I make contact with checkout people wherever I am--Boston, my 12 years in NYC, and here in LA. It really doesn't add to the time it takes to do the checking out if you time it right. And I've been there and have to say that just because a person is on the other side of a counter does not mean that they are not a human being. Acknowledging that with eye contact and a sentence or two is not that big a deal. It's like learning to be pleasant to waitstaff without slowing them down so you don't lower their possible tips.
Now, if you asked me about people who get to the end of the check out process before getting out their wallet or checkbook, that's a whole 'nother thing. Dude, you are in line in order to pay, so why not be ready to, oh, you know, PAY?
As people guessed off getting Dental problems taken care of. My awesome dentist was able to see my at ten after 7:00 this morning, diagnosed me as needing a root canal and sent me to an awesome entodontist who squeezed me in at 9:30 this morning. I am now home having taken two vicodin and not in major pain.
Now, if you asked me about people who get to the end of the check out process before getting out their wallet or checkbook, that's a whole 'nother thing. Dude, you are in line in order to pay, so why not be ready to, oh, you know, PAY?
B/c I'm bagging. /anal-retentive former grocery cashier/bagger
Srsly, at the co-op last night, I sent things down the belt in the order I wanted them bagged (cold together, produce and bread last, etc.) and he still fucked it up. HOW HARD IS IT, PEOPLE? Do not bag a cantalope with canned goods.
Huh. I never thought my dinner menu was that private.
Food doesn't bother me so much but the other things one buys in stores? I really don't want to chatter about them. And it happened just last week. I don't want to talk about what I am buying from the Personal Care section with a total stranger. The only reason the total stranger is handling my things is because I have to exchange money for said goods. But it's not a damn invitation. I was polite, but it grated.
(Cashier looks at strange spice). "What do you use this in?" "Oh I'm trying out a new Indian recipe!" Then at the end, "Good luck with your recipe!"
I would find that really weird and somewhat off-putting. It's not that it's wrong, it's just that it's not what I'm used to. The only stores where I can imagine that conversation happening would be places like little health food stores where the cashier is also the owner, where I'm a regular customer and the owner is keeping up with what people are buying so that she can figure out what to order more of.
And I've been there and have to say that just because a person is on the other side of a counter does not mean that they are not a human being. Acknowledging that with eye contact and a sentence or two is not that big a deal.
My snarling about (what feels to me to be) invasive questioning aside, yes be polite. Exchange pleasantries.
Bagging is cool. I'm talking about this kind of thing: the lady in front of me at the CVS yesterday. She stands there while the cashier rings up and bags all of her items, and only after the total is announced to her does she think to start looking for her wallet.
New Yorkers are friendly and polite too! We're just more
efficient
about it.
[gah - I typed that post over an hour ago and then got disconnected. I didn't expect to find it here at the end of the thread!]
It definitely changed my life. Honestly, it kicked off this phase of self-aware depression* I've been in ever since, so while I don't regret going and had many fine experiences and learned a lot, I'm still not quite at the place where I can be thankful for that piece of it. Ask me again in another 10 years.
* as opposed to the mostly unconscious angst of my teen years, and the deceptively exuberant college years.
Did the Corps help you out with re-entry stress at all?
Years ago, I was on a crusade to get them to let me set up a program for returnees. I was pretty surprised to see that there was so little support on the national level.
When I was talking to the woman today, quite a few of the stories were the hard ones. Usually, I try to filter down to the fun stories, but the reality does pop up sometimes. It took me a while to come to grips with the worst of it, so I hear ya.
