"MANNERS POLL • posted by Dave 02:32 PM
"OK, I have a question, based on something that happened to me yesterday.
"I was at a tennis tournament, and I went to get some pizza for my daughter. There were three people ahead of me in line for pizza: a guy at the front of the line, and two women together behind him. So the guy at the front of the line -- we'll call him Guy A -- turns around and sees that he knows the guy behind me -- Guy B -- and tells him to come to the front of the line.
"Guy B is reluctant, because he realizes it might be rude. So Guy A says to the women behind him, "Do you mind?" They say no.
"I say nothing.
"So Guy A says to Guy B, "Come on! They (meaning the two women) don't mind." Then, looking at me, he says: "HE minds, but he's not saying anything." Which was correct: I minded.
"So Guy B goes to the front of the line.
"My question is: Was this rude? I think it was. I detest people who butt into line because they happen to know somebody near the front. It reminds me of the worst aspects of junior high school. HOWEVER -- and I realize this may be inconsistent on my part -- it doesn't bother me when the people who move up are clearly related to the people in front, and came to the event together. Like, if a guy's in line, and he sees his wife walking by, it's OK for him to bring her up, or ask her is she wants him to get her something.
"But to me, moving somebody up just because you know that person is rude to everybody behind you.
"Am I right? Or wrong? Or what? "
Comments
************************* ********************** Dave, that was really rude of you. No, wait, I'm sorry. Rude of Guy A, and rude and negligent of Guy B who could have at least had the balls to tell his friend to impale himself on a stale hot dog bun rather than keep your little girl from eating.
Even more, it was stupid of Guy A, who should have recognized both you, and your ability to make him look like the jackass he is in the eyes of billions of loyal readers.
As a mom of two small kids (ages 4 yrs and 18 mos), I always like to look at rude assholes as opportunities to loudly teach my elder son a lesson in manners. Especially since the little stinker will often speak up innocently. So the exchange after Guy B moved in front would have gone:
Cute Little Shit Jacob: "Mommy, why did that man go to the front? He was in line behind us!"
Smart-Ass Mom: "I know, honey. It's not right, but some people don't wait in line like they should. They don't think they have to take turns. But I bet you and your friends don't cut in front of each other when you're waiting in line at PREschool, do you?"
CLSJ: "No way, Mommy! Boys who cut are boogerheads!"
Love to all, JT
Posted by: JT on March 29, 2004 05:19 PM
************************* ********************** Excellent!
Posted by: Dave Barry on March 29, 2004 05:21 PM ************************* **********************
Dave Barry thinks I'm excellent. Or, the fact that I lied and said our son would say "boogerheads" is excellent.
I'll take it where I can get it.
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