So What if You're a Senior Citizen?
By josefina
@josie_ (10034)
Philippines
June 16, 2017 7:21pm CST
After 15 minutes of waiting patiently in line at a grocery check out counter, there was now only one more person in front of me. The cashier was processing his groceries when an elderly woman approach the counter. I thought she was overdress and could not help noticing her jewelry. She had on a pair of gold earrings, gold necklace, and gold rings were on three of her fingers. "You're asking to be rob lady" crossed my mind. She was also holding a bottle of cooking oil.
The cashier apparently knew her and they started making small talk. It slowed down the check out process much to the annoyance of the customer ahead of me, myself and I assume those behind me.
Finally it was my turn and my instinct told me the old woman was about to cut in which she did. She put down the cooking oil on the counter and her cashier friend was about to punch it in. I casually push it aside as I lay down my own purchase. "Nasa likod ang pila" (the line is at the back) I asserted myself in a voice heard by people near us. Both were momentarily taken aback. The cashier feebly tried to defend her friend and her action by pleading she was a senior citizen. "I'm also a senior citizen." I cut her off.
Had she politely ask me beforehand if she could go ahead of me, I would have oblige.
Have you ever encounter this kind of ill-mannered rudeness?
Photo Image: Pixabay
I'm sick and tired of all this political correctness B.S. I will be getting my 'senior citizen' card but don't call me a senior citizen. What's wrong with 'old...
22 people like this
26 responses
@Kandae11 (55056)
•
17 Jun 17
Sometimes if the person behind me has four items and I have a cart full, I don't wait for them to ask, I signal them to go in front. Sometimes , however it backfires, because others would then start asking if they could go ahead until finally I would have to 'put my foot down' - otherwise I would be in that line all day.
And yes - I have had experiences with line jumpers - but not elderly ones.
And yes - I have had experiences with line jumpers - but not elderly ones.6 people like this
@dgobucks226 (35643)
•
17 Jun 17
Wow Kandase, you try to be nice to someone and it backfires! Give an inch....you know the rest
3 people like this
@ilocosboy (45156)
• Philippines
17 Jun 17
He he, there are people who don't consider other people, its good you have the guts to remind them.
5 people like this
@ridingbet (66854)
• Philippines
17 Jun 17
@josie_ hmmm, reading your response here has given me the thought that you are an Ilocana. am i right?
4 people like this
@josie_ (10034)
• Philippines
17 Jun 17
@ridingbet _My mother is kapangpangan while my father is from Pangasinan.
My mother-in- law is Igorot and my father-in-law Chinese.
My mother-in- law is Igorot and my father-in-law Chinese.5 people like this
@josie_ (10034)
• Philippines
17 Jun 17
@ilocosboy _There are too many of them."adda ti tattao nga awan babainan da" (people who do not have good manners)
4 people like this
@Nawsheen (28643)
• Mauritius
17 Jun 17
Both the senior lady and the cashier have to learn some manners. They could have asked. What about those waiting in the queue? In fact you could have reported that cashier. That's a case of bad customer service. I hope she doesn't do it again 
3 people like this
@GardenGerty (160779)
• United States
18 Jun 17
This is pretty much what I would have said @Nawsheen . The cashier was not doing her job correctly.
2 people like this
@josie_ (10034)
• Philippines
17 Jun 17
@Nawsheen _I didn't bother to report the cashier because jobs are hard to find nowadays. I was also a bit of a rush to go home to prepare lunch for my grandchildren. I hope she learn something from the incident as some might not be as forgiving.
2 people like this
@Srbageldog (7716)
• United States
17 Jun 17
Good for you for speaking out to that lady trying to cut in line! One thing I can't stand is line cutters. We have a lot of them here. They are usually immigrants (who maybe don't have lines in the countries they come from,) but that's no excuse...it doesn't take a genius to figure out that if there's a line of people waiting, you can't just stroll up to the front and cut in front of all of them. It is usually older men who do it (this particular culture doesn't respect women, so they are always cutting in front of women.)
2 people like this
@josie_ (10034)
• Philippines
17 Jun 17
@Srbageldog _It is no surprise that there is a growing disenchantment in the US regarding emigrant/refugee from the middle east. They provoke people with their self-importance and feeling of entitlement. They refuse to assimilate while expecting people from the host country to respect their culture.
