I always park my trolley in a few out of the way spots so I can then walk around the fruit section, meat section, bread section unhindered bypassing the ditherers, the out-for-a-slow-walk group and Saturday's conversational class that goes on in my local Migros. I was, at one time, planning on taking a trolley home and welding various implements to the sides in order to clear the aisles though was told quietly by a friend that it would be a wee bit OTT.. and anyway I'd never get my 2 francs back
Drove to our fantastic, brand-new Migros this morning, looking forward to being able to whizz round the aisles without hindrance.......
Wishful thinking!
Yes, it's a great big new store, much better than the poky old one - wider aisles,
nice open spaces,
but
would you believe it, the happy Swiss shoppers still managed to block up every aisle with their trolleys - usually parked sideways - whilst having a nice chat with
someone they just haven't seen for ages.....!
Even a little old couple can spread out so much as to hinder access to the whole
chocolate aisle! This means war!!
Now, it could be that I am a little bit too conscious of the people around me and am jealous at the ability of others to generally ignore the rest of the population,
but please.......!??!
This whole spatial awareness thing is also present in other countries but to differing levels. The "bubble" that the Swiss use seems to be particularly large and flexible being able to expand upto 90% of the actual space available. Other cultures use less flexible or smaller bubbles and have varying sensitivity metering systems meaning some allow closer proximity than others. This can lead to confusion when travelling as one is never sure whether you may be interpreted as breathing down someone's neck or standing far enough away from a person that they become paranoid and concerned that they be suffering from a deodorant breakdown. The "UN Waltz" is testament to this phenomena and allows skilled diplomats to move gracefully around a crowded room without upsetting too many people (except possibly the French but no-one much cares about that, the French possibly included).
Having a larger bubble allows the Swiss to blithely go their own way, seemingly blissfully unaware of the presence of other creatures on the planet. My personal theory is that they all subscribe to the Humian Skepticism school of Philosophy and thus are able to refuse to believe in the existence of an exterior, physical world, perhaps choosing to belive in Karl Popper's third world
This is what I've always referred to as the "Goldfish bowl" syndrome, bloop, bloop!
Have you noticed the luggage belts at the airport. Everyone stands against the belt waiting for their bags which are no where in sight much to the annoyance of those who see their bags but can't get near the belt. Why doesn't everyone stand back five paces. They then can see their bags coming off the conveyer then step forward and pick up their bags unimpeded. You would think after 100 years of aviation someone would have though of this a while ago.
EXACTLY! Just happened again this morning. Just as annoying is when there is actually enough space for everyone to stand around the belt, but the later arrivers decide that they too want to stand right near where the bags come out rather than wait around the belt where there is an empty spot. Or when the entire family has to stand right at the belt - little kids included.
Notice there has been a drastic drop in reports of bumping? Maybe you got the memo on the new directive: Change of Tactic for Maintaining Foreigner Alienation, Effective October 15, 2008. We've changed our tactics from Personal Space Intrusion Bumps (PSIB) to Personal Pace Shopping Cart Disruption (PPSCD).
Seriously, I park my cart at the ends of the aisles so that I can move through the crowd more efficiently. Why haven't other people figured out to do the same?
would you believe it, the happy Swiss shoppers still managed to block up every aisle with their trolleys - usually parked sideways - whilst having a nice chat with someone they just haven't seen for ages.....!
Even a little old couple can spread out so much as to hinder access to the whole chocolate aisle! This means war!!
Nothing like this, I hope
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I kind of go one step further and rather rudely just push the trolies aside. When there is people blocking doors or excalaters I just bump them aside while giving them an angry look. Never had any comments....
Just to add another slant on this, and I have to confess to this, that armed with a two-year-old who thinks Migros is just another playground there are times when the trolley gets abandoned while I dive after said toddler and the packets of sweets, yeast, tampax, or whatever his chubby little velcro fingers have managed to grab.
The positioning of the trolley is way down on my list of priorities and it is indeed true that sometimes I cannot, for the life of me, even remember where I left the damn thing.
Putting him in the trolley seat is not an option as he goes into "stiff-as-a-board" mode and, short of breaking his legs, won't go into that seat for love nor money.
So, next time you see an aisle blocker (and before you release a deadly fart) check to see it isn't a stressed-to-the-eyeballs mum chasing after an errant toddler before you give the offending trolley a shove to another location in the shop where she DEFINITELY won't be able to find it.
__________________ "Some people just need a high-five. In the face. With a chair."
I kind of go one step further and rather rudely just push the trolies aside. When there is people blocking doors or excalaters I just bump them aside while giving them an angry look. Never had any comments....
If the trolley is in the way, I'll simply grab it and move it myself, whether or not they're holding it too. That gets the message across.
Notice there has been a drastic drop in reports of bumping? Maybe you got the memo on the new directive: Change of Tactic for Maintaining Foreigner Alienation, Effective October 15, 2008. We've changed our tactics from Personal Space Intrusion Bumps (PSIB) to Personal Pace Shopping Cart Disruption (PPSCD).
Seriously, I park my cart at the ends of the aisles so that I can move through the crowd more efficiently. Why haven't other people figured out to do the same?
Yes, I do this too, but I end up with armfuls of stuff and somehow can't remember where I put that damn trolley......!
Wasn't it Boudicca who had blades attached to the wheels of her chariot?
Or is that going a bit too far do you think??!
Yes, I do this too, but I end up with armfuls of stuff and somehow can't remember where I put that damn trolley......!
Wasn't it Boudicca who had blades attached to the wheels of her chariot?
Or is that going a bit too far do you think??!
It was indeed Boudicca but to complete the outfit in an authentic fashion would require wearing nothing above the waistline - if certain historians are to be given some credence - that could give rise to congestion in the aisles of another kind.....
It was indeed Boudicca but to complete the outfit in an authentic fashion would require wearing nothing above the waistline - if certain historians are to be given some credence - that could give rise to congestion in the aisles of another kind.....
Could give it a try - haven't got a bad pair of bagels.......but I would draw the line at painting myself blue...!!
Just happened again this morning. Just as annoying is when there is actually enough space for everyone to stand around the belt, but the later arrivers decide that they too want to stand right near where the bags come out rather than wait around the belt where there is an empty spot. Or when the entire family has to stand right at the belt - little kids included. 
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