On the Importance of Lining Up
Bahagi na ng pang-araw-araw na panglabas na aktibidades ang pagpila. Nasa Pilipinas ka man o Canada, siguradong hindi ka makaiiwas sa pagpila sa sandaling lumabas ka ng bahay upang mamili, magbayad ng bayarin, mamasyal, sumakay ng pampublikong sasakyan, o manood ng sine. Ang pagpila ay isang napakasimpleng gawain; subalit kung iyo itong susuriin, maaari mo itong magamit bilang indikasyon ng pag-uugali ng isang tao.
A person’s attitude towards lining up may be used as an indication primarily of his level of patience, concern for others; and on the other hand, his impatience and degree of selfishness. If you are an observant individual, you should have already seen how many people get into an argument—or worse, fights—just to claim or steal their place in a simple line or to make a stance against those who steal their respective spot.
Why do people fall in line?
It is a matter of putting things in order. It is also a display of being fair and just. For instance, when you go shopping and it’s time for you to pay for your stuff at a cashier, it’s obvious that you’re almost always not the only who needs to transact a business with the cashier. So, when you see that there have been shoppers who got there before you did, you have to consider the principle “first come, first served.” You have to line up and wait for your turn, no matter how long the line is. It takes a broad mind and a good foresight to realize that no matter how long the line is and no matter how tired you had been and how much you are in a hurry, the people in front of the line got there first; thus, their earliness or punctuality or the simple luck of having been there before you deserve them to be served first. And you have to respect that. Falling in line is a symbol of order, fairness, discipline, and being organized.
Here are a few examples in which people need to fall in line
-Cashiers at shopping malls
-Tellers at banks or other bill-payment establishments
-Ticketer’s booths at theaters, concert venues, or other places of entertainment
-Queue at public transport stations
-School activities
-Doctor’s clinics
-Taking your turn at any activities or waiting to be served
Why do some people steal their way into a line up?
Based on personal experience, I would say that the majority of people whom I have encountered in my day-to-day outdoor activities tend to fall in line properly; they understand and honor the concept of “first come, first served.” However, there would still be those who either stubbornly or mindlessly or, worst, consciously cunningly sneak their way into a line, hoping that no one notices them—this, a double folly in fact, because they assume that the people around them are too stupid to know that they are taking advantage of them.
These people who don’t usually follow lineups are usually selfish, unfair, and narrowminded or shortsighted individuals. They think only of themselves. They don’t care about others. They feel that, just because they’re tired or in a hurry, they should be given priority; without realizing or caring that the people who came or got there before them may be tired and in a hurry too.
Worse, there are just some people who are plain ruthless and uncaring or egotistic maniacs. Even though they are conscious that those people came first before them, they just insist that they deserve better and that they be given special treatment or consideration.
Is there a cure for these people?
Of course, many people—in fairness to them—may just need simple reminder by others that they are cutting the line. Maybe at that moment they were thinking about a problem or are in deep thoughts. But that’s why, as humans, we should be always conscious and considerate of the people around us. More so, we should start teaching our children—and setting ourselves as good examples—the importance of lining up properly. Wherever we are or whatever we do, we think about the welfare not only of ourselves but also of others.
Therefore then
If you are the type who believes in and follows the concept of falling in line, then keep up the good job. Remain a role model for others. Remember, falling in line is an indication of your sense of patience, concern for others, and empathy.
On the other hand, if you are one of those selfish, uncaring, or mindless individuals out there who tend to steal their way into such queues or lineups, then it’s time to reboot your sense of respect, dignity, and humanity. Being in the good and kind graces of your fellow humans and thinking about the welfare of everyone in a fair and just manner is always the high road to maintaining your respectable humanity.
Sa Madaling Salita
Kung sanay ka nang pumila. Ipagpatuloy ang magandang gawain. Kung mahilig kang sumingit—e panahon na para baguhin ang iyong masamang nakagawian. At habang maaga, simulan nang ituro sa mga bata ang kahalagahan ng pagpila nang maayos.