2 people like this
@Srbageldog (7716)
• United States
17 Jun 17
@josie_ That's exactly right. It is very frustrating, especially when they are refusing to adhere to even basic customs such as waiting their turn in line at the store. And you hit the nail on the head about their self-importance and entitlement attitude. Ahh, but if you speak out about it you're labeled a bigot. So we're just supposed to shut up and accept it. I remember one time when I was working as a cashier at a fast food restaurant, this elderly lady came up to the counter to place her order, and these foreign men came strolling up and just cut her off demanding that I give them forks, which were kept out at the condiment station next to the napkins. They were very rude about it and the lady I was helping looked shocked that they would just cut in front of her like that, so I informed them that they could get their own forks and went right back to helping the lady. The look on their faces was priceless. I won't tolerate being treated like a second class citizen in my own country, and I won't tolerate other women being treated that way either. Fortunately not all immigrants behave in such a manner, but a large number of them do.
2 people like this
@josie_ (10034)
• Philippines
17 Jun 17
@Srbageldog _I have on occasion come across groups of foreigners in public places. Muslim Arabs and Africans tend to be more boisterous than other nationalities when they are part of a group. But alone, they tend to be quiet and try not to attract attention to themselves. Your indignation was certainly justified.
2 people like this
@ridingbet (66854)
• Philippines
17 Jun 17
i wonder where my comment went?
anyway, i will repost it now: there are many times that i get into that incident of telling the cashier and the senior citizen "that there is a line in the back", but there are so many senior citizens who think that because they are 'privileged', they can just barge in, without even asking the others of their action. just barging in.
being a senior citizen is a privilege, but they should also think about others' welfare as well. and besides, there should be a senior citizen's lane in every grocery.
3 people like this
@ridingbet (66854)
• Philippines
18 Jun 17
@josie_ happy Sunday. i had an experience this morning when after mass, i and my sister went to a grocery to buy 2 loaves of bread and 2 dozens of shampoo in sachet. i queued in the first lane, an express lane actually, because i have only 2 items to pay. there was a man behind me holding a pack of coffee creamer, and while i was patiently waiting for my turn to pay the cashier, this man hinted me that he goes ahead. "isa lang ito", he told me. i just stared at him.
(he is younger than me).
2 people like this
@josie_ (10034)
• Philippines
18 Jun 17
@ridingbet _Don't keep me in suspense. Did you icy stare turn the man to jelly? Didn't he notice that you also had few items? You should have directed "Speedy Gonzales" to use the road runner express lane 
Beep Beep!
Didn't he notice that you also had few items? You should have directed "Speedy Gonzales" to use the road runner express lane Beep Beep!2 people like this
@josie_ (10034)
• Philippines
17 Jun 17
Smaller business establishment don't always have a senior citizen or PWD (people with disabilities) lane. While in the bigger ones,that lane is never exclusively use for those that it was intended for. Especially during rush hours when all the lanes are choke with customers. I really don't like using my seniority to cut ahead of others and prefer to shop during the slow hours when there are less customers.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (160779)
• United States
18 Jun 17
It does not matter how old she is, she is not entitled automatically to cut in line. I am glad you spoke up firmly and I imagine the ones behind you were as well.
2 people like this
@josie_ (10034)
• Philippines
18 Jun 17
@GardenGerty _Things could have been different if she was more considerate of others waiting in line.
1 person likes this
@allen0187 (58582)
• Philippines
17 Jun 17
I have and similar to what you did, I also speak my mind. Being elderly has its perks but it doesn't exclude the person from being well-mannered.
2 people like this
@allen0187 (58582)
• Philippines
17 Jun 17
@josie_ true.
This is a pet peeve of mien especially when it comes to the elderly cutting lines in transportation hubs. You just know that they are taking advantage of others because of their age.
2 people like this
@josie_ (10034)
• Philippines
17 Jun 17
@allen0187 _We should make allowances for the elderly but respect has to be earned no matter the age.
2 people like this
@marguicha (223430)
• Chile
17 Jun 17
I think that seniors, pregnant women and people in wheelchairs and such should go first. But what you told us was more a problem of being rude. In the supermarket I go to, there´s one line for all the grocery checks. And there´s a lady from the supermarket guiding the people towards the cashiers. There´s a big sign that says the if you are a senior, pregnant or with disabilities to tell the lady so that she sees that you are attended first.
2 people like this
@marguicha (223430)
• Chile
18 Jun 17
@josie_ It is a very good idea. And all you have to do is ask the lady.
