The drive-thru worker on hour nine is still somebody’s kid. Say thanks like you know that.

A window and a headset make it easy to forget there is a person in there. Nine hours in, somebody is standing at a fryer being spoken to like a vending machine, and they went home to a family last night and will again tonight. The setup does most of the dehumanizing for you. Rudeness at a drive-thru is mostly a failure of imagination rather than of character.

Look up from the wheel when you order. Say thanks in the tone you would use for a person standing in front of you, and let the extra minute go.