Have You Ever Noticed?

Have you ever noticed that when you're first in line at a red light alongside someone else in the other lane(s) that many times they won't start out on a green until they see someone else start out?

Have you ever noticed that when there's a line of cars being held up by someone going more slowly than normal, often the “slow” vehicle is one with a handicapped tag on it?

Have you ever noticed that sales clerks seem to “perk up” a bit when you call them by name and engage in some polite conversation with them?

Have you ever noticed that when a grocery store marks down an item, often it is near it's end date...but they don't tell you that part of the deal?

Have you ever noticed that hospital corridors and rooms are sometimes just about the noisiest places on earth with all of the carts rumbling by, people chattering nearby, and televisions blaring in rooms and waiting areas?

Have you ever noticed that people riding together in elevators seldom recognize one-another, except maybe to say, “what floor?” Otherwise, it's eyes down or eyes ahead.

Speaking of elevators, have you ever noticed that the etiquette of allowing women to enter and leave a car first, and allowing all to exit a car before anyone gets into a car seems to be going the way of the dinosaur?

Have you ever noticed that the more hurried you are, the more people in the line ahead of you stop and visit with the clerk or cashier?

Have you ever noticed that children tend to behave in accordance with expectations, and that they will behave much differently at school (for example) than at home...primarily because of differing expectations?

Have you ever noticed that all vehicles have a “seat crack of no return” where anything unfortunate enough to fall down into that crack cannot be retrieved for at least a year and a half?

Have you ever noticed that the sun generally makes an especially brilliant and colorful sunrise or sunset at times when your camera is far, far away?

Have you ever noticed just how prevalent “There you go,” and “Here you are,” have become for store clerks as they complete a transaction?

The corollary to the above “Have you ever noticed” is the noticeable disappearance of “Thank you for shopping with us,” and one's surprise anymore when he hears it.

Have you ever noticed that the “acceptable” amount for tips for service in a restaurant have climbed from 15% to at least 18% and beyond?

Have you ever noticed just how little you the customer have to say about how businesses deal with you...that the pendulum has seemingly swung in the direction of the businesses always being right instead of the customer?

Have you ever noticed that people who write blogs called “Have you ever noticed?” usually don't have very much important to say?