This week’s cover story is New York Magazine New York Magazine–ing harder than it has ever New York Magazine’d before (complimentary): a 3,600-word article about where, how, and why people seem to love standing in lines nowadays. I talked to Brock about what went into writing this and which lines they deem worth standing in.
First, most important question: Do you say “on line” (as native New Yorkers do, allegedly), or do you say “in line”?
Oh, I definitely say “in line.” I find the “on line” thing to be somewhat annoying. It sounds too much like being “online,” and, also, “in line” sounds so much better. It’s so much more casual. The rest of the country says “in line.”
While reporting this story, did you eat or drink anything good that you got from standing in a line?
L’Industrie pizza is delicious. Radio Bakery is delicious. Caffè Panna is delicious. That’s why I was somewhat sympathetic to the line people. At least they’re supporting local businesses, and the product is good. Just because it’s viral does not mean that it is overhyped.
What else made you feel sympathetic to the line people?
You know, I kept asking people, “Why are you here?” And the answer was often as simple as “What else am I gonna do?” And that’s true for me, too. On a Monday night, I’m usually at the bar drinking too much or on my couch watching like 1,000 episodes of some television show. Why not waste an hour of your life? It’s not even a waste, that’s the thing. Why not do something proactive and get out of your house and walk to this yogurt place and have dessert? It seems like a totally reasonable thing to do on a Monday night.
What do you make of the theory that people like to wait in lines now because our lives are too streamlined and convenient, and they crave the old-fashioned experience of waiting?
Well, that’s why I get mad at all the people who are line haters. When’s the last time you Uber Eats’d a meal to your apartment? There’s no way it took less than 30 minutes. The only difference is that you’re on your couch and these people got out of their house.
