taking sides: one queue vs multiple queues

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at fast-food restaurants, even when there are multiple counters open, people sometimes form one queue, rather than one behind each counter -- and the person in the front of the queue take whichever counter is free -- this is a very fair way of queuing since this ensures a first come, first served policy.

However, the downsides are that a demoralisingly LONG queue results (which obvious goes down quicker than conventional queues), and there's always someone knowingly or unknowingly jump the queue by forming a new queue assuming/claiming that obviously everyone are just being dumb queuing behind one counter when there are several open.

And the several queue policy makes you feel like you're in control, rather than being the slaves of society. And makes for the fun sports of "queue-hopping", and the "new queue sprint", when a new counter opens and you rush to the smiling face of the person behind the new counter fresh from his/her coffee break.

Which one do you prefer?

― ken c (ken c), Thursday, 22 April 2004 09:14 (twenty-two years ago)

I prefer the one big queue thing, because I'm the cunt who always nips down the side.

― Sick Nouthall (Nick Southall), Thursday, 22 April 2004 09:17 (twenty-two years ago)

In Glasgow, everyone naturally forms a single queue, for everything, cash machines, checkout queues etc. To the extent where shops have to put up signs saying "form separate queues please" if a single one is causing shopfloow congestion problems. I have been tempted to make a sociologiacal analysis of this phenomenon, but it would probably be arse.

"NEXT HERE PLEASE!"

― N. (nickdastoor), Thursday, 22 April 2004 09:25 (twenty-two years ago)

SINGLE QUEUE

― the surface noise (electricsound), Thursday, 22 April 2004 09:25 (twenty-two years ago)

No-one ever queues in France, do they? They all crush at the front in a sort of hopper feeder system...

― mark grout (mark grout), Thursday, 22 April 2004 09:39 (twenty-two years ago)

Single queue is fairer & I hate those bastards that go straight to the front of the counter when there's a single queue. A hex on all you queue jumpers! Wankers!

― Pinkpanther (Pinkpanther), Thursday, 22 April 2004 10:23 (twenty-two years ago)

Italy is the same way, there is no such thing as a line.

― teeny (teeny), Thursday, 22 April 2004 11:07 (twenty-two years ago)

queue/resource problems, oh no!
Supposedly there is a theory behind which to use in which type of establishment. But that could just be skinny math profs making a career for themselves.

― Mr Noodles (Mr Noodles), Thursday, 22 April 2004 11:14 (twenty-two years ago)

i remember reading some interesting website article about how commuter flow patterns in crowded areas can often resemble similar fluid dynamics, i don't know how well that would tie in with queues though.

― ken c (ken c), Thursday, 22 April 2004 11:18 (twenty-two years ago)

People can only nip to the front of the queue when other people let them. A guy I know got into huge trouble when he was working in HMV because some wanker skipped the single queue and our hero refused to serve him. The wanker kicked up a big stink about it and kept our hero tied up in an argument for much longer than it would have taken to serve him in the first place and his manager got annoyed with him because you can't afford to have principles on a Saturday afternoon in HMV. Bah.

― accentmonkey (accentmonkey), Thursday, 22 April 2004 11:20 (twenty-two years ago)

I remember annoying ppl in the Greyhound bus station in Austin, TX by accidentally queue jumping. There was this system with a roped off barrier where you have to go round the corner several times, like you have in front of the check-in desk in many airports. The thing was, there was quite a big gap between the roped-off bit and the actual desk and in my jet-lagged state I didn't notice the queueing bit and walked straight up to the desk. A woman yelled out "Hey! There's a line!" and I looked blankly at her for a moment as I didn't make the connection line = queue.

― MarkH (MarkH), Thursday, 22 April 2004 11:31 (twenty-two years ago)

coffee shops should have two queues. one for 'coffee only' the other for 'people who should just make breakfast at home if they are going to give 10step directions for toasting a bagel'

― kephm, Thursday, 22 April 2004 14:14 (twenty-two years ago)

You know, I kinda miss the Tim Horton's of the past that only sold donuts and cruellers and things. I also miss the Orange Crueller.

― Mr Noodles (Mr Noodles), Thursday, 22 April 2004 14:16 (twenty-two years ago)

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