Reason number 754 to get out of retail or Public Service

[terribleturnip]

Okay, not that this is retail, but it does REMIND me of working retail. I mean, my parents taught me well: There are really only two phrases you should ever use with a police officer and they are Yes, Officer and No, Officer.

Is it because we're intimidated by JOHN LAW?

No. It's because we recognize that police and other public facing entities have to deal with stuff like this far more often than you'd think. So, #1, they've earned the right to be testy until you prove you're not an expletivehead. And #2, precisely BECAUSE they have to deal with stuff like this, they might be more inclined to go easy on you because you are not stepping on their last freaking nerve:

http://arbroath.blogspot.com/2011/08/lady-has-spectacular-roadside-rant-at.html

That goes for any public-facing representative -- the folks at the county courthouse have way more patience than I have, for example. I mean, the lady next to me was filling out a very simple form...so, I put my name and address here? Yes, m'am. Do you have a pen I could use? Right there in front of you m'am in the pen cup. Should I fill out my phone number? Yes, m'am, also your phone number. Where should I sign it? Right there where it says signature, m'am.

Admittedly, in my younger days I could have put up with that to a certain extent, with a comedy track commentary running concurrently in my head. But upon reflection, I worked in very high end retail stores. For the most part, I dealt with morons and lunatics who at least at good personal hygiene.

Police and other servants don't have that luxury. Heck, I would have been leaning over the counter snarling at this woman "Why don't you just fill out anything you know the answer to? OR, just tell me that you can't read and stop wasting my time one blank at a time. But first, go home, take a shower and come back dressed in something more respectful of the court than flipflops and a t-shirt with an expletive on it. I was ashamed of myself a little, thinking I was discriminating on the basis of economic class -- heck, maybe she's too poor to...but then she pulled out her iphone and a pack of cigarettes and well...we all make choices, don't we?

Anyway, just remember, before you pull on your cloak of outrage, remember, daily dealings with the general public, who are mostly crazier and more difficult than you are, can wear a person down. And while you should be innocent until proven guilty...that's a hard standard to hold when you've spent most of your day with the great American public.

Comments

[silvrwillow.livejournal.com]

Geez, woman, take a powder. WTH is her deal?

[pyratelady.livejournal.com]

I've watched a few episodes of "COPS" -- in some of those situations, the officers seem more like daycare employees dealing with 350-pound toddlers in full-blown meltdowns. There was one in particular who amazed me with his patience -- he kept his voice low and kept trying to talk calmly with the "kids" long after I would have slammed them face-first onto the hood of my police car.

I have no plans to go into law enforcement.

[kiltboy]

Last episode of COPS I saw (like 15 years ago-ish) they were chasing a guy through the woods at night. He had the shoes where the heel lights up when you step on it. They were amazed the guy was that stupid that he thought he was going to lose the cops with light up shoes.

Amazing. Really. Sometimes I'm embarrassed to be human.

[sestree.livejournal.com]

The only retail I would ever go back into involves schlepping drinks. At least you can find an excuse for their bad behavior and hey bouncers fix those attitude problems real quick.