Cutting (in line)
Encyclopedia
Cutting in line, also known as line/queue jumping, butting, barging, budding, budging, skipping, ditching, breaking, shorting, or pushing in is the act of entering a queue
or line at any position other than the end. The act, which may be taboo
in some instances, stands in stark contrast to the normal policy of first come, first served
that governs most queue area
s.
Nevertheless, there rarely is any physical retribution if social pressure fails.
, however if both people plan to conduct one transaction each, it is particularly disrespectful (especially in queues with slow cycle times due to high individual transaction times).
In busy areas where time is of the essence, such as in airports, one can sometimes observe "queue drift," where an impatient person treats the line as though it were a slow-moving race, using every movement of the line to cut in front of others in an effort to achieve the pole position. This is enabled by a funnel effect, where there are a large number of people trying to enter the same narrow entrance at the same time and where no formal queue is in place. This can often be seen at the bottom of ski lift
s, especially where there are more entry gates (for checking lift passes) than seats on each lift. Queue drifters are usually less obvious than more overt line cutters; while they are annoying to those who notice them, they usually manage to avoid detection.
ride who realizes that he or she would like to leave behind an item (such as a coat or beverage) with someone else. Should the person leave the line, relieve himself of such an item, and return to his place, some might consider the act cutting (even if it were known that the person was in the line previously).
Another action typically considered "cutting" is very common in areas with formally established queueing areas (such as amusement parks): when the line area is nearly empty, some guests will still walk through the series of steel railings to proceed to the end of the line, while others will slip under or step over the railings rather than walk through the entire network. If a person is not bypassing the rails, but rather is walking through the path to the line, and another person does bypass them (and, in doing so, reach the line before the other), it is sometimes considered cutting even though it did not actually take place in the line itself.
Cutting is also present on roadways, especially restricted access highways
, where traffic queues build up at merge locations. Drivers who bypass traffic by waiting until the last possible moment before merging are sometimes considered to be "cutters," and are frequent instigators of road rage
. This behavior is not usually illegal in the US, unless the driver crosses a solid white line or uses dangerous merging techniques. In Germany, using the ending lane until the last moment is required by law. It should also be noted that those operators of motor vehicles that choose not to cut in line are usually regarded as not placing adequate value on personal time, and as a result, have a moral obligation to give "rite of way" to those valuing their time appropriately. This is especially the case in those instances where cutting in line fills a void of what would otherwise be known as "sunken" or "wasted space".
have programs whereby patrons can pay for the privilege of cutting the line for an attraction by arriving at a pre-designated time. At airports it is customary for efficiency reasons to allow pregnant women, adults accompanying small children, and the physically disabled to board an airplane first, regardless of their seat class or assignment.
, including notably at the Coppelia ice cream stores, and in Spain
where an arriving patron asks "¿Quién es el último?" (Who is last?) and is then behind that person in the queue, which is not always a physical line. In Europe, people like to cut in line.
Legislature in Washington passed a bill that makes cutting in line to catch a ferry
illegal. Cutters can be fined $101 and forced to return to the end of the line.
Queue
A queue is a particular kind of collection in which the entities in the collection are kept in order and the principal operations on the collection are the addition of entities to the rear terminal position and removal of entities from the front terminal position. This makes the queue a...
or line at any position other than the end. The act, which may be taboo
Taboo
A taboo is a strong social prohibition relating to any area of human activity or social custom that is sacred and or forbidden based on moral judgment, religious beliefs and or scientific consensus. Breaking the taboo is usually considered objectionable or abhorrent by society...
in some instances, stands in stark contrast to the normal policy of first come, first served
First Come, First Served
First Come, First Served is the third studio album by American emcee Keith Thornton, better known as Kool Keith. Released in 1999, it is his first release under the alias Dr. Dooom.- Production :...
that governs most queue area
Queue area
Queue areas are places in which people queue for goods or services. Examples include checking out groceries or other goods that have been collected in a self service shop, in a shop without self service, at an ATM, at a ticket desk, a city bus, or in a taxi stand.Queueing is a phenomenon in a...
s.
Reaction
A negative response from the rear of the line is expected when someone has cut in line up ahead. According to one study, a person cutting in line has a 54% chance that others in the line will object. With two people cutting in line, there is a 91.3% chance that someone will object. The proportion of people objecting from behind the cutter is 73.3%, with the person directly behind the point of intrusion objecting most frequently.Nevertheless, there rarely is any physical retribution if social pressure fails.
Covert cutting
In lieu of following the procedure mentioned above, some will "cut in line" by joining up with family members or friends already standing in line. This action is usually more acceptable, but can still be considered "cutting." Many times, this action is purely out of convenience, when one member of the group "saves a place" for the other members, especially when the wait is lengthy. However, this is not always the case. It is more acceptable when the two people are simply together to conduct one transactionFinancial transaction
A financial transaction is an event or condition under the contract between a buyer and a seller to exchange an asset for payment. It involves a change in the status of the finances of two or more businesses or individuals.-History:...
