Don\u2019t crowd ahead! Stay in line! Wait your turn! Don\u2019t buck the line! Those are a few of the exhortations that taught children how to behave in polite society when I was growing up. It was an important component in transforming us from little brats to well-mannered adults. We learned the value of waiting our turn from rude people who pushed ahead of us. We didn\u2019t like it! And we didn\u2019t want to be thought of, like we thought of them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Most people don\u2019t buck the line, but times are changing, bucking the line is becoming an accepted norm. Many people now use Apps on their smart phones that push them to the front of the line. Dunkin Donuts, Starbucks, McDonalds, and a host of other food and beverage vendors invite customers to crowd ahead. You notice it; I notice it anyhow, when standing in line at one of those places, waiting patiently to get to the counter to place an order. People pop in the door, walk past the line, grab their order, smile at the line people and stroll out. It makes me wonder if they\u2019re silently muttering, \u201cSucker,\u201d as they leave. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
I could get those Apps, but I don\u2019t want to miss the show, the \u201cwatch how people act as they wait in line\u201d show. Sometimes, my fellow line people talk to me while we\u2019re waiting, to grumble about the App users, but more often, to complain about a customer at the front of the line holding us up because he doesn\u2019t know what he wants, is too fussy about the specifics of his order or is searching through his pockets for a 10 percent off coupon. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019ve made several acquaintances and a few friends, kibitzing in line with \u201cregulars\u201d and watching the show. I can\u2019t let a \u201cbuck-the-line\u201d App take that away from me. Besides, it\u2019s good for our well being to slow down, to stop and smell the roses and practice patience. Something that pays dividends when you get in those agonizing lines, like at airport security. Or in life, waiting for \u201cyour ship\u201d to come in. <\/p>\n\n\n\n