r/mildlyinfuriating • u/Physical-Ice6265 • 16d ago

ಠ_ಠ People who stand this close to the bag claim

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152

u/TheOwnerOfAnarres 16d ago

This is a version of the prisoner dilemma. The ideal situation is that everyone holds back so when someone's bag appears, they can dash into the conveyor belt and grab it. However since we can't control what other people are doing, they'll go for the option that benefits themselves at the expense of others. Even a rational person then has to follow the idiocy of the crowd and do the same, making it worse for everyone because it's harder for anyone to grab their bag when there's a thick crowd at the convertor belt.

29

u/Rusty-Swashplate 16d ago

In some of the better airports, there's a 1m zone around the belt where it says "Don't wait here. Enter only to pick up your bag." (I am paraphrasing).

And this works wonders. Almost (>80%) everyone does exactly what they should be doing: stand outside that zone, and enter the zone to pick up their bag.

2

u/Affectionate-Egg7566 16d ago

There's always a group of dickwads who don't, and I wish it were strictly enforced.

6

u/MyDishwasherLasagna 16d ago

Is this the same shit I see with elevators and passenger rail?

Ideally, everyone outside waits away from the doors, so those who want to get off have space to get off before people board. But not everyone will do this. So nobody does it.

4

u/thepenismytea 16d ago

Many trains in an effort to reduce time of the tram being stopped open and close the door quicker than they should and it results in people scrambling to get on before they're shut out and waiting for another train.

DFW airport is like that and it can easily mean missing a flight. It's encouraged behavior sometimes out of negligence

2

u/thx_comcast 16d ago

Elevators really are my favorite for this.

If I'm trying to get out of the elevator and the door opens and there's some smooth brain standing on the other side, inches from the door trying to get in I just stand there in their way until they get it and move so I can get out.

1

u/MyDishwasherLasagna 16d ago

Mines the other way around. I'll push the call button then step back 6 feet. A smooth brain will approach, push the already lit call button, then stand right in front of me, getting in the way of people who will soon be trying to exit.

Like, do they think I have some hobby where I enjoy watching elevator doors?

There's also the idiots who board an elevator going in the wrong direction but that's a whole different issue. If the doors opened without the elevator cab actually there, they'd probably blindly walk through and fall to their deaths.

1

u/Little_View_6659 16d ago

Don’t get me started. Where I’m at people are supposed to wait to let people off the train to board. Most people are good about it, but damn sometimes people just crowd in and it’s awful. And the escalators! The number of times I’ve been on one and I’ve almost fallen because some idiot will just stop at the top. Why? Why would you stop moving and just stand there like a jackass when people are on the escalator behind you?

5

u/UnderstandingNew2810 16d ago

It’s an economics law and you see this get step over a lot. Our current administration is a good example

4

u/pedro-gaseoso 16d ago

Yup. I try to stand back but it’s useless in India because everyone else just hugs the belt and I’d not be able to see my bags if I continue to keep distance.

2

u/Manfred4r 16d ago

I'm not well versed enough in game theory to say which game this is, but I suspect it's something more along the lines of a tragedy of the commons rather than a prisoners dilemma.

2

u/Presto99 15d ago

Virtue's Last Reward

1

u/jhaand 16d ago

You can also move along a bit further where the conveyor belt goes back to the wall again and grab a chair. The bag will come around sometime with a bit of patience.

1

u/notwhoyouthinkmaybe 16d ago

The comments above show you are correct. I always stand back until I see my bag.

1

u/Best_Position4574 16d ago

EXACTLY what happened as covid was ramping up with toilet paper (in Australia at least). One person said on one report there could be a shortage. Nek minute, supermarkets have huge amounts of food and supplies, except the toilet paper isle is BARE. As someone else said at work, "I don't want to have to do it, but I have to do it".

I bought one extra bag of 12 rolls to sit under my existing, almost full bag. Whatever I got it lasted me a solid 12 months ahhahahahahahaha. But I had to, everyone else was. I knew what was happening and I knew what I was doing and why and the problem.

1

u/btetsuyama 16d ago

Funny I just watched a video about this 2h ago, immediately put my (updated) knowledge to use.

1

u/cannonman58102 16d ago

I do this and I'm polite and patient in almost all ways. I am just an anxious person who worries more than they should about their back being stolen.

1

u/dirtyshits 16d ago

The smart traveler stands at the end. It thins out the herd and you’re usually standing in the least busy area.

-3

u/Cold-Tangelo-1522 16d ago

No. A rational person does not have to follow the idiocy of the crowd. They can wait in a civilized manner and not pretend their lives are oh so fucking important.

6

u/somedamndevil 16d ago

Just curious. So when there are ton of these idiots, do you just stand behind everything, wait until enough of the idiots get their bag so that you can see your own bag from a distance, then go in to grab it?

1

u/DeHarigeTuinkabouter 16d ago

Yeah tends to work

1

u/oltelluhowitiz 16d ago

Yeah usually I can see at least one long spot on the belt. Im pretty tall though.

But hes right, you are never required to act like an idiot. Its a choice. Unless you are a fucking idiot. Then its sadly not a choice

1

u/thepenismytea 16d ago

Yes. My bag usually has some unique markers for this very reason. I'm not confusing my bag with hardly any others. I have no shame that my suitcase has neon field makrer spray paint to identify it.

6

u/cyanraichu 16d ago

I think the question was more are you willing to spend the time waiting out several cycles

1

u/somedamndevil 16d ago

Are you saying that you can see your neon bag pass through the horde of idiots, or that you aren't worried about missing it because it is neon and you'll see it once the horde of idiots starts to clear? I'm quite tall so normally I can still stand behind people and see my bag, and/or I stand where I can see the bag come out. From there I will slide in between the idiots to actually grab it, and depending on my mood from the long travel, may drop in a "guys, what the fuck" as they give me zero space to pull it off the belt.

4

u/draynen 16d ago

Sliding in-between the idiots is the move here. If they're being rude enough to completely block access to the baggage claim belt, I'm ok with being rude enough to push my way through a few people to get to my bag.

-5

u/ShivaFatalis 16d ago

The smartest people only travel with a carry on and a personal item, and don't bother with baggage claim.