not excuse me.
1 person likes this
@jaenaM (14)
• Philippines
6 Nov 08
i really understand what you mean..i too have experienced people like that and its so irritating thinking that you yourself is doing your best to be nice and polite to them..and it is sometimes very embarrassing whenever you say excuse me or pardon me to somebody and they just completely ignore you..how would they feel if they are in our place??..
i hope people like that would realize something...
1 person likes this
@lilybug (21107)
• United States
5 Nov 08
I loathe people like that. It seems there are more and more of them every time you go out shopping. I am one of those ones who will move my cart long before the person gets to me so that they do not even have to say excuse me. It is just a common courtesy that many people lack.
1 person likes this
@ebsharer (5515)
• United States
6 Nov 08
I'm the same way if I have to walk away from my cart I have it pulled off to the side.
Its even the dumb things like standing in line. I was at McDs last week and had to walk through the line to go get napkins. Said excuse me and the lady just looked at me. I said I'm not asking to get in front of you just want a napkin. She said fine and moved. I just don't get it - whats the big deal. I am soooo over peoples rudeness that I have started to say some thing every time.
Just like when some one is in front of you and walk through a door then let it slam in your face that REALLY annyos me!!!
@yangshuai (136)
• China
6 Nov 08
yup,similar situations happened to me before.like in the supermarket,buses,trains.i remember one thing happened before.i was walking inside one supermarket that day,a voice shouted from my back,move away.i looked back,that's an old woman holding a baby.i jumped to my feet and moved.and then she said,so slowly,young guy.oh,my god,she complained me about my performance.i had seen such a person like her first.but i didn't lose my temper,just left away.
1 person likes this
@Zezlol (409)
• United Arab Emirates
5 Nov 08
Maybe the person really just didn't hear you. There was no need to shout as you did. Especially the last comment, that was really unneeded. I understand your argument but it is invalid if you are not willing to be patient in any respect.
I do acknowledge those that are polite and always smile back and apologize. When somebody does not notice me while I'm being respectful, I usually just shrug and leave it. There's nothing I can do. I don't feel the need to tell people off - it's their life and who am I to tell them how to behave?
@ebsharer (5515)
• United States
5 Nov 08
First of all I didn't shout any thing I did speak in a firm voice because people are just rude. When I say excuse me I make sure to say it loud and clear enough for a person to hear me. And her reaction of huffing and puffing showed me she did hear me but didn't want to be bothered.
Patient - I was when I stood there saying nothing for a minute then said excuse me 2 times. All she had to do was move her cart or had parked it out of the way to begin with!
I was not trying to tell any one how to behave I was trying to get some common curtesy some thing NOT many people have these days!
