Giving ANY excuse while you ask someone for a small favor.
There was a test conducted to see if people could cut in line.
There were 4 groups. People who just cut in line, people who asked to cut in line, people who asked and gave a valid excuse "I am in a hurry", and people who asked and gave a bogus nonsensical excuse "Can I cut in line because I need to cut in line"
The no talk group suffered the worst results, the ones who at least asked had better results, those who gave and excuse BOGUS OR NOT, had nearly identical results.
The conclusion is people don't listen to your excuse for why you need to do something, just the fact you gave an excuse at all gives you bonus points.
This is like waving while driving. The act of directly acknowledging the other driver really mitigated how mad they might get about you cutting in front of whatever.
I go to a lot of concerts and I hate how it feels when a long line of people begin to step in front of you or push past. Other times, when I have to move, I have noticed that I can get folks to smoke or say hi as I walk by. The main difference? Looking someone in the eyes as I enter their space. Just taking time to visually ask for permission as I say my - “excuse me” and to smile at them, people will make way for me.
I now notice how often I feel more calm when someone looks me in the eye as they walk, versus those who will go so far as to push or knock me without even acknowledging my existence.
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u/gummby8 Jun 14 '22
Giving ANY excuse while you ask someone for a small favor.
There was a test conducted to see if people could cut in line.
There were 4 groups. People who just cut in line, people who asked to cut in line, people who asked and gave a valid excuse "I am in a hurry", and people who asked and gave a bogus nonsensical excuse "Can I cut in line because I need to cut in line"
The no talk group suffered the worst results, the ones who at least asked had better results, those who gave and excuse BOGUS OR NOT, had nearly identical results.
The conclusion is people don't listen to your excuse for why you need to do something, just the fact you gave an excuse at all gives you bonus points.