Seriously Folks... Curb Your Impatience!
Sometimes I really have to wonder about people's impatience when attempting to do things... but especially while standing in line.
This morning, I had to stop at the post office on my way to work. As per usual, there were quite a few people waiting to send things. However, all the window clerks were working, and the line was moving along... mailing packages takes time, especially when some of them are going overseas.
Negative attitudes improve NOTHING...
A quiet beach...
Ahead of me-- with maybe eight people to go before his turn-- was a gentleman who clearly was losing his patience with the whole thing. He was tapping his foot, looking around, shaking his head and looking at his phone.
Even after he'd just progressed a few more "steps," he sighed deeply and irritably, and then left the post office in somewhat of a huff... making a great "public show" of letting everyone within earshot know that the post office is the most inefficient organization in the world.
Now, I can understand why someone would leave if they had an urgent appointment to be at-- although I'm not sure why a person would choose to go to a place where there often are lines, ahead of an important appointment-- but I don't "get" the folks just just up and leave things-- bank, supermarket, post office, etc.-- because things aren't moving fast enough for them. How do they ever get anything DONE?
Honeysuckle in bloom
It seems to me that waiting in line is just a "fact of life." Walking out in a huff when you have to stand in line somewhere is hardly going to make the line disappear. And acting impatient and sighing and tapping your foot is unlikely to make the line move faster.
If anything, the grumpiness spreads to others... and where's the value in that?
When I think about it, if standing in line is really that upsetting to someone, why not try to plan your day so you are not at these places during busy times? Choices do have consequences... if you "have to" be somewhere during convenience times (like your lunch break) it follows that the "price" you have to pay is that other people will probably be doing the same thing as you.
If you want to be treated like you're the center of the universe, go at a non-peak hour!
Meanwhile, back on Steemit...
I've noticed quite a few of our newcomers being extremely impatient when it comes to building a following and becoming "successful" here.
Melting snow on winter leaves
And the sincere suggestion "post something worthwhile and of value every day for six months and interact with the community" is NOT the answer they want.
Maybe I'm just not in touch with "our times," but it seems to me that the old saying that "good things take time" is just as relevant today as it ever was. Just seems more and more people believe they should get more and more with the same amount of time as they've always had.
As a result... people's patience is wearing thin.
As a fan of simplicity... maybe a better answer is to simply take some of the many things off our collective "plates" and not try to accomplish so damn much, in so little time. That way... we might not have to storm out of the Post Office in a huff... OR question why we're not a "Whale" on Steemit yet, after six days of posting!
What do YOU think? Does it seem like the world is less patient than it used to be? Do you believe patience is a "virtue," or just a characteristic that will end up getting you left behind? How much do you think patience/impatience is something in our temperament, and how much is taught to us by our environment? How do you feel about having to stand in line? Does it bother you? Do you get impatient? Or do you just see lines as an inevitable part of life? Do you try to schedule your day-- and visits to certain places-- so you don't have to be there at busy times? Leave a comment-- share your experiences and feedback-- be part of the conversation!
(As usual, all text and images by the author, unless otherwise credited. This is original content, created expressly for Steemit)
Published 20170829 13:40 PDT
I think that everyone on Steemit should read this post (and hopefully have the patience to read it all).
What I believe is that people are more impatient these days. In my opinion that comes from the way children are brought up - parents are trying to give them as much as they can afford as soon as possible.
That is why everyone should at least once in their lifetime work in a post office/fast food restaurant/bank. Then maybe we would understand the waiting process a little better no matter what rush we find ourselves in.
I have to admit, waiting in line is not something I enjoy. However, I am trying to avoid busy times and I also try to avoid the roads during the rush hours.
If I have to go through it, I am trying to sympathize with the person behind the counter - working at the front desk in the hotel gave me enough insight of working under stress when customers are aligned in front of you.
This is a wonderful post and I am glad I did not have to wait in line to get to read it :) Thank you @denmarkguy.
Thanks for the kind words!
There are probably several things at work here-- what you said, as well as something @enjar brought up: In the online environment there's no standing in line and waiting for things. These things conspire to remove us from the whole idea that there is a process behind good things... people just assume they "appear" out of thin air.
I do like the idea that everyone should spend time in the service industry-- in fact, my wife says that all the time!
Yeah right.
I certainly do not like lines, but I also do not get impatient. I schedule my life/activities so as to avoid circumstances that would involve lines or traffic jams whenever possible. I don't shop in stores at times when I know
they will be busy. I seek appointments/work that has me traveling in the opposite direction to rush hour traffic.
