Is this bullying?

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When I was a child, the grownups would always jump the line in front of me in the grocery store, one after the other. I'd stand there for half an hour, afraid I'd be late to school. If I said anything, they'd yell at me, "Quite, I'm a grownup", as if that gave them the right to mistreat me. The worker let them do it, and then when the store was empty, she'd glare at me and turn her back and pretend to be busy. Finally she'd ring what my mother sent me to buy.

Do you think it's bullying? They don't do that to kids anymore, by the way. But everyone used to do that, and sometimes demand kids sitting in buses stand and let a grownup sit, not necessarily an old person or pregnant woman, just an adult. They'd act threatening if the kid wouldn't get up, so all the kids got up in the end.

So if everyone does that, is this bullying in your opinion? Because I'd never do it, and I think they were horrible people.

If it includes threatening then I'm sure it's criminal. Those people are scum. I'm sorry this happened to you

It reminds me of one of the pearls of wisdom I've often been told: "if everyone treats you badly, it's your fault, not theirs".

Whenever you think someone is scum, remember to say so to their face.

I wouldn't use the term "bullying" necessarily, but it's unjust. If I understand correctly, adults cut in front of you in line just because you were a child? Maybe it's a cultural/generational thing, or whatever, but this is the first time I've heard of this kind of thing. =/

It's got nothing to do with bullying. That's just how some adults acted back then, it was a different time. The only ones who really got upset over it was kids. They'd usually not complain out loud, at most a muttered protest, but they'd talk to other kids about it, and sometimes talk about it in class.
I've had that happen once or possibly twice in my childhood, and I know it's happened to other kids of my generation, but I think it was more common in previous generations.

I have twice experienced something else (somewhat related) that annoyed me way more. I've been in line and been waiting for my turn and been kept waiting because the cashier talked to a customer. And I don't mean shop-talk, or a few words, I mean long, private discussions. The first time I was 8, and wanted to buy a hot dog at a kiosk. The cashier was too "busy" chatting with the guy in front of me and I got so annoyed I left. My mother asked me what happened and I told her. She said she could buy it, but I declined, I didn't want a hot dog from that place.

Many years later the same thing happened in an electronics store. The clerk and a supplier was busy talking about their private lives (including their marriages) when I came in. I waited a few minutes, but when they still kept yakking I decided that if they wanted to treat me like a kid, I'd act like one, so I started playing around with the stapler. I was too old, but I looked younger than I was and I was annoyed. The clerk got annoyed, took the stapler and smiled a strained, polite smile. I pretended not to understand, gave him a big smile and asked for the item I had come to buy.

That's just bad customer treatment. He could have gotten rid of me very quickly and easily by dealing with me and then continue his chat.

I've also encountered some clerks that seemed to think the customers were disturbing them when they ask for things or tried to buy something.


A relative told me that when she was young they knew a clerk that was giving phony smiles at kids when they entered her kiosk with adults, but when they were alone, she was really sour towards them. The kids would come to her kiosk to get even, they'd buy one caramel worth 5 øre (I don't know what that is in dollars; there are 100 øre in 1 NOK, and there are ca 7 or 8 NOK in one USD; those of you with a math brain can do the math if you wish to).
Anyway, they came by one by one and bought one single caramel each that they wanted in a bag. Each and every one of them

Why would I be condescending? I never thought my words could be interpreted that way. Sorry.

I was talking about my impressions regarding those pearls of wisdom. I'm used to having very little control over my life and I usually feel compelled to obey each and every one I'm told unless I manage to persuade them otherwise. In my opinion, they're only good for making hasty and unfair judgements, which, nevertheless, are usually considered good. I didn't want to imply that's what you do.

I think it has a lot to do with the culture and location. Adults still do that crap to other adults, and I've finally gotten sick of it and won't put up with it anymore even though I hate confrontation. I had to force myself to be assertive, me the quiet, timid thing...

I wasn't spoiled growing up, but my parents taught us that even kids deserve some respect. We need to be examples to kids (and other adults), we need to show them what manners are, and if we only show them what being rude is, then they will learn from that; either assuming adults are jerks or become jerks themselves. There are far too many adults who think they can get away with anything, and I'm not talking about the Millenial generation (aka the spoiled brat generation) but even baby boomers and before, who think the world is owed them.

I treat people with kindness and respect, I will hold doors open for anyone, assist in any way, let people go in front of me in line if I'm not in hurry and/or they have less than I do, etc etc, but I don't expect it of others, and I will not tolerate being treated as if I were less of a person than anyone else. I'm tired of being a doormat.