If there's one thing that ALL human beings can agree on, it's that we hate waiting in lines. Oh, and also that we're all above-average drivers. But for now, we're going to focus on the lines thing.
-A professor at MIT has studied the psychology behind why we hate waiting in lines and found there are three things that make us crazy. And believe it or not, the length of the line isn't one of them.
#1.) We get bored when we wait. It's why doctor's offices have magazines and TVs, and why amusement parks put TVs in the line.
#2.) We hate when we expect a short wait and get a longer one. This is why at Disney World they tell you "30 minutes from this spot" in a line. It's really only about 20 minutes . . . the line won't bother you as much if you feel ahead of schedule.
#3.) We really, REALLY hate when someone shows up after us but gets taken care of first. It sets off everyone's sense of INJUSTICE to the point where fights can break out.
--That's why more places like Best Buy, Wendy's, and Citibank are going with one main line that funnels people to the first available server or teller . . . rather than making people pick a line that might end up going slower.
(Slate)
Part I
Part II
