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Reader Challenge - "What is Queueing?"
Hello Readers - here is a challenge for you.....What is queueing?
If you are American - you may not even think twice and say - well, of course, you wait your turn....stand politely in a line...be kind to others...but in other parts of the world - there is no such thing as waiting in line. So - my challenge to you -where did we come up with the idea of waiting in line? Is there some history to it?
We we not thrilled as we waited in line to get onto the subway - with people pushing their way into the train; but then we met an American living in China for 7 years and he told us that about two years ago the Chinese governmnent started line monitors in the bus and subway lines, to teach them how to queue. This man told us that before two years ago that people would push you down just to get in front of you. He suggested that we be thankful that they have learned as much as they have!!
It was raining when I was leaving my great shopping trip from the Silk Market today - so I thought that I would take a taxi to the apartment, rather than taking the subway. I went out to the street to hail a cab and quickly realized that I was not aggressive enough to actaully make that happen. Others were jumping in front of me when an open taxi came by. I was standing with a very nice couple from, I think, Britain, and they were getting annoyed (and wet) as others jumped in front of us to get the next open taxi. They soon discovered that there was a taxi line in a parking lot, so we thought we would try to queue to get a taxi.
Fancy idea, but even with a line of people waiting, people still jumped into the next taxi that was open, even if they were in the back of the line. Even though it was annoying, I soon discovered that I was in line with the German badminton team manager and coach. They had lost their matches the day before and were done with competing and were shopping at the silk market. So - even though I kept losing the taxi - I had the great opportunity to meet people from all over the world.
So - what is our challenge to you.....teach us all the history of queueing...what countries do it....what countries don't......what do you think about it? Are we too nice to stand in line?
Thanks for your input!
Christina
If you are American - you may not even think twice and say - well, of course, you wait your turn....stand politely in a line...be kind to others...but in other parts of the world - there is no such thing as waiting in line. So - my challenge to you -where did we come up with the idea of waiting in line? Is there some history to it?
We we not thrilled as we waited in line to get onto the subway - with people pushing their way into the train; but then we met an American living in China for 7 years and he told us that about two years ago the Chinese governmnent started line monitors in the bus and subway lines, to teach them how to queue. This man told us that before two years ago that people would push you down just to get in front of you. He suggested that we be thankful that they have learned as much as they have!!
It was raining when I was leaving my great shopping trip from the Silk Market today - so I thought that I would take a taxi to the apartment, rather than taking the subway. I went out to the street to hail a cab and quickly realized that I was not aggressive enough to actaully make that happen. Others were jumping in front of me when an open taxi came by. I was standing with a very nice couple from, I think, Britain, and they were getting annoyed (and wet) as others jumped in front of us to get the next open taxi. They soon discovered that there was a taxi line in a parking lot, so we thought we would try to queue to get a taxi.
Fancy idea, but even with a line of people waiting, people still jumped into the next taxi that was open, even if they were in the back of the line. Even though it was annoying, I soon discovered that I was in line with the German badminton team manager and coach. They had lost their matches the day before and were done with competing and were shopping at the silk market. So - even though I kept losing the taxi - I had the great opportunity to meet people from all over the world.
So - what is our challenge to you.....teach us all the history of queueing...what countries do it....what countries don't......what do you think about it? Are we too nice to stand in line?
Thanks for your input!
Christina
posted by DLNOlympics at
3:45 AM
3 Comments:
I don't have a clue about the origin of queueing, but I'm getting a kick out of your blog. The pics are great! Glad to be included! Annmarie
Queuing - a tradition we in America call lining up. I have a friend from Pittsburgh, but he is originally from England. He occasionally says queue, I always thought it sounded British.
Wikipedia agrees with me - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queue_area
It doesn't say anything about the Chinese custom of "not queuing".
Historically I think the Israelites escaping Egypt formed the first "queue" and it was a long one too, physically and time - didn't they have to wait for like 40 years to get into Israel?
Side note - my log-in name changed from Jared - to - Jared (and Katharine). I don't know if Katharine really wants to be associated with all of my rambling, but it was changed when we started up our little babyblog, no relation to this one (the blog, not the writer).
Webster says that the (hist.) (historical?) definition of queue is "a plait of hair hanging at the back of the neck, as formerly worn by Chinese men or found on men's wigs in Europe." Nothing on lining up but, I like Jared's Isrealites leaving Egypt....
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