Do you often have strangers sitting/standing right next to y

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Oh wow, Quill, I am glad you posted because reading what your mom said about not having the proper social cues in line makes sense. I had never even thought to consider that.

And the woman who sat with you at the hotel, I imagine she misunderstood and thought you meant for her to leave. It's hard in a situation like that because sometimes I don't know what to say either. I might have said, "thank you for sitting with me, it's nice to talk to you" if I wanted her to stay. But I find that sometimes it's really hard to think of the right thing to say on the spot. I usually think of the right thing to say way after the fact when it's too late.

I don´t mind strangers standing or sitting next to me. Things are that way on buses and trains. Well, I try to find a seat where I can be alone - but so does everyone else. I dislike, when people actively move to close when speaking, though, - but I am quite approachable all in all.

Does it bother anyone when you're almost done paying for something when somebody behind you asks the checker where the bathroom is and you have to wait for the checker to answer before you can leave with your change?

I feel invisible in east London -- just the other day this older woman was in complete bodily contact with my back, jostling up against me while she loaded her groceries on the conveyor belt in the supermarket checkout line, even though I had left plenty of space for her as is my policy in order to AVOID this kind of thing. I knew she didn't mean any harm so I didn't go off on her (reserve that for people actually trying to be an ass to me rather than people who don't realize they are) but it was so full-on I couldn't believe it.

I'm short in stature and I often think people think I just don't matter.

I find over-indulging on nutrious substances that contain gluten helps repel other people. Excessive consumption of foods that I am intolerant to inevitably induces rather wretched flatulence.

I need to try that, Jake!

Me too! I was pretty shocked as it was total contact, bumping my back with her moving arm and even leaning against me to push the first items together and things.

It was like she had zero, absolutely zero concept of social boundaries/person space. I felt like I must be literally invisible. Or because I'm short, did she think I was just a kid and not another adult, and therefore she didn't care if she didn't respect my space? She really jostled me. I think I was in shock more than anything.

I'm finding this happens a lot in London but I actually remember decades ago nobody would have dreamed of this.

I think it's a sign of poor self-restraint and too much self restraint on my part for letting people get away with it.

Now that I think about it, yes this does happen to me. Many times when I use the self checkout at the grocery store, the person next in line will hardly wait for me to gather my bags before hopping on the scanner. I did snap at a guy once because of it.

I don´t like that either, but don´t you think, that most of all these small "collisions" we encounter in the supermarket has to do withspeed and stress?

OMG that would drive me insane. I would probably have to move (or sit there fuming).

Jensen, are you excusing this behavior (when somebody rushes the person ahead of them) as a form of coping?