Sometimes people surprise you.
We were at the movie theater this weekend, waiting in line to get into the theater showing our movie. It was an impromptu line; the showing before ours had gotten out but the theater hadn’t been opened for the next showing time yet. A bunch of us had gathered outside the theater since management had not created a wait line for us.
There were approximately 20 of us waiting. My group made up the middle portion of the line. Then management decides we need to move the line somewhere other than in the middle of the lobby. So they move us behind the red ropes – but the sign for those ropes read for a different movie.
As we moved behind the red ropes, I felt bad for the folks at the head of the line who’d gotten there early and were probably going to lose their place in line. It didn’t seem fair, but I considered that human nature would dictate those at the back of the line would take advantage of the move to secure the head of the line. After all, we are an opportunistic bunch and we all face the paradoxes inherent of the human condition.
But I was pleasantly surprised that only one couple out of 10-15 people ran ahead in line. The rest of us waited until those at the head of the line secured their rightful place at the start of the ropes. I commented out loud how surprising it was to see a folks do the right thing.
Of course, this could have ended there. But it didn’t. Management did not change the name on the sign. So a new line of folks who got there after the line move formed outside the theater where our movie was showing. Thus, all of us who got moved behind the ropes still lost our place and the choice of the best seats.
Sigh. It is better to do the right thing than be selfish and only consider yourself. Still. I would feel better about it had it turned out right.
Posted by mmkeekah 
