While working in department store customer service for several months, I dealt with a great many difficult, rude, obnoxious people. At first it bothered me when they called me names or yelled in my face, told me how stupid I was. It didn't take long to figure out I needed a tougher exterior and a better way to deal with asses. The animated and helpful voice turned to a grey monotone and the welcoming eyes and smile turned into a stone mask. Argue, explain, defend, justify...these things I did at first. Then I turned hard and took no shit. That position didn't last long. It left me feeling less of the person I wanted to be.
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There's something about retail and customer service that makes people turn into...well, I'm not sure, fucktards? I guess it's just that the people are like that regardless of the situation and their sense of entitlement brings it out more in a retail environment, or other such situations. It could also be a feeling of empowerment, like, the retail worker can't retaliate to the treatment so the customer feels more able to act as they please?
I don't like many people and keep my circle small for this reason, I don't want or need the complexity that comes with them, but I feel it's quite sad that people will lord over others with impunity in such basic situations as retail and other such customer service situations. People are dick heads.
I do believe you've hit the nail on the head. Same goes for when patrons are so shitty to serving staffing a restaurant. People sure are dick heads. I always hoped I would run across one of those folks stranded on the side of the road...could I leave them or not??
The sad fact for some is that because they get pushed around (by co-workers, boss, partner etc.) that they feel entitled to do the same to others for a momentary sense of empowerment. Of course, that moment is fleeting. It doesn't speak very highly of a person who acts in such ways.
I reckon, should you come across them, leave them...but then, at that point they might be polite and defferential. It's a hard one. Do we want to sink to their level or be the people we are naturally? Hmm. 🤔