The Unspoken Rules of Being a Line-Stander (And Other Odd Social Observations)

Confessions of a Line-Standing Enthusiast (Or Not)

So, the other day I found myself in a queue that snaked longer than a python at a buffet. It got me thinking: why are there so many unspoken rules about standing in line? We learn about grammar, table manners, and how to not eat glue, but line etiquette? That’s apparently a whole other curriculum.

And it’s not just lines. Our social fabric seems woven with these invisible threads of expected behavior, these unwritten commandments of “thou shalt” and “thou shalt not” that nobody actually tells you about.

The Line-Stander’s Creed: A Guide to Queue Decorum

First, let’s tackle the obvious. Lines, queues, those human caterpillars inching towards a shared goal – they’re practically microcosms of society. Here’s a crash course in their silent language:

• The Buffer Zone: This is sacred ground, people. Maintain a perimeter of personal space around the person in front of you. Imagine an invisible hula hoop – don’t make them wear it.
  

  

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