Rush & Queue

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Queue

This was the scene at the Raffles Place MRT station during the last week of September 2009. In fact, shortly after this was taken, the queue in subsequent days was even longer: it went right up on to the staircase.

What were these people queuing for? Perhaps there was freebie given at the ticket office? Or maybe the ticket office was lacking manpower (but for an entire week??)?

Well, a bit of background: as early as January this year, it was announced that the stored-value card ("EZ-link card") that was used for the buses and MRT trains would be replaced with a new kind.

Grace period was given until end of September to change it (and subsequently it was extended by another week, which is not a surprise to me given this last-minute rush). That is a 9-month period. Evidently this was still not sufficent time for these people to get their cards changed.

How long would they need? A year perhaps? 2 years? From my observation of other similar phenomenon, it wouldn't matter because most likely they would still do it last minute, even if it for something important (such as filing tax return).

Why is this so? Why would they want to rush to do it last minute and wasting time queuing? Is it fun? Is it exciting having the adrenaline pumping, knowing that they may just miss the deadline? Perhaps they have nothing better to do and so just looking for the opportunities to queue?

Stranger than fiction.

Comments

William said…
It is human nature. Lebih meriah like this.
October 16, 2009 at 1:58 PM
Elyssa said…
William..lebih meriah? With all the pushing and cramping and not forgetting the "smell"..wahaha. But sadly, I am like most of those people more than half of the time
October 17, 2009 at 12:11 AM
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October 17, 2009 at 1:38 AM
Jaded Jeremy said…
William,
Crazy

Lyssa,
Tsk tsk must improve!
October 17, 2009 at 4:48 PM
savante said…
Quite normal. It's the malaysian singaporean syndrome.
October 17, 2009 at 11:02 PM
Jaded Jeremy said…
savante,
Irrational behaviour perhaps?
October 18, 2009 at 10:57 PM
MrBunnyBan said…
I'm sure it's a phenomena which happens worldwide. Too many pressing, more important things to do? Or feel lazy, therefore put of until really have to do it?
October 19, 2009 at 7:39 PM
Jaded Jeremy said…
Ban,
I don't know about worldwide. Still, it defies logic: it needed to be done and so why last minute when it would even take longer time to do so?
October 19, 2009 at 10:35 PM
Anonymous said…
Should anyone know, I'd like an answer too. My pet peeve is when a client comes 2 weeks before Christmas and ask if they can have custom made draperies made in time for Christmas -- what have they been doing the rest of the year?

Oh no, new E-Z link card? Does that mean the 2 I have will be of no good? (slr)
November 29, 2009 at 12:24 PM
Jaded Jeremy said…
slr,
I'm certain you cannot use it but I'm pretty sure you can cash out its store value at the ticket office.
November 29, 2009 at 8:14 PM
Anonymous said…
At list the value won't be wasted. Why the new card? slr
December 10, 2009 at 8:52 AM
Jaded Jeremy said…
slr,
They changed the chip to a standardised chip. Think it's a requirement. Now there's competition because another card company joins in the foray, using same chip but with alot more benefits. It's good for competition!
December 10, 2009 at 10:10 PM
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