cutting in line/ queue jumping in Singapore

[sundaymorningstaple]

They'd do just like they do in the buses & mrts, that's all. Site on the aisles so nobody can get in or out. That, or always keep ONE seat between "couples'"/"Families" so other couples couldn't sit together if it's a crowded movie night.

[JR8]

Why the lack of common social responsibility?

[sundaymorningstaple]

That is the $64 question.

I'm not real sure. There has been all kinds of explanations over the years and I guess there will be more to come depending on which sociologist studies the phenomenon and when.

I tend to think it's been brought about by leeky himself. In his over-riding quest for acceptance, he's put the attitude of being number 1 before everything else. It's almost as if nothing else matters in life. Just be number 1 at all costs. It's only by being number one can a little red dot get respect in the big bad world.

Unfortunately, nobody taught them how to win graciously, but instead, they flaunt it all over the world each time they score a number 1, regardless of what it is. The attitude of the gahmen has left it's mark on the peons in as much as they now ONLY strive for number 1, but never learned that there are social responsibilities as well. For them it's not how you play the game, but if you win. As far a the social responsibilities, well, somehow they try to blame that on cultural background, e.g., they keep their own house clean, but outside it doesn't belong to them, so it of no concern to them. Can't quite figure that one out. But can you imagine a New York Garbage Strike here? 1 week in and they'd be buried up to their foreheads in garbage!

[Barnsley]

Only if you don't book your tickets online. You can pick you seating when you purchase your tickets online now.

I might have misread their website but Filmgarde Illuma allows you to reserve your seat online for the show, however your seat will be allocated on arrival!!!

[Barnsley]

They'd do just like they do in the buses & mrts, that's all. Site on the aisles so nobody can get in or out. That, or always keep ONE seat between "couples'"/"Families" so other couples couldn't sit together if it's a crowded movie night.

On the upside I have benefited from this mindset ..... I was stuck for something to do one evening so I went to watch Inception there were 7 or 8 couples wanting to see the movie queueing in front of me, however due to this ONE seat phenomena only single seats were available and the couples werent keen on watching the movie sat apart ...... meant I zipped to the front.

[ev-disinfection]

I wanna apologize for the bad behavior of some locals: i am really ashamed of their stupid, ungracious ways.
When i see such things happening, i would normally tell those ppl off, and i practice standing in the MRT, even though that there are seats around, of course, i would let my kids sit, but they would also stand with me, unless they are really tired. I tell my kids that healthy people will be able to stand and let all others sit. I feel like the "guardian angels" in the New York Metro, telling off people to get off their seats for the people who need it more. and rushing out of the trains right into the ppl who stand right in front of the doors, or i would just stop at the doors while alighting the mrt, until they move aside.
when someone cuts in front of me in a queue to buy food, and especially if the hawker sees it and still takes his order first, i will just leave and buy at the next stall.
Fights will not happen 95% of the time, cause the locals as much as the expats or tourist won't want to go against the law. unless they are drunk. then i will step aside.
"Everyone has their faults, but the faultless are those who learn to live with everyone"
(local guy)

[Seasoul]

So we went over all sorts of queue jumping and "I-don't-care-if-you're-pregnant-to-your-teeth-it's-my-seat" scenarios.

But one thing that drives me nuts in Singapore, is the total absence of road courtesy. Talk about jumping queues..

I ride a motorbike, so there is not ONE day where I don't experience first hand how Singaporeans can be rude on the road. And mind you, I'm not talking about the taxi drivers here - they can have their excuses (after all, they are taxi drivers..).

The local speciality is cutting lanes and squeezing in front of you "anyhow". I've been driving on messy roads in messy countries before so this is not about being messy. This is pure rudeness: I'm more in a hurry than you, I want to put my car exactly here, I want to get there faster, I can do whatever I want.

Of course, signaling is absolutely out of the question. As a matter of fact, I find myself almost melting inside with gratitude when someone squeezes shamelessly in front of me if they signaled first. I almost think to myself "hey, he signaled!" , even if they ALWAYS signal half a second before the whole damn car is already in your lane.