, however if both people plan to conduct one transaction each, it is particularly disrespectful (especially in queues with slow cycle times due to high individual transaction times).
In busy areas where time is of the essence, such as in airports, one can sometimes observe "queue drift," where an impatient person treats the line as though it were a slow-moving race, using every movement of the line to cut in front of others in an effort to achieve the pole position. This is enabled by a funnel effect, where there are a large number of people trying to enter the same narrow entrance at the same time and where no formal queue is in place. This can often be seen at the bottom of ski lift
Ski lift
The term ski lift generally refers to any transport device that carries skiers up a hill. A ski lift may fall into one of the following three main classes:-Lift systems and networks:...
s, especially where there are more entry gates (for checking lift passes) than seats on each lift. Queue drifters are usually less obvious than more overt line cutters; while they are annoying to those who notice them, they usually manage to avoid detection.
Other forms of cutting
Some consider leaving a line and returning to the same point later a form of cutting. An example might be a person waiting in line for an amusement parkAmusement park
thumb|Cinderella Castle in [[Magic Kingdom]], [[Disney World]]Amusement and theme parks are terms for a group of entertainment attractions and rides and other events in a location for the enjoyment of large numbers of people...
ride who realizes that he or she would like to leave behind an item (such as a coat or beverage) with someone else. Should the person leave the line, relieve himself of such an item, and return to his place, some might consider the act cutting (even if it were known that the person was in the line previously).
Another action typically considered "cutting" is very common in areas with formally established queueing areas (such as amusement parks): when the line area is nearly empty, some guests will still walk through the series of steel railings to proceed to the end of the line, while others will slip under or step over the railings rather than walk through the entire network. If a person is not bypassing the rails, but rather is walking through the path to the line, and another person does bypass them (and, in doing so, reach the line before the other), it is sometimes considered cutting even though it did not actually take place in the line itself.
Cutting is also present on roadways, especially restricted access highways
Limited-access road
A limited-access road known by various terms worldwide, including limited-access highway, dual-carriageway and expressway, is a highway or arterial road for high-speed traffic which has many or most characteristics of a controlled-access highway , including limited or no access to adjacent...
, where traffic queues build up at merge locations. Drivers who bypass traffic by waiting until the last possible moment before merging are sometimes considered to be "cutters," and are frequent instigators of road rage
Road rage
Road rage is an aggressive or angry behavior by a driver of an automobile or other motor vehicle. Such behavior might include rude gestures, verbal insults, deliberately driving in an unsafe or threatening manner, or making threats. Road rage can lead to altercations, assaults, and collisions...
. This behavior is not usually illegal in the US, unless the driver crosses a solid white line or uses dangerous merging techniques. In Germany, using the ending lane until the last moment is required by law. It should also be noted that those operators of motor vehicles that choose not to cut in line are usually regarded as not placing adequate value on personal time, and as a result, have a moral obligation to give "rite of way" to those valuing their time appropriately. This is especially the case in those instances where cutting in line fills a void of what would otherwise be known as "sunken" or "wasted space".
Sanctioned line cutting
In some instances cutting in line is sanctioned by the authority overseeing the queue. For example, amusement park operators such as Six FlagsSix Flags
Six Flags Entertainment Corp. is the world's largest amusement park corporation based on quantity of properties and the fifth most popular in terms of attendance. The company maintains 14 properties located throughout North America, including theme parks, thrill parks, water parks and family...
have programs whereby patrons can pay for the privilege of cutting the line for an attraction by arriving at a pre-designated time. At airports it is customary for efficiency reasons to allow pregnant women, adults accompanying small children, and the physically disabled to board an airplane first, regardless of their seat class or assignment.
National attitudes
In former Communist countries, where waiting in long queues was a near-daily occurrence for some, especially at times of rationing, the act of waiting in line and the code of conduct associated with it is much more institutionalized and regimented to this day (See Consumer supply in the Soviet Union in the 1980s). In Russia, for example, the art of queuing is finely-honed: it is acceptable for a person to leave the queue to use the bathroom (or similar brief diversion) and then return to their original place without having to ask permission. It is also common for a person to be allowed to jump to the front of the queue in special cases, like the need to purchase a ticket for an imminently departing train. This can also be seen in CubaCuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
, including notably at the Coppelia ice cream stores, and in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
where an arriving patron asks "¿Quién es el último?" (Who is last?) and is then behind that person in the queue, which is not always a physical line. In Europe, people like to cut in line.
Legislature in Washington passed a bill that makes cutting in line to catch a ferry
Ferry
A ferry is a form of transportation, usually a boat, but sometimes a ship, used to carry primarily passengers, and sometimes vehicles and cargo as well, across a body of water. Most ferries operate on regular, frequent, return services...
illegal. Cutters can be fined $101 and forced to return to the end of the line.
External links
- Mind Your Queues! – Article on the Indian attitude towards queueing.