Occasionally I will be surprised by a construction traffic jam on a highway, and I attempt to get off of the highway and take back roads as quickly as I can. Because I don't like lines :-)
Very good strategy. I try to act in the same way. It comes with years.
I think you pretty much said it, right there. You may be impatient... but you take responsibility for how that works in your life... and plan accordingly. Sadly, most people don't... and then end up being like Mr. Man at the post office.
People have been spoiled by computers and automation. In a world where you can hire someone to go shopping for just about anything for you, order fast food from a place that does not deliver and have it delivered via many services. Have Amazon drone drop a package because it needed to be there faster.
When was the last time you had to wait in a line online? People lost the ability to wait because they have instant access to just about anything online. It's like when the power goes out for 10 minutes and you have people swearing they better get a discount on their cable bill because it was down and they are having withdrawals and asking “can I sue over the emotional stress this is causing?”
I tend to lose my patience when I just can’t financially afford to wait for things any longer.
Somewhere between people putting down paper-backed books and started watching cat videos on YouTube the world went insane.
That's a really good point, certainly in terms of explaining some of why people have gotten so impatient. When I think about it, I can even track a trend through 20-odd years of selling on eBay. In the "old days" people treated it like mail order... you bought something, and expected it could be 10 days, two weeks before it showed up. Now? Buyers start getting "pissy" with me if I actually have the "gall" to take a weekend off.
"I'm sorry, we don't actually HAVE mail service on the weekends in our small town..."
"Yes, but you could have bought postage online and uploaded the tracking information (so I can sit there and refresh the page every six minutes)"
Jeebus!
My favorite time is actually when my wife and I go to Denmark for 3-4 weeks every few years... and stay at a somewhat rustic place... we almost totally UNPLUG for three weeks. Read actual books; have actual conversations; walk on the beach without cell phones...
lol every 6 minutes geez indeed. What no auto txt message when its delivered for the guy? lol
Sounds like a great corporate getaway for team building over a week period. Beach/wooded area +body of water + Rustic bed and breakfast type of feeling place +cell phone jammers and no internet!
It is great... I read a lot there, and write. And just sit and watch the grass grow. We'll see how things go... I might even take a little "Steemit on Vacation" next time we go.
You are absolutely right, there is an I want it right now mentality all over the place. I have sighed often at those types waiting in the line. Here I have noticed from people messaging me in chat and from reading posts that there is very much a want all the rewards as soon as I join mentality from a minority. Patience gives you more time to chill!
I guess I just prefer to take things at their natural pace... I worked in the rush-rush-rush of corporate life, and it actually resulted in an ulcer... so I quit. Patience works much better for me.
Yeek, then you are well out of it. I would love to do the same
Schedules work well for me! Yes I see the instant gratification group trying to be whales and expecting everybody to upvote them for some of the one liner and a video if not just the video is all they post. Many just post and run with very little interaction with those who followed them. I have unfollowed many of them because they bring NOTHING to the table here. Little drama queens are a waste of my time which is better spent reading quality postings.
I work a lot with schedules, too... prefer them, in fact.
Use steemfollowers from time to time... interesting to see who UNfollows me, and they are typically the impatient follow-4-follow types, upset that I (clearly!) do not randomly follow people back without taking a long hard look at their content.
I am here for the long term, not interested in propping up those who do not think in long term for this community. Those just here for the money won't last. Yup I use that to see who follows and unfollows, yup I unfollow those who unfollow me.
Here's an interesting observation for you: 2 1/2 hours into its life, this point has not had a single spammy "follow me, upvote me" comment... yet.
Of course, I probably just tempted fate, here...
LOL Maybe need some holy water?
I respect patient people. I also understand the people who are wound so tight, they must leave the line. Situational pressure can change everything!
Indeed, it can. I guess I have just trained myself to recognize when something is going to take too long... and leave at the start, rather than rain negative vibes down on everyone in the vicinity.
A wal-mart employee told me Tuesday mornings are the best time to come in to avoid the lines. Just FYI. 😀
Good to know... even though I generally avoid Wal-Mart at all costs!
Nice flowers ....,,,,,,,,,,,
I'm shocked and appalled to learn that it takes more than six days to become a whale.
Why wasn't this pointed out on day one minute one?
And for all you 9th grade readers out there, this is an example of sarcasm. Considered by some as the lowest form of wit.
Thank you @denmarkguy for exposing this horrendous state of affairs for all newbies.
Shocked and appalled from impatient in Cambridge
Great great great post.thanks for share.