To Queue Up: A Complex Idea

Haven't we been taught since young to observe proper behaviour and good manners? Weren't we made to strictly abide by signs put up in gardens to not pick the flowers, feed the birds, throw our litters on the ground, or stick chewing gum under chairs and desks? Hasn't it been over and over again ingrained in us to fall in queue, get a number, wait for our turn to be served, knock before barging in someone else's room? Didn't we already get enough serious scolding or punishment for being late, acting boisterously when we shouldn't be, or for being mean, unreasonable, and playing out other unaccepted mannerisms and behaviours?

Well, obviously some didn't learn these rules well enough by heart, or just simply chose to fling them out of the window. It is annoying when a child misbehaves repeatedly or purposedly ignore what he knows is the right thing to do; we do sometimes let them off for the (lame) excuse that they are children. However, when it is an adult who commits the same offense, it is not only annoying, but infuriating, and we have lesser tolerance. One particular example, Sunday last week four of us went to see the Comedy Festival. Twenty minutes before the show people started forming a queue, oh yes, Wil Anderson shows are pretty popular and if you're not fast enough you'd be watching it from the very back. Good for us, we were early to avoid the rapidly piling up of people behind us. But what do you know, some are obviously even "faster" and "well prepared..." We were taken aback when a group of four suddenly pressed themselves in front of us... at first we though that they might be together with the other group who are already queueing up ahead but we asked and they weren't. Well well well, in case they have missed the river of people properly standing in line, we had to remind them, right? But duh, even the most short-sighted ones wouldn't be that blind. And so, very politely, our friend J called their attention and told them that the queue is uhmmm...over there, pointing to the far end. The response that he got?... "Oh, we were here over an hour ago, we just went away to snack and have coffee." We weren't too impressed. And in my mind, oh hellllloooooo, what a brilliant idea, come mark your spot with a bit of a wee like a dog does maybe, trot away and return happily after an hour claiming back your territory. Humour me please! Hey mister, although your behaviour speaks othewise, I can still see that you're bipedal, ergo human(?) as you are dressed to the nines. I must snobbishly say though that fine garments and accessories may shroud physical imperfections, but in no way can it conceal poor breeding. And cutting the line is not class at all.

If society doesn't have some set rules for people to observe, then we would definitely be in a ridiculously chaotic state (not that we aren't already in), but even worse I dare to say. If everyone is free to do whatever he pleases, when and how he pleases it, and according to his own twisted sense of reasoning, then you wouldn't even want to ask me what I'd be getting up to. If one finds difficulty in following simple civilities and decorum, such as queueing up, expressing gratitude or apology when it is in order, honouring a verbal or written contract, then how could this person give any regard to responsibilities that require trust and honesty in more complex situations?

Some people seriously need to be enlisted to etiquette and manners school, beat the innate polite nature out of them, or if they have none, then forcibly feed them those concepts well enough for them to be able to exercise them. We certainly do not need any more embarrassment to mankind.