The French Again?
Ever since I spent some hours at the Paris airports I haven't been able to forget about lines and how rude the French were sneaking in line. It wasn't really the first time this happens either. The same thing happened while waiting at the airport in Iceland few years ago. A bus full of French people barged ahead of us and conveniently didn't understand a word of English (or sign/pointing language) when you tried to point out to them that there was a line. I remember being furious and daydreaming about kicking one of the lady long time afterward, but that is another story :) .
I have been wondering how someone can actually be so horribly self-centered to think they have the right to getting ahead of people that were there before them? During lunch we discussed this a bit but there were no conclusions. Up until now I simply thought people that snug in lines were rare, rude, ignorant, self-absorbed bastards but now I have started doubting my belief. I cannot remember when I learned to stand in line but I can remember it as far back as I can remember. There was never any question, you either get there early or waited your turn. I would feel horrible pangs of guilt if I tried to sneak in line. I don't understand how anyone can do it on purpose...
That lead me to explore the option whether these people were simply so absent minded that they sneak in line unintentionally? I have seen that happen at the canteen when people are busy talking they sometimes accidentally skip a spot or two. I might have done this myself at some point. But the airport cases can't have been accidental. There was pushing and obvious sneaking. Do those people feel it is their right, that they are more important than the people in front of them? Or does the concept of lines not exist in some countries? I have heard rumors of such things, but I cannot for the life of me imagine how things can function there. It must be a major disadvantage to be polite and proper there.
Does anyone reading this come from a non-line culture society that can shed some light on this before I either got nuts, or back to thinking the French are the rudest people on Earth? :)
While I am at it, can anyone teach me how to say, "I was here first, please get to the back of the line" in French? Oh, and maybe to add "you asshole" in case the first one doesn't work well enough?
When in Rome...
I think a decent rule is to play by the rules of wherever you are. That makes sense to me in theory, but I find it hard to apply in practice.
After 4 years in Dubai, I still get very pissed when people cut in front of me. Arabic and Indian culture isn't about standing in an orderly row, and it's tough when people are constantly breaking your rules. But I won't correct anyone because this is their place - it'll never be home for me, for the very same reasons.
Many French people are not polite. I don't really know why - (French Canadians are not like that :)
But if you're more rude than they are, they'll respect you. If someone is being a bit arrogant, raise your voice and take a step toward them - they'll back down.
vooz-all-ay-on-arr-yerr! = Go to the back!
moh-dee soh-vaj! = Damned savage(s)!
P.S.: Yes, Norwegians are very polite (and if they're from Trondheim they're _very_ good looking). But I remember them having a more European view of personal space. When I travel to Europe, I'm constantly apologizing every time I touch a stranger (by accident) and when I force someone to change direction on the street. It makes me feel silly to apologize all day when nobody else does. It's a Canadian thing.
Politeness makes you more polite
Oh I am so ready for travelling to France now :)
I agree that playing by the rules of where you are is a good strategy but I also believe in that you should always try to be extra polite when you are a guest somewhere so this falls a bit flat when you are in a country that has in some ways ruder rules than what you are used to. I can function here in Norway because people are more polite than me. I have something to work towards. I funtioned in the States for the same reasons. But I have a hard time elsewhere... But I will definately try to work up the courage to be a bit rude next time I am in France :)
I didn't realize that people from Trondheim were that good looking. Need to find out if anyone here is from Trondheim :)... *curious*
The apologizing when you pass someone or touch someone by accident is very North American (not just Canadian). It felt very strange at first but now I miss it (from my time in the States). I really like politeness (even though I am not very polite myself).
Slightly calmer now :)
Thanks Alex for the French phrase! I need to start practicing. I am pretty sure I will never actually use the asshole part but it soothes my irritation a bit to know it :)
Would you really cut ahead of foreigners in line? I doubt you will. You Norwegians are so extremely polite that I don't believe that for a second. Maybe those cases with the French are just isolated cases. I know some very nice French people that I doubt would do the same thing but maybe I should put them to the test next time I meet them :)
Daniel, you need to give me some examples here! Something that I can use to start a heated lunch discussion... muhahaha
Actually I would say that
Actually I would say that the "vous" in "vous faites chier" might be too polite a translation for "you asshole" ... maybe something more contemptuous like "pauv' trouduc" ("pauvre trou du cul") might be a better translation ;-)
Thank you!
Oh goody, goody! Now I know both a "polite" way to say it and a less "polite" one. Muahahah... Maybe I should order some tickets to try these out :)
French, nothing compared to...
people from INDIA :-)
I have seen some horrible stuff going on here in Bangalore :-) and compared to that, French people are like angels when it comes to lines.
//Daniel
the french and... everyone else!
I don't think the French are like this in general, but they might behave like this if they understand that you are a foreigner. They are after all in France and it's their airport... I would certainly try to cut in line if there was a group of French people at Gardermoen!
Also, I think it's very common when you're in a large group to do whatever you feel like. Especially when you can pretend that you don't understand annoyed people!
You can say "J'etais ici en premier, allez à la fin de la queue!"
"Trou du cul" is asshole in french, but I wouldn't say that... :)
I would rather say "Vous faites chier!"