December 4, 2006
Side-standers are one of my ongoing pet peeves. They’re the people who, instead of standing directly in back of you in a queue, are compelled to stand beside you. Worse yet are the angling side-standers…those who constantly shift position, working further and further forward, as if preparing to jump in front of you. I’m not talking about competitive, high-volume queues either…like lines for concert tickets or for the bathroom at a ball game, where it’s more of an “every man for himself” environment. I’m talking about short lines at fast food restaurants or department store checkouts. My favorite side-standers are those who stand right beside you at the bank, when you’re trying to conduct financial business. Some of them are totally shameless about watching what you’re doing, too! They’ll watch your entire transaction, be it the purchase of a taco or the rental of a DVD. You can look them right in the eye, and they’ll meet your stare and keep on watching! I hate ogling side-standers. The only thing worse is ogling angling side-standers! I propose a law banning side-standers…or at least the introduction of standing-in-line training in our public schools. It’s bad enough I have to wait in line at all; I shouldn’t have to defend my position constantly, blocking the angling side-standers as they draw further forward so as to ogle my personal business!
Not that it bothers me or anything. Ahem.
