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Why I Hate Us, v. 2

2008 at 1pm Posted by Rebecca Joines Schinsky

I stopped by FedEx Kinko’s this afternoon on my lunch break to have some pages bound, and I had the pleasure of witnessing yet another reminder of why I hate us. Actually, it was a reminder of an entire group of people I simply can’t stand: windbag businessmen who think they’re funny.

I’m standing there at the counter talking to the clerks, who I know well because I take stuff to them for work all the time, when this man in his mid-40s walks in. He’s wearing a nice enough suit, has the requisite bluetooth attached to his ear, and there’s a big old belly lopping over his belt. (Where I come from, they call that a “dunlap,” as in “his belly done lapped over his pants.” Maybe we should submit this word for the next edition of Phraseology.)

Anyway, he walks up to one of the copy machines in the row along the wall and says, “Is this a color copier?”

“It will do color or black-and-white,” responds the clerk (who is kind enough not to point out that that very information is posted right in front of his face on a large sign by the copier).

“So it’s what, three cents a page?”

The clerk answered by telling him the correct cost, which, again, was posted on the wall (in large, colorful lettering). Then he said, in a voice noticeably louder and clearly intended to amuse and impress everyone in earshot:

So, I heard that you guys are merging with UPS. They’re going to call the new company FedUp!

Uh, right. The clerk ignored him, I snickered at his ridiculousness, and he remained oblivious to the fact that no one laughed at his poor excuse for a joke (not to mention his insult to the customer service person who was being very patient with him).

This kind of behavior makes me crazy. I’m just in Kinko’s to make copies or run an errand; I don’t want or need to be entertained, especially not by someone who just wants to hear himself talk. What was he hoping to achieve with that comment? Are insult and condescension supposed to inspire overworked customer service people to new heights of attentiveness? What? Seriously. I just don’t get it.

What obnoxious social behavior have you witnessed lately? I want to know.

Click here to read my previous rant, here for my review of Dick Meyer’s Why We Hate Us, and here for a tale of travel craziness that will make you rethink those holiday plans.

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Comments

No Responses to “Why I Hate Us, v. 2”

Michele on November 11th, 2008 2:32 pm

Are you sure you really want to hear (you may have asked a loaded question here)? ‘Cause I work on airplanes and I’ve got to tell you that 98% of the behavior I encounter is obnoxious.

Boarding the plane: “You guys been drinking up there?”
#1 Yeah, I’m loaded. #2 I’m not a guy.

Referencing above: “They let women fly these things?”
Yep. Believe it or not, the plane doesn’t know the difference.

“Where’s baggage claim?” Well since I don’t get off the plane like you do, I probably wouldn’t be the best person to ask. But if I had to venture a guess, it would probably be right next to the sign that says Baggage Claim.

“This plane sure is small.” Let me guess…you expected a B777 to fly you home to Amarillo?

See, I told you not to get me started. The general public can be obnoxious! That said, there are some wonderful people out there…I just wish they would cross my path more often.
Ti on November 11th, 2008 6:51 pm

Today at lunch I enjoyed a chorus of belching teens. My son (10) was appalled and I was glad to see it. I don’t see how their girlfriends found it so amusing but they did. The last thing I would want to be sitting next to is a boy belching. P*I*G…PIG.
Matthew on November 11th, 2008 11:32 pm

Amazing these windbags don’t even realize how stupid they sound!
RJ on November 12th, 2008 8:14 am

I have witnessed many obnoxious, rude people in my life (most of the time, sadly, they were American). I have a friend who I admire very much. She will tell people if they are being rude (and in a very nice way). The sad thing is that when rude people are confronted, they usually get defensive and start yelling something like “Mind your own business.” Hence there are very few people like my friend – people want to avoid a confrontation, even if they are in the right. (And I don’t blame them – It’s not fun getting yelled at!) So what’s the answer? After reading the Book Lady’s review, I want to read “Why We Hate Us?” Hopefully Mr. Meyers has some workable solutions.
The Sunday Salon « The Book Lady’s Blog on November 16th, 2008 1:27 pm

[...] continued my quest against social inappropriateness with another post about why I hate us, and I shared more tales from the bookstore with Adventures in Bookselling, v. [...]