I did a rant on standing in check out lanes, and one of the topics was about people that stand right next to you while you are paying at the cashier. I cannot stand people that stand right on top of you when you are standing in line, or stand right next to you when you are checking out. If you are standing close enough to see my PIN or signature then you should have to pay for my purchase.
We were at Disney World last Summer and there was a family that seemed to follow us from ride to ride. One of the kids in the group had no concept of personal space. My son was so irritated with this little girl that I thought he was going to yell at her. She looked to be about 10 or 11, maybe older, and she would stand so close to us that she would actually touch us. She would put her hand on us, step on our feet or lean on us. It was very uncomfortable. We would turn and look right in her eyes, as if saying stop touching me, and she just did not get the cues. So, finally I just turned to her and in a very nice voice I said, "Honey, please move back and stop touching or leaning on us." It did absolutely no good. Her parents heard this request and said nothing to her. Maybe they didn't speak, or understand English, or maybe they were just rude people, not sure which. From that moment on we made sure they were not in the same line with us any more.
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| Ben Stone and Paul Robinette (Richard Brooks), poor Paul had to have many close encounters with his boss Ben. |
What made me think about this whole personal space topic was watching the original "Law and Order" TV show. The first years of the show the Executive Assistant DA was Ben Stone, played by Michael Moriarty. Ben Stone did not recognize other people's personal space, and every time I see him in these conversations it makes me uncomfortable. Face to face conversations where they are inches apart and even walking scenes where they are so close that their shoulders overlap, or they are bumping into each other. I would be paranoid that someones breath was bad standing that close. I would have to tip my head back and look at them through my bifocals just to see them clearly. Maybe the cameras back in the late 80s didn't allow for more space in these scenes, but it sure looks uncomfortable to me.
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| Ben talking to a Defense Attorney up close and personal. |
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| I wonder if Ben needs a breath mint. |
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| I wonder if Paul is picking up bad habits from his boss. |
This last weeks episode of "Law and Order SVU" Assistant DA Rafael Barba, played by Raul Esparza, is being replaced by Peter Stone, played by Philip Winchester. Peter Stone is the son of Ben Stone from the original "Law and Order". Let's hope, that like his first episode as the new Asst. DA, Peter recognizes and respects every one's personal space, unlike his father.
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| Look at Peter Stone having a normal conversation with Olivia at a regular distance. |
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| Jack McCoy The DA is also having a normal spaced conversation with Peter Stone. Jack came after Ben on Law and Order as the Executive Assistant DA and maybe Peter is using him a role model for personal space. |
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| Oh Ben, you really need to back off! |
Ben Stone you make me uncomfortable. But of course, I was not so uncomfortable that I did not watch every episode. Still the greatest TV series ever made!!
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