Not my problem?

[Rustward]

For years I have-only somewhat jokingly-advocated for the creation of something I call the Dipshit fine. This would be in the form of a citizens arrest ticket. Citizens would be able to issue a $20 fine when they witness another behaving in such a way that a reasonable person would conclude they were a dipshit.

15 items in the 10 item lane? Here is your dipshit fine, Sir!

Cutting someone off in traffic? Pull on over for your Dipshit fine.

Not cleaning up after your dog? Get out your wallet, that's a dipshit fine.

Think of the possibilities of harnessing the unlimited power of the dipshit to fill public coffers (in addition to the public offices they already fill!) This revolutionary idea could eclipse compound interest as the most powerful force in the universe. From what I have seen I believe we would clean up the national debt in less than 6 months.

I do realize that implementation may be a bit sticky, as one could be a jerk about giving out the tickets; thus becoming a dipshit themself.


PS-Wondering what a dipshit is, and if you might be one? Go here to find out: Are you a dipshit? You might be. Take this quiz to find out.

A quarter century ago I knew a guy who had some business cards printed up with text similar to this:

Thanks!
For parking so close.
Next time leave a can opener so I can get in my car.
A$$holes like you should take the bus.

He gave me a couple of dozen and they're still around here somewhere.

 

[Rustward]

My grocers have self-checkout scanners. Sure, I'm not even paid minimum wage to be my own cashier, but there is no limit on number of items and there is almost always a free scanner. Most folks with 10+ items can't figure out how to use self-checkout.

... and the super-slow motion self checkers with a boatload of stuff.
Let's not forget the checkwriters who wait for the cashier to tell them the amount before they even start looking for their checkbooks -- heaven forbid they fill out everything but the amount while in line.

 

[growing_older]

I see plenty of people disregarding item limits on checkout or parking in handicap spots with no obvious disability. But I have also been lectured by strangers for violating those same rules when I believed I was doing the right thing. For example, the store manager opens a new express line and pulls me into it, because the other express lines are empty and the regular lines are long. Before my pile is rung up, new people line up behind me and raise their voices about "a--hole can't count" so they are sure I will hear them.

Likewise I've been verbally confronted and had my car vandalized about parking in a handicap spot, displaying a handicap placard, and running into a nearby store. What they don't see is I meet my blind friend and escort him to the car for the ride home. Obviously I'm not handicapped running into the store, but the very aggressive self-appointed parking police who yell at me, or quietly key my car while I am away, don't know why I'm parking there and don't ask. They just attack.

I suspect the loss of civility and compassion is due to ever greater crowds of anonymous people. I don't live in a town where people know each other. As population density of strangers goes up, more people disregard cooperative norms, and increasingly more people also seem likely to take up the role of enforcer. Sometimes passive aggressive, or occasionally active aggressive enforcer.

 

[JOHNNIE36]

... and the super-slow motion self checkers with a boatload of stuff.
Let's not forget the checkwriters who wait for the cashier to tell them the amount before they even start looking for their checkbooks -- heaven forbid they fill out everything but the amount while in line.

I got irate at a lady one day in the grocery store for this very thing. It really irritated me and I spoke to her about it loud enough for everyone to hear. I said "all this time and you just now start writing the check? The date's not going to change, you know what store you're in and I'm sure you know your name well enough to sigh the check. All you need to know is the amount." That really ticks me off. Then they have to fill in the check register, fold up the check book, find a place in their purse for both the checkbook and a special placefor the pen, bullshit with the cashier, etc. Give me a break.

 

[haha]

This is one of the stranger threads, and that is saying something! I have my hands full not getting knocked down on the sidewalk. You guys really have to reach for a little drama.

Something missing from life? Just try shoppping at Trader Joe, they don't have lines that might disturb Count von Counts. Enjoy looking at the cute girls or guys, smile at the nice checkerperson. Go home happy and kiss your Honey.

Ha

 

[John Galt III]

I must have low self-esteem, or something, but I can't stand it when the cashier can't interrupt her gossipfest with her sidekick loser, to speak to you, or even make eye contact, until she tells you the total. There is an unlimited number of wisecracks one could make to them, but........

 

[TromboneAl]

For years I have-only somewhat jokingly-advocated for the creation of something I call the Dipshit fine. This would be in the form of a citizens arrest ticket. Citizens would be able to issue a $20 fine when they witness another behaving in such a way that a reasonable person would conclude they were a dipshit.

15 items in the 10 item lane? Here is your dipshit fine, Sir!

Cutting someone off in traffic? Pull on over for your Dipshit fine.

Not cleaning up after your dog? Get out your wallet, that's a dipshit fine.

Think of the possibilities of harnessing the unlimited power of the dipshit to fill public coffers (in addition to the public offices they already fill!) This revolutionary idea could eclipse compound interest as the most powerful force in the universe. From what I have seen I believe we would clean up the national debt in less than 6 months.

