Pandemic rudeness

It doesn’t matter how conditions change or what new technology enters our lives, people will always find ways to be rude. Same is true for a deadly global pandemic. Social distancing and stay-at-home orders have protected us from the obnoxiousness of others, as well as a certain obnoxious virus. But when we have to put our lives in danger by going outside, we can’t avoid the rudeness.

We know that we have to keep six feet (two meters) apart from each other. But people have varying interpretations about what “six feet” actually means. My first experience with this was when I waited in line to pick up food from our favorite barbecue restaurant. The person behind me was from a delivery service — the one person you would expect to know better about social distancing. But he kept creeping closer behind me, as if it would speed up the line. I had to shoot him a few nasty stares before he backed off.

Grocery stores are worse. We act as if we were in invisible six-foot-radius bubbles trying not to bump into each other. Stores are trying to help by designating one-way aisles. Most people ignore the signs. So we find ourselves leaning towards the shelves precariously stacked with glass jars and bottles to avoid people walking the other way.

We must contend with those who stop in the middle of the aisle. Usually, they’ve pulled out their smartphones (yes, those things…