I mentioned in my last entry that I’m working at the university library. All of my shifts begin at 7:45AM, 15 minutes before the library opens to the public, which has led to me being able to observe a few rather odd, widespread behaviors.
I’ll get in and be waiting in the hallway to enter the libary proper at around 7:30. Invariably – and I really do mean invariably – while I’m waiting, someone will come into the hallway. I’ll be standing there with my backpack on top of the book drop off thing, usually reading. They’ll look at me, walk right by me, and try to open one of the doors into the library. Locked! Imagine that. If the library was open, wouldn’t it make more sense for me to be inside, sitting down and reading, rather than standing there?
At this point, they’ll look at the doors in disgust – “how dare the library be closed when I need to get in?” They’ll turn, look at the sign which lists our hours – yes, indeed, we open at 8AM – and then, they’ll check their watches. And then, they’ll jerk on a few more of the doors as if expecting them to be magically unlocked.
Now, I know that watches can be off, but I don’t think these dozens of folks all have watches that are off by a good 15 minutes. I can come up with two explanations: one is that they either A) think that our signs are lying about our hours; the other, B) is that they think that the hours of operation don’t apply to them.
So, for clarification: No, the signs aren’t lying. We really don’t open until 8AM. And no, glaring at the doors and jerking on them won’t make the library open any faster. Alas, the rules apply to you too. That’s right, glare at me. Yes, now turn and leave the building in digust, when you’d only have to wait a few more minutes to get in. It’s dreadful, I know!
Silly people.
Comments 7
Ah, the wit. Grand! Bravo bravo.
How right you are though, its these kinds of observations that have brought me to where I am in understanding people. That is to say, believing that they are all rather lazy and don’t feel like exercising their mental muscles.
Posted 14 Sep 2007 at 9:51 am ¶It’s human nature. Human nature is funny. That is why Dutch people love sitting outside a bar or in front of their houses to look at the people passing by. Obviously it helps that most Dutch people would do the passing-by on bicycles and not in cars
Posted 14 Sep 2007 at 1:32 pm ¶I’m sure those poor souls have highly structured schedules and to wait fifteen minutes for the library to open would cause fifteen minute delays to every other activity that they were to engage in for the rest of the day. As you can imagine, that would make the day quite rough for them.
Posted 14 Sep 2007 at 6:34 pm ¶Shame on you, Josh, for mocking their disgust!
Tom: I’m not sure if it’s that we’re all really lazy, or if we’re just conditioned to expect things to be a certain way, and when they’re not, we don’t really kick in our critical thinking. Either way, it makes for funny observing.
Renee: Yeah, people watching is generally an enjoyable activity. Do most Dutch people ride bikes as opposed to driving cars? If so, is there a particular reason for this?
Fig: Yes, yes, I’m sure they’re all dreadfully busy. I’m sure they’re so busy, in fact, that they wouldn’t have time for going to bars, going to parties, going to frat “meetings” (another name for “party”, I believe), or lounging on the university lawn instead of going to class.
Indeed. Dreadfully busy! I wish I had stuff to keep me busy.
Posted 14 Sep 2007 at 9:06 pm ¶Main reason for me to ride a bike is that it’s free! Well after you’ve bought it that is. I guess it’s a culture thing. Besides, we have the infrastructure and flatness for it! Cycling in Holland is (fairly) safe, there are loads of cycle paths and you’re pretty well protected by the law too (if you hit a cyclist it’s usually your fault). I’ve found some info here: (http://www.worldhum.com/how_to/item/ride_a_bike_in_holland_20051012/ ) but I think i’ll go and research this a bit more
Posted 16 Sep 2007 at 1:38 pm ¶PS we DO have cars! and traffic. But most kids cycle to school. My nan is still mobile because she can still cycle (walking? not so much).
I asked a friend of mine why so much of us cycle (20 million bikes and 16 million people?!) and she said there just wouldn’t be enough space if we all drove! In the Netherlands 392 people live on every km2 – in the US this is 31. (I’m still thinking of writing a post on this but I guess Ive said it all now
Posted 17 Sep 2007 at 5:26 pm ¶Maybe working in a library might be fun…. all those books….
Posted 18 Sep 2007 at 1:01 am ¶Post a Comment