This is not quite in the same class as the one about the monocle and the Colonel’s wife, but it is of some interest. I went to the Hang Seng branch in Shatin to use their ETC machine. They have two such machines. I took the most promising queue, and for once it was not headed by someone who was trying to rewrite “War and Peace” on the keyboard. I made reasonable progress until I was number two. Looking over the head of the small lady in front of me I happened to see what was happening on the screen. A brief message appeared saying that “this transaction is cancelled”, followed by words to the effect of “do you want to try anything else?” And the lady had, evidently, not been concentrating. She pressed “no” and then held her hand hopefully under the money slot. And of course no money appeared. The machine spat out her card and a piece of paper, then waited expectantly for the next customer.
After a few moments the customer realised that something was adrift. She started making distressed noises. I tried to look sympathetic. Real gentleman do not, I decided, contribute at this point something along the lines of “I was evesdropping – the machine told you to to take a running jump.” I looked at the piece of paper, hoping it would clarify the situation, but it seemed at least at first glance that she was supposed to have received $1,000. The lady departed for the counter where, I hope, she raised Hell, because my situation was now also a problem. The people in the next queue were convinced that my machine was not working. One kind lady actually grabbed my hand to stop me pushing my card in it. So that was out. On the other hand all the people who had been lined up behind me had now switched to the other queue, which was now about ten people long. Nobody was proposing to let me in. So I went to another bank.
So the question is, firstly why is it considered rude to look at the computer screen while someone else is using an ATM? It’s a public place. You are not going to get any personal data because you don’t know who the customer is. Still it seems people don’t like you doing it, and indeed when I find myself doing it without particularly meaning to I feel guilty. Secondly under what circumstances should one admit to having looked and seen something the customer has missed. If life is in danger, obviously (philosphers love these unlikely possiblities) but to save inconvenience? I hope the lady got her money sorted out. I was late for lunch.
tim's experiment 
The theft of passwords from ATM customers by gangs spying is all too common in parts of Europe. Sometimes this is done with the aid of a cloning device which can copy the numbers keyed in. This is why it’s inappropriate to peer over shoulders.
You should have ignored the bleating of your fellow customers, put your card in, done your business and buggered off to lunch.
The most annoying ploy at rows of ATM machines is persons holding a place in a faster-moving queue for their friends to jump in. The worst I witnessed was a mother who had three of her offspring placed in different lines, setting a shameful example.
Hong Kong is ripe for ATM rage.