Conversation Anger Issues
My apologies for the lack of posts of late. Whenever the cute random observations happen, I'm not near a computer to type them out. Or I'm being rather lethargic and don't post.
Not to mention, I feel quite angry lately. Not enough to go to therapy, but probably should. Maybe I should change the title of this blog to "Downward Spiral of a Candy Store Clerk". I know I'm not really that bad, nor am I pre-teen goth girl with too much black eye liner... The title of the blog shall remain.
Someone from my second job told me I was mean the other day because I let him know he had a "Here's your sign" moment.
Oh yeah. I now have a second job to make ends meet to help support myself and my family. I realize not every culture believes its the responsibility of the younger generation to take care of the older one, but someone's got to take care of my parents, and I am apparently the only one with enough discipline to do it. I digress...
On with my story:
For a not that exciting place, my second job is a little like Fort Knox with its security. Only when I'm working am I allowed to go down the dark concrete hallway (made lighter and more welcoming with white paint on the concrete) to the depth of the building where no cell phone can get reception because it's like being in a nuclear bunker. This is where I go to clock in and get paid. On the day I was being mean, a security guard saw me standing in the bunker, leaning against the appropriate wall for leaning, uniform in hand, waiting to clock in. He came up to me and asked "Are you working tonight?"
I looked him dead in the eyes and paused.
After I gave him a chance to realize what he said, I responded with something like "No, I just came to the area I'm not allowed to be in when not working, with my uniform in hand for giggles... Wanted to see if anyone would catch me."
That is when he realized he had a stupid moment. Since I'm somewhat friendly with him, I did offer a smile after my sarcastic deadpan remark, and politely in a friendly, joking manner informed him he had a "Here's Your Sign" moment. I figured he knew redneck humor, and I've seen Blue Collar Comedy during late night hours on Comedy Central. He could think I was relating to him. It worked.
Later in the evening, when he told other coworkers I had been mean to him, he said it with a smile like it was a joke between us. I felt safe.
When I attempted to relay the story to my family, I got as far as "My coworker said I was mean to him..." My cousin interrupted me with a sarcastic "What? Someone thought you were mean?" However, when she said it, she was trying to be cute and funny by implying that I'm always bleeping mean. I pondered this for a moment, and excused the comment because I realized, I am usually mean to her. But she needs a good verbal butt kicking every now and then. I don't do it to feel a sense of empowerment over another. Its simply that some people say too many stupid comments to the point one could wonder if sterilization may be a good option for them.
People at my regular job have noticed I haven't been that nice to clients on the phone. I start off nice, then they say something stupid, and I sound irritated with them and potentially a little patronizing. I use to fake it better.
Example: Company purchased a large order of Candy, decided to make arrangements for a payment plan for that order. I am now in charge of sending monthly letters to remind the company of their monthly payment until the bill is paid in full.
Third month into the payment plan I get a call:
Intelligent man: Hey, I got this letter from you saying you are wanting money or something from us. I gave that to you last month, we're done with that already.
Me: Yes, I received last month's payment. However, I need November and December's payment.
IM: (in a hostile and louder voice) Well you're not gonna get that! You're too late!
Me: How am I too late to receive November and December's payments?
IM: Our computers and accounting equipment were down.
Me: I'm sorry to hear that. But whether the system is down or not, payments still need to be made. You can't get that fixed before the end of November? You have the rest of the month to get your payment to us.
IM: Oh you mean this November and December?!?
Me: (closes eyes, smacks head into free hand, while shaking head back and forth wondering why me) Yes, sir. This November and December's payments.
IM: (calmer and more relaxed like he knows what I'm talking about) Oh ok, so I'll send you last month's and this month's payments.
Me: (gripping any bit of sanity left in me) No, sir. I need this month's, which is November, and next month's, which is December's payments.
It's a screwy system they set up with this guy. If the payments weren't different for December from October, I would have let that comment slide. When I hung up the phone, my coworker commented about my lack of pleasantry on the phone. When I told her the full conversation, she wasn't willing to tell me I should be perkier or that my tone was justified. She simply shook her head and walked away.
I also had a guy call in an order and try to get me to describe myself on the phone. *Shrugs* Seriously, people?
He would randomly interject weird comments in the midst of a professional phone call regarding an order. He tried to play it off as a non-creepy request with "haven't you ever created a mental picture of the people you are talking to on the phone?" He then proceeded to tell me what he thought I looked like over the phone.
I couldn't help but wonder if he thought I looked like the teacher from Varsity Blues that ended up being the stripper for the "Hot for Teacher" song or if he thought I looked like Cathy from the old cartoon strip. But while he was talking, I wondered if he truly thought I was stupid enough to fall for what I believed was a trick. First he tried to get me to describe myself. I reminded him I was on a work phone and that did not pertain to the job at hand. He then continued with order, and eventually threw in his picture of what I looked like... Was he really expecting me to just be some giggly valley girl and answer "Oh no, silly I don't look like that, my hair color is this and I look like this." I deemed him a creepy moron...
He called back 5 minutes later because he googled my name and wanted to know if I was the person he read about who did this and that. I told him he sounded like a creepy stalker and asked if he needed anything else from the candy store.
I don't know if it's conversations like these that make me mean or sarcastic, or if they are bringing out that side of me which has always been present. Some people still give me compliments like they enjoy my company. They even sound sincere when they do it. Hopefully I give them a similar response.
