I triggered a Gen "I" kid at store - thought he was going to cry or freak out

Well I had no intention of upsetting this kid but I was at the grocery store, it was a mad house, 4-6 people in every line, the 8 self checkouts were full and both express lines had people. I went to cust service to ask a question and there was this kid, about 15-16 just getting to the counter and then another person in front of me and 2 more behind me (line 5 deep). He asked to check out there instead of using the self checkout like anyone else with a 5-10 items. After he paid he had to dig his wallet back out of his satchel (like 20 seconds) then place each bill in just so, fold the receipt slowly and proportionally (one minute now), return it to the satchel. I thought, good, finally.

Now he tries to put his 1/2 full plastic bag in his satchel, had a tough time maneuvering it and finally got it in there (all while not sliding down the checkout to allow another customer - clerk is just staring at him) but then both straps wouldn't close, only one, so out came the bag and that was a real task for him. He finally got it out, put back on the counter (we are well past the 2 min mark after returning his bag to the counter). I said "there are people behind you you know" loud enough for him to hear but not to cause a scene or anything. The other customers in line looked at me and nodded/shook heads and smirked/smiled.

So then each item came out of the shopping bag and placed one by one, just so, inside the satchel, after at least another minute I said something like "hey kid, can you slide down the counter and do that, we've got 5 people behind you, your not the only one here" - Again not loud but louder so he would here me this time and I wasn't pissy yet. He turned around with a look like he was either going to break out in tears or flip out in some manner and glared at me like I just stomped on his new puppy. He then took his bag and placed it in his satchel and as he walked off, you know what, the world didn't end. I think he even got both straps to snap!

I'm not one to usually say things in a situation like this but it was over 4 mins (dude in front of me was watching a YT video, so I could see the time). that's how long it takes me to drive to the store and there was 3-4x the room to fix his bag/stuff 2 ft away from him where he wouldn't be holding anyone up.

I've seen a lot of things like this and I have to say I rarely see this with people my age, older or even 10-15 years younger (though younger ones tend to be a little worse at this - oblivious to others waiting on them). I really wonder what would have happened if I was actually RUDE to him or made a cutting sarcastic remark on the second "attempt". I used to see this often at fast food drive through's, people get their food and then 4-5 mins later they drive off, never getting anything else from the window - I guess they were verifying their order and prepping their food. That is total BS, get your food, pull up a car length or pull off into spot (in lot) then check & prepare your food. I've never had a problem going back to the restaurant even if I left the lot and the order was messed up.

Imagine how slow everything would run if every customer had these behaviors. The world would come to a stand still before too long.

TLDR: OP was impatient to get back to ATS, told some kid in a grocery store check out line to move it along and possibly got glared at.

OP: Please update on any further developments!

a reply to: theantediluvian

OP is just too Alpha for you. It's ok beta boy. Let the men do the work. You just sit back in the back of the pack with the wimins and chidrins.

I hate the lottery people that decide to buy a million lottery tickets first thing in the morning while everyone is in route to work.

I pretty much order everything to be delivered these days.

Hell 7/11 delivers nao.

It sounds to me like the kid had pretty severe OCD, or had some other type of mental handicap, if he wanted to check out at the customer service desk instead of the usual checkouts, and because he was repeatedly taking stuff out of his bag to replace it "just so".

That wasn't a Gen-I kid thinking he was more important than everyone in line. That was most likely someone with some sort of disability.

And now you're bragging about "triggering" him. Congratulations.

Think before you speak.

Well..... this turned into an Ass o'rama right off the get go. I agree with DFT, the kid was an oblivious rude nincompoop.

There, I said it...

originally posted by: narrator
It sounds to me like the kid had pretty severe OCD, or had some other type of mental handicap, if he wanted to check out at the customer service desk instead of the usual checkouts, and because he was repeatedly taking stuff out of his bag to replace it "just so".

That wasn't a Gen-I kid thinking he was more important than everyone in line. That was most likely someone with some sort of disability.

And now you're bragging about "triggering" him. Congratulations.

Think before you speak.