2 people like this
@josie_ (10034)
• Philippines
18 Jun 17
@marguicha _We also have special lanes provided for such cases. But they are not strictly followed especially during rush hours when all the lanes are full. I like the idea of someone actually provided to guide seniors and people with disabilities into the lines so others won't be offended.
2 people like this
@LadyDuck (471740)
• Switzerland
17 Jun 17
Very well done 
Those overdressed old women with plenty of jewelry are the most rude of all customers in a grocery store. If they ask I usually say to ask all the others in line first, my decision may upset other senior citizen who are patiently waiting their turn.
Those overdressed old women with plenty of jewelry are the most rude of all customers in a grocery store. If they ask I usually say to ask all the others in line first, my decision may upset other senior citizen who are patiently waiting their turn.2 people like this
@dgobucks226 (35643)
•
17 Jun 17
I have encountered people who try to cut in line. It's a "me first" philosophy for some. However, I have encountered instances where people let me go ahead of them if I only had a couple of items. So, I guess it can work both ways.
2 people like this
@josie_ (10034)
• Philippines
17 Jun 17
@dgobucks226 _I am assuming you ask their permission first and not just cut in line.
1 person likes this
@SIMPLYD (90722)
• Philippines
22 Jun 17
That's how it is with senior citizens, They really would cut a line just so they can be served first. Well, that is good if the lane is for senior citizens and you are not.
That is good that you cut them by telling them that you are a senior citizen also, friend.
But i think, in a way it is to your credit because it means you aren't senior looking at all. 
But i think, in a way it is to your credit because it means you aren't senior looking at all. 1 person likes this
@SIMPLYD (90722)
• Philippines
22 Jun 17
@josie_ Here, they do have those lanes especially at McDo. One time I line up because there were no senior citizens. However, a senior citizen came and cut in. It was frustrating.
Indeed, being with young people makes us feel younger and look younger too. My officemates are mostly in their 25' and 35's while some of us are in our 50's. So those of us who are in our 50's looks and feels younger.
1 person likes this
@josie_ (10034)
• Philippines
22 Jun 17
@SIMPLYD _Aw 
...gee thanks. Most stores don't strictly enforce the senior lane especially during rush hours when all lanes are filled with shoppers. And yes, I do look young for my age. Maybe it's because I surround myself with young people like my grandchildren.
...gee thanks. Most stores don't strictly enforce the senior lane especially during rush hours when all lanes are filled with shoppers. And yes, I do look young for my age. Maybe it's because I surround myself with young people like my grandchildren.1 person likes this
@hereandthere (45645)
• Philippines
17 Jun 17
we filipinos are normally patient/tolerant, especially with older people, but rudeness and arrogance will snap that. even if she is a regular there or a neighbor or relative of the cashier, it was wrong to jump the line.
when i went to the bank with my mother, there was only one teller so we just waited for our number to be called. after a few minutes, the teller noticed my mother's all-white hair and called out "senior." that way, we didn't jump the line.
i think that grocery should have a senior lane to avoid these unnecessary incidents.
1 person likes this
@hereandthere (45645)
• Philippines
17 Jun 17
@josie_ if she was new, then that makes it even worse.
when my mother goes to any place for the first time, it has become her habit to always ask the guards at the entrance if there is a senior citizen counter or lane so she can proceed there.
2 people like this
@josie_ (10034)
• Philippines
17 Jun 17
I have been shopping there for years. The staff are courteous and efficient. But the cashier was a new hire.
Because of the law giving seniors priority, many establishment have guidelines and procedures. When I pay my bills on basic services, the teller/ cashier would call out alternately between regular customers and seniors if they are short handed. But there is always a lane for seniors and the physically handicapped.
2 people like this
@josie_ (10034)
• Philippines
17 Jun 17
@hereandthere _I prefer to move on. But something good came about the incident. I get to write an interesting discussion and share it in mylot.
2 people like this
@PatZAnthony (14749)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
17 Jun 17
Yes, there are sometimes rude people who will cut in here. Looks like it happens all over the world @josie_
2 people like this
@josie_ (10034)
• Philippines
17 Jun 17
@PatZAnthony _We try to avoid them but sometimes they cannot be avoided.
1 person likes this
@Marilynda1225 (82873)
• United States
21 Jun 17
It's very rude for both the senior citizen and the cashier to assume you wouldn't mind them pushing ahead of you. I would have stood my ground too under the same circumstances.
1 person likes this
@josie_ (10034)
• Philippines
22 Jun 17
@Marilynda1225 _ There are entitlements provided for seniority but rudeness is not one of them.
