The blog
I started this blog because I wanted to get into the habit of writing far more often than I do. On a consistent basis. I wouldn’t be so bold to say that it would be hampered and boxed in by HR issues specifically. I think that’s what the magazine is for. This space, I figured, should be a little more open. Not that I would be discussing fashion or marketing trends. It’s been said that writing clarifies the thought and I’m here to test this theory out.
And I think this process might mean, in many ways, me asking far more questions than coming forth with answers. Perhaps this might lead to debate, perhaps not.
So I was at the bank today waiting in line to deal with some mind-numbing transaction. The line was terribly long and I couldn’t figure out what the cause of the delay was. No other form of entertainment along with me, nor book to read, I had to sit still and people watch.
And then the most irritating thing happened. Someone just waltzed up to the front of the counter, oblivious to the rest of us waiting patiently in line and started asking a question, passbook in hand. And the teller attended to this person. Now I have worked and lived abroad and have yet to see the day that someone is able to successfully pull something like this off. Firstly, hardly anyone is ever that obnoxious to think of cutting queue. Secondly, any attempt would be dealt with by the teller with a courteous but firm push to the back of the line. Why do we think that we can get push past others who are patiently playing the game according to the rules?
What is funny about this situation is that not only does the customer here think he can get away doing something like this, but the teller actually allows him to. Which also means to say, that if the roles were reversed, there’s a good chance that the teller would have expected the same sort of thing. What is this sort of behaviour really about? We hear constantly about the impact of technology on our life, how things are supposed to get easier and better and yet aren’t. Is it this gimme now culture that is causing this because we are so used to getting instant gratification, instant results, instant communication? Or is it that we are just plain rude and the other excuses make it seem more than it really is?
And if we do this on a personal level, where’s the distinction between the personal space and the work space? What’s to prevent us from behaving like this at work? Are we behaving like this at work? And does it matter?
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Rowena Morais 