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Who Goes First?

Driving through snarled traffic in L.A. brings out the worst in people. Let me say this in another way. It brings out the worst in me. Today, I was given the chance to be generous with a driver who was cutting into my lane to avoid a double-parked car, and it made me resentful. With hindsight, that seems ridiculous. As if one extra car in front of me would cause any meaningful delay. But still, I sneered. In what situation are you most etiquette-challenged?

Illustration by Jean Jullien

Discussion

12 comments for “Who Goes First?”

  1. Petra says:

    I must admit to being hyper-annoyed with people who have 20 items in a “12 items or less” line. And if there’s a grammarian in the house, shouldn’t that be “12 or fewer items”?

  2. Gigi says:

    The “girls night out” dinners with usually about 6 women. It’s hard to get out of them and I hate small talk. Small talk is just irritating noise to me. I have to really bite my tongue because what I really want to say is shhhhhhhh or stop!

    However I love dinners out with one friend and really talk about something interesting.

  3. Gigi says:

    For me small talk is that sort of social chit chat about nothing that never gets involved. I really suck at it so I end up sitting and listening to what sounds like noise to me.
    I am at my loneliest when I am in a group like that. If I do actually listen I am trying to figure out who someone is, if this is a person I like or don’t, or trying to get into their heads.

  4. Gigi says:

    Basically it’s my sister who gets these little dinners organized and she tends to make me feel guilty if I don’t go.
    Because these dinners are not very often I end up caving and saying yes

  5. Gigi says:

    Hands down I prefer dining alone than dining with a group.
    It’s like traffic or the express line it’s irritating but it’s not the end of the world.

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