Topic: Cattle

[charlesoakwood]

By necessity stupidity, today, I went to the local IKEA store, walked at least a weaving mile to the product I wanted then was forced to retrace my steps back to the registers even though the product and the registers were probably not fifty feet apart.

Scanning the registers I observed they were all self-serve, no cashiers.
I choose the shortest closest line then I observed check-out machines on the right column with only one patron so, naturally, I moved to the right column and up to the machine. 

Then, the line speaks, "Sir, sir, it's one line.  We're in one line then take turns to the next register."  How freaking civilized, such comity, we all stand in one freaking long
line then take the next (of four) register(s).

You may disagree but I think there's something sick, something like dumb cattle waiting in line for the slaughter.


Oh, yeah, they have no bags but you may buy one for 50¢ and the machine, before finalizing the tab, asks if you would like to donate a dollar to plant a tree.  I later discovered the product at WalMart for forty cents per item less than IKEA's price. 
I highly recommend IKEA.

[Pandora]

I despise being herded.

[BigAlSouth]

I'm thinkin that in another life, you would have been the last "undesireable" them Nazis ever, ever tried to herd onto a cattle train . . .

[IronDioPriest]

Line up children, single file, use your quiet voice, no budging in line, whose turn is it to be the line leader today?

IKEA shoppers have been trained.

Although I will say, having spent a little time in China where there is no such thing as a line, there's an argument to be made for individuals observing some kind of a common protocol for movement through crowds. In the PRoC, it is every man, woman, and child for himself. If you try to be polite and gesture, "after you", you'll be standing in the same spot for the rest of the day. You have to claim your space there, or it is assumed by everyone that it is someone elses space. You are reduced to having to push, and no one has any expectation that you will not.

That said, I like the system where you find an open register and get in line, and when the lines get too long, the store opens another register and people redistribute.

[Alphabet Soup]

Now, we're not going to have any (more) trouble out of you Charles?

(snicker)

[Weisshaupt]

Although I will say, having spent a little time in China where there is no such thing as a line, there's an argument to be made for individuals observing some kind of a common protocol for movement through crowds. In the PRoC, it is every man, woman, and child for himself. If you try to be polite and gesture, "after you", you'll be standing in the same spot for the rest of the day. You have to claim your space there, or it is assumed by everyone that it is someone elses space. You are reduced to having to push, and no one has any expectation that you will not.

That is s not just China. That is everywhere except  places colonized by the British.

[Alphabet Soup]

Once upon a time Seattle practiced "The Ugly American" as its unspoken policy as an International port city. There were foreigners from every corner of the world that stopped in here, with many staying. We were ugly because we insisted on our visitors respecting our culture.

That included queuing up for the occasional line, taking ones turn, offering a sincere "pardon me" when appropriate, and just generally acting civilized. Then the leftists took control of the place and instituted the insane multiculturalism as a core tenet. That means your way is as good as my way - even if you're an anarchist.

Now leftists being do-gooders and feel-gooders felt that this was a grand idea. Demonstrating that they were the truly compassionate ones - by continually apologizing for being there - that was the path to leftist nirvana.

Now what we have is exactly the weed sown by idiotic by well-intended idiots. There are even more foreigners here than ever before. They all insist on us conforming to their culture and conventions. Civility is largely lost - except the myopic left who feeeeeeeeeel that everything is just peachy.

I seldom heed the cattle call. I avoid places where I will find myself contained and entrapped in crowds. I don't go where I don't feel welcome - and lines are not particularly welcoming to me.

We've talked before about basic civility and grocery stores tend to be one of the crucibles for testing the health of social policies. Once upon a time I found myself perpetually excusing myself for other peoples intrusions - blocking the aisle, cutting me off, banging their cart into me - but no more. I now regard the experience in its true "get or be gotten" value. The difference between them and me is important in one respect: I don't go out of my way to offend others. I still recognize them and will give them basic courtesy if I perceive even the chance of receiving similar treatment. But when my radar tells me that a wrecker is rolling down the aisle I am more than prepared - I'm proactive. I've learned how to wield a shopping cart as an offensive weapon.

And I'm not afraid to use it.

[John Florida]

 I won't use self pay!!The end! Those are jobs Americans will do and need.

[charlesoakwood]

If there are two check out counters one left and one right separated
by a space of, say, ten feet then one line taking turns is un-American
it's another step in sacrificing individual choice for the greater good.
These are the same idiots who voted for Obama, cattle.

If there are two registers we form two lines, an individual approaching
said lines has the choice of which line affords him the best opportunity
for a quick checkout.

[Pandora]

Line up children, single file, use your quiet voice, no budging in line, whose turn is it to be the line leader today?

IKEA shoppers have been trained.

Although I will say, having spent a little time in China where there is no such thing as a line, there's an argument to be made for individuals observing some kind of a common protocol for movement through crowds. In the PRoC, it is every man, woman, and child for himself. If you try to be polite and gesture, "after you", you'll be standing in the same spot for the rest of the day. You have to claim your space there, or it is assumed by everyone that it is someone elses space. You are reduced to having to push, and no one has any expectation that you will not.

That said, I like the system where you find an open register and get in line, and when the lines get too long, the store opens another register and people redistribute.

IKEA is not the only place using the one-line system; AC Moore (craft & hobby store) does and the TJ Maxx Homestore does, as well as the Post Office here in town.  The craft store actually barricades you in its cattle-line with rows of solid merchandise display cases as opposed to ropes.

I find such a system most prevalent in establishments with fewer cashiers at registers, and who have no intention of opening another station to accommodate its customers.

A couple of the local national-chain stores -- food and hardware -- have installed self-checkouts, which process will go faster IF you stay within the strict parameters of easily scanned items -- buying alcohol requires a supervisor's attention -- and do not attempt to use your own bags.  The bagging areas feature stationary racks (over scales), and if they don't accommodate your bags, the machine does not like that and will admonish you to "place your item in the bag", even when you have done so.

For a people who calls itself "The land of the free and the home of the brave", everyday life has become oppressively regulated and regimented and dissenters ::waving::  are viewed with annoyed disdain, to the point where writing a check for one's purchases, instead of using plastic, is seen as selfishly holding up the rest of the line.

Small wonder I have to gird my loins to venture forth from my sanctuary.

[Glock32]

I may perhaps be the odd one out in that I actually like the self-checkout register. Any opportunity to avoid human contact gets my seal of approval.

[Pandora]

As I wrote, any deviation from SOP proves frustrating and time-consuming.  I can get THAT when dealing with other people.

[Weisshaupt]

And Here I thought I was the only one here  with such a deep case of misanthropy and general dislike of my fellow man. I am pretty sure I liked other people more when I was unaware of how few of them had no regard for others.

Scrooge Soundtrack - I Hate People


 

[Pandora]

Pffft.  No.  You are not alone.

[John Florida]

Pffft.  No.  You are not alone.

 One would think he doesn't know us.

[Libertas]

I may perhaps be the odd one out in that I actually like the self-checkout register. Any opportunity to avoid human contact gets my seal of approval.

 

I don't stand in lines.

Anybody in the military knows all about endless hours in lines.  Once I became a civilian again, I wait in no line I don't have to!