A: Identify the folkway you violated, and describe how you violated it.
The folkway that I violated was at a local grocery store. It is as I believe everyone knows the "norm", to wait in line. The check out line that says 9 items or less is usually faster, but can have up to 5 or more people with just a couple of items standing in line for the checkout, waiting their turn.
I violated the folkway by not only cutting in line, but I also tried to purchase one grape. How embarrassing. It was hard for me to complete this assignment, as I am so used to following the "status quo" that I could not hardly go through with this process. However, I did. I cut in line and tried to convince the cashier that I only wanted to purchase one grape.

B: Describe your observation. How did you feel? How did others respond?
My observation was complete irritation in the parts of all effected by my actions. The person I cut in front of after about 30 seconds tapped me on the shoulder and told me where the end of the line was. After he initially spoke to me I forced myself to make eye contact with him. He said, "You may not have noticed that I was in line and you stepped in front of me. The line is two people back." My response was, "Oh I saw the line, but I'm in a hurry to purchase my grape and get back home." He said, "Purchase what?" I said, "My grape." He said, "Lady you must be joking", at this time I was up to make my purchase. I said to the man, "Thanks for letting me go first". I placed my one grape on the belt to get up to the cashier.
The cashier said hello, and went to throw the grape in the garbage. I said, "Oh that is mine." She said, "Where are the rest?" I said, "That is it only the grape." She said, "I can't even get the grape to register on the scale." I had a $20.00 bill out to pay for my grape. I told her that I just wanted one grape. The man behind me said to the cashier, "She cut in front of the line to buy that grape." The cashier said, "Just take it, I can't register one grape on the scale." I said, "Oh no, no I couldn't do that I want to pay for it." She said, "I can't get it to register, just go ahead and take it." The man began to talk loudly saying, "Just take the grape so we can get our stuff and get out of here." I think he was prompted by the people behind him to say something.
That was all I could take. I was so embarrassed. I finally told them I was sorry, that I was doing an assignment for a class. They both thought I was nuts. What type of class would assign you this type of an assignment the cashier asked me. I popped the grape in my mouth, told them both I was sorry and thank you and left the store.

C: What insights into how norms function did you gain?
In my experience, norms are unwritten rules of our society that are not to be broken. If they are broken, as in my case even with an explanation, people get upset. I would probably have done the same thing the man did. I surely would have spoken to the people behind me in regards to how rude the person cutting in was.
It was hard for me to explain more about my class and assignment because I guess I felt the same way they did. It must be a norm for me to not be able to explain something I don't support.

Earline Rust