Why do people secretly check how fast other lines move?
Waiting becomes painful when someone else waits less.
People compare queues because fairness and relative progress influence emotional satisfaction.
Your line stops.
The next line flies forward.
Instant frustration.
The hidden mechanism is queue anxiety.
Humans compare progress constantly.
Fairness affects emotions.
Relative loss hurts.
People think waiting is about time.
Very often, it is about comparison.
