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Someone said considerations of rank don't come up much in everyday life. I
saw another natural example today.

Kirby needed to be at work at 10:00. They were receiving an order and going
to rearrange stock in the storage shed. Another car pulled up at the same time.

The other car had Ryan (22 ish, the personnel manager) and Joey (not an
employee, but helps out sometimes).

The door was locked. Kirby has a key. But he stood back and let Ryan unlock
the door.

Had the owner or the business manager shown up at the door at the same time,
Ryan would have stood back and let them open the door.

Joey, meanwhile, who has no key and no access to the alarm code, and so he
politely looked away.

Are they just wise in social interaction? Are they naturals at interpersonal
relationships? I doubt anyone taught them how to act. And I can think of
other young male people I know who wouldn't have been as smooth, who might have
been nattering on about how the alarm system worked, peeking over to see it,
or being obnoxious. But these guys were as smooth as any dancers.

Sandra

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I made the comment that we do not deal with a lot rank in our day in and day
out lives. I really should have said "in formal settings" You stated too
that formal situations that involve rank are less common. I do agree that rank
plays a part in our every day lives. It is very subtle and most folks do not
even realize that is it playing out. Sandra's example is perfect of how
rank insticntively works in well adapted individuals.

I don't think most folks correlate these types of common, every day
occurences with the term "rank", but, when it comes right down to the basics of it,
what other term can be used? Respect? Courtesy? Common sense? OK.. but WHY
practice any of those in this situation? Because the older, supervising
employee had rank among the young men.

Teresa


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