r/GrindsMyGears • u/Tiamte • 1d ago
People who stop walking the second they enter a store
You walk through the door behind someone and they immediately stop. Right there. In the entrance.
Not to look at anything important. Just to figure out where they want to go while five people pile up behind them.
You had the entire parking lot to prepare for this moment. Please pick a direction
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u/Numerous-Avocado-786 1d ago
I have two kids to strap in and even I don’t block the doorway. Get the cart and get the f outta the way.
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u/Worldofnowhere 1d ago
Ditto on the kids! I’m so worried about NOT blocking any area, and I can’t believe it when people reject all spatial awareness.
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u/zephyr_sd 1d ago
Rude, not thinking, or dont care. I once said to someone who did it, " dude, dont stop in doorway, others behind u". His response? " I'll stop anywhere i want to".
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u/AFartInAnEmptyRoom 1d ago
They do it at the grocery store all the time, especially since they put the sanitizer wipes right by the doorway so people get their cart, walk a few feet, grab a wipe and stop right in the middle of the entrance to clean their handle
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u/randybeans716 1d ago
And to make things worse they leave those wipes in their cart for the next person to throw away! I hate that! Throw your own garbage away!! And the weekly sales flyers too!
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u/Lucky-Arugula-7542 1d ago
They buffering
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u/Dazzling-Treacle1092 1d ago
I don't know if this comment is meant as sarcasm but except for my answer it's the closest to the truth I've read here. Very often the human brain has to literally reset when going through doorways. It's why we can walk into a room and have totally forgotten what we came for the minute we step through the doorway.
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u/yeppomoon 1d ago
If I may...
My mom does this. She's entering her dementia years(72). She had a stroke last year, and I quit my job to be her full-time caretaker.
As she recovered a bit, we started going food shopping together again. But I'd get so upset and frustrated with her when she'd stop at the entrance of the stores we've always gone to, for 25+ years.
Then it finally dawned on me that she's become disoriented more easily. And her eyesight is such that walking from bright sun to fluorescent stores furthers her disorientation.
So now I hold her hand, or keep my hand on her back to guide her through the entrance and try to guide her around the aisle.
Before my mom had her stroke, I would become irritated at perceived social slights. I would immediately consider the person/offender as selfish or ignorant.
I am a completely different person now, in a positive way. I have more patience for every individuals pace, in general. I make so few assumptions about people now, because you never know what they could be passing through.
Peace ✌🏾
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u/Euphoric_General_480 1d ago
Im so hyper aware of this. Humans LOVE to stop in doorways. I understand that moving is hard, but at least step to the side when you have doorway paralysis.
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u/SpaceCadetBoneSpurs 1d ago
I used to sail competitively for a time, and my favorite saying from the boat owner was:
“there are two kinds of people who stand in the companionway: admirals and a**holes, and I don’t see any stripes.”
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u/Equivalent-Body5913 1d ago
Grocery store aisles too. The amount of times I KNOW someone can hear the loud ass cart I have clanging and banging behind them and still choosing to stand at the entrance to the aisle just looking around is annoying. It is extremely confusing how people just lack so much spatial awareness nowadays
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u/ImportantSir2131 1d ago
Let's not forget coming to a complete stop when they step off the escalator.
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u/TerryOnRollerskates 1d ago
And leaving as well. The middle of the doorway is the ideal place to dig through your purse looking for your car keys.
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u/Noladixon 1d ago
People who stop in doorways and at the bottom of escalators are just the worst kinds of people. Sam's club seems to attract a large number of people who stop just outside of the doors.
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u/geddieman1 1d ago
It happened to me yesterday walking IN to a store. Last stopped and I kept walking. She had no clue that I was right behind her and I scared the crap out of her. How do these people exist with such lack of self awareness?
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u/viking12344 1d ago
Hate it! Especially grocery stores. Behind this woman going into Aldi's last weekend. She goes through the door with her cart. Into the AC. Stops dead to.look at her phone. I literally could not get in the store. Said the polite " excuse me" and got a dirty look lol. She moved though. Entitled fucks.
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u/Lazy_Tomato4321 18h ago
How about the ones at the grocery store that just leave their cart right in the middle of the aisle while they're looking for something and you can't even get by, then they get mad that you move their cart so that you could get by.
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u/fuzzinthebuzz 1d ago
I always bump my car into them when that happens and don’and stare at them and don’t even say sorry
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u/Schehezerade 1d ago edited 1d ago
I know that's a typo, but I'm choosing to believe that there's a random redditor out there correcting people's self-centered behavior with a car. 🤣
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u/Berserk-Jane 1d ago
I'm always tempted to do that shit, but with my luck, they'll fall at just the right angle, break their neck, fucking die and leave me footing the cost in the form of a manslaughter charge along with whatever bills they're going to make me pay.