If the kid can't handle someone telling him to hurry up or show courtesy. It's gonna be a very long and tough life.

a reply to: DigginFoTroof

The problem is that no one says anything to the kid. Their wouldnt be a problem, if that kid was just told to move away, when this stuff happens. In many cases, it is also kids behind the counter, Who doesnt know how to react.

You did the right think, just a couple of minutes late, It is totally fine to let the kids now when they are being rude and jerks to other people, how else would they learn?
It is not enough to tell him that other people are waiting in line. Tell him to move! you can add the explanation that other people are waiting behind him, but he needs to know that he cant block the line, Especially if it is a kid.

originally posted by: theantediluvian
TLDR: OP was impatient to get back to ATS, told some kid in a grocery store check out line to move it along and possibly got glared at.

OP: Please update on any further developments!

It's not that it was important, it's they type of behavior that seems more prevelant and the reactions to it. I'm guessing you are older than this kid, maybe you did something like this once and had someone said something to you I'm guessing you wouldn't have responded this way. That is the point. This would fit in the "societal issues" forum as well, it's only a rant b/c it isn't a conspiracy.

How many times have you had to wait for your food at a restaurant b/c the server was out having a smoke. You probably don't even know b/c they do it out back. When I worked in service, I'd guess 10-20% of the meals came out 3-5 mins late because of this at sit down restaurants, and if they have 3-7 tables, that can end up with food that is 10 mins late and is often why it is cold.

I'm not complaining to simply complain it's that there has seemed to be a continuing slide of accountability/responsibility and awareness of "your" surroundings - which makes everyone else wait on "you".

Same thing happens at lights from time to time (in the car) someone talking on the phone and doesn't even hear the horns behind them and only notice when someone passes them b/c they aren't moving. Now I could comment on every incident but I don't just the one where someone almost had a meltdown b/c their feelings were bumped.

originally posted by: Middleoftheroad

originally posted by: narrator
It sounds to me like the kid had pretty severe OCD, or had some other type of mental handicap, if he wanted to check out at the customer service desk instead of the usual checkouts, and because he was repeatedly taking stuff out of his bag to replace it "just so".

That wasn't a Gen-I kid thinking he was more important than everyone in line. That was most likely someone with some sort of disability.

And now you're bragging about "triggering" him. Congratulations.

Think before you speak.

If the kid can't handle someone telling him to hurry up or show courtesy. It's gonna be a very long and tough life.

I agree, it'll probably be a tough life for him. But that doesn't give anyone else permission to make his life harder. Especially because they're bragging about triggering him. This crap sounds like a Reddit thread. Why is that something to brag about? Ever?

originally posted by: narrator
It sounds to me like the kid had pretty severe OCD, or had some other type of mental handicap, if he wanted to check out at the customer service desk instead of the usual checkouts, and because he was repeatedly taking stuff out of his bag to replace it "just so".

That wasn't a Gen-I kid thinking he was more important than everyone in line. That was most likely someone with some sort of disability.

And now you're bragging about "triggering" him. Congratulations.

Think before you speak.

Did you got triggered Doctor? I assume you are a doctor, since you can say it is most likely someone with some sort of disability, right?

originally posted by: IAMNOTYOU
a reply to: DigginFoTroof

The problem is that no one says anything to the kid. Their wouldnt be a problem, if that kid was just told to move away, when this stuff happens. In many cases, it is also kids behind the counter, Who doesnt know how to react.

You did the right think, just a couple of minutes late, It is totally fine to let the kids now when they are being rude and jerks to other people, how else would they learn?
It is not enough to tell him that other people are waiting in line. Tell him to move! you can add the explanation that other people are waiting behind him, but he needs to know that he cant block the line, Especially if it is a kid.

Yeah in many cases that is true but the woman (department manager) was behind the register and she was probably mid 40's to 50. I think she should know better than to allow that. The people behind me were making VERY loud sighs, hisses and huff's before I ever said anything, so I wasn't the only one.

