The ATM mentality

[zyzyly]

I was waiting in line in the hospital cafeteria today and noticed a disturbing trend. There were a bunch of people in line (for that delicious hospital food), and the person in line behind the person paying kept a respectful distance of about three feet betrween them. When it was his turn, the next person did the same thing.

The tray rail thing is only about 10 feet long. That means that a bunch of people can't set down their trays, because there is three feet of empty space so that the person at the head of the line can have some privacy with the cashier.

When did this start? I can see it at an ATM. You don't want someone looking over your shoulder as you make your transaction, but a cafeteria? You don't need a PIN to buy a plate of goo. So what's the deal?

I wonder if this is one of those goofy California things, or is it spreading throughout the known world.

Comments

Hmm...

[darksheik.livejournal.com]

I think people spent more time learning how to be polite near an ATM than to actually use an ATM. Honestly, we've had the things for twenty years, for godssakes. You type in the freaking number, you tell it how much you want, and there you go. Thirty seconds. That "accept this fee" question sometimes throws me, admittedly. I'm glancing around nervously in the "hurry up, stupid transaction" mode, and not noticing that it's asking me a freaking question.

But, back on topic - another thing I've noticed is the "faux line" at rest stops. At least on the NJ Turnpike, we have Roy Rogers and Burger Kings that have a sort of conveyor belt format, but there are multiple items on the conveyor belt, not all of which anyone could possibly eat. So you're allowed to skip over slow people. I like that I'm one of the few people that gets that secret. Hey, why am I telling you?!?!