We have three registers at the box office, but depending on how busy or not busy it is, we often only have one or two open and put “This Register is Closed” signs at the ones not in use. It’s a Monday in the middle of Autumn, and our projected numbers are pretty abysmal, so I’m the only person working at the box office today. The other registers are closed and have the signs marking them as such.

A customer comes in, looks at me, and then proceeds to one of the closed registers.

Me: “Excuse me, ma’am. That register is actually closed. But if you want to come on over here, I can help you.”

Customer: “Oh, no, that’s okay. This one is fine.”

Me: “Actually, ma’am, that register is closed. But I can help you right over here.”

Customer: “But I’m already here. So this one’s fine.”

Me: “Unfortunately, my register is the only one that’s open at this time. I can’t ring you up at that register because it’s not on and there’s no money in it.”

Customer: *Completely ignoring what I say* “One ticket for [Movie].”

Me: “Okay. But I have to ring you up at my register. And we have assigned seating at this theater, so I’ll need you to look at the monitor at my register.”

The customer doesn’t budge.

Me: “Ma’am?”

Customer: “I said, ‘One ticket for [Movie].’”

Me: “Yes, ma’am. I understand. But the register you’re standing at is not open.”

The customer is ignoring me and becoming agitated.

Customer: “Why aren’t you here?!”

Me: “Ma’am… that register is closed.”

Customer: *Suddenly exploding* “WHY THE F*** DIDN’T YOU SAY SO EARLIER?!”

I then had to complete the transaction by walking back and forth between the woman and my register several times, because she refused to walk the seven or so feet over to my register. And of course, she couldn’t see the screen to pick out her seat, which further complicated things. And this is not an isolated incident.

I don’t know what it is about movie theaters, but people who come in seem to completely lose their minds when it comes to how the registers work. Either they go to closed registers and refuse to move, or they form multiple lines at the same register, or they completely ignore the line and try to skip to the front. It’s like all basic common sense goes right out the door the instant they walk in.

Related:
Lack Of Register Does Not Register, Part 15
Lack Of Register Does Not Register, Part 14
Lack Of Register Does Not Register, Part 13
Lack Of Register Does Not Register, Part 12
Lack Of Register Does Not Register, Part 11

In the small public library where I work, we have free activities for children during school breaks. For autumn break this year, we have, among other things, an arts and crafts table. Kids can colour, construct toys out of empty toilet paper rolls, etc. We ask kids and their minders to pick up after themselves when they’re done. A grandmother and her kids come up to the information desk.

Grandmother: “Hi. I just wanted to let you know how great it is that you have all these activities. My grandkids are visiting over school break and I wouldn’t know what to do with them, otherwise.”

Me: “Thank you. Our young guests seem to appreciate it.”

Grandmother: “You’re going to have a lot of clean-up on your hands, though.”

They promptly left. Feeling suspicious, I went to the arts and crafts table and found it completely wrecked. Coloured paper was thrown everywhere, colouring pens and glue sticks without their caps were thrown on the floor, and the toilet paper roll toys my colleague had painstakingly constructed earlier in the week for inspiration were stolen.

I know the culprit, because we checked the table just before this family arrived and it looked fine. I know I’m not supposed to say this as a librarian, but I really hope those visitors won’t come back.

I am finishing up a transaction with a customer.

Me: “We will also email a copy for your records. The email address we have on file for you is [email address]. Is that still correct?”

Caller: “Yes.”

Me: “You should expect to receive the email once processing is complete, which will be twenty-four to forty-eight hours. Is there anything else I can do for you?”

Caller: “Can you email me a copy of this?”

I’m at the grocery store shopping for cookie ingredients. A middle-aged woman walks up to me while I look for something extra to put on the cookies.

Customer: “Excuse me, where is the [Brand] caramelized milk?”

I figure she asked me because I was looking intently at the shelves, and I look around a little.

Me: “Well, seems like there isn’t any. Sometimes it’s on sale at the end of the aisle; hold on.”

I leave to check around the corner and come back.

Me: “Nope, nothing. Seems they ran out.”

Customer: “Oh, that’s too bad. You see, I wanted [Brand] to make a cake, but this [Other Brand] is always too sweet, and this other—”

She continues rambling about caramelized milk brands and I end up tuning her out because she starts mumbling and talking while looking away. I reassume staring at the shelf, assuming she’s just talking alone by now, when suddenly she whips back and stares at me.

Customer: “Are you sure you don’t have [Brand]?”

Me: “Uh… no.”

Customer: “You work here, right?”

I looked down at my Captain America shirt and shook my head. She then rambled some more, this time about powdered sugar, before grabbing a different brand and stalking off, leaving me to wonder if the Avengers worked the morning shift.

My dad works at an international company. They hire people and take on clients from all over the world. One day, he receives this message in the group chat from his supervisor.

Supervisor: “[Dad]: And now we have the phstodyxufhsoa from Germany, hahaha!”

Dad: “I’m sorry, what?”

Supervisor: “It’s a joke.”

Dad: “No, it isn’t. You’re being needlessly mean.”

Supervisor: “Dude, chill out. It’s just a joke. I’m sorry you didn’t find it funny because you have no sense of humor.”

Dad: “No, I didn’t. You’re making fun of the German language. As a company with an international presence, we have a duty to respect any and all of our clients and their cultures and languages. If you had sent this to another chat by accident, you’d be in deeper s*** than you are now. This kind of talking needs to stop or I’m talking to HR.” 

His supervisor didn’t respond to that. I’m so proud of my dad here; he’s absolutely not a perfect picture of acceptance, but he stood up to his supervisor for being a racist, xenophobic bully. Every little bit!