I’ve started work at Shenton Way. The last few days, I’ve been having lunch at Lau Pa Sat and I’ve noticed people leaving free tissue paper on the tables for the next batch of hungry workers. I jest. Tissue papers on the seats and tables is a uniquely Singaporean way to book seats or, as it is more affectionately known among locals, chopping seats.
I think this practice is dumb despite the fact that some people might argue it shows that Singaporeans can be civil because no one will ever sit at a location with a packet of tissue paper. And if you think about it, a tissue paper isn’t some scary dragon guarding a treasure so why do we respect it so much as a marker of ‘ownership’ over the tables. Of course, I guess everyone is trying to avoid creating a scene when the owners of the packet return with trays of food and find their seats taken.
But I digress.
It is a stupid and inefficient practice.
Here is why.
At any point during the peak lunch period, there are 3 groups of people.
1. Those eating their food.
2. Those queuing for their food.
3. Those looking for seats to consume their food.
The people doing 1 and 2 are being productive. People doing 3 are not being productive. They are in fact wasting their time. Why? The reason they are wasting their time is because while they are looking for seats, there are actually empty seats but these seats have been chopped. The chopped seats are a wasted resource.
When a seat is chopped, the person who has chopped it is consuming it while waiting for food and while eating the food.
Mathematically this is roughly what is happening:
Tx = Time Taken To Find Seat.
Ty = Time Taken To Queue For Food.
Tz = Time Taken to Eat.
Total Time For Person 1 = Tx1 + Ty1 + Tz1 - Equation 1.
Here is the thing, if no chopping of seats are allowed, your time taken to find one seat is as long as the time the person using it takes to finish the food.
Ideally, for Person 2, Tx2 = Tz1 - Equation 2.
However, if someone chops a seat, then Tx2 = Ty1 + Tz1 - Equation 3.
Now, assuming that the queuing time for food for both individuals are the same and the time to consume the food is the same.
For Person 2, Total Time = Tx2 + Ty2 + Tz2
= Tx2 + Ty1+ Tz1
= 2Ty1 + 2Tz1 - Using Equation 3
compared to the ideal situation of Tz1 +Ty1 + Tz1 - Using Equation 2.
Since the values are all positive, it is clear from the above that chopping seats are actually adding to the time taken to have lunch.
Now, some people may say I’m totally missing the point - that chopping seats is so that groups of people can have lunch together.
Needy and Clingy humans. It is really quite sad.
Anyway, that’s just an excuse. People chop seats because they don’t want to hunt for seats after getting the food because they think it is an inconvenience and a waste of time. In the bigger picture, everyone will be better off if no one chopped seats. But all we need is just one person to be selfish and take a resource (i.e. the seat) when they don’t actually need it yet and then everyone just starts being selfish and look out for their own short term gain without considering the bigger picture.
I was about to actually comment that it is sad that in Lau Pa Sat, at the heart of our CBD, where our banks, consultancies and finance companies are located, all institutions that thrive because of the supposed free market mechanisms that arguably are the best in resource allocation, such abject resource usage is occurring.
Then again, maybe I shouldn’t be surprised. Personally, despite everything my Econs teacher has tried to teach me and the arguments everyone in the finance industry make to justify their arguably inflated salaries, I believe the only things that really drive human society and our economics is greed and fear.
Chopping of seats reflect that. Fear of not having something. Greed of hoarding something.
Daily Sg: 6 March 2008 « The Singapore Daily | 06-Mar-08 at 11:29 am | Permalink
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Anon | 06-Mar-08 at 12:10 pm | Permalink
Heh if i saw a table with a packet of tissue on it, i would pocket the tissue and occupy the table. The returning owner of the tissue will have no reasonable argument to reclaim the table. It’s the stupidest practice ever.
That said, i won’t hesitate reserving the table by sitting at it while my friends purchase their meals. I don’t think it’s a waste of a ‘resource’. Lunch is often the only time we get to relax in a long day, so i don’t see why i shouldn’t eat with company.
kuey | 06-Mar-08 at 8:23 pm | Permalink
Actually, market forces have not failed in this case. What has failed is that the seats are a free commodity, and hence, because it effectively belongs to everybody, people are at liberty to abuse it for their personal gain.
To correct this, free economy requires that there be costs to occupation of the seat. For example, if each person is charged for the time spent on each seat (whether actually seated there, or chopped), you can be sure the incidence of chopping would drop significantly.
And the costs of the food of the centre can be adjusted downwards such that the average costs per person comes up the same.
clarence | 07-Mar-08 at 12:28 am | Permalink
Your mathematical calculations make sense. They appear to make your line of reasoning credible.
