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[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by Moonliner

And, No. I’m not fixated on lines at grocery stores. I was just giving an example most people could relate to in order to make my point. I could as easily have used ordering at fast food chains (decide before you get to the counter), ticket booths at theme parks, ATM’s, or a thousand other similar situations. I am also not really expecting 289,000,000 people to read this thread, slap their heads and say “Doh! Of course I should pay more attention”.

I think Alex's point is that when it comes to making the world a better place, you'll have much more luck focusing on your own behavior than worrying about the behavior of others. i.e., instead of hoping and praying that the annoying people who can't decide until they're standinga the McDonald's register will change their ways...try just not being annoyed by it. Instead of hoping that everyone who drives slower than you vanish from the road, just try not being annoyed by slow drivers. I strive to follow such a philosophy. If it's not in the realm of my control, there's no sense in being annoyed by it. And, when it comes to the kind of "I'm completely unaware of my surroundings" annoyances you describe, pointing them out to the offender rarely accomplishes a thing since, by and large, a certain lack of the ability to be self-aware (and thus alter their behavior) is what leads them to be fumbling for their ATM card to begin with.

[Strangler Lewis]

I think you all overestimate the ability of people to function in society. I pick up prescriptions at Long's on a regular basis for asthma and allergies. I am usually in line behind the elderly and those on the edge. Every single one of these people has a problem with their prescription, their insurance, etc. I also spend a lot of time in Kinko's and at the post office. My nightmare day will be to see the same old lady hogging a machine while she seeks help with copying a letter and then wind up behind her in line at the post office while she ruminates over which stamp to buy.

That said, I don't think we should too readily concede the propriety of living in a fast paced society. The absolute worst drivers on the road are people who drive for a living, be they cab drivers, plumbers or bike messengers. They drive like that because s*** flows downhill, and they need the money for necessities or, perhaps, tattooes and ass waxing. I hesitate to say that someone's hamster wheel is not spinning fast enough. It also goes without saying that if people didn't buy half the crap in their baskets, everyone would be out of the store in half the time. I'm resigned to gobbling my lunch at my desk like a dog, but any day that winds up at McDonald's is a failure.