Why do the British queue so much?
Why do we always have to queue in this country? It seems that we are a nation that is obsessed with queuing for just about everything. I know, it's the British way and we have always done it. I can see how foreigners however, might find it all a bit irritating.
I think it kind of hit me the other day, when funnily enough I was standing in a queue at the bar, that we really spend a lot of our lives doing this. I don't mean we spend a lot of time in bars, although that happens to be very true as well! We stand in line for just about anything. Supermarkets, bus stops, taxis, the post office, the cinema and just about anything else you can think of will attract a line of people.
Why is it that it is considered appropriate to queue in some countries and not in others? For example the Chinese are notorious for queue jumping, but Russians who have experienced poverty and food shortages will queue quietly for hours or even days without complaint. Queuing is a really bizarre thing when you think about it.
We hate queue jumpers
But it is polite, and maybe that is why we British hate queue jumpers. Queue jumpers by the way, are something we deplore even more than the queues themselves. If you want to upset an Englishman, just push your way in front of him whilst he's queuing for his fish and chips!
Here's a though. I'm surprised us Brits haven't found a way of making visitors queue to view pages on a web site. There again, maybe we have if youve ever been to the BBC News site around lunchtime.
Comments from visitors
It good to see what extent people go to when practicing our cultural social norms . .
-21
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I was in the Biggest queue last xmas, with several thousand foreign people.That was in london waiting for delayed Euro star train
-27
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Queues are fair; you got there first so you get served first.
I find it very odd and also very indicative of the PC nature of broadcasters these days that no one ever mentions that mass immigration to London did away with queuing for buses. Bus queues here just disappeared over a period of about two years and no one ever said a word. What is wrong with that?
Anyone who suggested that the newcomers might queue and not just shove on were told that it was a racist suggestion as that was not the way things were done in their country. Of course the people saying this all have cars.
"Cultural sensitivity" is a b itch!
I find it very odd and also very indicative of the PC nature of broadcasters these days that no one ever mentions that mass immigration to London did away with queuing for buses. Bus queues here just disappeared over a period of about two years and no one ever said a word. What is wrong with that?
Anyone who suggested that the newcomers might queue and not just shove on were told that it was a racist suggestion as that was not the way things were done in their country. Of course the people saying this all have cars.
"Cultural sensitivity" is a b itch!
-12
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I think that queing is not only just a sign of good mannerism, but it creates order and a civilized and fair way to deal with it. Even though it is sometimes a pain, I can't see what alternative we have.
+25
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I think queing is good manners. The German people I would say over 90 per cent of them should go back to school to learn about manner and certainly about queing go to on a bus, I have been knocked over quite a few times because I am not quick enough. It is absolutely ignorant and we British people are completely different when it comes to manners, it is very polite to queue, that is my opinion anyway.
-69
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Can sombody who dosen't want to queue give me the alternative because I dont want to queue either, I just see it as the only civilised way.
-63
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In this country we have to many people all crammed in towns and city`s all doing the same things at the same time, so we queue.
-99
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to continue my story....in fact, I was not in the wrong place. The queue was forming and continuing around the corner and not where the queue line was suppose to be, where everyone can see it.
Bizaar isn't it. My mistake was actually their mistake that they did not queue where the signs showed where everyone should queue - the problem would have been avoidable.
Bizaar isn't it. My mistake was actually their mistake that they did not queue where the signs showed where everyone should queue - the problem would have been avoidable.
-104
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I agree, queue jumpers are very cheeky. But do some really mean to queue jump or is it an error?
I did not see the queue bending round the corner. Instead of the queue forming along the usual area, they formed and continued around the corner and behind a wall/pillar and of course I did not see it!
So I stood there without realising and this old g*t shouted at me. OMG! I jumped out of my skin and profusely apologised as I realised that around the corner were a few more people that I genuinely had not noticed.
I felt so bad and almost tearful because I had not realised that I was in the wrong place and the way he attacked me by shouting at me as if I did it on purpose. Why on earth would I just stand in front of people on purpose?
He was in his 70's and I was quite shocked at his rudeness.
People jump to conclusion and perhaps should have been polite about it.
I did not see the queue bending round the corner. Instead of the queue forming along the usual area, they formed and continued around the corner and behind a wall/pillar and of course I did not see it!
So I stood there without realising and this old g*t shouted at me. OMG! I jumped out of my skin and profusely apologised as I realised that around the corner were a few more people that I genuinely had not noticed.
I felt so bad and almost tearful because I had not realised that I was in the wrong place and the way he attacked me by shouting at me as if I did it on purpose. Why on earth would I just stand in front of people on purpose?
He was in his 70's and I was quite shocked at his rudeness.
People jump to conclusion and perhaps should have been polite about it.
+89
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We hate queue jumpers - they are social pariahs. Yet, when driving and coming to a busy junction, one lane left turn only, the other ahead only, we find people happily queue jumping all the time. I cut them up as often as I can. I waited 10 bloody minutes - take your turn - and you are in the wrong lane!
