(I’m at a theme park and go to the only restaurant that has something remotely vegan on it’s menu.)
Me: “I’d like a veggie sub on Italian bread.”
Worker: “Would you like that toasted?”
Me: “No thanks. No cheese either, please.”
(Suddenly, the worker gets angry and shoves just the bread in my face.)
Worker: “Here, just take the godd*** bread if you want nothing in it!”
Me: *speechless*
(I’m working at a well-known family diner. I am one of the gayest men you might ever meet and am serving two elderly ladies.)
Me: “Hello, ladies! It is very nice to meet you. My name is [My Name]. You ladies look sharp today! What can I get you to drink?”
(I take their drink order, return just moments later, and take their food order. They are acting completely fine, until…)
Customer #1: “Here, honey, this is for you. You look like you need it.”
(She hands me a book on how homosexuality is inappropriate and an abomination. I have faced this before, so to avoid conflict I give them the following response.)
Me: “Oh, great! My girlfriend will love this!”
Customer #2: “Oh, never mind, honey. You won’t need that, then! You never know where these homos are hiding nowadays!”
(I start to tear a little bit. My manager happens to be gay as well and overhears this.)
Manager: “HEY! I do not ever want you to lie to a customer just to avoid a conflict! You are one of my best employees, and I will not have some bigoted customers putting you down. Ma’ams, I would greatly appreciate it if you left my establishment and do not return. If you cannot handle him as a gay man, then you do not deserve him as a straight man!”
Me: “…and your total comes to $10.28.”
Customer: “No, it doesn’t. I bought two shirts.”
Me: “Yes, ma’am, but today is a buy 1, get 1 free sale on all women’s apparel.”
Customer: “Is this some sort of scheme? Because I’m not gonna pay unless I pay for both! I ain’t falling for no scheme!”
Me: “Miss, I can assure you that today is a a buy 1, get 1 free sale.”
Customer: *throws down a $20 and a $1 and storms out of the store*
(My coworker and I are doing a child safety promotion in front of a supermarket on Easter weekend. The neighborhood happens to be predominantly Jewish, and 95% of the customers coming in are wearing yarmulkes or headscarves. The vast majority of the men also have the traditional peyot—the curled sideburns.)
Me: *to a customer* “Hi, did you want us to fingerprint your kids? It’s free, and it’s just for you to take home.”
Customer: “No thanks.”
Me: “Okay, have a great day!”
Coworker: “…and have a happy Easter!”
Customer: *gives my coworker a weird look and walks out*
Me: *to my coworker* “I don’t think they celebrate Easter.”
Coworker: “Why not?”
Me: “They’re Jewish.”
Coworker: “How can you tell?”
Me: “Did you see those hats the men wore? Those are Yarmulke. It’s part of the Jewish religion.”
Coworker: “Okay…”
(The next customer comes out, the scenario repeats, and again, my coworker says “Happy Easter” to someone in a Yarmulke.)
Me: “You know, if you keep doing that, you might offend someone.”
Coworker: “But who doesn’t love Jesus?!”
(I work at a job part-time where I need to go to different locations often. I usually take the bus to new locations so I like to confirm with the bus driver that I am taking the right bus.)
Me: “Hi, I need to get to this location. I just want to make sure I am taking the right bus.”
(I show him a piece of paper with an address and the building name on it. I’m at a terminal and the bus driver is sitting in his seat talking to another bus driver who is standing outside the bus door.)
Bus Driver: “This bus goes somewhat close to [building name], but Bus #100 goes directly there. That bus doesn’t get here for another forty minutes, though.”
Me: “Okay, thanks. I don’t want to be late for my job, so I guess I’ll go on this bus, then. How long of a walk do you think it is from the stop to [building name]?”
Bus Driver: “Does it matter? You’re not an old lady. You have the physical ability to walk. God, teenagers these days are so lazy and complain about anything that has to do with a little work when us older people wish we could do all the things you can but won’t! You should be a bit more appreciative!”
(The other bus driver chuckles and rolls his eyes.)
Me: “Actually, I’m 23, and I did just start learning to walk again without crutches. I’ve been off my feet for four months from a serious injury and operations which left me with a foot mostly made of metal. So, no, I can’t walk too much, but right now I don’t really care about that. I just wanna make it to work on time. ”
Bus Driver: *sheepishly* “Oh, well, it’s about a ten-minute walk. How was I supposed to know that?!”
Me: “It’s not about what you didn’t know, it’s about not assuming all young people are lazy, a**hole. Now can you please lower your ramp so I can get on this bus?”
(He lowers his ramp and as I walk past him limping and struggling, he and the other bus driver sheepishly apologize.)
Both Bus Drivers: “Sorry…”
