One of them most unbelievably insensitive social situations — aside from the obvious road rage scenarios — takes place at the airport baggage carousel. I can understand that people feel the need to get a good view; we all want to get our bags as fast as possible. And sure, I can't blame you for camping out in a spot waiting patiently for your bag to come down the conveyor. If you don't, others will simply take your place. I personally don't want to sacrifice my personal space when I can simply stand back and wait. But then I have a low tolerance for such things, and my 6'3" of height gives me an edge in seeing over the throng of my fellow travelers.
What I do take issue with is your complete lack of empathy and seeming inability to move out of the damn way when I need to get my bag. Your bag is nowhere in sight. Mine is right in front of you. Please do me the courtesy of a modicum of locomotion so that I may get in and out with my bag as quickly as possible. Then you can resume your stony, statuesque stance, preparing for that moment when your bag comes around; anticipating it like the approach of Christmas morning to a child.
But please don't look at me with a look of condescension and disgust just because you didn't move out of the way when I said "excuse me". I gave you sufficient warning, and it's not my fault you chose to take a stand and defend your precious little plot of real estate as if you were Winston Churchill defending the beaches, landing grounds, fields, streets, and yes even a 3.5 square foot section of floor in Terminal C from the invaders. If that's what you choose, please be rational and mature about it; accept the collateral effect of getting jostled by my XL Eagle Creek duffel while remaining rooted.
Really, I have nothing against you personally. I'm sure you are a fine human being. But look — we're in this together. My bag is there; yours isn't. It's a simple, straightforward fact. Can you at least admit that — for maximal efficiency — I should be allowed in to claim my bag and get the hell out, thereby reduce clutter on the carousel and in the airport? Otherwise, you're likely to think my bag is yours on the next cycle around, and try to claim it. Again. Just like you did this time.
I'd go on vacation a lot more if it weren't for all the travel stress like this. Or should I say, stress from travelers.
What I do take issue with is your complete lack of empathy and seeming inability to move out of the damn way when I need to get my bag. Your bag is nowhere in sight. Mine is right in front of you. Please do me the courtesy of a modicum of locomotion so that I may get in and out with my bag as quickly as possible. Then you can resume your stony, statuesque stance, preparing for that moment when your bag comes around; anticipating it like the approach of Christmas morning to a child.
But please don't look at me with a look of condescension and disgust just because you didn't move out of the way when I said "excuse me". I gave you sufficient warning, and it's not my fault you chose to take a stand and defend your precious little plot of real estate as if you were Winston Churchill defending the beaches, landing grounds, fields, streets, and yes even a 3.5 square foot section of floor in Terminal C from the invaders. If that's what you choose, please be rational and mature about it; accept the collateral effect of getting jostled by my XL Eagle Creek duffel while remaining rooted.
Really, I have nothing against you personally. I'm sure you are a fine human being. But look — we're in this together. My bag is there; yours isn't. It's a simple, straightforward fact. Can you at least admit that — for maximal efficiency — I should be allowed in to claim my bag and get the hell out, thereby reduce clutter on the carousel and in the airport? Otherwise, you're likely to think my bag is yours on the next cycle around, and try to claim it. Again. Just like you did this time.
I'd go on vacation a lot more if it weren't for all the travel stress like this. Or should I say, stress from travelers.
Your comparison to driving is a good one.
It seems to me that this is an example of the Prisoners Dilemma game (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prisoner's_dilemma). What determines the behavior of the individuals is whether or not they think they are playing an iterated prisoners dilemma game or not. In the iterated game, cooperative behavior is likely to emerge. That's not the case for a single round.
So if I think I'll never see you again, then maybe I'm less likely to be kind to you if doing so makes my life a tiny bit worse (hypothetically or course -- I'm a nice guy really :-) ). If I think we'll be interacting again and again, then it makes more sense to be nice. I'm sure there's some kind of evolutionary explanation for that....
Posted by: David Creemer | April 16, 2008 at 12:27 AM
Dear sir,
I had not actually noticed you were there, for in my fatigued state I had mistaken you for a pillar. I also apologize for leaning my carry-on against you.
- Sleepy in SFO
Posted by: D Philip Haine | April 16, 2008 at 09:04 AM