Line cutting etiquette

Some coworkers and I were discussing "line cutting etiquette" today, and I thought it might be an interesting question.

When is it ok to let someone cut in front of you online?

The situation we were discussing was this: I was at a restaurant on line at the bathroom. I was next and there were three people behind me. A little girl and her mom came to the line, and the little girl was in tears because she had to go so badly. I told the little girl (and her mom) that she could go in front of me.

The girl behind me (she was about 20/25) says, "You know, it would've been really nice if you asked us first," and I just responded, "Are you serious?" The mom got so upset that she just said "Forget it," and the men let the little girl use their bathroom since the girls behind me wouldn't.

So when is it ok to let people cut you? Do you always need to ask everyone behind you? Are there exceptions?

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Good for you. I always let kids go in front of me if it's an emergency.

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Honestly, if she was actually in tears I think Id say GO!! GO! Lol. I know what that's like. I'm not sure I would even think about it first. Etiquette might state to ask all the others behind you but then it might be too late.

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In your situation you did the right thing. In other situations where people arein front of me and they let their friends cut it makes my blood boil.

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You did the right thing.

I was standing in line at the BJs deli line during the week after work. A woman arrived after me and had her 4 week old baby in her arms and she was stating she hoped to get out of the store before the baby woke to get fed. Since I wasn't in a rush, I let the mother go ahead of me because I know how those moments are when you have a young baby and there were others in line behind her.

Each scenario is different, so thee is no set rule, but some people need to learn patience!!

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OMG! I would have made a bigger scene that she said that. I would have made sure the whole place knew that she wasnt letting a little girl in tears "cut" her Give me a break. What is she a child??? Kudos to you!

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You did the right thing.

The woman behind you was just cranky.

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You did the right thing, only a real assshole would make a crying kid wait.

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Posted by PrincessP

OMG! I would have made a bigger scene that she said that. I would have made sure the whole place knew that she wasnt letting a little girl in tears "cut" her Give me a break. What is she a child??? Kudos to you!

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Wow those people were jerks, I would have done the same thing you did...

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Posted by JAAMS

Posted by PrincessP

OMG! I would have made a bigger scene that she said that. I would have made sure the whole place knew that she wasnt letting a little girl in tears "cut" her Give me a break. What is she a child??? Kudos to you!

Lol- yeah when I came out of the bathroom, I said to the mean girl who wouldn't let the little one cut, "It's all yours, princess."

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hrmm.. WHEN? always lol

Ive let small children, moms, older ladies or just because.

I believe in Karma and some days it just FEELS right. Look at that woman she looks so stressed and just needs a break, here go pee first or go ahead and pay for your groceries or let me get that door or go ahead and buy your shirt. What do *I* care?

Other days "umm NO" hahaha

ever been at a grocery store in the 10 and under line and the person in front of you has 35 cans of corn calling it one item? THAT upsets me. especially when the guy behind me is just trying to buy a pack of diapers. so I let him ahead of me.

Depends on the situation.

Oh and folks who complain behind me. I dont care. I say they did ask or I was only holding their spot. And yes sometimes I say "shut up, my spot my problem, learn to live with disappointment life is full of it."

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In this case, I would have just said "go, go" to the little girl. I wouldn't think twice for a little kid.

But generally speaking, if there are people behind me & someone else wants/needs to cut, I would have turned to the people behind me & say "I hope it's ok with you but I think we should let her go first." & then I'd let the person go. But that's not applicable for a child or someone with a medical condition (including pregnancy) because their needs trump other's ability to hold their bladder in my mind.

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You were absolutely right in what you did. I would have assumed that anyone behind me wouldn't want to see this little girl have an accident. Shame on that b i t ch behind you!!!!!!

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Posted by JAAMS


Lol- yeah when I came out of the bathroom, I said to the mean girl who wouldn't let the little one cut, "It's all yours, princess."

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I totally agree with what you did- I would have let her go ahead of me also.
The other day I was waiting in line at the bus stop - I was the 2nd one in line and the line ended up going down the block. 4 High School kids decided they didnt want to wait in line and stood in front of me.
I said to them " i know you arent waiting to get on the bus here because I have been here and you just came. The end of the line is down there" Things like that piss me off. But then there has been an elderly man or women that will do it and I will let them because I dont think they should have to wait and then not get a seat.

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For a child or an elderly person absolutely... for someone cutting because they have a friend in front of me... i dont think so

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I've never asked to cut a line, even when I have one item and the person in front of my has a huge cart...they usually never even offer, which I find a little

This reminds me of the Curb episode about the "Chat and Cut." Where you're on a line, and someone starts talking to someone ahead of you and just squeezes their way in...I saw it happen in front of me and I wanted to yell, "No chat and cut! You can't chat and cut!"

I would have totally let a kid or elderly person go ahead of me.

Message edited 12/23/2011 9:08:20 AM.

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if ANYONE is near tears, I always let them go....screw any old grinch behind me....if I am last in line, and either a child or a pregnant woman come up behind me, I always ask if they want to go ahead of me. Been there, done that

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You did the right thing and those people are jerks.

It's one thing to let a child or an elderly person go ahead, but if you're just letting friends cut that's another story. People have no sense of decency anymore.

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