If someone were to jump the queue you were standing in, would you speak up or let it go?

I would ask politely if they were really ahead of me.

I often speak up in those circumstances. I try to keep it polite but firm. “Excuse me, but there’s a line here, and you’re jumping ahead instead of going to the back. Do you mind?”

This has never happened to me, thankfully, but I think in this situation I would tap on their shoulder and politely say “excuse me, I believe the line ends back there” and point behind whomever is last in line.

They have, and I have. As you say, though, life’s too short. However, in cases where there is a group of people behind you, you’re not out there on your own.

The last time it happened, the person insisted that they had been in line, etc., first. I really didn’t care, but made sure that the person knew that I wasn’t rushing to gain an extra spot, and that he was being a jackass.

But generally, when people try it, I go with @marinelife‘s tactic – I ask something along the lines of “Excuse me…but just so you know the line ends back there…”

Although it is a little thing, I feel like line-cutting is one of those things that needs to be nipped in the bud right then and there. Calling them out is telling them “Hey, I don’t know why you think you’re more important than I am…but I can assure you that there’s nothing special about you that should allow you to get your groceries first.”

It depends. If I am in a hurry I will politely mention something. If there is no rush I will smile and figure that person must have some pretty pressing obligations to feel the need to push in front of me.

There is an instant reaction of “Who do you think you are to do this?”, but there have been enough times where I learn that they are with someone ahead of me, or a person who is in some sort of desperate timely situation. We may never find out if the scenario is created out of the other person’s feeling that they have the right to get through the queue quickly. I’ve just learned to let it go. And where I live, you never know who’s packing a weapon.

I am not at all shy about saying “Hey, there’s a line here.”

I never say anything, but inwardly fume.
This happened to me in line at the pharmacy. This old man just got right in front of me like I wasn’t there. I’m fuming inside but thinking, well he’s old, he probably has less time on earth than I do. When it came his turn, the pharmacy worker looked around him and at me and said “I believe you were next.” YES! Win.

@chyna – I LOVE it when they do that.

I either say something or breathe down their neck like a werewolf ;)

If it’s a line I’ve been standing in for an hour or more to ride something at an amusement park, the person who jumped the queue is most likely going to regret it after I get personally involved in making them uncomfortable. Luckily for those types of people, I only visit amusement parks every couple of years.

For shorter lines, I follow the trend already spoken of above where I kindly remind someone (and possibly help direct them to) where the end of the line actually is.

Never has happened to me!

It’s a pet peeve of mine, I definitely speak up and they get that they need to move and quickly.

Depends on the place and situation. If the person looks like an asshole that could hurt me, nope. Otherwise, I might say something, particularly if it is outrageously unfair.

Depends, if they only have one item and I have a cart full, I generally let it slide. I just hope they remember me when the situation is reversed and offer to let me in next.

I have actually spoken up “What? I thought the end of the line was back there, am I in the wrong place?”

I have encountered the situation only a few times in my life (that I have noticed), and seriously, I don’t get upset. I just think…Oh well! What the helll.:-)

It usually happens that someone ahead in line lets one or ten of their friends cut in. Generally if I say something, the person that lets them in says that they were saving a place for them, and acts as if it were okay. I hate to sound like the old crank that I am so I let it go.

Equally annoying is people who show up with an entourage for something that they should be doing alone or with one other person. Like renewing a driver’s license. Do you really need 4 people with you for a driver’s license renewal. Or going to the emergency room. If your mother, husband, sister and 5 kids can show up with you at the emergency room with you, why can’t your mother and sister stay home with the 5 kids? Do we really need 8 guests for one patient? And WTF about Black Friday shopping with toddlers in tow?

I would speak up and say “Excuse, I was in line” to let them know I saw what happened, and that they can get in line behind me.

@BarnacleBill Ah, but isn’t it a pleasant surprise when the five people in line ahead step out all at once because they were with the one person at the counter?

I would politely… but loud enough so everyone could hear me… point out that they should be at the back of the queue.