Reply #22: I've been on both ends of that situation

[Duer 157099]

And honestly, I try always to err on the side of the impatient one. Meaning, even if I'm not in a hurry, I try to be very aware of the people around me and whether *they* might be in a hurry and how I might be blocking their progress.

For me, that's the main problem, people not being aware of their surroundings and the people around them.

When I have found myself to be blocking someone without my having known it, I feel really shitty about it because I know what it's like and I never, ever intend to do it.

edit to add: Also, I think most of us have found that an apology very quickly defuses the situation for all concerned, even if you don't think you did anything wrong. Just apologize for having not noticed her standing there and I assure you, both of you would have left the situation better than you did.