By LAW CHENG JING
Queuing up, everyone knows that they have to do so whenever they are in a queue area such as in groceries stores, train stations, airports or at a ticket counter.
However, people nowadays often neglect the etiquette of queuing and standing in line.
A fine example would be Taylor’s shuttle bus stop which is located at Block B, Level 1. Most students do not line up when they are getting on the shuttle bus, especially during peak hours.
Traditionally, a queue is just an orderly line with simple rules. So why is it that people find it so hard to abide to such simple social etiquette?
Here are some tips and rules that you should check out when queuing up.
1. Your Time Will Come
Always be patient when you are in line. The people in front of you were there first and the people behind you were not. Do not think about jumping queue as you will leave a group of disgruntled people.
However, there are times when someone will cut in line and make you wait longer. When you want to approach a line cutter to remind them they had just neglect the etiquette of queuing, it is important to know the three rules when confronting them.
First, do not get angry. When you bring anger into the situation, do not expect things to turn out in your favor.
Secondly, ask someone nearby, preferably behind you, if they saw that person queue jumping. You have an ally who will either help you or has an interest in how the situation will turn out in the end.
When you see a person cutting the line, confront them immediately. You will lose the chance if you wait.
It is an exception if you are in a case of emergency, you can always explain to the person ahead of you the reason behind your actions and politely ask if you can go before them.
2. Offer a Helping Hand
This can happen under certain circumstances.
In many of the restaurants, customers need to line up and take their order at the cashier.
“If the first person in line have not decide on what to order yet, I will ask the person if he or she can step aside and let the person behind to order first,” said the cashier of Aspresso Cafe, Rocky Chia, 30.
If you are in a grocery line and you have a full basket of goods, you can always offer to trade places with the person behind you if he or she only has a few.
If you are at the train station or the airport, always offer your place for someone who needs it more like the elders, pregnant women, young children and the disabled.
A simple act of kindness goes a long way. Who knows, you might even put a smile on someone else’s face.
3. Don’t ‘Book’ a Space
If you are with company, be it a group of friends or relatives, avoid reserving the line for them.
If this happen to you, think how annoying it will be when a group of people suddenly join the line ahead of you when it is almost your turn in line, especially after a long time waiting.
This usually happens when people are lining up in theme parks.
However, Ooi said that one could reserve a place for others who would be joining the line later.
“It’s not okay to see a group of friends at the back of the line and ask them to jump queue and join you in front,” Ooi added.
4. “I’ll be right back”
When you are in a queue, do not expect that you will be able to return to your line after you have left.
Others might not be so happy about it when you do so even if it means returning from the washroom or stepping away to answer a call.
However, if you were to leave for a short time, tell the person in line that you will be right back and if they could hold the line while you are gone.
You can leave and come back to the same position only if you receive the agreement from the people in front of and behind you.
“I will not be happy about it if the person go away for hours and only come back when their turn is up,” Ooi said.
5. Respect Personal Space
Give room to others by not standing too close to them as it will cause discomfort and uneasiness to others.
Try not to make too much of noise. This can affect those who have been waiting for their turn for a long time. Reduce unnecessary noise pollution.
The use of smartphones and tablets is a way to pass time while waiting.
If you are a smoker, please respect others. You should ask the people in line if you can light up your cigarette. You can light it up only if you get the agreement of others
So why jump queue when you know you are not supposed to? A queue is nothing more than just a waiting line.
“Adults usually teach their children how to properly behave when lining up for a queue,” said the Counsellor of the Counselling and Psychological Services Centre (CPSC) Evan Kok Choon Foong, 31.
“However, it seems like even adults now need to be taught by another adult,” Kok added.
Queuing up, everyone knows that they have to do so whenever they are in a queue area such as in groceries stores, train stations, airports or at a ticket counter.
However, people nowadays often neglect the etiquette of queuing and standing in line.
A fine example would be Taylor’s shuttle bus stop which is located at Block B, Level 1. Most students do not line up when they are getting on the shuttle bus, especially during peak hours.
Traditionally, a queue is just an orderly line with simple rules. So why is it that people find it so hard to abide to such simple social etiquette?
Here are some tips and rules that you should check out when queuing up.
1. Your Time Will Come
Always be patient when you are in line. The people in front of you were there first and the people behind you were not. Do not think about jumping queue as you will leave a group of disgruntled people.
However, there are times when someone will cut in line and make you wait longer. When you want to approach a line cutter to remind them they had just neglect the etiquette of queuing, it is important to know the three rules when confronting them.
First, do not get angry. When you bring anger into the situation, do not expect things to turn out in your favor.
Secondly, ask someone nearby, preferably behind you, if they saw that person queue jumping. You have an ally who will either help you or has an interest in how the situation will turn out in the end.
When you see a person cutting the line, confront them immediately. You will lose the chance if you wait.
It is an exception if you are in a case of emergency, you can always explain to the person ahead of you the reason behind your actions and politely ask if you can go before them.
2. Offer a Helping Hand
This can happen under certain circumstances.
In many of the restaurants, customers need to line up and take their order at the cashier.
“If the first person in line have not decide on what to order yet, I will ask the person if he or she can step aside and let the person behind to order first,” said the cashier of Aspresso Cafe, Rocky Chia, 30.
If you are in a grocery line and you have a full basket of goods, you can always offer to trade places with the person behind you if he or she only has a few.
If you are at the train station or the airport, always offer your place for someone who needs it more like the elders, pregnant women, young children and the disabled.
A simple act of kindness goes a long way. Who knows, you might even put a smile on someone else’s face.
3. Don’t ‘Book’ a Space
If you are with company, be it a group of friends or relatives, avoid reserving the line for them.
If this happen to you, think how annoying it will be when a group of people suddenly join the line ahead of you when it is almost your turn in line, especially after a long time waiting.
This usually happens when people are lining up in theme parks.
However, Ooi said that one could reserve a place for others who would be joining the line later.
“It’s not okay to see a group of friends at the back of the line and ask them to jump queue and join you in front,” Ooi added.
4. “I’ll be right back”
When you are in a queue, do not expect that you will be able to return to your line after you have left.
Others might not be so happy about it when you do so even if it means returning from the washroom or stepping away to answer a call.
However, if you were to leave for a short time, tell the person in line that you will be right back and if they could hold the line while you are gone.
You can leave and come back to the same position only if you receive the agreement from the people in front of and behind you.
“I will not be happy about it if the person go away for hours and only come back when their turn is up,” Ooi said.
5. Respect Personal Space
Give room to others by not standing too close to them as it will cause discomfort and uneasiness to others.
Try not to make too much of noise. This can affect those who have been waiting for their turn for a long time. Reduce unnecessary noise pollution.
The use of smartphones and tablets is a way to pass time while waiting.
If you are a smoker, please respect others. You should ask the people in line if you can light up your cigarette. You can light it up only if you get the agreement of others
So why jump queue when you know you are not supposed to? A queue is nothing more than just a waiting line.
“Adults usually teach their children how to properly behave when lining up for a queue,” said the Counsellor of the Counselling and Psychological Services Centre (CPSC) Evan Kok Choon Foong, 31.
“However, it seems like even adults now need to be taught by another adult,” Kok added.