Sunday 29 April 2007

How close is too close?


An array of teller machines, and people standing the appropriate distance back from the person currently using them. What is the sense of "personal space" where you are? Is it similar to this? Further back? Closer? Or do you not have teller machines in the open like this - only the ones where you enter a private cubicle?

12 comments:

  1. The machines that are side by side seem awfully close! No cubicles in US that I've seen but I usually withdraw using my car.

    Personal space? It varies in social situations but Norte Americanos do not cozy up to one another and really need lots of personal space. My feelings vary, considering whom the other person might be.

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  2. I think they could draw further back, to respect the peronal space of the users of these machines. Sometimes in France there is a line drawn on the floor wich means : wait for your turn behind this line ! (and it works)

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  3. We usually have one ATM in a store, not alot like in your photo.

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  4. Good question. If the person waiting behind me is standing too close for my comfort, i usually give them one of my 'drop dead' looks. Does it work?

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  5. I wouldn't like to use those machines, as you never know if the person standing next to you is a thief. I always cover the keypad when I'm using a 'hole in the wall', or in a shop.

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  6. In Italy people usually wait at same distance I see in your photo.

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  7. France is a Latin country, people like to be "in touch with" each other...for example they often give a kiss even if the other person is just a distant acquaintance. In banks or post offices, you can see a painted line on the ground saying "courtoisie" because many people don't know their behaviour can be annoying...

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  8. In Spain when those machines are inside of a mall center it used to be a line painted in the floor as Alice said. But if not, the space between persons is bigger... I guess!

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  9. That's about the same distance away that people stand in the UK -- further away and someone would jump in front!

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  10. Here in CH, I apparently stand too far away compared to the norn. People tend to "cut in" in front of me, as they don't realize that I'm in the queue!

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  11. That's an interesting and topical debate. It links to a new phenomenon....motorists seem to be failing to use indicators before turning. Some think it's about a decline in the "awareness of others' space". How does that grab you?

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  12. yes iwonder about the 'too close rule' Who taught us about personal space and atms. It appears from reading other's commetns that it seem liek a silent rule to standa certain distance, except iof course in countries that have signs that say "behind this line" I like that fact that we (Austrlia) don't have someone telling us how to stand or where to stand with atms but to figure it out ourselves. These silent (socail) rules

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