My apologies for the lack of posts of late. Whenever the cute random observations happen, I'm not near a computer to type them out. Or I'm being rather lethargic and don't post.
Not to mention, I feel quite angry lately. Not enough to go to therapy, but probably should. Maybe I should change the title of this blog to "Downward Spiral of a Candy Store Clerk". I know I'm not really that bad, nor am I pre-teen goth girl with too much black eye liner... The title of the blog shall remain.
Someone from my second job told me I was mean the other day because I let him know he had a "Here's your sign" moment.
Oh yeah. I now have a second job to make ends meet to help support myself and my family. I realize not every culture believes its the responsibility of the younger generation to take care of the older one, but someone's got to take care of my parents, and I am apparently the only one with enough discipline to do it. I digress...
On with my story:
For a not that exciting place, my second job is a little like Fort Knox with its security. Only when I'm working am I allowed to go down the dark concrete hallway (made lighter and more welcoming with white paint on the concrete) to the depth of the building where no cell phone can get reception because it's like being in a nuclear bunker. This is where I go to clock in and get paid. On the day I was being mean, a security guard saw me standing in the bunker, leaning against the appropriate wall for leaning, uniform in hand, waiting to clock in. He came up to me and asked "Are you working tonight?"
I looked him dead in the eyes and paused.
After I gave him a chance to realize what he said, I responded with something like "No, I just came to the area I'm not allowed to be in when not working, with my uniform in hand for giggles... Wanted to see if anyone would catch me."
That is when he realized he had a stupid moment. Since I'm somewhat friendly with him, I did offer a smile after my sarcastic deadpan remark, and politely in a friendly, joking manner informed him he had a "Here's Your Sign" moment. I figured he knew redneck humor, and I've seen Blue Collar Comedy during late night hours on Comedy Central. He could think I was relating to him. It worked.
Later in the evening, when he told other coworkers I had been mean to him, he said it with a smile like it was a joke between us. I felt safe.
When I attempted to relay the story to my family, I got as far as "My coworker said I was mean to him..." My cousin interrupted me with a sarcastic "What? Someone thought you were mean?" However, when she said it, she was trying to be cute and funny by implying that I'm always bleeping mean. I pondered this for a moment, and excused the comment because I realized, I am usually mean to her. But she needs a good verbal butt kicking every now and then. I don't do it to feel a sense of empowerment over another. Its simply that some people say too many stupid comments to the point one could wonder if sterilization may be a good option for them.
People at my regular job have noticed I haven't been that nice to clients on the phone. I start off nice, then they say something stupid, and I sound irritated with them and potentially a little patronizing. I use to fake it better.
Example: Company purchased a large order of Candy, decided to make arrangements for a payment plan for that order. I am now in charge of sending monthly letters to remind the company of their monthly payment until the bill is paid in full.
Third month into the payment plan I get a call:
Intelligent man: Hey, I got this letter from you saying you are wanting money or something from us. I gave that to you last month, we're done with that already.
Me: Yes, I received last month's payment. However, I need November and December's payment.
IM: (in a hostile and louder voice) Well you're not gonna get that! You're too late!
Me: How am I too late to receive November and December's payments?
IM: Our computers and accounting equipment were down.
Me: I'm sorry to hear that. But whether the system is down or not, payments still need to be made. You can't get that fixed before the end of November? You have the rest of the month to get your payment to us.
IM: Oh you mean this November and December?!?
Me: (closes eyes, smacks head into free hand, while shaking head back and forth wondering why me) Yes, sir. This November and December's payments.
IM: (calmer and more relaxed like he knows what I'm talking about) Oh ok, so I'll send you last month's and this month's payments.
Me: (gripping any bit of sanity left in me) No, sir. I need this month's, which is November, and next month's, which is December's payments.
It's a screwy system they set up with this guy. If the payments weren't different for December from October, I would have let that comment slide. When I hung up the phone, my coworker commented about my lack of pleasantry on the phone. When I told her the full conversation, she wasn't willing to tell me I should be perkier or that my tone was justified. She simply shook her head and walked away.
I also had a guy call in an order and try to get me to describe myself on the phone. *Shrugs* Seriously, people?
He would randomly interject weird comments in the midst of a professional phone call regarding an order. He tried to play it off as a non-creepy request with "haven't you ever created a mental picture of the people you are talking to on the phone?" He then proceeded to tell me what he thought I looked like over the phone.
I couldn't help but wonder if he thought I looked like the teacher from Varsity Blues that ended up being the stripper for the "Hot for Teacher" song or if he thought I looked like Cathy from the old cartoon strip. But while he was talking, I wondered if he truly thought I was stupid enough to fall for what I believed was a trick. First he tried to get me to describe myself. I reminded him I was on a work phone and that did not pertain to the job at hand. He then continued with order, and eventually threw in his picture of what I looked like... Was he really expecting me to just be some giggly valley girl and answer "Oh no, silly I don't look like that, my hair color is this and I look like this." I deemed him a creepy moron...
He called back 5 minutes later because he googled my name and wanted to know if I was the person he read about who did this and that. I told him he sounded like a creepy stalker and asked if he needed anything else from the candy store.
I don't know if it's conversations like these that make me mean or sarcastic, or if they are bringing out that side of me which has always been present. Some people still give me compliments like they enjoy my company. They even sound sincere when they do it. Hopefully I give them a similar response.
posted by wonderer @ 4:04 PM
4 comments
