the waiting is the hardest part

At some point in the near future, an enterprising sociologist will write their doctorate thesis on the minute interactions that take place between people waiting for espresso drinks at their neighborhood Starbucks. Obvious distinctions will be made between these interactions and those previously documented in studies of behavior in elevators, medical waiting rooms and traffic jams; extra care (control groups, hidden cameras, longitudinal analysis) will be taken to distinguish the wait at Starbucks from the wait at the local deli, the drycleaner and other retail establishments. 

It will be a dry piece of work. But after being approached by an up-and-coming editor from Harvard Business School Press, the author will publish a heavily edited and fully illustrated version titled No Foam, No Whip, No Eye Contact:  How Luxury Retail is Redefining Social Space, and go on to Paco Underhill levels of fame.

Comments

[Edward Vielmetti]

All depends on the $* I guess - the ones near campus in Ann Arbor seem to be meet markets for the undergraduates.

Is this the right time to mention delocator?

[vanderwal]

An excellent observation. The verbal and non-verbal communication rules do seem quite different for various places. I noticed this when I was out in the Bay Area as I was thinking these non-interactive social spaces were germane to the East Coast, but it seems they pertain to the space.

Having worked in a coffeehouse part of the non-interaction, at least in the mornings, is a lack of caffeine for those that need it. I loved playing with people before they had their morning boost.

[Allen]

Very funny