And I'm not even going to talk about singaporean drivers and expressways: overtaking from the right, playing Michael Shumacher at 100km/h (seriously? you guys need to drive on some real highways, see how you'll feel playing smartass on the road at 160km/h+), or overtaking you right before they exit.

Oh, the expressway exits.. That's another perfect spot right there to witness singaporean rudeness. So you mean to tell me that you're a 60 years old singaporean driving a lexus, born and raised in Singapore, lived here your entire life and you didn't know your expressway exit was here? Of course you did. But it's so much more like you to cut in front of me, brake at the last second, and force your way into the left lanes to get to the exit. Who cares if by doing that you almost kill me, or create a massive jam behind because all the lorries and other vehicles had to jam brake to let you get to your exit. Exit you could have PLANNED to take , like 2km ago.

I think people should say something when these queue jumpers or smart ass rude people just ignore basic courtesy. I for one don't hesitate to point them out, that loosing face thing is a gift from heaven in these situations.. works like a charm.

[JR8]

I'd like to see such SG drivers attempt some of these hi-jinks on US highways, such as the NJ Turnpike aside Manhattan. More like lose-life (due to a 'cap in the ar$e') than lose face.

[Wind In My Hair]

And I'm not even going to talk about singaporean drivers and expressways: overtaking from the right,

Er, but you ARE supposed to overtake on the right here.

[curiousgeorge]

And I'm not even going to talk about singaporean drivers and expressways: overtaking from the right,

Er, but you ARE supposed to overtake on the right here.

Grr beat me to it

It's funny, I spent a month motoring around the USA with my Singaporean partner who commented "wow everybody here is so polite on the roads". I try not to get riles on the roads, even pple blocking yellow box junctions (my personal pet peeve) and if I'm stuck in a traffic queue with a junction to my left I often wave people ahead of me...I get some strange responses, some people just won't move like they think I am trying to trick them or something

[x9200]

@Seasoul: IMHO it is a bit different with the traffic. While jumping the queue or not giving priority to a pregnant lady etc etc etc is selfish and impolite without any need of discussion for the traffic here, many many things are just under some kind of social agreement. Consider for example joining the traffic on the expressway - ppl driving the expressway expect they would need to let the joining traffic in. Same for those about to join. Although I generally agree with you I re-valuated a number of situation to see it a bit from this local perspective. For me clearly rude is if somebody sees I do not agree what he/she is doing and still trying to do this (if unlawful of course). Things like joining the traffic - facts of life, all remaining cases - reckless drivers, often morons but not necessarily rude.

[nakatago]

Of course, signaling is absolutely out of the question. As a matter of fact, I find myself almost melting inside with gratitude when someone squeezes shamelessly in front of me if they signaled first. I almost think to myself "hey, he signaled!" , even if they ALWAYS signal half a second before the whole damn car is already in your lane.

Actually, I find Singaporean drivers too timid but still crazy. And how come they don't use their signal lights correctly, if at all?!?!?

[teck21]

I wanna apologize for the bad behavior of some locals: i am really ashamed of their stupid, ungracious ways.

Why on earth should you be ashamed of the poor behaviour of other people?

What good is your apology? It is hollow and meaningless,

Don't just go to the next stall because you aren't happy that someone jumped the queue and the stall assistant did nothing.

Tell them off, then go to the next stall.

"Everyone has their faults, but the faultless are those who learn to live with everyone"

With regard current discussion, perpetuates the bad behaviour.

[aargon]

With regard current discussion, perpetuates the bad behaviour.

well, its like the whole singlish thing here. You can go on a one man crusade to correct it but the effort is futile.

like they say, when in rome (or should i say china?).... push in the que!

[ev-disinfection]

Well, as a local, i apologized to the expats here in this forum,
and by telling the stall assistant off will not be as effective as just walking away, i cannot change the attitude of these people but am making a statement,
also if i tell them off, i will be as an gracious as them.
Peace