Conquer Club

So last night my girlfriend and I went for a late night walk and stopped in at the store and got an ice-cream each. The other customer in the store was on his phone talking quite loudly (as most North American's I've come across seem to do, he was American or Canadian, not sure) about the stock market and the ASX and a whole lotta bullshit, especially considering it was 9pm at night and he was in gym clothes and really should be leaving business to business hours. So anyway, this guy goes up to the counter with his three cans of energy drink and an iced-coffee (healthy anyone?) and continues to talk his crap on the phone without so much of a 'hello' to the store clerk. He 'asks' to pay with his card by gesturing his card in the direction of the Eftpos terminal, still without saying anything to the store clerk, and still talking his crap on his phone. The only time he said anything to the clerk weas when he almost demanded 'Can I get my tax receipt for that!' - then continued to take his sweet ass time at the front of the line while he put his purchases into his bag then left, still talking crap on his phone.

I was pretty close to tapping him on the shoulder and saying something like 'Hey buddy, you know it doesn't hurt to show a little courtesy and actually converse with the guy serving you' - but seeing as it was an issue to do with manners, I wasn't sure if interuppting his stupid phone call would be worse. In the end I didn't say anything to him and my girlfriend and I ended up having a bit of a laugh with the clerk about how much of a deuche bag this guy was....

I really got me thinking, at what stage in society did we get to the point where we don't even have to talk to the person offering us a service, even if he is only selling us a drink. I've seen a few stores with signs at the desk saying they won't be served if you are talking on your phone. I would really like to see that kind of thing becoming implemented everywhere.

Where has people's manners gone?

What I like to do in these situations is pull out my cell phone and carry on loud conversations of my own to impugn the entitled fuckbag causing the disturbance from having his. All made up of course, but sure to include as much shouting and comments about the other guy on his phone being a douche bag as possible.

But my girl tends to call me immature and ornery a lot, so maybe you shouldn't listen to me.

Also, I'm a really big guy, so most people are intimidated by my size, and don't try to start shit when I'm being so colossally awesome.

The few times I've done this, I've had the clerk in stitches. If you want to try it, think up a routine first, so your fake conversation sounds real when you do it. These are the kinds of things one thinks up while driving. For inspiration, listen to (or watch) one of the old Monty Python "Mr. Gumby" skits. Basically just shouting anything said in those skits will work. It also works to tell your imaginary friend on the phone every single thing the guy in front of you is doing. That's actually really funny, but can be more dangerous in terms of physical reprisal from the douche. Also funny, and most dangerous, is to just repeat everything he's saying at the loudest possible volume.

As a final note, I do this even when I'm alone, or with guy friends, if that helps establish me not doing it to impress a girl, or something lame like that. I just enjoy it... and I can get away with it.

You can also carry on imaginary conversations that are simply more interesting than the douchebag, or possibly borderline insane.

"Listen to the tumblers. Turn it anticlockwise, slowly, slowly. did you hear a "click" yet? Carefully now, turn clockwise. You're in?..."

"Yes, I'm just coming up to the restaurant now. I'll put the phone out the window if you like! "

[makes traffic noises, gestures everyone else should join in]

"I'm here now, at Luigi's. What? Marios's? You said Luigi's, I swear you did! OK, I'll be another half an hour darling!..."

My friends and I will carry on as insane a conversation as we can to get the person to stop being a jackass... usually involving one or more of homosexual sex, prison, and firearms. Those three things tend to get a person to stop being a jackass.

Another thing that bothers me - Holding the door for someone who does not say thank you or so much as look at me. I've had a few run-ins when that has happened.

-deleted-

I use good manners where appropriate. If someone is being a complete jerk-off, then manners should not be wasted on them.

common courtesy is all that is needed. sadly some of the youth of today do not have this.

People have been saying that at least since I was a kid. I was polite myself. I got fed up with people saying "How polite young curl is, you don't see that often these days".

DAZMCFC wrote:common courtesy is all that is needed. sadly some of the youth of today do not have this.

Agreed but not limited to youth, a lot of the middle aged and older generations (not as many, but still significant amounts) lack respectable manners.

... I see this manner of thing all the time (as Radiojake described). Common courtesy is lost on a lot of folks.

... I once pulled a cigarette from the lips of a tatoo-faced sh*tbag at a train station. I would have let it go but a woman in line with us was covering her baby's face to keep the smoke away, and that set me off.

... I got hit in the face pretty hard, but so did he. Sh*thead.

...

We were in line at customs to enter the E.U. at Frankfurt. Of any airport I've been to that one doesn't mess about. The guy in front of us is on his phone and tried to pull the same move as the origional post except he is not being loud so I don't know what the conversation was about. The guy at the counter ordered him to hang up the phone.

I can't really give it any justice to discribe it. All I can say is he had a tone that could not have been more serious yet there was no anger. The guy put up his finger and tried to tell him to wait a minute. The Clerk replied, "If you don't hang up the phone and put it away immeadietly you will not enter the country."

It was beautifull.

Final comment. It's pretty sad that you can't tell if it's a Canuck anymore because they have lost courtesy.

Too many people these days are insistent on personal rights and respect but seem little concerned about the effect their actions have on others.

hahaha3hahaha wrote:I only show manners to those I know deserve respect. Interpret that however you want.

Respect only where respect is due. I agree with that.

