Comments on: Do You Challenge Queue-Jumpers and Line-Cutters?

By: ~ Sil in Corea

~ Sil in Corea — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 15:33:00 +0000

In South Korea, line-jumping is quite common AND frequently gets a negative response. This is a hierarchical society in which age and education gives status. The people who try to push in are generally men in their 30s and 40s. If they try to push in front of an older person, they get an earful and back off. This happens even if the older person is 3 or 4 people behind the 'insert spot.'

By: Jeff

Jeff — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 17:08:00 +0000

Perhaps those who found this article interesting might also be interested in a recent write-up by Don Norman, "The Psychology of Waiting Lines."

http://www.jnd.org/ms/Norman%20The%20Psychology%20of%20Waiting%20Lines.pdf

By: Stephanie

Stephanie — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 05:28:00 +0000

If someone said to me "I'd like to get in here" I would say "Yes I'm sure you would, but I'd like you back there!" I lived in Orlando and stood in many a line at the parks there and there were many people that tried to jump the line. The majority of people say something there.

I wonder if the length of time one is in line or the length of the line had something to with whether people said something or not.

By: V Yonkers

V Yonkers — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 15:44:00 +0000

I too am surprised about the lack of complaints. However, having been downstate (New York city area) recently, many New Yorkers have the attitude of "if you can get away with it, go ahead and try it". One person, as the study points out, may not have an effect. As a result, it is too much work to get into an argument.

However, I find the whole situation interesting, having lived in Costa Rica in the late '80's early 90's. My experience was that "queue busters" would be ignored by both customers and clients. If you butt in line (queue jumped), you would be ignored and people would just keep pace with you in the line. Rarely would anything be said. The customer service personnel would keep track of who was next and ignore the queue jumper! This included in the bank line that could take up to 2 hours to get through.

By: grannyseye

grannyseye — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 04:57:00 +0000

The attitude of line jumpers is that they believe that they are more important than everyone else, that they have some special purpose that allows them to tromp on those who were already in line. That rules do not apply to them.

Well, it is my purpose in life to point out their mistaken assumptions. If someone jumps in my line, I guarantee they think twice before doing it again, unless they are a complete moron who doesn't learn from experience.

By: Tom Rees

Tom Rees — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 21:41:00 +0000

People don't say anything because they are scared of a violent response. I once stopped a guy who was pushing his way steadily along a great long queue - no-one else had said anything. He started threatening me and abusing me. Odd partly because I was younger, taller and fitter than him. But also because we were going through passport control at Heathrow! The slightest hint of actual violence and the security guys would have been swift (and there's no way he could have a weapon). He soon stopped when he saw I wasn't going to give in.

But the point is that the sort of people who push in are also the sort of people who are used to browbeating and intimidating their way through life. Usually it just isn't worth the hassle to get in their way.

By: Abhishek

Abhishek — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 11:20:00 +0000

well if you come to India only 10% of time or may be less than that you will find queue jumpers not getting knocked off from the queue :)

Interesting difference between people of different countries. Should ask Milgram to do study here in India and see the difference ;)

By: Anders

Anders — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 09:54:00 +0000

Fun study, I'm also somewhat surprised of the weak responses in the study. Was the "linecutter" a well dressed man of normal proportions? I'll bet there is alot of variables that can alter these numbers. I would maybe say somethin if it was a man in my size who was well dressed and non threathening. I would not say anything to a big guy, gangmember, druguser or beautiful girl, probably not to any girl. Nor would I throw an old lady out, well maybe now after reading Alices post :)

By: Alice

Alice — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 19:58:00 +0000

I generally don't bother queuing in crowded places like at festivals. People are so conditioned to get in a queue to get what they want, that huge queues tend to form at the toilets, food stalls or whatever else right near the most crowded areas e.g. the main stage.

It is almost always quicker to walk a very short distance to the next set of toilets etc, where there is frequently no queue at all because so many people are so busy queuing nearby. I have almost developed a "no queuing at all" policy, even at very crowded events, because so often it's simply not necessary if one thinks a little less like a sheep.

The exception is supermarkets, where they generally don't increase their wage costs by employing a single extra till operator than they think they can get away with.

When you've invested half an hour or so getting a week's groceries together, you're very unlikely to change your mind and just walk out without buying it, so they can let the queues get almost as long as they like without losing profit.

The longest queues at my massive local Tesco are at about 11pm, when there are very few customers but they only have two or three staff on the tills.

By: Jijesh

Jijesh — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 19:52:00 +0000

Cool post !
I think the cultural context has a strong role in how people behave socially.
I grew up in India, there queue-jumpers are not tolerated at all. I n fact I have seen situations where the jumper is physically ejected out from the Queue. Needless to say this slowed the whole queue !