Dear Editor: McDonald's has become our coffee-stop of choice at the Brentwood Mall. We like the coffee. There is usually a single file of people lined up, (bank style,) and as soon as one of the three cashiers is free s\he raises a hand and calls for the next person.
Most people recognize in an instant how the system works. Yet, I have seldom lined up without someone joining the next person in line, either on the left or the right.
The prospective cheaters touch me in the same manner as the drivers do who do not use their signals or the Montreal Metro riders who push their way in to the car without regard of those who should have a chance to get off first. The word "entitlement" often comes to mind as well.
The cashiers always know who is next and then point at that person, while calling: "next." This always results in a very surprised look on the face of Mr. or Mrs. Genius. This is our signal to pitch in and we happily point at the end of the line and even display a bit of glee in case Einstein ends up behind someone who actually arrived a tad later.
Is there a message here? There sure is. Every time I see one of these prospective lottery winners who, somehow, cannot even figure out a basic procedure like this, I always see a voter who cancels my wife's ballot at the next election! No. I do not have a solution. It just bugs me!
Ziggy Eckardt
Burnaby
