Scientifically Proven Way to Shorten a Line
British friends stop reading now … Everyone else, here’s how to shorten the queue, according to science.
Waiting in line is a fundamental part of a social contract, a part of etiquette that we can take for granted until it breaks – for example, when everyone waiting to board a plane zips around a gate long before any of their zones have been summoned.
But sometimes you have to cut back for good reasons. Here’s what research shows the work collected by The Atlantic .
First, cutting is much less likely to work at special events. Waiting for a unique opportunity? To get in line. The morning queue at your local Starbucks is much smaller, so you’re less likely to face kickback.
Second: ask! Do not try to sneak or walk leisurely in front. In any case, nobody believes that you didn’t know where the end of the line was. Research has shown that even if you have no excuse, asking politely to decline an offer is considered acceptable 60% of the time. (And if the person you’re trying to get ahead says yes, people further away from you are unlikely to mind.) If you have a good reason – your flight leaves in an hour, or you only have a few things to check … -out – your chances are even better.
Finally, keep in mind that this etiquette differs from country to country. In Spain, for example, the cutting rules are not so strict. Britain, well, if any Britons have gone through this article without coronary disease, I’m sure they’ll tell you about it in the comments.