Get the hell out of my personal space!

[myswtghst]

I'm pretty tolerant, but being tailgated and/or having someone in my bubble bring out the angry biatch in me.

I was at the United Center this past weekend for a basketball tourney, and it was rather crowded. I get that, and I'm pretty laid back about it until you're unnecessarily close. I was standing at the counter, waiting to finish paying for my new shirt, and with a huge space behind/around me (enough for 10 people, easily) a guy walks up and steps in, a few inches from me, and starts counting his cash practically on my butt. I notice, even turn partially around and look at him, he seems not to notice and continues, so I step back, a big ol step onto his foot, lean back into him and practically make him drop all his cash. He was outta there faster than I could believe.

I tend to do the same thing while walking that I do while driving, if someone is following too closely behind me for no reason (i.e. it's not a packed arena, or I'm doing the speed limit or thereabouts)--I simply hit the brakes a few times, in the case of walking jerks, I'll just stop abruptly like I forgot/remembered/spotted something/someone, and let them run into me.

[Lace Neil Singer]

Phew, so it's not just me. ^^ I haven't actually had to scream at someone yet, but that's cuz the threat is usually enough. A mate of mine says in a jolly tone, "Oh, are you going to pay for my shopping then?" in the same situation; it works sometimes, but I'm a bit too neurotic about personal space invasion to use that method. XD

[HowMayIHelpMe?]

When I worked for Kinko's (before the FedEx buyout) a few years ago, I had a customer once (while I was standing behind the counter) put his hand on my hand while asking me a question.

Bad move.

I recall that I was not feeling alright that day, and that I had a lot on my mind - so a total stranger (one of those gross-ass CUSTOMERS no less, ewwww) touching me was just the thing to set me off. But for some reason, I actually said nothing and simply stopped what I was doing (helping him, I think, with a fax) and looked at his hand as it rested on my hand.

Doing nothing else, just looking at his hand. Let him see that the whole of my attention was now on where his hand was. All in slow motion.

What was this guy's reaction? He freaked on me, raising his voice and stomping out of the store, the whole time yelling at me that I needed to change my attitude. It turned out, even, that on the following day he had left a note for me in my absence that declared that I "needed anger management" because of how I "almost got violent" with him.

For this guy to imagine that he could tell what thoughts were in my mind speaks volumes about the Sucky Customer mentality - they all really, really, honest-to-reason-and-intellect believe they are some sort of higher life form than us.

Now I know that, per the rules of this website, we aren't allowed to mention, infer, reference, hint at, describe, relate or advocate getting physical back at a customer who gets physical with us (even if they get physical with US, first) to any degree, for any reason, even if we are threatened, so I'm pretty sure it's not possible to relate here how I felt when I read this loser's note. I'll just say that my emotions were in turmoil because of the unwelcome touch of a customer.

But if you were to ask me, off this board, what I thought when this guy decided he had the right to touch my hand uninvited, I'd be happy to recount it.

It never ceases to blow my mind, the nerve of the sucky customer.

[Rapscallion]

It turned out, even, that on the following day he had left a note for me in my absence that declared that I "needed anger management" because of how I "almost got violent" with him.

Methinks the SC complaineth too much.

Rapscallion

[MadMike]

I hate people like that. My most recent "Bubble violation" involved a woman at Arby's at the mall (it's a food court, so there isn't a ton of room, but this was just crazy). This middle aged woman behind me practically had her nose in my hair. There was no one behind her, she could have stepped back, oh, 3 steps or more. I was frightened for a second that she was so hungry and impatient that she was going to grab my hair and eat it.

Too bad you couldn't fart on her.

[RecoveringKinkoid]

I've grabbed a guy's hand in a crowd, held it aloft, and yelled out, "Anyone lose a hand? I found this one on my ass!"

Nothing like a little public humiliation, eh?

Also, "Say, you might want to put that hand somewhere safe if you will be wanting it back intact. Just sayin'." works in an instance like HowMayIHelpMe's story (cool! Another Kinkoid!).

[Shironu-Akaineko]

I got grabbed when I was about...12. I turned around and kicked this GIANT guy in the rump. He was so tall, his butt was at my eye-level, but I got it.

At work I got this really sweet but at the same time really annoying customer that likes to grab my hand (I found a way out of that) and lately, creep up on me and grab me by the shoulders. He's damn lucky he's clean and brushes his dentures regularly and never tries to chat me up, or else he'd be dead by now.

Now he freaks out cuz I call him by name without turning around.

I said he creeped up on me, bu never said he was stealthy.

[HowMayIHelpMe?]

...
Also, "Say, you might want to put that hand somewhere safe if you will be wanting it back intact. Just sayin'." works in an instance like HowMayIHelpMe's story (cool! Another Kinkoid!)....

Good to know I'm not the only one on here who's gone through the special Hell that is Kinko's!

[Pagan]

Hmm. I must be too manly or scary or something *sniffs at armpits* but I dont have too much bubble trouble. .

I think it happens more to women than to men. For some reason, people think it's still ok to try to intimidate and invade women's personal spaces. Except that most women now don't cotton to it....especially those of us of the Celtic variety (ask the Romans about Boudica) in general and of the Scottish variety in particular!

[BusBus]

A couple of years ago, I was in Vienna with a friend of mine. We were watching a street performance in a touristy spot in town. We are not dumb people. We had our belongings in our over-the-shoulder purses and in our hidden waist pouches....so nothing in our pockets. While we were watching the performance, I could feel someone trying to pickpocket my back pockets. Like I said, all of my belongings were securely stored (I also had my hand on my bag). When we were done, I asked my friend, "Did someone try to pickpocket you?"...."Yep."

[technical.angel]

"Bubble fairies!!!" I love it!!!

:: goes and plays in the corner with her new phrase ::

I've only had a problem with this one guy. He's the husband of a faculty member, and for some reason, he and his son will hang out on campus every once in awhile.

The first time, it was just the guy, and he was having problems getting connected to the wireless. I start working on it, and he stands RIGHT behind me and slightly to the side, where he's JJJJUUUUUSSSSTTT barely in my peripheral vision, and just freaking me out.

Second time, he did it again, except he had his son with him who went digging through the candy bowl, eating half of it, and throwing his wrappers on the floor, then trying to kick them under things. I made a point of going over pre-kick and picking the wrapper up and throwing it away. Kid wasn't that happy.

After telling bossman what happened each time, I was given permission to not deal with him again. Woot!

[DesignFox]

"Do not upset the bubble fairies"

IMAP- can I borrow that phrase for a new siggy?

[SuperDan]

While we were watching the performance, I could feel someone trying to pickpocket my back pockets.... When we were done, I asked my friend, "Did someone try to pickpocket you?"...."Yep."

Bonus points if you farted on them while they were attempting.

[Cia]

I've grabbed a guy's hand in a crowd, held it aloft, and yelled out, "Anyone lose a hand? I found this one on my ass!"

Did the guy try to slink away unnoticed after that? Wish 'Caught on Video' would play stuff like that - some people deserve to be embarrased on national tv.

[RecoveringKinkoid]

Hell, it was a punk show. My awesome line evaporated in the noise like a fart in a tornado.

Oh, well, it was the thought that counts.