http://tastyresearch.wordpress.com/2006/09/21/cutting-in-line/

I love this kind of research. When I'm forced to be in the grocery store, DMV, etc... there is little to do, but people watch.

If it were not for the 24/7 freak show, I would be one board human!

The conclusions of the author match perfectly my real world experience. (Yes, I've honed the art of cutting in line to a science. Too bad I didn't have this for a jump start! Would have avoided a coupla embarrasing situations.)

There is lots more at the link above. Enjoy.

OK. THAT is now a permanent bookmark.

There is another variable that comes into play with me in odd/awkward situations: I want to make sure I come out smelling like a rose in case I am on some kind of hidden-camera show.

I was getting my tires installed and a " crazy " lady came up to me in the waiting room and started babbling about showing me her I.D. and how her daughter this and that. In the end, she was just nuts. I talked to her with interest the whole time I was there...just in case. But I find it's better to play it that way.

Cutting in line ( or talking in movies ) will get me to actually protest out loud. Kindly but firmly. " Say, the line ends behind me somewhere. You probably didn't notice - but yeah. You can't do that."

While watching The Blair Witch Project in a theater, during the last 5 minutes ( which is the climax ) a kids cell phone went off. Not a BIG deal - could have been an honest mistake. But he answered it and started talking. I turned around and queitly said " Shut that fuckin' phone off right now. You're not making some sort of million dollar transaction to tell your broker to SELL SELL SELL. Hang up."

OK - so I lost my cool on that one. But I was already jittery from the camera handling in the film.

When the house lights came up, he and his friends got all macho asking me if I had a problem. I said " Yes."...waited...nothing..." OK then - now you know I have a problem. Please make a note of it."

Just a few days ago, I ran into one of these scenarios that was interesting. Was in one of those check cashing places, getting a money order. Normally I would not bother, but it was late and it was there...

So, I walk into the place and there are people all over the place. There really is no *line*, but it's obvious who was there first, so I waited like everyone else.

This "mrs thing" woman walks in, sizes up the room, then decides to just walk up to a window after one of the people completed their transaction. The place came alive!

Two or three people said, 'excuse me miss, we were here first --you can't do that!" To my amusement, "mrs thing" just carries on as if nothing happened at all.

Impressive!

One older woman, who had clearly been waiting for a long while, came over and hip bumped her right away from the window! She then gathered up the things stuff, handed them to her, with a polite "excuse me", and proceeded to engage in her due transaction. Nice!

Mrs thing proceeded to claim ignorance. "But there was no line, how am I supposed to know?" Set piece, she's been here before. She made a calculated decision and lost big time. Instead of a room full of schmucks, she had actually wandered into the wrong tired and late crowd of people.

Was completely entertaining as every last one of her lame excuses fell on deaf ears. After trying to claim the high ground a few times, she ended up with a grunt from the corner: "Have a seat miss, it's gonna be a while." Rather than endure the humiliation, she sat for about a minute and then just left!

My dad gets *pissed* at people that do that,He's flat out yelled at people and nearly caused fist-fights.
I don't like it much either...but usully I'll let ya -if you ask nicely. (otherwise it could get ugly.)

Missing I am pretty sure that you met my ex sister in law at that check cashing place.