Chinese don't line Japanese style lining up

[Taro Toporific]

The Ultimate Body Language: How You Line Up for Mickey
New York Times, September 18, 2005
HONG KONG DISNEYLAND....the official opening last week, parkgoers complained of waits of over two hours for some attractions... the problems were made worse by pushing and shoving by mainland Chinese visitors unaccustomed to orderly waiting.
....Rasulo director of project management for Tokyo Disneyland, said that most cultures are tolerant of waiting, though some more than others. The Japanese, said Mr. Alexander, who is now president of Totally Fun Company, a park design firm in Tampa, Fla., are among the most patient. "They are very Eastern mystical in their ignoring everybody else, and that's why they are able to deal with long lines," he said.And forget cutting in line at Tokyo Disneyland, where people spread out large mats along the parade route to reserve their spot hours beforehand. No one, Mr. Rasulo said, steps on the mats, and children wait patiently there with their parents until the parade begins...more...

[EZPZ]

"They are very Eastern mystical in their ignoring everybody else..."

Oooo how mysterious, was he able to tell this by looking through his chicken entrails?

My friend spent a semester in Beijing a couple years back. He said that after a couple weeks, he was craving some American food, so he decided to go to Kentucky Fried Chicken. There were no lines, just a throng of people mashing their way to a register. He said that some families even gave their cash to their children, and had them run under peoples legs to get in the front of the line. I want how mystical Disney thinks the Chinese are?

[Tsuru]

Ahhhhhhhhh... Chinese and queues.

Use your elbows, they won't mind.

[mr. sparkle]

the problems were made worse by pushing and shoving by mainland Chinese visitors unaccustomed to orderly waiting.

Sounds like my daily battle on the 30 Stockton (Chinatown Bus Route). They don't pay. They shove through the back door. Do nature blows on the floor and bring in live animals and other putrid smellin' stuff. Truly an awesome/exasperating experience.

Some 30 Stockton Haikus for you:

pack on the 30
chinese grandmas know no shame
shove push step on feet

Old Chinese ladies
With bags full of soda cans
Pollute the commute

dim sum, pasta or
date at Marina Safeway
30 Stockton's there

[Socratesabroad]

As someone who's been living in China a while now, I'll say that one of the things I haven't gotten used to are Chinese manners, or the lack of them, in public situations. Definitely a shock after long-term inculcation with Japanese patience and shoving limited to rush-hour commutes.

The situation at any fast food place here isn't unique; people jump lines and push to the front w/ cash in hand, ignoring anyone politely queued (like me). Chinese restaurants aren't much better; patrons routinely snap their fingers or simply yell to get a server's attention. In fact, any public place is rife with such lack of manners whether it's the post or phone office.

Luckily, in one-on-one settings Chinese tend to behave a lot better. Still, if I pined for anything since leaving Japan, one of the top five would be a better sense of manners in public.

[American Oyaji]

It's funny you posted this thread. An hour after I read it, on CNN Headline news, they were talking about Beijing trying to reeducate its populace in the face of the olympics and they especially mentioned the waiting in line problem.

[Charles]

the problems were made worse by pushing and shoving by mainland Chinese visitors unaccustomed to orderly waiting.

Sounds like my daily battle on the 30 Stockton (Chinatown Bus Route). They don't pay. They shove through the back door. Do nature blows on the floor and bring in live animals and other putrid smellin' stuff. Truly an awesome/exasperating experience.

Oh man, I had suppressed all memories of the #30 bus until you reminded me about it. Curse you!

[Samurai_Jerk]

It's funny you posted this thread. An hour after I read it, on CNN Headline news, they were talking about Beijing trying to reeducate its populace in the face of the olympics and they especially mentioned the waiting in line problem.

I can't wait for the world to experience Chinese manners and hygiene first-hand.

[Naniwan Kid]

I remember one time flying into Kansai at the same time a flight from China arrived. These dads were pushing their kids past us to try to get to the head of the passport check. I had never experienced this before, and couldn't believe it. There were some G.I.'s ahead of me that put the cock block on the dads and moms, but the kids were still sneaking ahead, then the Chinese had to get out of line to find their kids and start back at the end (kind of) and the whole process would start again. I can't imagine how this cultural tendency would have ever been created.

[Tsuru]

Really striking how in general the Chinese as communists don't give a f*ck about anybody else but themselves and the Japanese as evil capitalists stand in line, walk out of the room when they have a cellphone call and chew their food with their mouth closed.

[Greji]

[dimwit]

Really striking how in general the Chinese as communists don't give a f*ck about anybody else but themselves and the Japanese as evil capitalists stand in line, walk out of the room when they have a cellphone call and chew their food with their mouth closed.

I don't know. Hong Kong that hotbed of capitalism is spit city - I never met ruder people. I think it has a little more to do with the culture than the economic system.

[Tsuru]

I'm not suggesting it's due to the economic system... but maybe the Japnese make better communists and Chinese make "better" capitalists