you can't skip the greetings or sign-offs when you write emails

Yeah, I don't like when these are skipped either.

See, to me that sounds more like a SyFy pitch.

No, see, it can't be a SyFy pitch. Because, in my imagination, when I pitch it I'm sober.

Because, in my imagination, when I pitch it I'm sober.

You'll never fit in at the Beeb with that attitude. Hey, is it noon yet? Let's leave early and go to the pub!

that would also include the cashier commenting on every item, asking what you're planning to make with the stuff you're buying, commenting on the weather, asking where you work and what you do, calling one of the other cashiers over to discuss an interesting item that you're buying, and it would take five minutes. And the cashiers would also just about always address me as "sweetie" or "baby," which I hated.

I can overlook the sweetie, because, well, they're Southern and can't help themselves. But the nosy questions into my life! Why do you care, stranger!

I prefer it my way, that's why I live here. But I know I'm wound a little too tight when the extra 46 seconds of human interraction is driving me around the bend.

Oh, Trudy, don't ever move to the South. Your head will explode.

You'll never fit in at the Beeb with that attitude. Hey, is it noon yet? Let's leave early and go to the pub!

Looks like I picked the wrong career to quit drinkin'.

(I should also say that I get along great with most of my UK co-workers and that the vast majority of them are wonderful people who are fun to be around. There's just a very definite difference in business culture on opposite sides of the pond.)

Just give me the money and John Barrowman!

I think I need to change my tag again.

I like the Southern politeness thing. I've even (mostly) stopped rolling my eyes when I get called darling/hon/sweetie, which happens pretty frequently at work, too. Facilities is old school South, yo. I've had male coworkers (from outside my dept) come and carry recycling bins for me. That still makes me roll my eyes.

Tangentially, I wash my work dishes in a shop area heavily filled with Stereotypically Southern Guys and they frequently crack "jokes" when I'm back there. Today's winner - I was washing an oversized black coffee mug and got asked, "Gonna shave?" "What? Uh, no." "Probably good. Too big an audience." OH GOD EW STOP TALKING.

I've not much had that experience in checkouts and I've lived my whole life in the south. In fact, the only time I really can say it's happened is when it's a local rural store or neighborhood store, and then it's just catching up with neighbors.

I mean it's not something you're likely to run into at Kroger or Target or something.

I was overjoyed when my grocery store installed self-checkouts. Now I can get food without ever interacting with another human being!