[lbo-talk] Standing vs. Sitting

[jthorn65 at sbcglobal.net]

> PS.  As I am writing this, another possible explanation comes to my mind -
> the volume of stuff being purchased.  It is much higher in the US than
> elsewhere, for several reasons, chief of which is the land use.  Europeans
> and South Americans tend to walk to the stores every day and buy only the
> stuff they need that day.  US-sers tend o drive there from the bowels of the
> suburbs once or twice a week and hoard stuff for longer time periods.  The
> volume of stuff that need to be moved throughout the scanners and into the
> bellies to the suburban SUVs may indeed requite the extra flexibility that
> you mention.
> 
> I like that explanation - it is materialistic and does not rely on culture
> and psychological preferences.
> 
> Wojtek

This explains why the cashier at Wal-Mart has to stand but not why the cashier at the convenience store 
has to. I think that it serves as a constant reminder of heirarchy in the store.

Just a few blocks from me are several convenience stores and one gas station. The convenience store 
people all stand but the gas station attendant sits unless he is pumping gas at the full service pump. The C-
stores are all chains but the gas station is owned by an elderly man who also works there. It is an old style 
station with 3 garage bays and no snacks or drinks of any kind.

John Thornton