Thursday, September 29, 2011

stupid human tricks

I can't stop googling people.  The good and the bad.  I want to state again that I would never use any of the information from work for malicious purposes.  I am a good and honest person.

It is fascinating to interact with a person in the store and then find out what they do and who they are and see how they present themselves to the internet world.  As I am typing, I feel a pang of guilt, like, if I think people are so interesting, why don't I talk to them about their lives to their faces?  But it can't work that way all the time.  A lot of the time.  Most of the time.

I don't expect to befriend these people or for them to change their behavior (the bad ones).  After a defeating day where it felt like everyone was an idiot, I question the capability of humanity.  When I look a little deeper into a life, I am reassured because I see the stupidity and meanness are tricks humans use when shopping.  If you catch a jerk in the right setting, they might just be an ok person.

At least, that is my hope.

Sunday, September 4, 2011

Hellbent princess bitches from Hell

I may have written about this before, but I can't remember.  I feel like it could be a bit creepy, so I may have refrained from confession.  BUT it is something I occasionally do and I'm sure I'm not the only one.

Once in awhile, when there is an especially memorable customer (good or bad, though usually bad), I will google them.  I don't have malicious plans.  I am curious.  What makes this person such a raving, manipulative, horrible bitch?

I am usually disappointed by what I find.  They seem so normal and good.  Supposedly helping and improving the world through art, journalism, teaching, and other respectable pursuits.  I barely recognize their facebook and linkedIn profile pictures because they are smiling and being friendly.  I might find a news article about some activity they were a part of and I get sad because it sounds like we might have similar interests and could have good conversation, if they weren't bent on being bitch princesses from hell when they came in to shop. 

As the little details of unpleasant interactions fade away, I am left wondering why people behave the way they do in a retail store.  I wonder if it is done unknowingly out of general frustration or purposeful pay-it-forward hate.  Do people behave that way in stores like mine just because they can and it is almost expected?  Do they think to themselves, "finally a place I can have some power!  I WILL get my way in this store no matter what."  Do they take pleasure in being bitchy in my store, behaving in ways that would get them banished from polite society and estranged from friends?

The biggest let-down for me is not that I am unable to reciprocate the attitudes in elaborate and satisfying revenge plots, but that I cannot ask them "Hey.  You seem really angry and upset.  Are you ok?  Can we take a moment to really talk, put this all in perspective, and help each other out?"

Now I'm the crazy one.