Tuesday, October 23, 2018

Midwestern niceness (or passivity?)

If you visit Kirkwood, Missouri often enough, this will probably happen to you at least once; you'll arrive fourth at a four-way stop sign, but you'll be the first to move on from it.

The routine at four-way stops here is typically, "'After you.'  'No, after you.'  'No, really, after you; I don't mind.'  'Thank you, but it's your turn.  After you.'  'No, I insist.  After you...'"

Although this creates confusion, it's refreshing to see such a premium placed on civility.