The art of queuing
The art of queuing
From Bisnis Indonesia
It is quite aggravating to meet with intolerable and disorderly persons.
One day, a lady I met in a bookshop upset me in that way. When I was waiting in line for the cashier, a teenage girl accompanied by her mother cut in the line to get there first. I reprimanded the girl in a polite way and told her that she ought to wait for her turn. The young girl was willing to follow my advice.
The funny thing is, however, that the mother did not take my reprove kindly. Her face changed into an unpleasant one, clearly showing displeasure with my admonishment. I ignored it and kept quiet. I quietly resented her attitude. As a parent, she should educate her child and be a model in the art of queuing.
It has to be admitted that queuing is not customary in Indonesia, even though the habit would reflect an orderly social behavior.
Till now, queuing is practiced at stations, cinemas and banks only. On rare occasions, someone would break into the line.
At cinemas or certain train stations, undercover military personnel keep a watchful eye on ticket counters. Such security measures would certainly not have been necessary if people would behave in an orderly and organized way and would willingly line up for their turn. However, the truth is quite different. People do not stand in line, despite the presence of security personnel.
Paying counters should be guarded by a pleasant, but strict guard to check line busters at the cashier. A polite announcement to queue up for payment could even be attached near the counter. Another method could be applied by cashiers: to avoid serving payers outside the queue.
The art of queuing should be taught when children are still toddlers.
To return to the example in my letter, it is to be regretted that the mother of that teenage girl seemed to be unfamiliar with the custom of queuing, and therefore did not pass it on to her daughter. Parents should adopt the custom themselves, in order to teach the habit to their children. At school, teachers should educate children in orderliness. At home, parents should do this.
SUGENG PRAKOSA
Yogyakarta