Two supermarket queues seem to have the same number of people and move at roughly the same speed. Somehow the one I choose always feels slower. I suspect waiting without knowing when you're next is worse than watching a predictable process, and that I notice every delay in my own line while ignoring the others. Is there research about perceived waiting time versus actual time, or is this mostly selective attention?
Why some queues feel much slower even when they move at the same speed
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4 replies
That feeling is real. Uncertainty stretches time, so a line where you can’t tell if you’re about to move or stand there forever often feels...
That feeling is real. Uncertainty stretches time, so a line where you can’t tell if you’re about to move or stand there forever often feels slower even when the clock says otherwise. Your brain starts counting every tiny stall as if it’s evidence the universe hates you.
I notice it more when I’m not holding anything and have nothing to do. If I can read my phone or watch the next person, the wait feels shorter. So part of it is attention, not just the actual queue length.
Also, visible progress matters a lot. If you can see the cashier getting closer to you, the line feels tolerable; if you can’t tell what’s h...
It’s probably both. We are really bad at feeling neutral about our own delays. The line behind you always looks faster too, which is rude of reality.