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