How to handle people stressing me by standing too close in a line (and other similar circumstances)?

Question

People standing too close

In the lunch buffet room, I'm putting the food from the container on my plate, then scootch a step to the side, put some potatoes or whatever, then scootch again, etc. Right behind me, there's a person who stands rather close to me and moves immediately after my move. I'd describe it as pushing air in my ass, if you get the sense. Of course they're not physically pushing me, although the our elbows will on occasion bump into each other, and I need to think twice about how to turn around when lifting my tray (once I accidentally hit their hand and the food went all over the floor and on the person as well).

I've tried to handle it by asking the person if they could back off a bit so I could have the space. Probably a bad idea. Their hurry, enforced by my stress, is likely to perceive such a request as impolite and assaulting.

I've tried to move out of the way and ask the person to go ahead of me, (possibly pointing out that I recognize their hurry). Not well functioning either. Apparently, it risks to be taken as a sarcastic poke and the response is an agitated "what?! what?!" followed by an angry look and even more stressful waving me in to hurry up.

Embarking and disembarking the elevator

A similar issue at that office is people who lean into the elevator before others can disembark. Sometimes, I carry a cup of coffee. My knee has been operated and I have rather poor balance, so in this circumstance, I try to wait a few seconds for the person to back out of the doorway and let me off the elevator so I won't have go sideways. When that doesn't work, I back into the elevator and let the person/people (aka the wave) come in to the elevator. Then I go up and down like an idiot until I have a chance of getting out.

Sadly, that approach has also been aggravating to the wave and last week someone reprimanded me on the fact that I shouldn't have stayed in the elevator (the person realized that they kind of forced me to back in, and probably felt a bit stupid about it). The way I felt was that if I don't push my way back (causing annoyance) I will still fail by simply being modest (causing irritation).

What would be a good approach to improve some of the approaches mentioned above? Or, even better, what would be a alternative ways of handling them?

Note that I'm a large guy who's easily perceived as a threat or at least a physically substantial person (187cm, 115kg= 6'2", 250lbs).

Answer 1

From reading your question I think there may be a couple of elements in play:

You are physically taller than most, and presumably with long limbs, so the amount of space you need around you for comfort and manoeuvrability is proportionately larger than it is for shorter people, particularly in situations where you need elbow room, are carrying things or need space to turn. That’s just the plain logic of you being a little ‘scaled up’, your space needs to scale up too, so it’s a real and logical need that you might have to explain sometimes, but should not have to apologise for.

The second element has also been referred to by others, that it seems from your question that you try to be very self-effacing and that this might be leading to body language signals from posture and movements that subconsciously signal to others that you don’t think you have a right to occupy space.

I don’t think it is helpful for me to tell you to miraculously become more assertive or to change all your body language, but I will suggest a couple of things which might help you to claim, and stand, your ground in your specific examples.

For both of your example situations I’d suggest combining a physical stategy with back-up words: In the Cafeteria line:

• Assuming that you are not actually taking significantly longer than other people in the line when you feel them trying to hurry you (and if you are, speed up man!) you can try an adaptation of Step 1 in this solution and let your tray trail behind you rather than pushing it in front or standing next to it. This way you limit how close they can push their tray to where you are standing, and it is likely that they will subconsciously keep their own position relative to their tray.
• You can also try facing the counter, rather than the direction you are moving, and adopting a wide-legged stance so that your foot physically impedes people moving closer to you. I do this in queues in supermarkets when people are too close and breathing down my neck, it also has the advantage of allowing you to quickly turn your head and look them in the eye when they try and advance, which generally holds people off a little.
• If someone still stands too close to you in this scenario, they will then be standing closer to your tray than their own and almost on your foot, which should make it easier to point out to them that they are being a bit weird, while keeping it light-hearted.

‘Hey Man, if you like my choices that much they have more of the fricasseed sealion (or whatever) back there, but you’ll have to go to Shoe Locker for a pair of the brogues.’

Which has the benefit of making it about them being very close to your stuff, rather than too close to you.

