world peace

Everyday as I come into VT station and then board the bus to Nariman Point. And everyday I am deflated at the sight of lines breaking down. I really hate seeing these lines break down. This is a phenomenon we see everywhere around India. People just don’t want to stay in line. I don’t really blame them.
My theory for this :) – inadequacy and unpredictability. If there are adequate bus services for all to reach in (relative) comfort and if the buses come predictably on time, there wouldn’t be a mad rush. People would wait for their turn, offer their spots to the weaker ones and generally be cordial to each other. The cordial quotient goes up significantly when the services are running at off hours when the capacity is more than demand. Afternoons and early mornings are a case in point. Once they are convinced about the adequacy and predictability of their seat they are likely to be much more polite and even magnanimous to one and other. Look at when you board long distance trains. There is a chaos when you are trying to get in at the start. People jostling, making demands on their luggage space, seats etc. They are generally rude and pushy. After they are seated and are secure they get so cordial, happy, sharing food, jokes and … you get the point.
So as long as the services that are run are run with predictability (system heavy) and adequacy (resource heavy) you would have fairly happy people. Even in temples.
When people know that the temple will remain open and all will get a decent darshan (and Prasad) the devotee are epitomes of their sect. But when the time is limited (inadequate) or the temple is being closed for Pooja or something (unpredictable), or when the line is inordinately long (inadequate) or the a few lucky ones will get special Prasad (unpredictable), things will go wrong. Even Santas who will have enough chocolates for all the kids in the store will not be besieged and tugged at, but will see sweet kids standing properly in line. All the stores have to do is ensure that the santa comes on time, has enough chocolates for all and stays back till every kid is mat and patted. Just ensure you don’t have kids waiting for too long and get restless in the process (inadequate)

There: adequacy and predictability leading to world peace.

Small deviation from mean - When people see their friends back in the line they call them in front. Even in the lift line. If you so desperately want to meet them and chat up then go behind to them, don’t call them in front. That is a human empathy problem. Nothing I can do about it.