When I worked at The Gap and someone came up to the counter with their stuff and was on the phone, I would take it, scan it, fold it, bag it, then wait. And stare at them. And not move a muscle until they got off the phone.

Fire Festival

But these days I often see a line come to a standstill because someone's more interested in their cellphone conversation than their transaction.

I used to do mystery shopping at grocery stores, and I *loved* being able to describe in my report how the cashier and bagger were so busy talking to each other that (1) I stood there waiting and then got a look of impatience FROM THE CASHIER when I asked if she could ring me up, and/or (2) completely messed up the checkout process, to the point where I was markedly overcharged and was told "I ain't gonna fix it. Go up to the service desk."

(I also used my powers for good; any time I got good service, I made a point to report that, too.)

Ah, see, we had a totally polite, if passive aggressive way of handling it.

To person on the phone: I understand you're having an important conversation. I'll take the next person and let you finish up with that.

Hil: And that's why I loved New York. People say what they mean and get on with things. It's like a more fun, less passive-aggressive London.

Now, bear in mind that even in New York, I still was able to see through people's masks as their face turned red and they didn't want to say anything embarrassing to the nice Israeli tourist. A friend of mine said that Americans are only polite to each other beacuse they don't know if the other one is armed.

I don't see it very often on Brits, though. I can't read them with their manners, so I don't care about what strikes me as hypocrisy.

A friend of mine said that Americans are only polite to each other beacuse they don't know if the other one is armed.

Actually we're generally polite to each other because the vast majority of us are nice friendly people.

Oh, Trudy, don't ever move to the South. Your head will explode.

I spent a year in North Florida as a child in and two in South West Virginia as a college stsudent. I loved both a lot -- but when the plane is landing at Kennedy, LaGuardia, or Newark I give a sigh of relief that things are back to Trudy Normal.

One nice things about New Yorkers and our legendary brusqueness is we don't care WHERE the hell you're from - if you're lingering at the top or the bottom of the subway stairs (and have no discernable impairment) you're a war criminal.

Actually we're generally polite to each other because the vast majority of us are nice friendly people.

Yeah, this has been my experience as well.

Fire Festival

That's ... gorgeous.

I want to go to Kiev!

A friend of mine said that Americans are only polite to each other beacuse they don't know if the other one is armed.

As long as you're not in my way you can pack whatever heat you want.