Regarding the lift, I again think there is a combination of things you can do:

• You know when the lift is about to get to your floor, be ready. When that door opens anyone on the outside of it should get a glorious view of Konrad Viltersten in his splendour, feet planted in that aforementioned wide-legged stance, smiling brightly at them all before he strides through the crowd.
• Before they get chance to lean in, you lean out. Keep smiling, don’t apologise, keep moving, be your own internal cheerleader, keep that momentum up and have a few appropriate quips at the ready for if they don’t step aside for you to exit.
• Appropriate lines will depend on your setting, culture and personality but really all you need to achieve is making their behaviour rather than yours the focus and to help carry you through the momentum of exiting the lift without being pushed back by ‘the wave’. You have to be your own tide. Depending what you can be comfortable enough with (You don’t need to be entirely comfortable, you are clearly going to have to push your comfort-zone a little to change how this works for you) you could try some lines which, like the cafeteria queue, draw attention to their weird behaviour:

Steady there, you can’t walk through me you know!

or

I know I’m easy to miss, but I’m exiting the lift here!

or

Age before beauty! (That might be culturally specific to the UK, I’m not sure, but it isn’t meant to be taken particularly seriously and is often used ironically)

or

Steady on, you can’t fit a quart in a pint pot!

But whatever you say, say it with apparent confidence and humour, not irritation or apologeticness.

Answer 2

This probably isn't a direct answer to what you asked but there are a few things you can try. I can't say which one would work best (or at all) for the situation.

• Try looking the person in the eyes. Keep the eye contact polite and friendly.

• Talk to the person: Introduce yourself. Ask them how their day is going and if there is anything that is bothering them. Then a polite note about if they would mind backing off a bit. That would help them remember you in the future.

• Try a strong public posture. Sometimes all it requires for people to respect your personal space is that. The posture doesn't have to be threatening or ill-mannered, just observant and attentive.

The rationale: A large crowd of any kind provides a feeling of anonymity. Such is seen during concerts, sports events and so on.

This anonymity or the feeling of such can cause a lack of respect of personal space.

A one to one interaction, or recognition of individuality (asking personal questions, looking in the eye etc) can significantly diminish the feeling of that anonymity and bring back the respect.

Hope it helps.

Answer 3

I lived in Denmark for a couple of years and I appreciate that the pressure to conform can be subtle and intense -- one of the most challenging things I personally have ever had to deal with. (Which is not to say that there weren't things I appreciated greatly about life there.)

Note, my suggested phrasing may need some tweaking when you translate it to Swedish.

Cafeteria

The moment someone starts to tailgate you, pick up your plate/tray and take a step back, out of the line, saying, "Please go ahead." If he refuses, continue to serve yourself, but more slowly. If he continues to nudge your bubble, pick up your plate/tray and move out of his way without speaking. If you find yourself in a stalemate, stand your ground and wait. I think he will run out of patience before you do.

Alternate approach, in case that doesn't work: when the persistent waltz has started, put your plate/tray down, stand up straight, turn toward the nudger and ask, "Is there a problem?" He will say no, and you will get back to your serving without saying anything else. You'll have conveyed your "Back off, buddy" message already and no debate or explanation is needed. Your mental model could be a crowded New York City subway car. (Not that I have had much experience with those -- but I find it a helpful mental image.)

Lift

As you and others are boarding the elevator, make sure to position yourself at the front. "May I step to the front, please? I'm getting off on 4. Thank you."

Carry a cane (even if you don't need one).

When you get to your floor and the doors open:

"Excuse me! Coming out, please! Thank you!"

While the lift is in motion you can use full sentences and a normal tone, but when the doors open you'll need to be more succinct and louder. Also, you'll need more volume when the doors open. The people boarding the lift need to hear you the instant the doors open. Judging from your description, two words won't be enough, you'll need to keep the words flowing until the boarders step aside. As you walk past them keep the thanking going with that same train conductor voice.

General approach

I found that the pressure to conform was brought to bear through a projection of disapproval, conveyed sometimes in extremely subtle ways, such as an almost microscopic lift of one eyebrow or a stare at the forehead without real eye contact. What you will have to do will be analogous to judo. You'll have to flip that subtlely conveyed disapproval right back to them. Gear yourself up with some mental indignation about insensitivity to people with a disability, but maintain politeness and distance. Prepare your emotional armor.

In this vein, I do not recommend attempting to be cute or funny or initiate small talk.

Do not look to these strangers for validation of your humanity or theirs. Find other places to do that.