I do realize that implementation may be a bit sticky, as one could be a jerk about giving out the tickets; thus becoming a dipshit themself.


PS-Wondering what a dipshit is, and if you might be one? Go here to find out: Are you a dipshit? You might be. Take this quiz to find out.

Here's how we do it: Everyone gets a rubber dart gun. Every time you see somebody doing something stupid with their car, you shoot it with a rubber dart. If a cop sees a car with 10 of these darts on it, he pulls him over and gives him a ticket for being a dipshit.

 

[Lisa99]

I speak up but use a polite tone of voice.

There is a single queue for the self check registers at our local WalMart. People frequently walk up and go stand directly behind someone who is finishing up. My stock phrase is 'excuse me, but there is a single line for all eight of these registers. Please get in line with the rest of us.' I've yet to have anyone ignore me, male or female.

 

[F M All]

Here's how we do it: Everyone gets a rubber dart gun. Every time you see somebody doing something stupid with their car, you shoot it with a rubber dart. If a cop sees a car with 10 of these darts on it, he pulls him over and gives him a ticket for being a dipshit.

Al, the dipshits already identify their vehicles by having those plastic covers over their license plate "so the cameras can't see it". The cops seem to ignore them.....

Do we need a Foxworthy type list, "you know you're a dipshit if ......."

 

[Lisa99]

This is one of the stranger threads, and that is saying something! I have my hands full not getting knocked down on the sidewalk. You guys really have to reach for a little drama.

Something missing from life? Just try shoppping at Trader Joe, they don't have lines that might disturb Count von Counts. Enjoy looking at the cute girls or guys, smile at the nice checkerperson. Go home happy and kiss your Honey.

Ha

For me this thread resonates more than most. I was raised to be polite and follow the rules and I expect my fellow humans to do the same.

 

[Keim]

Al, the dipshits already identify their vehicles by having those plastic covers over their license plate "so the cameras can't see it". The cops seem to ignore them.....

Do we need a Foxworthy type list, "you know you're a dipshit if ......."

We probably do. A true dipshit in their natural habitat rarely realizes it.

Anyhow, I thought some of the car dipshits self-identified by lowering their cars, and adding extremely large subwoofers. But most car dipshits go incognito, and can only be identified by their driving habits.

 

[Texas Proud]

Women have no problem "calling out" other women who appear to be cutting in line. A sharp-voiced "WE'RE in LINE!" and sharp glances directed at me, if I look like I might be thinking about cutting in line, even if I'm not. Classier women are nicer about it, but they still guard their territory.

Amethyst

I have no problem calling someone out.... and I do not cut in line myself... but when someone is not doing anything while on a phone and when someone does not respond to a direct question of 'are you in line', I will make the assumption that they are not...

All the lady had to do was say 'yes'.... then I wait...

 

[eridanus]

I suspect the loss of civility and compassion is due to ever greater crowds of anonymous people.

Yep. More and more people lead to more and more problems.

I don't mind if people go slightly above the checkout limit. If the line is empty, I'll take it with 12 items and I expect others to do the same. No big deal.

 

[Texas Proud]

Hope this doesn't sound like too big a stretch for the topic. I first visited NYC ca. 1978. Times square was a scary, open sewer (literally). When I went back in 2001 (before 9/11, by the way), Times Square had been transformed. I read and heard (locally) that Mayor Guilani's crack-down on the most minor offenses was the driving force to make the change.

I'm not suggesting we have the police tackle grocery store expressholes to the ground and hustle them off to jail. But, if the sign said "10 items or less - and we mean it!" (and then refused to ring up anyone with 11 items) folks would quickly get the message. I submit that more people are offended by expressholes than are expressholes who will be offended by being humiliated by a surely cashier.

I am one who believes there are far too many rules (and laws). This leads to scofflaws. But, if a rule (or law) is actually to have any value, it must be enforced. End of 2 cent rant. YMMV

I would suggest that if the register stopped scanning items once the limit had been met would help... but then I bet some people would scan, pay and start scanning again...

 

[stargazer08]

Can I ask exactly how one counts the items in the cart? Does a bunch of bananas count as 1 or do you count each nanna? If you buy 10 cans of dog food is that 1 item or 10?

I'd gladly let the math challenged people off the hook if the jackhole standing behind me in line wouldn't invade my personal space. I had one goofy lady actually stand in front of the credit card scanner while the checker was scanning my stuff and I was bagging it to speed things along. The woman gave me the stink eye when I asked her if she was going to pay for my groceries.

 

[GandK]

To me this is less about rudeness and more about a nation that gets less homogeneous every year. Once upon a time there was a shared definition of polite, rude, civility, incivility, right, wrong, etc. Now it seems there are a thousand mini-cultures instead of a single American perspective. If young people are raised in a thousand different ways... what you think of as rude may be acceptable behavior to them. How can we ever tell?

What's the old saying? "One should never attribute to malice that which may be adequately explained by stupidity." Or ignorance. Or alcohol. Or being on a cell phone at the time.

