Now Boarding

What is it about airports that makes people abandon all sense of common courtesy? I feel there are numerous examples of this, but none more so than the process of boarding an airplane. Most airlines these days have separated passengers into different seating areas and board accordingly, yet despite the fact that a ticket may have a big fat 4 stamped in the middle, people insist on crowding the boarding area long before boarding for their section even starts. Not only are you jumping the gun, but you've just started a domino effect. People in sections 2 and 3 don't want you to get ahead of them, so then they start squeezing in. Those that have no idea what's going on see a big crowd and then they get up too. Soon enough, there's a huge crowd in front of the boarding area, and travelers trying to get to other gates can barely get by. Why the madness? We Americans laugh at China's inability as a nation to stand in line and the need for a national monthly queuing day. But judging from the cluster fuck I've been seeing at the airport, we could probably benefit from something similar. What's your hurry anyway? Sit down and wait your turn. You'll have more leg room in the boarding area.