StephenB wrote:

hahaha3hahaha wrote:I only show manners to those I know deserve respect. Interpret that however you want.

Respect only where respect is due. I agree with that.

So, if you're at a store counter buying food you don't think that it's proper conduct to atleast engage in a 'hello' and 'thankyou' with the person serving you? - It doesn't have to be any more than that

StephenB wrote:

hahaha3hahaha wrote:I only show manners to those I know deserve respect. Interpret that however you want.

Respect only where respect is due. I agree with that.

The presumption and arrogance inherent in these statements is nearly overwhelming. I may have to puke to take the edge off.

Woodruff wrote:

StephenB wrote:

hahaha3hahaha wrote:I only show manners to those I know deserve respect. Interpret that however you want.

Respect only where respect is due. I agree with that.

The presumption and arrogance inherent in these statements is nearly overwhelming. I may have to puke to take the edge off.

It would be interesting to see a world where manners are doled out according to the respect one had for another.

"Nah lady, I ain't holding the door for you. I don't even know you, bitch. How can I respect you?"

thegreekdog wrote:

Woodruff wrote:

StephenB wrote:

hahaha3hahaha wrote:I only show manners to those I know deserve respect. Interpret that however you want.

Respect only where respect is due. I agree with that.

The presumption and arrogance inherent in these statements is nearly overwhelming. I may have to puke to take the edge off.

It would be interesting to see a world where manners are doled out according to the respect one had for another.

"Nah lady, I ain't holding the door for you. I don't even know you, bitch. How can I respect you?"

Indeed.

thegreekdog wrote:It would be interesting to see a world where manners are doled out according to the respect one had for another.

"Nah lady, I ain't holding the door for you. I don't even know you, bitch. How can I respect you?"

pimpdave wrote:

thegreekdog wrote:It would be interesting to see a world where manners are doled out according to the respect one had for another.

"Nah lady, I ain't holding the door for you. I don't even know you, bitch. How can I respect you?"

Oh yeah...

Having used to work at Subway Sandwiches, and now working in Customer Service for about 3 years I have to admit that people carrying on other conversations when they were the ones that called you/came to you in the first place is extremely annoying. It got to the point at Subway before I quit that if it wasn't busy and someone was on their cell phone when they came through to pay I would just talk with my co-workers until they said something, where I would retort with something along the lines of "Oh, I'm sorry - it seemed you were busy so I didn't want to interrupt." and then proceeded to ring them out.

It may not be the most mature thing to do in return, but I was raised with proper manners and common courtesy, and if someone comes to me for a service then the least they can do is acknowledge that I'm there.

Now that almost all the customer service I'm involved in is over the phone, I'm just glad there is a one-way mute button...

StephenB wrote:

hahaha3hahaha wrote:I only show manners to those I know deserve respect. Interpret that however you want.

Respect only where respect is due. I agree with that.

you have lost any respect I may have had for you. very rude and ignorant.

clapper011 wrote:

StephenB wrote:

hahaha3hahaha wrote:I only show manners to those I know deserve respect. Interpret that however you want.

Respect only where respect is due. I agree with that.

you have lost any respect I may have had for you. very rude and ignorant.

Seconded.

Titanic wrote:

DAZMCFC wrote:common courtesy is all that is needed. sadly some of the youth of today do not have this.

Agreed but not limited to youth, a lot of the middle aged and older generations (not as many, but still significant amounts) lack respectable manners.

Although from America, I'd like to add to this...2 stories from the recent past.

At my work: My company offered a free hot dog lunch at Halloween time for all the resident children at one of the sites I teach at. We should never have put the word "free" on the flier. When we opened the doors there were several adults standing in line. They were rude and argued that they also deserved a free hot dog. (it's a hot dog...give me a friggin' break) I noticed that some of the adults tried to intimidate the kids from their place in line when they saw we were running out. We would never have ran out of hot dogs if it hadn't been for those adults taking some of them. The manager tried explaining to them it was for the kids, but they still argued that they had a right to free food because they were also residents. Guess we will be very, very specific on the age limit here in 2010 if we do that again.

At my church - 1 day later: As Christians, we don't celebrate Halloween, but we offer an alternative party/celebration outside on the grounds to our community. It's a safe thing that parents can bring their kids to and still get candy & play games. I was in charge of this wooden hockey box game (don't know what it was called). The rule was that the winner would get 2 pieces of candy and the loser still got 1 (so they didn't feel too bad). Anyways, some adults stood in line, waiting for "their turn". I remember this one big guy wanted a chance to play against what appeared to me to be a 10 year-old kid. I said, "sir, this is for the kids...it's not really for adults". 'Why not...that's not fair! I deserve a chance for candy!" he replies. (He was serious - not joking). I tried my best to explain to him it was for the kids. Other people are starting to look at us. So it's church, right? I'm not going to cause a scene. I convinced him after a couple of minutes to let the kid win since he's bigger (that way he still gets a piece of candy)...but Geez Louise!, I couldn't believe a grown man (I'm guessing he was about 30 - 35 years old) was demanding a chance for free candy.

Grown-ups......

That's crap luns.

Spoiler

I can't believe you didn't tell me there were free hotdogs and candy. I just lost respect for you and Clapper.

luns101 wrote:I was in charge of this wooden hockey box game (don't know what it was called).

We had something like that at my elementary school, we called it "Schlockey" (and others appear to as well).