My Southern advice is to bless their hearts and move on.

 

[Midpack]

Some interesting responses. The thread wasn't about pet peeves, it was more have we all helped enable these acts by fellow citizens in part because so few people speak up anymore. The expressholes have learned that consequences are highly unlikely, so why not! Imagine if it was more typical for people to speak up, and if the expresshole was hostile/unapologetic, everyone on line would make a statement? Not expecting anyone to go after a line cutting kickboxer, but that's not always the case. I'm pretty sure doing nothing or waiting for someone else won't change anything, probably make bad behavior even more common.

Again the bad kid at school. When I was a kid if my teacher told my parents (or any kid-parent) I was misbehaving at school, they would apologize to the teacher and let me have it that night. Now you hear about parents who immediately say 'my little angel wouldn't do that, you leave him/her alone or I'll sue you.' Did the teachers change, or the parents? Is it any wonder teachers are reluctant to deal with parents? Any wonder that kids push the behavior envelope more than ever? Is all this conducive to educating kids?

You can walk through example after example. No amount of "rules" will matter if there's no peer pressure to reinforce better behavior. Will they?

Again, I've just been doing some thought provoking reading along these lines, I'm still grappling with the ideas. And again, this applies to many acts, many larger than expressholes.

 

[flyfishnevada]

I think this all comes down to the entitlement mindset too many people have. It is reinforced everywhere. The government, parents, teachers. People are taught they are owed something by someone. I see it everywhere. Driving, Disneyland, grocery stores, restaurants, you name it. "What? There's rule? Well, those don't apply to me. I'm special. I deserve it."

I still think (hope) those people that think that way are the minority but if they are, the majority sure as hell isn't doing much about it. We shake out heads, we get mad, we might even say something. These self absorbed brats look at you like your the one out of line. That's if you're lucky. You might get a gaggle of them gang up on you and wag their fingers at you for being so selfish!

Unfortunately, these societal shifts require societal correction. You or I aren't going to teach these people to behave. Hell, they'd have to be able to admit they might be wrong in the first place. Trying to lecture someone is a fools' errand. Maybe personally satisfying, but hardly effective.

 

[EvrClrx311]

I'm not the road rage type (at all), but the one that really irks me is people running or rolling through stop sign to the point where you have to break pretty heavily to avoid hitting them from the main road... and then they continue driving 5-10 mph below the speed limit. Mostly mini-vans... mostly chatting on their cell phones...

I'm still confused about how all cell phone use hasn't been banned yet in cars... at least to the point of hands free! I swear those drivers are more dangerous than the drunks...

 

[audreyh1]

Personally, in the store check-out line, I'm always glad that I have the time to wait if necessary and am not under the time pressure most people are. In general, I avoid shopping at busy times.

So, I'm generally not inclined to say anything in those circumstances as I so rarely see the abuse. If I ever noticed a "repeat" offender, I would likely say something.

In terms of cutting in line - yes, I say something and I notice people are much more inclined to protest line cutters.

Audrey

 

[DayDreaming]

At the '10 items or less' line at my grocery store, there's one cashier who will tell people that she gets to eat anything over 10 items. She'll still ring them up, but it's a light-hearted way of telling the person they have too many items without causing a big confrontation.

 

[Amethyst]

A single queue for 8 registers is unusual, not something people are expecting. I would not expect it. Is there a sign saying it's a single queue? Are all the shoppers regulars at that store, so they know the drill?

An American line often resembles an amoeba, and not everyone is quick on the uptake.

Amethyst

I speak up but use a polite tone of voice.

There is a single queue for the self check registers at our local WalMart. People frequently walk up and go stand directly behind someone who is finishing up. My stock phrase is 'excuse me, but there is a single line for all eight of these registers. Please get in line with the rest of us.' I've yet to have anyone ignore me, male or female.

 

[growing_older]

A single queue for 8 registers is unusual, not something people are expecting.

All the self check registers in my area use the single queue method. There are about a half dozen stores I frequent with self-check and they all work this way. In fact, I have never seen a self check with separate queues. I assumed it was to make it easier on the one store employee overseeing the multiple registers, because around here they all have a single queue to feed the self-check stations. Regular checkout still uses a separate queue for each checker in each of these places.

 

[TromboneAl]

At the '10 items or less' line at my grocery store, there's one cashier who will tell people that she gets to eat anything over 10 items. She'll still ring them up, but it's a light-hearted way of telling the person they have too many items without causing a big confrontation.

But the light-hearted approach is a way of giving permission. "You didn't follow the rules, but it's OK, ha ha."

There are two reasons to not say anything:

1. I shouldn't give in to my urge to correct everyone.

2. Consider how you will feel if the person totally ignores you, or says "Get a life, A$$hole." That's going to annoy you for a few hours.

 

[Lsbcal]

I'll bet this thread goes for 10 pages.