Jennifer - 05:21pm Mar 7, 2006 (#1 of 6)

I found that there were many similarities between the French responses and the American responses. Both seemed to emphasize telling the person to go to the back of the line, or pointing to the back of the line, etc. There were a few people on both sides who said that they cared, but would not care enough to say anything to this person, and some people just did not care at all. However, I found it funny that one person on the French side wanted to trip the person ;)

In addition, a few people on the MIT side expressed that they would be OK letting the person cut in line if that person were joining a group, but if the person were alone, they would definitely say something and ask them to move to the back of the line.

I think the responses to this question vary more based on personality, rather than cultural differences between the French and American students. It depends whether you're usually a nice person, a laid-back couldn't care less type, or if you're anal, strict, easily pissed off, etc.

Roberto - 06:48am Mar 8, 2006 (#2 of 6)

Salut, Moi aussi, je trouve qu'il y a beaucoup de rassemblances entre les deux réponses. Mais, on peut penser que les francaises parlent plus facilement que les americaines. Cela, va bien avec le commentaire général de que les francaises se plaindrent beaucoup. C'est aussi interessant le fait que presque tous les americaines qui vont parler le font de un manière polie. Je suis d'accord que le fait le plus important est ta peronalité, mais elle est vraiment influencié par la culture. Je suis sure que en autres cultures un peu plus loin les resultats seraient très differentes.

Josephine - 12:01am Mar 9, 2006 (#3 of 6)

I get the impression that the students at Polytechnique would respond more than the students at MIT, as in saying something to the person who cuts the line or doing something about the situation. I do agree that culture affects one's personality to a certain extent. In this case, I can't really point out a certain difference between the French and American responses. Roberto is right in saying that in other cultures, people may respond differently. For example in Indonesia where I come from, if something like this happens people wouldn't hesitate to actually push the other person out of the line. The concept of personal space is less prevalent in Indonesia. People really guard their position when they are standing in line and they want to fill the space as much as they can with more people. So if you create some empty space in front of you, other people may well take it if possible. I don't find this phenomenon here in the US because I think people have much respect on one's personal space. I guess my conclusion on this cutting in line scenario is that the Americans and the French have similar concept respecting people's space.

One thing I found really interesting though is the last response from Polytechnique. Is it really the case that in France, people would deliver a monologue when someone cuts into the line? I found it rather amusing =)

Frances - 07:49am Mar 9, 2006 (#4 of 6)

I think in general, americans have a more relaxed attitude toward things. They might become angry or annoyed, but they don't see creating an argument as being worth the effort. On the other hand, you will see people who are very loud about their opinions in any situation. For example, I was walking in a mall and the woman walking in front of me was large so I had a hard time going around. When I passed her, I accidently bumped into her slightly. I apologized but I don't think she heard me because afterwards, I could hear her trying to insult me by saying that my sneakers were stupid (they were purple. haha.) etc. I was momentarily annoyed at her but I didn't say anything because getting into a petty fight definately was not worth the effort. I'm not going to do anything because of what one stranger said. In effect, person A might not respond to person B complaining (in monologue) about how person A cut the line. Would the french feel obligated to move in that situation?

Brock - 08:43am Mar 9, 2006 (#5 of 6)

Wow, I don't know if I really have anything to add to this discussion. It seems as though all the bases have been covered. Hmmm.... Well, I also noticed that the reponses from the MIT students and the Polytechnicians seemed very similar with a slight bias on the MIT side to do nothing. I think that Josephine has a good point about personal space. Americans tend to have a very large comfort zone, ie the area around them that they see as their own personal space. I wonder if the MIT students relative reluctance to do anything stems from the possibility that cutting in line is a violation of that personal space, and thus happens infrequently. As with most infrequent, and uncomfortable, events we are not immediately aware of what to do about it, and thus do nothing.

Hatim - 09:25am Mar 10, 2006 (#6 of 6)

Je pense qu'il est difficile de généraliser nos propos à l'ensemble de la société française. Personnellement, j'ai vécu des situations très différentes : par exemple, il m'est arrivé de voir une personne passer devant d'autres dans une file d'attente sans que personne ne dise rien car dans ce cas précis, il était inutile de s'adresser à la personne en question... on en aurait tiré que des problèmes, de longues discussions, inutiles perte de temps...

Pour moi cette question relève plus de l'ordre de l'éducation que d'une caractéristique culturelle.

Pour revenir à l'histoire du monologue, c'est vrai que j'ai déjà assisté à de telles situations! Mais je dirais que c'est là une méthode bien efficace car en parlant à voix haute, toute la file d'attente est au courant et vous apporte son soutient psychologique! Souvent cela est plus efficace, peut-être moins civilisé comme méthode mais certainement très française!