A few years ago after a really horrendous travel experience that trapped us in Denver overnight, we arrived at the airport at our destination and went looking for our bags, which weren’t where they were supposed to be. We went into one of those baggage service rooms that sits adjacent to a carousel, and there was a guy with a pilot-type of cap (as opposed to the can-I-help-you vest) and he stood at the computer at the desk as the only in the room and tappa-tappa-tappad. And we stood there politely (me also as a Canadian) and waited for some eye contact or some acknowledgement. At some point it became clear that he was simply not going to acknowledge us (maybe he wanted to check his email and this was the best place he could find to do it, he wasn’t really “on the job” thanks) and for a few moments there it became almost fun to stand there and see how he could possibly ignore every ingrained automatic social imperative that compels us to acknowledge another entity. I thought he was a complete tool, but was amazed at his inner strength.

Oh and American Gods is the only Gaiman I’ve read but I really liked it.