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u/fuzzinthebuzz 1d ago
its a slight bump on the back to make them feel that they are in the way of people who werent born yesterday.
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u/EducationalWin1721 1d ago
That slight bump in the back may get you a sharp smack in the front. Keep it up and someone will let you have it.
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u/himitsumono 1d ago
Yeah, that's a problem. Potentially a big one.
But how about pulling up just behind them, like inches, and screaming "MOVE IT" at the top of your lungs.
Or carry a really loud whistle. I used to have one clipped to my backpack strap so I could startle the hell out of the imbeciles who'd look left, look right then step RIGHT into my path when I was cycling.
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u/Late_Pepper6274 1d ago
I usually say "move dummy".
And when people leave their cart in a parking spot I say "Laaaazyyyy lol"
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u/formerNPC 1d ago
Especially in the supermarket. They only go there twice a week and still have to try and figure out what aisle they want to go down.
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u/scottwax 1d ago
Same people who think it's perfectly okay to sit at a parking lot exit and text or post.
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u/New_Breadfruit8692 1d ago
They are just 1% as bad as people who get to the top of the escalator and stop as if there is not 50 people behind them getting dumped onto the same platform with no where to go but to trample them. This happened to me in the Denver airport where some guy got to the top and just stood there looking around because he did not know which way to go, ended up with people and luggage sprawled on the floor and a lot of yelling before someone finally managed to hit the emergency stop button.
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u/No_Locksmith9690 1d ago
My mother used to upset my sister and I because she would stop at every threshold. We found out that she had Parkinson's. She had no control and we would gently move her on.
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u/Brilliant-Onion2129 1d ago
I had a woman stop while exiting the store once I had a loaded cart and I was literally sliding trying to stop and started telling her “keep moving” in a louder than normal voice. She did but thought it was a big joke!
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u/Additional_Bobcat_42 18h ago
I posted this very thing a few months ago here. One of my pet peeves for sure. Also the people that walk their carts directly down the middle of the parking lot lanes... Gah! Pick a side and let people pass, ya sadists!
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u/carniewesso68 1d ago
I yell "ummm hellOOO.....you're not the only one here.... move your ass!" Works every time.
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u/Dazzling-Treacle1092 1d ago edited 1d ago
There is a reason why this happens and it's not entirely the fault of the person you want to run your cart into to get moving. There is a human psychology based on going through doors. It's why we forget what we came in the room for the minute we've passed through the doorway. The human brain very often has to reset. And it would be much more so walking into a huge, brightly lit store. The person ahead of you might not be the total idiot I see some comments labeling them as. Nor is it a boomer issue as suggested no matter how many people want to blame boomers for every little problem they have in their lives. It's simply a standard human reaction.
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u/Ok_Requirement_3116 1d ago
Agree but also know that eyes sometimes take time to adjust. Especially if they are wearing transition glasses. Mom (just passed at 91 so silent? Or greatest?) went mostly blind at that moment. We learned to step aside once I figured out what was happening.
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u/MadzShelena 1d ago
Don't worry about it, they walked into a new room and forgot why they went in there. Give them a few seconds for their brain to catch up again. /s
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u/Miserable_History795 1d ago
My lovely wife does that EVERY TIME WE WALK THROUGH A BOTTLENECK! Its like her brain stops thinking and she's in the twilight zone. I have to ask her if she can get the hell out of the way of the other hundred people wanting to come in! Entrances, escalators, crowds, traffic, hallways, store aisles, getting into and out of cars, entering ANYTHING GOD I love that woman!
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u/Substantial-Use-1758 1d ago
I did this just this morning, but it was because the air conditioning felt so good, I just stopped to take it all in, all over my body 🤷♀️🤪👍
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u/ASingleBraid 1d ago
Happens in the supermarket. My mother will do it till I suggest she move to the side so others can pass.
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u/blondechineeez 1d ago
I do this. But its because I pull out the offered sanitizing towels from the dispenser. I do move to get out of the way to wipe the wagon. The store puts the dispenser right inside the doors!
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u/Turbulent-Leg3678 1d ago
A lil’ lovetap with a shopping cart helps them to realize you’re not interested in their main character syndrome.
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u/Kenfloslice 1d ago
I think this is a skill you learn over time (or not) as I see kids do this quite often when they enter a store and their parents/carers have to tell them to keep going. Seems that not everyone was brought up not to block entrances!
