# Waiting in line is a good time to decide what to order. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 14, 2003, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waiting-in-line-is-a-good-time-to-decide-what-to-order/181908 "2003-06-14T22:29:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![beagledave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6de8d8/32.png) [@beagledave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beagledave)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2003, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waiting-in-line-is-a-good-time-to-decide-what-to-order/181908/21 "2003-06-15T17:13:22Z")
If you’re waiting in line at the grocery store… **and** you pay by check… **and** the store does not do the auto fill out thingie on the check (filling in the store name date and amount)…then perhaps you should use the time during the cashier ring up procedure to set down the National Inquirer, fish the checkbook out of your purse and fill out the check THEN. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2003, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waiting-in-line-is-a-good-time-to-decide-what-to-order/181908/22 "2003-06-15T17:16:15Z")
I’ve also gotten calls like **tdn** ’s when working in retail. I never let it go on that long though. Yes, I _do_ hang up on them after telling them I’m too busy. If you’re too lazy to get up off your ass and get to the store like the 10 people waiting in line, then you don’t deserve my courtesy. Obviously, there are times when calling ahead is a good thing, go for it. But do be courteous about it. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2003, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waiting-in-line-is-a-good-time-to-decide-what-to-order/181908/23 "2003-06-15T17:21:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Q.E.D. \* > **I never let it go on that long though.** In actuality, I never did either. I had a number of techniques for dealing with this situation. My favorite was to tell the caller to hang on for a second while I waited on a few customers that were ready to pay. I would then set the phone down until I processed the entire line. That would usually resolve the problem. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2003, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waiting-in-line-is-a-good-time-to-decide-what-to-order/181908/24 "2003-06-15T17:25:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by tdn \* > \*\*My favorite was to tell the caller to hang on for a second while I waited on a few customers that were ready to pay. \*\* I should clarify that statement. The “customers that were ready to pay” would then invariably ask “What’s in that’s new that’s good that I want to see? What’s it about? Who’s in it? Who’s he? Was he that guy who was in that other movie that I didn’t like so much that came out last year with that other guy?” ---
**Author:** ![Parkerz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecccb3/32.png) [@Parkerz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Parkerz)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2003, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waiting-in-line-is-a-good-time-to-decide-what-to-order/181908/25 "2003-06-15T17:29:54Z")
I get frusterated with women who bud me in line vey obviously and then don’t know what they want. The worst is when they have like 5 kids waiting at the table already and then have to send a recruitment to remember everything that she needed. Then in the middle of my order will come back and complain about something missed or another… Don’t laugh it may happen to you. ---
**Author:** ![7\_up\_yours](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/7/919ad9/32.png) [@7\_up\_yours](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/7_up_yours)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2003, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waiting-in-line-is-a-good-time-to-decide-what-to-order/181908/26 "2003-06-15T17:38:44Z")
A slighty modified version of the OP’s situation is where a mom goes in with a kid. She pushes past everyone just so she can be in the front of the line. Then, at the front of the line she bends down, says to her kid in this sickenly sweet baby voice “What do you feel like having dear?” The little brat then screams “NO” and runs away to the sitting area. What does the mom do? Stand in line calling for Junior. She makes no attempt to actually get out of line and grab her own kid and give him the spanking of his life. THERE ARE PEOPLE BEHIND YOU!! THEY’RE HUNGRY AND PEOPLE AREN’T NICE WHEN THEY’RE HUNGRY!! ---
**Author:** ![lezlers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/258eb7/32.png) [@lezlers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lezlers)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2003, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waiting-in-line-is-a-good-time-to-decide-what-to-order/181908/27 "2003-06-15T17:43:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Guinastasia \* > \*\*See, what I do when I first go in is hang back behind all the lines, and read the menu board. Then I decide what I want and get in line. > > See? No problem! \*\* Thank you! I do the same thing, I kinda thought most people did. I remember when I used to waitress and I’d have tables who I would ask if they were ready to order, they would say “yes” then proceed to debate the entire menu with eachother. When I tried to give them the ol “I’ll give you a few more minutes” they freakin’ _wouldn’t let me go!