Close encounters with the 'me first' mafia

Ah, the weekend, a time when you relax and recharge your batteries before going back to work.

Dream on.

The retail therapy that usually works wonders failed on this particular weekend. It was a disaster from the outset of my trip to a mall in South Jakarta.

And the impending disaster took the form of a silver sedan.

I was annoyed when the car sped up right next to an organized line of cars -- all waiting to reach the parking posts to get tickets -- to sneak in line. And he got his way.

If it happened in the movies, other drivers might have stepped out of their cars and yelled something nasty or given the silver sedan's driver the finger. But that day, just like the others in the line, I simply swallowed hard.

I tried to remind myself that Jakartans are notorious for their busy, impatient nature, although personally, I'm not sure they are really as busy as they pretend to be. But it was Sunday, the day when we put away those serious, thoughtful masks we wear with colleagues and the neighbors to show our real side.

The situation inside the mall did not help lighten the moment either. In fact, I felt like the mall had been overrun by playgroups full of screaming, shouting kids. Ritalin, anyone?

As we finished shopping and headed to the express lane cashier, we found ourselves stuck behind an well-dressed couple.

They seemed to be a very sophisticated pair, with latest cell phones in their hands, even a PDA in his pocket, so I'm pretty sure they could count. But they had a lot more than seven items in their cart, but they insisted on being served anyway.

I guess it's true after all that you can't judge a book by its cover, or people by their outward, civilized appearance.

By the time we made it upstairs to the movie theater to catch a film, I felt really fed up with the "me first" attitude.

But there was more to come. The movie theaters' ticket boxes were not yet open and many people had already formed lines. Eager to watch the movie, although a bit late, we picked a line and waited.

Finally, the ticket boxes opened and everyone patiently waited their turn to buy the tickets. But the moment of calm was shattered when a well-known TV actor suddenly made an appearance.

Flashing a toothy smile that would certainly win him a toothpaste ad, he strode with his party to the front of the line and, before you could say "preferential treatment", got his tickets. All this happened under the watchful eyes (and the irritated looks) of all of us not so famous people.

I didn't know whether I should give him a standing ovation at his artful performance, or check myself into an anger management clinic.

Before, I always expressed my objections when someone tried to cut in the line when I was queuing at the bank or getting train tickets. But not much could be done against star power this time round.

And if other drivers, customers and employees allow this kind of thing to happen, a lone dissenting voice among the nodding heads does not count for much.

Enough was enough; I decided I would watch the movie at home, where I would be able to watch it at my pleasure. And I would not have to step on the toes of anyone else to do it.

-- Stevie Emilia