And to AntiDelluvian (or whatever) I posted this because I wanted to hear others opinions if this was out of line, really no other reason. Seeing the reaction I was amazed at how personally he took it and I wanted to see if others thought what I did was rude or uncalled for.

originally posted by: rollanotherone
a reply to: theantediluvian

OP is just too Alpha for you. It's ok beta boy. Let the men do the work. You just sit back in the back of the pack with the wimins and chidrins.

The guy is one of the biggest trolls on ATS, just ignore him

So I get this call from ma buddy today.....

He and his wife had a hospital appointment today, she was diagnosed with breast cancer and his dad died a couple of weeks ago so he is trying to hold it all together for the family you know. Anyway on the way back from the hospital he nips into the shops to pick up a few bits for his mum, some cakes for breaking the bad news, its busy as usual and he is feeling harassed pretty emotional about the news not paying much attention. He's at the till and this total jerk starts shouting at him, in front of everyone "there are people behind you you know" and shouting at him like he is some stupid kid...... So he gets back to the car and now he is angry so snaps at his wife whose just been diagnosed with cancer. Then in front of her as he is trying to keep it together its the straw that breaks the camels back and he just breaks down crying so now he wants to meet up for me for a few beers to vent. poor guy.

Now I am not saying that the above is true all I am saying is that you don't know what kind crap is going on in that poor guys life OP. This kid could have been on the way back from his mothers funeral or just had some awful news, then you humiliated him in front of everyone because you got a little impatient. Personally if it was me I would have just offered to give the poor guy a hand or just ignored it, gave him a smile, let him carry on.

No need to be a d!ck just for the sake of it you know.

That is awesome OP. My wife gets so embarrased at me. I shouted at some parents in wally world about their vile, inhuman offspring banging into my stuff. Peeps looked at me shocked but I dont care. I had the balls to say what they were only thinking.

Assign these people a carer while in public i say.

originally posted by: Middleoftheroad
I hate the lottery people that decide to buy a million lottery tickets first thing in the morning while everyone is in route to work.

Yes, so do the clerks. I know a clerk pretty well and he says that is the worst. People come in and wand 50 tickets with specific #'s. I thought they had a scan-tron for that, but he said they don't it has to be done by hand. I think he is missing something in his register. His english is VERY hard to understand (he is Indian) so maybe he missed that part when they gave him the console/register. Do you know if there are slips you can fill out with all your pre-picked numbers that the register reads?

a reply to: DigginFoTroof

A friend of mine is autistic, for example- he always forgets to say thank you, to waitresses when we eat somewhere, and many times they give him (SNIP) for stuff like that, i always feel like i have to explain the whole world why he did or did not do something.


It´s crazy how small things like that can have a huge negative effect on how "normal" people treat people that have issues like this.

No wonder he struggles about even leaving his house.

originally posted by: narrator
It sounds to me like the kid had pretty severe OCD, or had some other type of mental handicap, if he wanted to check out at the customer service desk instead of the usual checkouts, and because he was repeatedly taking stuff out of his bag to replace it "just so".

That wasn't a Gen-I kid thinking he was more important than everyone in line. That was most likely someone with some sort of disability.

And now you're bragging about "triggering" him. Congratulations.

Think before you speak.

I did think about the OCD thing. The damn receipts are close to 4ft long these days (with 3ft of coupons and ad's). I'm not saying it isn't possible buy I don't think that was the problem. Even if it is, a person with OCD can learn to slide down 2 ft to allow other customers to check out. We aren't here to wait on people with OCD, but thanks for assuming I'm oblivious to that. AND even if he has OCD, it is parents job to make him aware of what to do in situations such as that. Maybe he will know now, ever think of that?

originally posted by: DigginFoTroof

originally posted by: Middleoftheroad
I hate the lottery people that decide to buy a million lottery tickets first thing in the morning while everyone is in route to work.

Yes, so do the clerks. I know a clerk pretty well and he says that is the worst. People come in and wand 50 tickets with specific #'s. I thought they had a scan-tron for that, but he said they don't it has to be done by hand. I think he is missing something in his register. His english is VERY hard to understand (he is Indian) so maybe he missed that part when they gave him the console/register. Do you know if there are slips you can fill out with all your pre-picked numbers that the register reads?

I have no idea, I don't play the lottery.