Taking more than the required slugs

My perspective is that of a driver who has pulled up to a line with 4 people waiting only to see the driver ahead of me take 3 of those people. This is very disrepectful to me and the 4th slug, since both of us must now wait for another slug to come along. If the first driver had just picked up the 2 slugs he/she needed, then I could take the other 2 and we could all be on our way. If rush hour is almost over, or if the weather is really bad, I'll take a third person, but I usually try to respect the drivers that will be coming along after me.

Mirangus: As mostly a rider, I also detest riders announcing that the driver will take a third without asking him or her. I have seen it though not often. Please know that the majority of riders would never be so rude and when it does happen, many of us are cringing while it is happening. I just always feel sorry for the poor person who is being told that a third will be taken, only to be turned away once he has opened the door and must go back to the line - and it is all because of the inconsiderate person who takes it upon him/herself to say a third is OK. Anyway, I think no matter what, we will always have to deal with a few people who just will never master common courtesy. Riders appreciate drivers and the vast majority of us would never intend such rudeness.

Another practice that I have seen lately (unfortunately) is what I like to call the "self invite"...I've seen a driver call out their destination, and then for some reason, while one person closest to the front jumps in, someone towards the back steps out to go while someone closer to the front was gathering their things or what-not and finally steps out, making three passengers total...instead of the person furthest back going back to their spot in the line after seeing that someone further up the line is taking the ride, they keep going and just hop on in...the only one more perplexed than myself is the driver, who seems too bewildered/dumbfounded to say anything.

In a related story, I've also seen some riders take the attitude of "I got out of line first" in an attempt to circumvent the whole "first come, first serve" system that we have...this involves someone further down the line going for a car while someone closer to the front of the line gathering their things that they may have set on the ground while they wait...then when it is realized that the offender went out of turn, they simply have a "you snooze you lose" look on their face and continue getting into the car. The air of self-importance that some people exhibit is simply astounding.

K.O.

Edited by - kortegel on 28 Aug 2002 14:03:03

kortegel, I have seen and am amazed by this too. I, personally, have been vocally criticized on one occasion for being too slow to react while in line. It was completely uncalled for. All I did was bend down to pick up my belongings and there was someone from the back of the line walking up quickly and I had to say, "Excuse me, but I was ahead of you". This did not sit too well with him so he voiced his displeasure. I guess he was just having a bad day.

I have witnessed on occasion where a rider, out of kindness and/or fear of confrontation, will sacrifice a ride when something like this happens. I think it's important for those who have had this happen to take a stand and say that they were next in line. I don't mean start a fight or anything, but a message to those with that "air of self-importance" might be helpful.