But some things cannot be calculated. Even if they can be, you left them our of your calculations.
Did you consider how walking around with hot soup and a tall cup of drink poses a risk of tumbling? Can you calculate that? Did you consider that?
And with everyone wandering around looking for a place, it might get messy - literally. With so many wanderers with food in hand, you might be the very person whom they spill it on.
Also, you proposed no alternative to your problem. What is the use of complaining if you don’t offer a batter plan B?
Might these work?:
1. A person waits at the table to reserve it for his friends, instead of using packet tissue. Is this better? I dont think so - He occupies only one seat, and you eagerly go and sit down at the table — only for him to tell you sorry, all are occupied. Cue frustration and cheated feelings.
The tissue packet at the centre of the table serves to prevent this wasted effort and false hopes.
2. You talk about Needy and Clingy humans. So.. you have never felt the need for social interaction? If you are not ‘Needy or Clingy’, then you should be fine with never eating with your friends at the same table again. The minute you do, or have the desire to, you become a hypocrite.
Invaluable social bonding also takes place outside of the office. Can you imagine if it becomes a place for mechanical workers whom you know nothing about? I’d like to see you deal with that alternative.
I think reserving seats with tissue is a frustrating thing to deal with, but it is the best solution.
clarence | 07-Mar-08 at 12:36 am | Permalink
Anon,
Thanks, yes, lunch is the only time to bond outside of office (if you’re not a smoker).
But you say using tissue paper is stupid - but you dont say why.
What do you propose? dont use tissue paper while waiting there yourself?
The effect of a net (entire Lau Pa Sat lunch population, for eg) waste of time is exactly the same if you waited, of if someone put tissue. Plus now, you waste your own time by waiting there.
The tissue merely acts as a proxy for humans.
At short lunch hours, can you wait 5-10 minutes for your friends to come back before going yourself? Maybe you can, but others might not be able to cos their break is shorter than yours.
This is the big picture. It’s not stupid.
iantimothy | 07-Mar-08 at 12:44 am | Permalink
@clarence..your challenge is moot. for the one and a half years I was at my last company, I had lunch by myself almost everyday. When I say almost, I mean almost - I can say only 1 month equivalent of days was spend having lunch with another person or people.
Doesn’t mean I don’t need social interaction. I do. But I know when is the time for social interaction and when is the time not for it. Or rather, I have my own opinion when is the time for it. I concede some people will only use or have lunch as the only time to mix with their colleagues. Personally, i think that is sad.
If I really want to mix with you, I’ll ask you out after work or arrange something where we all can gather in a more convenient and relaxed environment - not try to squeeze ‘interaction’ time only during lunch. That to me is just a superficial show of social interaction.
About walking around with hot soup and a tall cup of drink - is that the only way to get seats? Why can’t I just wait around my vicinity, and once a seat opens up, i’ll just go for it. No need to walk extra. Don’t need to do extra.
My alternative was hidden in the post. You just need to do some thinking for yourself. I won’t spoon feed you - that’s the role of our education system.
iantimothy | 07-Mar-08 at 12:48 am | Permalink
@kuey your comment makes more sense because it is not born out of defensiveness. Thanks for contributing.
iantimothy | 07-Mar-08 at 12:53 am | Permalink
The big picture is no one chop seats. You use the seats only when you are ready to use the seats. If you can’t get to sit with your friends, then so be it.
HOWEVER, since most people eat in groups, if one leave, then others will leave, so most likely the group gets to sit down together.
Of course, the group size won’t match, so, some might need to wait a bit more or eat alone. I think that is perfectly acceptable.
As a whole, a no chopping seats method with tissue or with someone waiting will give a net gain of efficiency for everyone at least in terms of time.
iantimothy | 07-Mar-08 at 12:57 am | Permalink
Anyway, let me emphasize this - I believe people eat together less for social interaction. It is more so that they don’t seem like an outcast. There is a difference. Subtle difference but it is there.
iantimothy | 07-Mar-08 at 1:20 am | Permalink
Oh…and I do chop seats. I acknowledge my complicity in a flawed and stupid system.
Entrepreneur | 10-Mar-08 at 3:32 pm | Permalink
I applaud the mathematical rigour that has been put into the “table choping” exercise.
In the meantime, guess who has a seat
iantimothy | 10-Mar-08 at 4:47 pm | Permalink
Both of us? Only because I take the path of least resistance.
Empleado Administrav | 03-Sep-08 at 5:59 pm | Permalink
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