Why do people act irritated when i pull out my reusable grocery bags??

Question

i have an assorted collection of recycled bags. and i only have so many, so i end up asking the bagger to move over"politely". so i can bag my own stuff. because they are different sizes, can hold a lot of weight, and i know what fits where... iam the one who has to carry it all anyway..

sorry, my question is, "when using my own bags, taking an extra 60 seconds to bag, does everyone behind me get irritated like i am standing there taking 3 hrs???"

Answer 1

I wouldn't worry about other people.  Do what is right for yourself and the environment.  :-)

Answer 2

I'm not sure where on earth you live but in my town, people get irritated when you *don't* recycle bags! As if to say, hey thanks for making more garbage for me and my kids to deal with. Does your grocer give you a few cents back when you re-use your bags? If they do and people still look irritated, my guess is that they are first just plain rude (if you were taking a few more seconds because you were elderly, had a baby in your arms, or had a disability would they still give you the evil eye?) and secondly, they are just ignorant. I THANK YOU. Hang in there.

By the way: I posted another question that I think you might enjoy ; ) - Search open questions "When I'm shopping at Whole Foods, why do people stand in the aisles and gawk?"

Answer 3

ROFL! They are republicans. Sorry, i'm not being rude, but most

of them don't believe in a greener earth and global warming.

Take all the time you need. Good going!

Answer 4

i think it is a good idea to recylce.

you are setting a good example we should all follow

if i was behind u i would think if u go to the extra trouble to save u r bags the least i could do is wait a few x secs

Now going to the 10 items or less register with more  than 10 items  is a big NO! NO!

Answer 5

Its the US and the habit of the people. In Europe everybody does it like you! Because they have to buy the bags in stores!

So keep doing your thing and be a good example!

What you could also do to be faster is to first put your stuff  back in the cart and than move to the side to load your bags!

Answer 6

Good for you! My family uses reusable grocery bags as well, and I must admit that many stores are selling them.

Stand proud as you bag your groceries, and if people have a problem with it, they can deal with it. I think it's great that some people out there really do care, but when I hear about how people act, it's sad. God gave us this earth to take care of it, and make him proud. People are treating it like a giant wasteland, thinking they can do whatever they want without it affecting everyone.

Next time this happens, take all the time you want to bag your groceries. If someone kind of waits impatiently beside you, turn to them and say, "Excuse me, but I'm not finished yet."

You don't have to say it in a rude tone, either.. just try to get the point across. =)

Good luck, and good job!

Answer 7

Because you are making them aware of their own Ecological short comings.

Nobody likes that

Answer 8

They dont understand the importance of recylcing.  Or they are just bitter and want everything in a hurry.  

I understand what you mean.  My fiance kind of teases me about recycling my grocery bags.  When I get tired of seeing them in the kitchen closet I take them back to Wal-Mart and I put them in the recycling bin. I always have to tell him to not throw away my bags.  Bad enough that I throw away the ones I use when I freeze my meat.  

Like I said they dont understand the importance of recyling, its also another reason for this funky weather that were having.

Answer 9

guess what i have the same problem!! do people really not understand how much rubbish we could save by using our own bags more than twice!!

Answer 10

Many people just think "like omg. why is she even trying? Who cares, just one person alone cant do anything for the environment. Also, about the bagging groceries thing, they get irritated because they dont want any "freaks" doing anything out of the ordinary. They just wanna pay, and take their things home.

Not that i think you arent doing the right thing, i do the same thing. when they look at me wierd, i just stare at them.

Answer 11

Because people hate it when a granola-eating, Birkenstock-wearing hippie takes up an extra minute of their time that they could have used to watch "Survivor"!

Not that I think you are those things, but to some people any minor inconvenience in the name of environmentalism is too much.

Answer 12

Because people are lame. I always feels uncomfortable when I bust out my reusable shoppings bags because people at the standard grocery chains roll their eyes. So annoying, but at my local co-op I basically get an applause. People just think it is silly I guess.

Answer 13

first of all i want to congratulate you for helping our environment with reusing the bags.

well most people are impatient because our society has made us that way. we are always hurring to go somewhere or to do something. .we dont stop and enjoy our lives and the place in which we live in.  i feel that life is too short for all of us to worry about little things like waiting inline for 2 seconds longer. our lives would be alot better if we concentrated on helping each other and taking care of our planet so that it will help  take care  of us. like the saying goes you need to stop and smell the roses along the way...

Answer 14

Ok, I am not trying to take sides here.  But, does recycling actually works.

http://www.economist.com/science/tq/disp...

Answer 15

Because they are impatient and believe the world revolves around them.

Keep doing what you are doing and ignore the moronic, here on YA and in the store.

Answer 16

Because you are slowing down the line. You are like those people that stand there like a zombie, wait until everything is scanned and totaled, then start searching for their checkbook.

If you slow down the line by 60 seconds, and there are 5 people in line behind you, you wasted 5 minutes of other people's time , not 1 minute.

Answer 17

There's just alot of cranky people out there. And especially if you are happy and smile at them you will irritate them even more. They just didn't get their happy pill that am.

Answer 18

First off, I'd like to say, don't let some punk kid give you trouble.  In my opinion, the people who act frustrated when you bag your own groceries are under the impression that the world is going to end and the only way they can prevent the apocalypse is by bringing their Hamburger Helper home to their obese children.  

But seriously, some people fear change and are in denial that there is any need for recycling or any type of conservation for that matter.  Those are the people that deny the threat of global warming in the midst of all of the proof, and I can guarantee you that every last one of them spends more on their electricity bill than all others combined and they drive a gigantic SUV even though the only thing in it is either a small child or the briefcase that they bring to their high-rise office job.  

All apologies for my digression.  Live your life the way you want, because it seems like you have a grasp on it.  Let those impatient fools get all huffy and puffy while you enjoy your day.

Answer 19

People are just generally very self-centered, impatient, and have a strong sense of entitlement.  That's why you get people rapidly weaving in and out of traffic, putting everyone's lives in danger just so they can get to their destination 2 minutes sooner.

It's the same as the way drivers treat bicyclists and pedestrians.  You're doing something that benefits the environment so they should appreciate what you're doing, but because it inconveniences them slightly (i.e. taking an extra 60 seconds to bag, or waiting behind or going around a bicycle, or waiting for a pedestrian to cross the street), they get irritated instead.

It's unfortunate, but that sort of attitute is pretty common, and will continue as long as people don't care about the environment.

Answer 20

First of all, they're embarassed because they aren't doing their part to keep our planet green.  secondly, I agree that some bagger just haven't received any training on how to bag properly.  Keep doing your own thing and stay green.

Answer 21

~lol~  Good question.  Same reason that people get all huffy behind someone who writes a check these days.  They think everything should be instant...just swipe your debit card and get out of their way!

Of course I'm not too polite to someone who's getting huffy.  The more they roll their eyes, the slower I'll write my check...might even drop my pen a few times.  

I also get very slooooow at putting my items into my canvis bags.

Don't worry though....every once in a while, you get to see karma in action.  Like the person behind you who got huffy, they walk into the parking lot, and their cheap plastic bag rips open and spills their stuff out.  Yeah, those are the good days.  ~lol~

By the way, I'd smile at you, and probably chat you up, and compair bags with you!

~Garnet

Homesteading/Farming over 20 years

Answer 22

I think that the packers get irritated more than other customers.  I too bring my own canvas bags for my grocery shopping.  And I have never found a packer who knows how to arrange things.  I end up pulling the cart over...and repacking all the time.  You would think by now they would get a clue!!