I'm not hostile, actually I'm amused at your reaction, as I'm sure some other readers of this thread are. What we've got here is clashing cultural norms. I'm not Chinese but I've had to adapt while living here, as a matter of survival. Of course (my) taxi-achievement strategies would be amended depending on what country I was in and what the norms are.
If you wish to come to China and "wait properly in a queue" then bring a good book (War and Peace?) because you may be waiting a long time while others shove you aside. Hong Kong behavior is completely civilized compared to the mainland.
The Chinese profile as a matter of course--as individuals, organizations, government, and culture--and have no problems being "politically incorrect" as it might be called in the USA. I've seen plenty of taxi drivers drive right past black Africans (some members of the diplomatic staffs assigned to Beijing) trying to hail a cab because they don't want to take them. Is it fair? No. Can you change this culture? No.
Again, I didn't "skip" over or around anybody and I didn't muscle anyone aside--the taxi driver was the one that beckoned. The first ladies ahead of me were already 20 feet away at the taxi door, while I was still waiting on the curb by the building. And I gave him full latitude to reconsider his decision by holding back some extra moments, and by telling him my destination, being very up front he wasn't going to get a huge distance fare. It's possible that he just didn't want to go in the direction that either of those two women were heading--Beijing traffic is beyond a nightmare and this happens regularly.
The idea that the two Chinese women in front of me would have tipped the driver is pretty farfetched. Chinese don't do that. As said before, drivers here don't expect tips and many will refuse or be baffled if you try. This driver didn't know I was going to let him keep the change until the ride was over. And I wouldn't be surprised if he was more tickled about me thanking him "for choosing me as his passenger" (in Mandarin) than with the extra four RMB.
I know what the taxi driver would have done if I had refused to get into his cab on the grounds of "it's not fair" to the other waitees--he would have driven off with nobody getting in. It's called saving face, an Asian thing you might be familiar with, and once he refused the first two women, there's next to no chance he would about-face and take one of them.
Originally Posted by
BOShappyflyer
Relax. No need to get hostile. I already admitted that I didn't get it, especially in light of the misleading thread title. I've been to Hong Kong a number of times where people try to rush in to the subway stations before letting passengers out, so I'm guessing it's more or less the same. You could be right - maybe there's still a lot I need to know and learn about China.
Having said that, just because it's a "dog-eat-dog" world doesn't justify that it's right. It doesn't justify the behavior or that people should forget what common courtesy is. (i.e. like in the extreme case where a child is run over by a vehicle, and people just walk right by).
Also, I didn't 'imply' that that you have anything to be ashamed or apologize for. I asked explicitly. Certainly, you have nothing ashamed nor to apologized for (since it was the driver's decision that was questionable). But, it's certainly nothing to be thrilled at or write home about because you would be miffing all the same if you were in the other shoe.
Frankly, I have been in that situation before and looked to the other passengers to see if they were OK (but mostly there was a legitimate reason - they're waiting for other parties, too many people or luggage). In case where there is blatant line skipping (to my benefit), I actually point to the passengers to ensure that the driver sees that there are others ahead of me. I'm usually in no huge hurry. If he driver insisted, would I have refused? Probably not, but more often than not, I would wonder why the cab driver does what he did. Like I said, it's nothing to write home about.
I've done enough of international traveling (even where language is a barrier) to know I'd rather wait properly in a queue, then to skip ahead of the locals even though if the service provider assume we tip well as foreigner (which we do, but it is still beside the point).
It's conceivable (even if it seems unlikely in your mind) that the two women before you could have tipped okay too. Even if they don't tip as is the local customs, that doesn't mean they should be passed over by someone who does. The cab service provided you with good service, you should tip him properly. But, skipping other people to help you long before he knew how you were going to tip is not just good service, it's profiling of some sort.
Anyway, I'll leave it as is. It's just a genuine question to think about. No need to get worked up over it. I'm glad your trip works out OK and you made it to your meeting in time.