How often do you say to yourself on a daily basis, "I hate people"? If you work with the public you probably say it more than you can count. But what if you didn't work with the public and still had that affliction? Sometimes people are just the worst in the most unexpected places. Recently I have had the the fortunate or unfortunate (however you want to look at it) pleasure of having several run-ins with people that make me understand why dog is man's best friend and not another man.
Driving
I've driven in a few places around the country and while city driving is the most aggressive and terrifying driving in NJ has got to be the most frustrating. Coasters in the left lane, blinker neglecters, horn lovers, Jersey sliders, break pushers, bird flippers, senior citizens, all combined in a relatively small state make driving incredibly stressful.
Shopping
I don't understand why parents yell at their kids and get embarrassed for them making a scene but the second you tell them they can't bend the rules so they can pay a price they want to pay suddenly making a scene is not only ok it is downright necessary. I'm sorry, you can't combine three coupons to get something for $0.03 but you yelling "the customer is always right!" doesn't actually make you RIGHT it makes you a jerk. Please stop, have some integrity and finish paying so I can purchase my stuff. And, somehow, this ALWAYS happens when I'm food shopping and I break the golden rule NEVER GO FOOD SHOPPING WHEN YOU ARE HUNGRY. Now I'm hungry and will probably tell you to stop talking to the cashier that way and push your products on the floor very passive aggressively because you are keeping me from eating the food I am so hungrily buying. Thats the same equivalent as a mic drop in a food store.
Work
When you say "I love my job" its usually in a sarcastic "trying-to-keep-it-together" kind of way. I have worked some extremely different jobs and one thing I have learned is, the smaller the staff the worse it is. The best jobs I ever had was with a big diverse group of people and there was a family sort of feel to it. Another time it was not really diverse, but I was the only female so it was great and I was able to work by myself. When you work in tiny offices or small stores you have no variety, you either work with people you like or don't like. And god help you if they don't like you. You have to try extra hard to prove your potential and worth. Here's what I like to do now: not prove a damn thing.
After working somewhere long enough it became clear that no matter what I did I was going to be judged and mocked and looked down on. Sounds pretty crappy but when you block out the dirty looks, the nasty attitudes, the condescending tones, the ignorance, the throwing people under the bus and the hypocrisy, and you focus on your own performance it surprisingly becomes easier. Nobody should be a quitter but at what point does it become acceptable to say "I shouldn't have to put up with this"? I refuse to be made to feel inferior by someone who is far from perfect. Being snobby, self absorbed and rude doesn't make anyone better than you, those people shine a light on how to be a better human being (by not sharing in their traits). Clock in, do work, make money, go home. You got this.
Resturants
Ok I love going out to eat. I don't mind the waiting 45 minutes for a table if its busy, I don't mind screaming and crying children, I don't mind if the food takes long, and I don't mind if it accidentally comes out wrong. I mind when my server can't bring me napkins or a refill because another customer will NOT stop complaining about how much chicken is in her enchilada. This happened. After a while I took out my phone and timed how long the waitress had to stand there and get sassed by this woman. Too long. How long is too long? Long enough for me to get parched because you wouldn't let her take the food back to get fixed and you just wanted to vent.
I admittedly have a hard time keeping my mouth shut. So I may have kind of shouted for the lady to let the waitress to take a break from being yelled at to help her other customers. In my defense, it did get the managers attention finally, and I got my refill. I'm calling that a victory.
Sometimes it isn't good to vocalize your displeasure with peoples ignorance. Turns out, some people don't like it. As long as you keep a mental note not to behave the way others do that is less than polite and decent, I'd say there hope for the human condition.
