US EditionMiss Manners: I Was Called a ‘Grinch’ for Not Holding Someone’s Place in Line
Miss Manners highlights etiquette challenges as a customer refused to hold a place in line, sparking public accusations and emphasizing rising tensions in crowded checkout lines.
- At a busy cosmetics store, the letter-writer was approximately fifth in line and refused to hold the woman behind the writer's place, leading the woman to loudly call them `Grinch` during checkout.
- The shopper said an employee had forgotten an item so she needed to step out briefly, but the writer told her to ask those immediately ahead to hold her place.
- A man behind offered to hold the spot, while the woman in front berated the writer but did not help.
- The writer said they felt embarrassed and hurt by the public shaming, while Miss Manners, syndicated advice columnist, noted other readers reporting similar incidents.
- Miss Manners framed the dispute as a momentary absence rather than cutting in and said such awkwardness might have been avoided with clearer practices, noting wish lists would prevent similar dilemmas for readers.
12 Articles
12 Articles
Miss Manners: I was called a Grinch for not saving a spot in line
DEAR MISS MANNERS: I was in line at a busy cosmetics store. The line wasn’t moving very fast when the woman behind me asked me to save her place: She said an employee had forgotten to give her something, and she had to get it. I was approximately fifth in line and there were at least that many people waiting behind me. I looked at the people behind her and I told her no -- but before I could explain why I wasn’t comfortable holding her place, sh…
Miss Manners: I refused to let a woman jump back in line, now I’m the store Grinch
DEAR MISS MANNERS: I was in line at a busy cosmetics store. The line wasn’t moving very fast when the woman behind me asked me to save her place: She said an employee had forgotten to give her something, and she had to get it. I was approximately fifth in line and there were at least that many people waiting behind me. I looked at the people behind her and I told her no -- but before I could explain why I wasn’t comfortable holding her place, sh…
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 67% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