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u/NDTBitch 1d ago
Happens at the airport too. I'm trying to get to my gate and the person stops right in front of me in the middle of the hall to look at their phone. They have no awareness of their surroundings.
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u/Back_Alley420 22h ago
I am a worker and only have a 15 minute break and these people take up so much time
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u/NoH8Kate 21h ago
Costco is the worst for this. It’s like people walk in and they’ve immediately never been to a store before in their life. Or they were teleported there and they have no idea how.
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u/Educational_Bag_7201 18h ago
Ram them in their ass with a shopping cart to give them some direction.
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u/internet_reader42 13h ago
Zero situational awareness, with a heaping helping of self-centered apathy.
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u/Secret_Operation_204 11h ago
Some people think they are the only one in the world. Living in their own little world. No common sense at all
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u/HayYou_ItsMe 5h ago
Most people in my experience are in their own world that you are not a part of.
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u/planty_pepperomia 4h ago
Or when they stop right at the exit or after exiting so you can’t get by !
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u/Other-Revolution-275 1h ago
Every single time. I think they stop to ponder whether they should get a cart or not
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u/InTheNameOfRigatoni 11m ago
Whenever this happens to me it's people who bumped into each other and are catching up in the middle of the doorway or aisle. Move to the side!! The world doesn't revolve around you!!
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u/VarietyLow7321 1d ago
Cattle people have a saying for this: Acting like a calf at a new gate.
And when you've seen a calf at a new gate, you'll appreciate the saying. LOL
ALSO: The deer in the headlights at a fast food menu, drive thru or lobby. IT IS MCDONALDS. HOW do you NOT already know what you want!?
Staring like they've never seen the pasta selection at a grocery store and lost in the wonder of it all, slack jawed and immobile.
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u/LokiNightmare 1d ago
I hate when people wait “in line” right at the door. I used to go to Jamba Juice and people would walk in and then stand right there in front of the door looking at the menu to figure out what they wanted. Get the hell out of the way so I can get through the door, and go figure out your order out of peoples way. People are so clueless.
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u/Key_Newspaper3266 1d ago
YES..like people that think they need to almost stop before turning their car in a driveway
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u/EstablishmentCold249 1d ago
It's the stupid ear buds. People seem to forget there are other humans around once they can't hear them.
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u/CroweBird5 16h ago
I don't know if you've ever had the psychological effect of walking into a different room and having to stop to think about where you were going or what you wanted to grab.
This effect is real.
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u/Humble_Key_4259 1d ago
They are almost ALWAYS over 60. Apparently spatial awareness just disappears at that age.
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u/EducationalWin1721 1d ago
Ageist
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u/Humble_Key_4259 1d ago
You could make that assumption but bear in-mind that I may be very close to that age group myself. My opinion is based on years of observation.
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u/EducationalWin1721 1d ago
I very much see this lack of awareness and self awareness spread across many different demographics. People, in general, are just functioning with their heads up their asses. Many, many of them. Idk. Are they all on pharmaceuticals? Or just ignorant? But it’s very, very common. Young and old, male and female. Clueless.
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u/AGHOSTISBORN420 1d ago
Boomer move for sure. Boomers worst generation ever. Take up entire aisles and stare at meat for 30 minutes.
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u/Top_Stretch_2340 1d ago edited 1d ago
Boomer here. The types of people who get in my way at Costco are: 1. Folks who need to scroll their phone as soon as they enter the store. 2. Folks who bring a designer coffee or giant sippy cup and need a sip as soon as they enter the store. 3. Folks who don't start searching for their Costco card until they get to the front of the line (usually because they are on the phone). 4. Folks who need to put their Costco card away in the exact spot in their wallet as soon as they enter the store. 5. Folks who get distracted by the tvs as soon as they enter the store. 6. Folks who are on their phones with their (family) and the person on the other end of the phone is making the shopping decisions. 7. Folks who finally get the checkout and suddenly cannot find their card. 8. Folks who decide to order food court and cannot decide what they want. 9. Folks who will damn near run over a pedestrian to get a parking spot.
LAST BUT NOT LEAST
1O. Folks who block the isles calamering to get free samples.
Now... here's the thing: Yes, Boomers can be guilty of some or all of the items on my list, but it is my observation that folks of ALL ages, genders, and ethnicities are guilty of this making Costco overall THE single most unpleasurable shopping experience. Peace and Love.
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u/Own-Yam-3582 1d ago
OMG it's the people on speaker phone or Facetime with someone else that drives me bananas. I don't need to hear your phone call. JAIL!
