The Queue and the Clock
Article by Ayman Fouad Abdelgawad
Ten people wait for an hour. On a chart, each has experienced the same delay.
One is missing paid work. Another has a child to collect. A third can answer messages and scarcely notices the time. The clock records duration with admirable impartiality. It does not record what the duration costs.
A queue is often a reasonable way to distribute access. The difficulty comes when its simplicity persuades us that nothing else needs to be considered. We can preserve a fair order while still asking whether appointments, clearer information, or another way of responding would reduce avoidable burdens.
The hour has not become longer for the person who can least afford it. Their other obligations have simply continued to run while the queue stands still. Fairness begins to look different when both clocks are visible.