_ All the while, all of my other tables were glaring at me impaitently. Ah yes, memories. What kills me is when there’s a long ass line and people STILL don’t know what they want when the get to the front. Hello? What the fuck were you _doing_ the whole 20 minutes you were waiting in line? Or the parents who will decide what _they_ want but fail to ask little johnny until it’s time to order. A special place in hell… ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2003, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waiting-in-line-is-a-good-time-to-decide-what-to-order/181908/28 "2003-06-15T19:05:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Guinastasia \* > \*\*See, what I do when I first go in is hang back behind all the lines, and read the menu board. Then I decide what I want and get in line. > > See? No problem! \*\* If it’s a short line, I’ll do that. If it’s a long line, I’ll get in, and try and decide while I’m in line…if for some reason I haven’t by the time I’ve reached the front, I let people in front of me until I have decided. But no one waits for me to decide. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2003, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waiting-in-line-is-a-good-time-to-decide-what-to-order/181908/29 "2003-06-15T19:27:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Guinastasia \* > \*\*See, what I do when I first go in is hang back behind all the lines, and read the menu board. Then I decide what I want and get in line. > > See? No problem! \*\* If only more places had menu boards that can be READ from a reasonable distance! My poor nearsighted eyes simply cannot read small print from a distance. What’s more, I don’t know what is on each item. Does a Super sandwich come with lettuce and tomato, or is that the King sandwich? It would be very helpful to know which is which before I get to the front of the line, so I don’t have to ask the cashier. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2003, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waiting-in-line-is-a-good-time-to-decide-what-to-order/181908/30 "2003-06-15T19:45:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by NoGoodNamesLeft \* > \*\*Slight hijack: > > Similarily, I can’t stand it when I go into some sort of fast food place and step back, and stare at the menu to look for any new offers, or to decide what I want. > I’m clearly taking myself out of line, standing as far back as I can, with my back against a wall if there is one. > I pleasantly wave on other customers who aren’t sure if I’m ‘in line’. > > When the moron cashier shouts out to me “Can I help you, sir?”. > > This especially irks me when I’ve only been in the door 2 seconds. > > No kidding this happened to me at least 5 times standing in line at the Times Square McD’s in NYC. Cashier after Cashier, “Can I help you?”, “I can help you over here!”… > > Jesus…give me at least 20 seconds to look at the freaking menu! \*\* This is also my peeve - I think the cashiers are being passive-aggressive when they do this. I just shout back at them “No!” and stand as far back as I can go and look at the menu to my heart’s content, motioning for all other customers to go ahead if they are in doubt about what I’m doing there. ---
**Author:** ![PatriotX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@PatriotX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotX)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2003, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waiting-in-line-is-a-good-time-to-decide-what-to-order/181908/31 "2003-06-15T19:47:06Z")
Glad to see you back **LB** ---
**Author:** ![WaryEri](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ea666f/32.png) [@WaryEri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WaryEri)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2003, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waiting-in-line-is-a-good-time-to-decide-what-to-order/181908/32 "2003-06-15T20:39:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Lynn Bodoni \* > \*\*If only more places had menu boards that can be READ from a reasonable distance! My poor nearsighted eyes simply cannot read small print from a distance. \*\* That’s my problem too. I try to be considerate of those behind me ( and of the SO tapping his foot beside me) and order quickly, but if it’s a restaurant I’m not familiar with, or if I just feel like trying something other than the usual, I can’t read what’s up there until I’m close to the counter sans glasses ( which, since I only need them for reading fast food wall menus or professor chalkboard scribbling, I seldom have on unless I know I’ll need them in advance). I’d sneak up alongside those ordering, to read ahead, but that’s a glare-worthy offense as well. I like Wendy’s. They usually have their main combos listed, with pictures, on a sign hanging -over- the waiting line where anyone can see it. ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2003, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waiting-in-line-is-a-good-time-to-decide-what-to-order/181908/33 "2003-06-15T22:26:17Z")
This is why, when going places with lines for ordering and such (such as a pizza joint or fast-food) I always decide what I want before Iactually get in line. I let people go in front of me until I make up my mind on what I want. ---
