Doesn’t On Get Off First?
We get instructions for so many things. Most of the time there are announcements telling people where to go and what to do and if there aren’t announcements there are signs. Lots of signs! Now they are in multiple languages which clearly will continue in the future.
Sometimes I think some of the instructions and signs are foolish – in some ways overkill. Sometimes I think people can figure things out for themselves and don’t need all of these instructions.
What I don’t understand is, doesn’t “ON GET OFF FIRST.” Isn’t that a universal statement? No matter where you are or what you are doing, doesn’t “ON GET OFF FIRST?” If I am on an elevator I should be able to get off first as opposed to a crowd of folks pushing and shoving trying to get a great spot in the elevator. Is there really one? I would say the same is true about a rental car bus – let the passengers get off first and then the new passengers can get on.
This really bothers me for a bunch of reasons:
- Common courtesy
- Saves time and increases efficiency
- Make sure no one gets hurt
- See number 1
Maybe we need signs after all and shouldn’t let anyone figure things out for themselves!
- Do you agree?
- Does this make sense to you?
I look forward to your comments.
August 30th, 2007 at 10:06 am
The scenerio that irritates me the most is when I am getting off the airport parking bus at my stop to retrieve my car. I am carrying luggage and going down the stairs when inevitably someone waiting for the bus will try to push past me. I don’t get it. It’s dangerous and the bus isn’t going anywhere until I am OFF.
August 31st, 2007 at 9:02 am
I think this is a very valid point, Merrill, but the seeming lack of courtesy and common sense that you refer to (and that Janet points to), is a function of a very obvious fact.
Most people that I meet are filled with feeling of self importance. More often that not people seem to be consumed with their own needs, and as such, do not extend the common courtesy that one would think is appropriate for any situation. I don’t know if it’s just a function of being part of the human race, or more of a cultural thing here in the US, but this feeling of “don’t you know who I am” is all around us.
Rather than get resentful, I try and observe these people wherever I am (waiting on a line, getting on or off an elevator or bus, driving, etc.) and remind myself that they are an example of how I DON’T want to be. This way, I am more observant of those times when I might fall into that same trap during random interactions with the people around me of thinking that the fact that I may be in a rush or late for something is justification for being rude or inconsiderate - because it’s not.
August 31st, 2007 at 9:16 am
Dear Merrill,
Wow, this is a sensitive issue, as I’m certain we all have our pet peeves about “common courtesy”. The airport bus aside, my largest grievance is traffic jams on roads that are caused by people (s) not reading or paying attention to the large signs and flashing, arrows, beckoning them to move over and yet there is the individual that insists on scooting out from the line of traffic, behind me, to get to the front of the line, making everyone in the interim have to slow down or worse, slam on their brakes to let that individual in. Or the case where a roadway merges into another and the mergers do not allow the car length for that one car to get in…..I believe if each of us provided 8-10 feet of space between each vehicle on any roadway and we abide by the signs, we would have no traffic jams, therefore we would consume less fuel, we would have less pollution, we would get less people killed on roadways……..hope you get the picture!
I would contend that there would be no traffic jams, if common courtesy was ingrained.
August 31st, 2007 at 1:47 pm
I now live near Portland OR, having moved from Dallas more than 4 years ago and I can say there is a dramatic difference. People are belligerently courteous. And, this causes some problems too. Traffic merges super, super early when told by signs. So, entire lanes are empty for miles before the merge, causing backups. Anyone who violates this will NOT be let in at the front for ANY reasons — you are shunned. People will block you with their cars, etc.
Airplane exiting is a clear example too. When going from Portland to Dallas, the plane is full of Oregonians. They exit by row, very orderly, no cutting. If you try to cut, people will block you. Everyone waits for everyone to exit in their turn, even the slowest & inexperienced people digging out plastic bags and putting their shoes on. No one jumps up to open the overhead while taxiing to the gate. When you return to Portland, the plane is full of vacationers. Pure mahem on exiting — jumping up, pushing ahead, etc.
In general, I prefer the courteous way. Though sometimes it’s a little confusing when you visit other cultures in this country.