Voyeur’s Moment…
I was at the bank earlier this afternoon with my mother, as it wasn’t my bank, and I wasn’t doing any banking, I was bored. And when I’m bored, I watch people. I know it is a little creepy, but I don’t care what happens with them, I’m just bored and need to amuse myself in that 5 minute between my mum going to the counter and her coming back over to the “tag-along’s chair” corner to claim me. 
This is what I overheard:
Teller: Hi! How are you today?
Guy: Hi! Not so good. A little sore.
Teller: Sore? That’s not good.
Guy: Yeah, went to the doctors this morning for an xray, and if they find anything, they may need to operate on me, blah blah blah blah blah.
Now lets go though and evaluate that conversation…. The teller, was doing her job. People who have to deal with customers on a daily basis, we are asked to recite a line, that is possibly the most over-use greeting, to welcome a customer and make they feel all warm and fuzzy inside. That is the “Hi, how are you today?” line. When we ask you that, its not because we care. Its not because we want to know. It is because we have been told to do so, in order to make the customers all shiny and happy and warm and fuzzy and comfortable, making them like us because they think we care and in turn, generate more custom with us. Why do customers then feel the incessant need to tell us their life stories when we ask them that?! I’m gonna let you in on a secret…. I. DON’T. CARE. I seriously doubt anyone else does either. It has gotten to the point now that when I see the elderly, I avoid using that greeting on them. It gives them the option to tell me about how their day has gone so far. I know it is only because they are lonely and would like someone to talk to, but in the department I work, we don’t have time to have a nice little chat with them. The last time I made the mistake of asking, about the customer’s day to a 80yo lady with a walking stick, a stammer, and was hard of hearing, I spent an hour trying to find a way to make her pay for her damn can opener and leave so I could serve someone else. >.< Sigh. I now usually just say “Hi!” and if they want help they usually start talking to me. See quick, direct, and I was polite. 
Problem solved!
PS. Just a last note. I’m still waiting for my box…. impatiently now as I know my friend has gotten her’s. 
I want my cake books.
May 1, 2008 at 3:23 pm
You know what I heard today as I was walking at the basement level of Raffles Place?
Son: “Daddy, are we there yet?”
Father: “I don’t know. This place is bloody confusing!!!”
I laughed so hard!!! I was in front of them too! Teeheehee!
May 2, 2008 at 3:16 am
ROFL! On Saturday night, I was waiting for A and K in South Perth, and I was sitting on a bench near Coco’s. These two old guys were walking up and down the street, and every time they went by I overheard parts of their conversation.
The 1st time one asked the other “Do you think he would do it?” Then the 2nd time they walked past it was “I know, but then I saw him looking at me, and I had no idea what he was thinking” then the final one that made me come to my own conclusions. “I hope he knows I don’t feel that way.” Keep in mind there was like a 5 min gap in between the lines I heard. I think they looked at me funny when I snickered at them. LOL
May 5, 2008 at 9:54 am
Oh. My. God. I know. A simple ‘how are you?’ is suddenly an invition for them to recite thier life stories and current woes. I never ever ask that anymore. How about a simple “Good, thanks.” is it so hard?
May 5, 2008 at 11:02 am
You know another one I hate? I have to ask why the items are being returned. All they have to say is, the motor stopped working or it just broke, or I just got the wrong one. But they launch into this full story about the day they were using it and then how the fone rang and blah blah blah blah blah. I’m like. Dude! Faulty/broken, and under warranty/unsuitable!! Take a pick and leave me the F*** alone!