**Author:** ![BadBaby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/71c47a/32.png) [@BadBaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BadBaby)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2003, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waiting-in-line-is-a-good-time-to-decide-what-to-order/181908/34 "2003-06-15T22:50:27Z")
Do the menu boards confuse anyone a bit? Granted, I don’t go to fast food places very often, but those boards! Pictures everywhere, no clearly defined heading for ‘Drinks’ or ‘Side Orders’, sometimes I can’t tell where one column starts and another begins. Never-the-less, I’m ready by the time I get to the front of the line, dammit. ---
**Author:** ![Pammipoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/87869e/32.png) [@Pammipoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pammipoo)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2003, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waiting-in-line-is-a-good-time-to-decide-what-to-order/181908/35 "2003-06-15T23:23:17Z")
I love the people who get to the speaker in drive thru, scream “HELLO?!?” upon arrival, and then ask for a minute to look at the menu. If we’re supposed to be psychic and anticipate you before you set off the censor, can’t you at least know what you want? And when you say “Just a second”, don’t get pissed when we ask you after 120 if you’re all set. Yeah, we see that line snaking around the building…they all want their food too… ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2003, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waiting-in-line-is-a-good-time-to-decide-what-to-order/181908/36 "2003-06-15T23:58:19Z")
I’ll take the side of the indecisive here, I think, as I have been there - although I wouldn’t dream of holding up a line while deciding, it sometimes goes like this: (Usually this will be a burger place, rather than pizza) Mangetout: (Standing well back and looking at the menu boards) Hmmm, now what do I… Server: May I take your order sir? Mangetout: I…er, I’m still decid… Another Server: May I take your order sir? Mangetout: I’m still trying to… A third server: Is anybody waiting to be served (looking at me) May I take your order sir? Mangetout: I’m trying to read the… Original server: May I take your order sir? Mangetout: Don’t make me kill again, please. ---
**Author:** ![lezlers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/258eb7/32.png) [@lezlers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lezlers)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2003, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waiting-in-line-is-a-good-time-to-decide-what-to-order/181908/37 "2003-06-16T00:01:27Z")
oooh, do you work at a drive thru **Pammi**? I’ve always wondered if you all are able to hear the people in cars without clicking on something on your headset. Can you? ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2003, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waiting-in-line-is-a-good-time-to-decide-what-to-order/181908/38 "2003-06-16T00:18:28Z")
If you have a scanner you can monitor them. They’ll be using one of the two-meter low-power business band frequencies: 154.570 MHz, and 154.600 MHz, or the 70 cm business band: 467.850 MHz, 467.875 MHz, 467.900 MHz and 467.925 MHz. ---
**Author:** ![d\_redguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5fc32e/32.png) [@d\_redguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/d_redguy)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2003, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waiting-in-line-is-a-good-time-to-decide-what-to-order/181908/39 "2003-06-16T00:32:05Z")
This thread proves that the world needs more Soup Nazis. Don’t know what you want?! NO SOUP FOR YOU!! The line for the Soup Nazi is close to my idea of utopia. So very efficient: One large step forward. Announce soup choice. One large step left. Give money. Take Soup. One large step back. Run for the hills, happy that Soup has been granted to you. So elegant. So precise. [hijack]I understand there is a McD’s in the New York sbuway system that is crazy efficient like that. Can any NYC dopers verify/give background?[/hijack] ---
**Author:** ![JRootabega](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8e7dd6/32.png) [@JRootabega](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRootabega)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2003, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waiting-in-line-is-a-good-time-to-decide-what-to-order/181908/40 "2003-06-16T01:11:04Z")
> [@](#): > > If it’s a long line, I’ll get in, and try and decide while I’m in line…if for some reason I haven’t by the time I’ve reached the front, I let people in front of me until I have decided. Forgive me if I misunderstand you, **amarinth** , but this always made me mad when I worked food service. There is no “waiting room” at the front of the line. You are either in the line or not in the line. If you have reached the front of the line and are not ready to complete your transaction, then I welcome you to step aside and deliberate to your heart’s content. But at that point you might as well have just walked in the door. I don’t want to play traffic cop and peacekeeper when somebody re-enters a line they have left. That’s why lines are used: because if people stay within the line, it is not ambiguous who should be served next. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waiting-in-line-is-a-good-time-to-decide-what-to-order/181908.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waiting-in-line-is-a-good-time-to-decide-what-to-order/181908.md?page=3)