PSA to not be a dick to retail workers this holiday season (and all seasons!). Working retail during the holidays was some of my shittiest experiences. People become coupon-waving, red-faced monsters that deserve nothing but a trip into Krampus’ sack.
Here are a few things to remember:
1: They have literally no authority. Honestly, the cashier would love nothing more than to accept a stack of expired coupons to get some cranky-ass customer indignantly insisting that “at this point YOU owe ME money!” through the line. But they can’t. And no amount of screaming will change that. Oh, and the manager is bunkered safely in the back refusing to come out and will only troubleshoot through walkie.
2: If you’re nice (like basic human decency) they are more inclined to help you as much as they are able. Being kind and patient costs nothing and might actually pay off. You might even be able to coax out a skiddish manager that *sometimes* has the magic touch to get things accomplished.
3: Corporate overlords. Managers can do a lot but in the end, the retail world is run from corporate overlords through the machine sentries AKA registers. Welcome to Black Mirror, people. If the machine rejects your request then back to the matrix with you.
Everyone's got several faces to show to the world, most of which are hidden because one knows about their real nature. to think people are good seems way too easy to me. You are the reaction and interpretation of your experiences and current circumstances. Assuming the world is shit, people got to be shit at least part time. So go on with your masquerade in order to trick mainly yourself.
(HB pencil on a 87mm x 139mm postcard) Every leap year day, the residents of toon world go batshit crazy and indulge themselves, because it's the only day when they can really get hurt.
