Was inspired to ask this after seeing the post on r/interestingasfuck.
I live in the US, and people here can be pretty rude and inconsiderate when it comes to waiting in line. I was genuinely amazed after seeing the picture of perfectly orderly people being perfectly civilized without any guides or posted rules in view.
So that had me wondering, are there any unspoken rules of queuing that everyone in the UK knows and follows? And if so, how do you all know about them? Is it something taught at schools or in homes?
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In the UK, it’s usually frowned upon if one masturbates whilst queuing. I’m not sure how other Countries feel about it, but it’s a definite “no no” here.
If someone cuts in line, you can tut as loudly as you like without consequences.
Queuing itself is pretty much the unspoken rule! Sometimes there’s a “queue this way” sign but mostly people will just do it. It’s quite self-organising.
I’m not sure I was ever ‘taught’ to do it, you just pick it up from people around you when growing up.
I’d say the one unspoken rule there should be but which isn’t necessarily always followed is if someone is at a bar waiting to be served before you, and the bar-person comes to serve you first, you should offer to the waiting person to go before you.
If someone cuts in, you’re not allowed call them out on it.
You MUST, however, exchange annoyed tuts and head gestures with fellow queue-ers.
If the line cutter hears and turns to look, you must immediately pretend that the floor is the most interesting thing you’ve ever seen.
EYE CONTACT IS FORBIDEN AT THIS POINT.
Once the line cutter has turned back around, everyone, including the line cutter, must immediately pretend like nothing happened
If you’re doing a ‘big shop’ or have a number of items, and the person behind you only has one or two items, you must let this person go ahead of you. Doing this allows you to demonstrate your decorum to other shoppers.
If you don’t let people in this scenario go ahead of you? You most certainly will be judged by the other shoppers.
They’re unspoken for a reason. We must not speak of the dark magicks, especially in front of outsiders.
In settings where there are multiple queues, such as the supermarket, you may switch queues once but only once. Any further line hopping will gain you Paddington Bear hard stares from those around you, and possibly a muttered “…sake!”.
Not actually given lessons in school but primary aged children are frequently in lines.
If you are found guilty of queue jumping and fear eternal passive aggressive behavior from your neighbors there is a way out. It’s customary to find a fresh tea towel, place it upon the ground pointing towards the Queen in a public place and loudly beg for forgiveness on your hands and knees. You can only stop when approached by someone wearing a high viability jacket or police uniform. It’s customary to thank your savior and offer them the tea towel at this point. It’s ok to become physically aggressive if they refuse.
Don’t try to push in. That’s the primary rule. Things go smoothly when everyone follows it.
If you’re queuing at, for example, a ticket office where there are several windows, it is best to form a single queue in the middle and the person at the front goes to the next empty window, rather than forming separate queues at each window.
I’m always surprised that people are surprised at our queuing? To us, it’s just second nature – there are more than 2 people waiting for something, so you stand quietly behind them and patiently wait your turn. Other people that arrive can then clearly delineate between who’s in line and who isn’t, how many people are waiting, and who will be served first. I can’t imagine a place without this system?? What do you do, just crowd around pushing and shouting until you get served??
I suppose thinking about it, we do queue up for things from a very young age – whether that’s with our parents or at pre-school (line up to go into the classroom etc.) – so it’s just something we always do
We’re not that quaint as to have special lessons for it like it’s a sacred cultural custom though I’m afraid, haha
There must be one single line for the 10 portaloos at a festival. The queue starts about 8 metres in front of the middle portaloo. When people ask if this is the queue for the toilet, you say yeah and point them to the back of the painfully long line.
Ah the unwritten rules of queueing… been doing this since school so here’s one from me, to you.
The good ol’ “you in the queue mate?” When you know damn well they’re in the queue, what else are they there for? Just coincidentally a good spot for standing around? You’re just subconsciously checking to see if you can somehow skip forward by one position.
You’re all guilty, you’ve all done it and you don’t even realise it.
no cutting
no saving spots
waving to people ahead or behind several spaces is ok but talking is a no no, if you have to talk and be near your mate your ahead friend can move back to your spot
if the line is small and you have a lot, its better to let someone with a couple of items ahead of you
no eating, no smoking
you keep your kids close and quiet unless you are sending them on a mission for something you forgot
Don’t stand near where a queue could be formed but you’re not actually trying to make a queue. Because you will make a queue
The rules are shut the fuck up and don’t push in.
If you call out a queue jumper you get tea with the Queen.
It’s an unspoken, untaught lesson we each learnt from birth. Mainly comprising of **LOTS** of loud tutting, the under the breath mumblings, head shakings along with *those* looks of utter disgust 😏