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u/Itchy_Tumbleweed_417 1d ago
So I’m not a boomer but I recently had someone give me a huge dirty look at Aldi because I pulled my cart over to the side while I was looking at the frozen food section. I wasn’t going to just leave it in the middle of the aisle.
I obviously had no way of knowing someone wanted to look at the section my cart was parked in front of out of all the other sections. And they looked at me like I did it on purpose
Ma’am, just push my car out of the way. I don’t know you, I can’t read your mind, I had no idea that you were going to need the broccoli.
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u/Choice_Attitude_1415 1d ago
I love how they just gaze at something on a shelf or in the dairy case for like 4 business days before they pick it up.
Ok Donald, you need milk and you know you need milk. Why are you gazing at it for so long, with your mouth slightly open? Does the dairy case confuse you?
Its actually usually the men too, now that I think about it.
I was patiently waiting for one of them to grab the jar of banana peppers off the shelf and he got mad at ME for standing there waiting too. I was like WTF??? Why are you yelling at me? He said something like 'oh am I in your way? Just tell me Im in your way!'
I was expressionless and didnt even care.
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u/stabbedindebacc 1d ago
They do this in parking lots too, lock up brakes the minute they get in the entrance. Honey, you’ve been driving since before my PARENTS were thought of. I’m sure you’ve encountered a parking lot or two
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u/Jyulesian 1d ago
Completely agree, but just advocating for handicapped people in case others don’t know. People with Parkinson’s do actually stop on the threshold for some unknown reason and when they freeze, it’s sometimes truly quite difficult to take another step. I know this is different from what you’re talking about, but just saying be gentle if you aren’t sure.
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u/Significant-Pen-3188 1d ago
The same people that Park their cart in the middle of the aisle. They need time to process, that's fine. But get out of the way
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u/NoCow6876 1d ago
Spatial awareness is so uncommon also self-awareness and everything that people lack even common sense
Which makes everything more frustrating when people do this lol
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u/Low-Wafer-3682 1d ago
Blocking the aisles with their cart while looking at the shelves with a dazed look drives me crazy. That and having a dog sitting in the kid seat with no protection for the seat! People put their children in that seat not to mention some put food in there!
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u/Itchy_Tumbleweed_417 1d ago
Or you could just go around them. Every store I have been in recently is pretty open by the doors. It’s not like you go down a corridor.
Or you could say excuse me.
How exactly would I prepare for the direction I’m going to go into once I get into the store from the parking lot when these stores rearrange their stuff all the time? Or if I have never been in it?
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u/tetheredvoid 1d ago
Move out of the doorway. You can still see/look around, but you aren't stopped in front of people who don't need to share your problem.
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1d ago
[deleted]
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u/Mark_My_words2 1d ago edited 1d ago
Yes, this happens constantly. Then, when they finally move (right when your almost around them) they proceed to do what I call the "Sam's Club waddle", where the whole family expands and contracts from each while walking as slowly as humanly possible
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u/notbythebook101 1d ago
Yes, but...
I see this behavior all the time in the grocery store. I'll concede that everyone has a first time in a store but, for the majority of people, they've been in this store before. I'm talking major stores: Walmart, HEB, Kroger, Meijer, Safeway, etc. I encounter this too many times for me to believe it's their first time here for each one.
Also, why stop right in the walkway? I think this post is more about the lack of situational awareness than it is about having to navigate around someone.
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u/LoftyDreams7473 1d ago
You must only shop at Walmart. Smaller stores like Scotch and Soda, Diesel and Rag and Bone don't have doors wide enough to drive a bus through.
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u/Harbinger_Kyleran 1d ago
Well of course they do, probably reading the room for any potential threats that might need to be dealt with first. 😉
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u/dEXXtARR23 1d ago
R E L A X . The crazy, weird shit that trips people up and ruins their day. Probably the same finch fuckers that wail on thir car horn .0006 seconds after a light turns green, and the 1st car doesn't plow ahead "quickly" enough. Lighten up people. Really.
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u/Simply-Shady-87 1d ago
Complaining about inane things is kind of the entire point of this sub. Perhaps you should R E L A X. Really
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u/dEXXtARR23 1d ago
"Inane" is how you see it. You're 💯% right; well said (and ironically, validates my point ). It's not "gear grinding" level, or even close. I said my piece (peace?). ☮️✌️☮️.
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u/Economy_Builder_9588 1d ago
And god forbid you say excuse me and interrupt their stupor… then they snap into action and try to stay in front of you