-101
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noneedforname 09-Apr-2010 13:21
You obviously haven't travelled into the centre of Leeds by bus and alighted at the Corn Exchange bus stops. Typically, as the door opens, a horde of marauding chavvy types off to the sprawling estate dumps of south Leeds and of all ages and both genders make a rush for the door. People trying to get off don't figure in their thoughts. Alas, this behaviour is all too common now amongst the lower end of the British social scale.
I love the look on a queue-jumper's face when someone pulls them up. Queueing is one of my pet hates, but I tolerate it. Queue-jumpers are another, but that one I do not tolerate.
You obviously haven't travelled into the centre of Leeds by bus and alighted at the Corn Exchange bus stops. Typically, as the door opens, a horde of marauding chavvy types off to the sprawling estate dumps of south Leeds and of all ages and both genders make a rush for the door. People trying to get off don't figure in their thoughts. Alas, this behaviour is all too common now amongst the lower end of the British social scale.
I love the look on a queue-jumper's face when someone pulls them up. Queueing is one of my pet hates, but I tolerate it. Queue-jumpers are another, but that one I do not tolerate.
-96
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Harsh But Fair - 29-Aug-10 16:14
We queue because it is fair and polite, queue jumping is selfish arrogant and down rigt rude !!
Simples innit?
Simples innit?
+57
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people queue in the UK as theres usually a couple of tubby as s policemen in judge dredd body armour with nice shiny new "Electric shock Dart" Guns and fully auto anti terror MP7's bought at 6 grand a piece waiting for a half excuse to use them...dont run...stop mutafaka crack crack crack crack thud splat dribble pistola bang bang bang....dead....
-101
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Not sure if I have ever seen anyone queue to get on a tube or train in london at home time. Its pretty much a free for all. Possibly the rudest people ever.
+96
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The British queue because we have a sense of dignity and fairness and believe that the person who has waited longest for something is entitled to it first. In doing this, we expect the same respect to be given to ourselves, hence we are deeply offended when people queue jump.
I have travelled to many countries and it is true that not many others have a nation of queuers. What they do have though is a free for all bundle to get on buses and trains and to get in anywhere else. There is no regard for people's personal space or indeed safety.
What is better, the reserved, altruistic civility of the British or a bunch of snarling dogs fighting for position?
I know which one I favour....
I have travelled to many countries and it is true that not many others have a nation of queuers. What they do have though is a free for all bundle to get on buses and trains and to get in anywhere else. There is no regard for people's personal space or indeed safety.
What is better, the reserved, altruistic civility of the British or a bunch of snarling dogs fighting for position?
I know which one I favour....
+48
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noneedforname - 9-Apr-10 13:21
Quote: A new problem has started in the form of self-checkouts in supermarkets. Arranged as they usually are, in groups of four looking inwards, the accepted thing is to wait just outside, and accept the first of the four to become free. Others should queue behind you.
I know - I often find that shoppers come up and stand right next to the self service till and wait until I'm finished. As if you haven't got enough to contend with - scanning the items, watching the screen, trying to remember your PIN, warding off the over-helpful assitant who keeps distracting you - without someone watching you and trying to dump their shopping down before you're finished. I told the last person to go away.
I know - I often find that shoppers come up and stand right next to the self service till and wait until I'm finished. As if you haven't got enough to contend with - scanning the items, watching the screen, trying to remember your PIN, warding off the over-helpful assitant who keeps distracting you - without someone watching you and trying to dump their shopping down before you're finished. I told the last person to go away.
-112
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I wouldn`t mind queing so much if they weren`t slow. I always seem to get stuck behind some old lady who wants to deposit her life savings in pennies in the post office, or people in the supermarket who waste time gossiping to the cashier at the checkout.
+44
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A new problem has started in the form of self-checkouts in supermarkets. Arranged as they usually are, in groups of four looking inwards, the accepted thing is to wait just outside, and accept the first of the four to become free. Others should queue behind you. Some have adopted the thought that you are queueing for the two on the right, and they stand next to you, apparently waiting for the two on the left to become free. Wrong!
Sometimes, even when there is a visible queue, someone just appears from nowhere and takes a free machine before the queuer canget to it. Cue argument. And I have to say, the people who seem ignorant of the queuing system are pretty new to the country.
These things are going to cause a fight soon, and it may involve me.
Sometimes, even when there is a visible queue, someone just appears from nowhere and takes a free machine before the queuer canget to it. Cue argument. And I have to say, the people who seem ignorant of the queuing system are pretty new to the country.
These things are going to cause a fight soon, and it may involve me.
+76
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I am a bit sick of it. I was brought up to respect the queue. You wait your turn,say please and thank you and behave nice and treat everyone in a civil manner. I have just started a new job in a Day Care Centre. They are really short staffed and at the dinner queue well, lets put it this way, at the Starving Refugee Handout we have at lunchtime, people are pushing in all the time. I dont know how to behave in that environment, so I sit down and wait to be served last. When I complained a member of staff said I should push in as well. It makes me so angry, but I am not going to start behaving like an animal. No, worse than an animal because my dog waits for his turn to be fed.
+13
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" Why do Brits queue so much?"
err... because the rest of the world doesn't???
err... because the rest of the world doesn't???
+9
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