A plastic existence.
I worked customer-facing retail tech support. Some asshole said, “c’mon, man, give me a smile,” when I didn’t laugh at his unfunny joke while I was troubleshooting his computer. I was concentrating on doing my job; I didn’t have time to polish his ego. I am still annoyed at that interaction.
“Wouldn’t hurt you to smile”
I’ve heard that before. Murderous rage.
Then the guy who was holding up the line asking to be given something we didn’t do. Demands manager. I come over.
He demands I give him something that was against policy and technically a health code violation. This goes on for a long time. I gave in because this was dinner rush and the line for pickup was out the door and every time I get held up like this there are fires I’m not fighting growing out of control.
Motherfucker says “Was that so hard” and walks away laughing.
I don’t remember what he looked like, and I am not a violent man. But if I saw him again and knew it was him I would beat the shit out of that man today.
Here’s the thing to remember about retail:
You can’t possibly remember the tens of thousands of customers you deal with, so the ones that stand out in your memory are the outliers. Which is why ulyou remember so many assholes. Most people are perfectly nice, but they’re so common they all kinda blend together.
I remembered the lady who was buying a 13" laptop to get into video editing. A year later, I saw her and asked how that was going. She was so surprised that I remembered her that I take great delight in the fact that we were real people and not a faceless corporation. I remember lots of people who weren’t assholes.
david mitchell on this https://youtu.be/E9PSg0sQyfs
One of my coworkers occasionally catches their train home from the same station/platform as me. Its so much fun taking that mask off together. Laughing and talking about the public and what not. Good times.
I ain’t happy unless I’m getting paid.
Wait you get paid?
Remember when this was the meaning of “emotional labor”? Rather than “relationships require effort”?
Why not just always be friendly to people? Makes the person you are talking to happier and it makes you happier as well
Edit: I never thought I’d get downvoted for saying being nice to people is a good thing this platform is cooked lmao
Retail work is a lot of emotional labor. At the end of the day, wearing the mask can be too much. I consider myself a very happy and welcoming person, and even I would do this after retail shifts
You don’t have to fake a customer service smile to be friendly.
Edit: and you weren’t just saying “being nice to people is a good thing” though, were you? Maybe read your own comment and the replies instead of making up a strawman.
One time for work I was sent to give a presentation and they put me up in a really pricey hotel. The people at the front desk were so smiley and cheerful like seeing me was the best moment of their lives. It totally freaked me out. Then I realized: this must be how it is for rich people, with folks always smiling at them like they’re awesome. I wanted to say: you don’t have to be that way with me, look at me, my luggage is held together with duct tape and I still look like a grad student. But I didn’t say anything bc it probably just would have made things even more awkward.
Have you ever met a shitty person?
I think it’s a cultural thing. Here where I live it’s pretty mellow no one really cares or smiles, but I went on a trip to Brazil and everyone was super chill and happy, like every little shop you go to and everyone is super helpful and happy. Even walking down the street some car put up some loud music and people came from all around to start dancing and following the car around the block lol
You should try being nicer to people. Toxic positivity is mean.
Ya y’all ignoring the smile part specifically here for a sec -
This is a phenomenal lifehack (assuming privileges align to make it feasible for you, but nothing to worry about if not)
