So a little while ago, I'm on my way home from FedEx and I stop into the store because I need about a dozen things. On my way in, I notice that the check-out lines are almost all very long but there are two "ten items or less" lines that are pretty short. I immediately decide I only need ten items.
I get my ten items and head for checkout. One of the two Express Lines is now very long but the other one is short so I get into it. Then I notice why it's short. The man ahead of me has at least fifty items and is determinedly moving them from his cart onto the conveyor belt. I inform him politely that this is the "ten items or less" line. He looks up at the sign, agrees that that's what it says and resumes moving his 50+ items onto the belt. The rules apparently do not apply to him.
The checker, who has now noticed the problem, informs the fellow that he has too many items for this line. He says he's sorry (he isn't sorry) but he had his cart pretty well unloaded before he was aware of that. He quickly puts the last eight or nine items up on the conveyor belt and announces he's in a hurry and he's not moving his purchases to another line.
The checker informs him that she's sorry (she is sorry) but she can't let him do this. It wouldn't be fair to the others in line. There are about six of us. He says, without polling us on the topic, "That's okay. They won't mind."
I say, "I mind." The lady behind me proclaims that she too minds. In fact, the sentiment is unanimous. We all mind.
The man says, very matter-of-factly, "I'm not moving to another line. You either check me out here or I'm taking my business to another market and never coming back."
The checker says, "We don't want to lose your business, sir, but I can't do that."
"Fine," he says and storms out of the store, leaving his 50-60 items sitting on the conveyor belt. The checker calls over a bagger who begins clearing the guy's selections and returning whatever can be returned to the shelves to the shelves. There are a few pieces of meat that were cut to his specifications and some hot foods that may have to be discarded.
The manager comes over to see what happened and several of us commend the checker for enforcing the rules. He says, "The secret of this job is knowing when to enforce the rules and when not to. And if you're not sure, you always side with the rules."
By this point, the conveyor belt is clear so I begin loading my selections onto it. As I do, I realize that I have miscounted and I have eleven items. I quickly ditch a can of Campbell's Bean With Bacon Soup. Just to not cause trouble.