Sycamore the Commuter: You're Too Damned Close!!!

[elSicomoro]

Welcome to Sycamore's new series, "Sycamore the Commuter." Through these threads, Sycamore will share stories of his days in the concrete jungle called Center City Philadelphia. He hopes to pass his insight on to others, and in turn, obtain insight from others that might share.

This thread: You're Too Damned Close!!!

A branch of my bank is directly across the street from my office. Sweet! I can run across and get $$$ whenever I need it.

I really don't use ATMs much...maybe once or twice a week tops. And I have found my ATM dealings here in Philadelphia to be rather unique, as there seem to be few ATMs that are drive-ups, at least in the city. So, whenever I head to one, there is usually a small queue of people. No big whoop...I'm not an impatient bastard, so I wait and chill until it's my turn.

I'm a big fan of giving folks space. I figure 5-10 feet is pretty adequate. It seems to make people feel pretty comfortable...and other people seem to do the same.

So, seeing as I forgot my lunch Monday morning like a moron, I headed across the street to the ATM to get some cash for lunching. There's one guy in front of me...cool...I give him some space. (And there's plenty of space to be given...the ATM is outside on a small plaza with lots of space between the ATM and Market Street.) One person is behind me, and she seems to keep her distance.

Then, I get up to the ATM. And as I put my card in, I feel this uncomfortable presence. Sure enough, it's the lady behind me, who has given me maybe 2 feet or so of space. She can practically look over my shoulder. As I go through my motions, I look back at her a couple of times, finally giving her an ignorant ass look that made her step back. I repeated the look after getting my cash and my card.

Yeah, I probably could have been more polite and said, "Do you mind?" For all I know, she could have been a foreigner, and many foreigners have a much closer personal space. I dunno...to me, that's just something that should be understood. You don't hover over someone at an ATM. That's just asking for trouble. In the future, if the situation occurs again, I may attempt to be more polite.

I think the most appropriate action would have been to say "Excuse me ma'm, I don't want to appear rude, but I'd feel much more comfortable if you wouldn't stand so close while I'm doing this." If she doesn't comply, halt your transaction and allow her to go. Wait until you've got another shot at it. If there's a line behind her, explain the situation to the next person behind her and ask if it's okay with them that you go after she's finished.

I don't like it when people do that to me either, but there's a sign at the ATM I use (which is about once every 6 months - I buy everything with credit) that says "One person allowed at ATM at a time" and there's a door and everything. So if they came in, I'd stop and say what I recommended above... that, or "Get the fuck out of here! Can't you read the fuckin' SIGN?"

Ya know, whatever happened to roll off the tongue first.

[Undertoad]

One day I was using the ATM at my local credit union to make a deposit. The place was open, but I'd already filled out my envelope at home, so I just used the ATM.

Guy in back of me notices that I'm using an ATM card of the place where I'm banking, and it's open, and says: "Why don't you just go inside?"

Well I was in a mood, and didn't really want to be questionned; and so I completely ignored the man and his query as if he was never there and had never asked anything. Didn't even look at him as I finished my business and walked away.

I'm a passive-aggressive sort. And as I walked back to my car and drove away, I realized that I had never had such a completely satisfying interaction with another human being.

[MaggieL]

Originally posted by Undertoad
...and says: "Why don't you just go inside?"

"Because I hate standing in line as much as you do."

"Because I'm afraid my conceled handgun might make them nervous."

"Because I'm afraid they might recognize me from that time I pulled a holdup."

"Because they're nice people and I have a loathsome contagious disease." {then cough on the questioner}

[Slight]

Originally posted by MaggieL "Because I'm afraid my conceled handgun might make them nervous."

That might work for you Maggie, but I doubt Undertoad is strapped. Funny answers =).

Being sluffed [sic?] (ignored) is the worst of the short forms of communication. It ends immediately what he tried to begin. I hate it when I get sluffed or I speak to someone who can't hear or isn't listening. I used to ignore or fail to reply alot as a teenager to aggrivate the speaker, usually my mom. But it is not construtive so when I realize I am doing it now I stop.

I don't really care if people see me do my withdrawl. So what if they get my PIN? they don't have my card. So what if they steal my money? now they are on camera. I usually hover when it comes to PIN time anyway. It is more shit for them if they steal from me than it is for me to lose my wallet.

"Because I am attracted to you."

"Because the voices told me to."

"I am God."

"Because the hooker told me to hurry with the bling bling"

[MaggieL]

Originally posted by Slight
That might work for you Maggie, but I doubt Undertoad is strapped.

I woudn't make any assumptions about that; he's a nototious LP guy. But the line works whether you're actually packing or not.

[Undertoad]

WAS a notorious LP guy...

(And no I wasn't packin'.)