We work for a security team that remotely monitors the locations of a large local business. Since it is 2022, this monitoring is done through DVRs and NVRs that link to the computers in our office. Today, we got this call from someone regarding one of our store locations.

Caller: “Hello? Is this [Company] security?”

Me: “Hello? Yes, how can I help you?”

Caller: “I am calling from [Store Location]. I was wondering what the process was for changing the tapes in our security system.”

Me: “The… changing… I’m sorry, ma’am, I don’t follow. Are you talking about the site’s security cameras?”

Caller: “Yes, I can’t figure out how to change out the tapes.”

Me: “The… tapes…”

Caller: “Yes, the VHS tapes.”

Me: “Are… can you verify the address for [location] for me, please?”

She verified the address.

Me: “And you are referring to the cameras that we monitor here at [Building]? The main cameras?”

She said yes and listed off the cameras by their on-screen ID numbers which were also visible on my side.

Me: “Ma’am, the system is digital. It doesn’t use any type of media storage.”

Caller: “I know. That’s why I’m not sure where the tapes are.”

Me: “No, ma’am, there are no tapes. The footage is stored on devices called SSDs.”

Caller: “So, the tapes are in the SSDs? How do I access that?”

Me: “No, there are no tapes.”

Caller: “What do you mean, there are no tapes? It’s a security camera.”

Me: “Ma’am, what is your position in [Company]?”

Caller: “Never you mind that.”

Me: “Can I please speak to [Manager]?”

Caller: “Who is that?”

Me: “What do you… Who is this?”

Caller: “Does he have the tapes?”

Me: “What?”

Caller: “Who has the tapes?”

I hung up the phone at this point and called the direct number for the manager. 

Manager: “Hi, [My Name].”

Me: “Hi, do you know anything about someone trying to change the tapes in the security camera system?”

Manager: “Tapes? The thing hasn’t used tapes since 2000.”

Me: “I am aware, but a woman called and—”

Manager: “I told her to change the tape, not the tapes, as in the tape we use for packing, for God’s sa—”

The call dropped. I could only assume he hung up on me to get his employee before she decided to start touching the DVR system. 

It was a strange thing to happen not more than a minute and a half into my shift.

I come walking into my office area one morning, and my supervisor and one of the other floor managers are talking. They chat with me around all the time, so I get to hear interesting things that happen around work.

The other floor manager tells my supervisor that he was up on the mezzanine early this morning because he’s trying to find some tools that he knows for sure are here, but he hasn’t been able to locate them. (There’s a rumor going around work that some folks have been stealing tools, but nothing definitive has been proven yet.) He said when he was up on the mezzanine he noticed a few shelves in the back corner that were sitting away from the wall, but there was no way to look behind them without actually moving one of the shelves.

So, he moved a shelf so he could see behind them. The area behind the shelves was maybe a five-foot-by-five-foot space — not very big — just enough room for a small desk, chair, and computer. To his surprise, he found a computer that was up and running, and connected to it was a monitor, mouse, and keyboard, and the computer was plugged into some kind of cable box — his words; what he was talking about was a twenty-four-port switch — that had a lot of cables in it.

He checked the computer by moving the mouse and the monitor woke up, and he was now looking at the CCTV software and a dozen different cameras that were currently active on the screen. He had some experience with the CCTV software and noticed that whoever had been using this computer had access to the drives that store all the video, along with access and control to all the cameras. He tells my supervisor that they’ve been having issues with some cameras “going out” in certain areas; they come back on by themselves sometimes or they have to reset the CCTV system to get them to reboot. He’s now thinking someone has been deliberately disabling cameras so you can’t see what’s happening and possibly even deleting footage.

My supervisor and the other manager call out to the IT guy. They relay all the information to him.

IT Guy: “So what? I don’t care. It’s not my job to secure that computer.”

My supervisor knows I have computer experience and that I’m fixing computer issues all the time because our IT guy sucks. She asks me what I think about the IT guy’s response and asks what we should do about the computer.

Me: “At the very least, the computer needs to be password locked, and only owners and management that normally have access to the CCTV system should know the password. Next, since the computer is plugged into the switch and I don’t know who okayed it to be put there, I wouldn’t move it, but I would at least take the mouse, keyboard, and monitor off of it. After that, let ownership decide what needs to be done.”

The next day, the IT guy came walking through my office area and he was pissed. He had to go up on the mezzanine to unhook the computer and remove it from the system. He was complaining to my supervisor about it and how it shouldn’t be his responsibility to handle this issue.

Surprisingly, once that computer was removed from the network, the cameras were no longer “going out,” and the issue with missing tools had dropped dramatically.

I was once shopping at a store when some woman stomped up and demanded that I help find a certain item for her.

Me: “No, I don’t work here, so I wouldn’t know if they sell that or not.”

Woman: *Snarling* “You’re just lying in order to get out of working! Help me or I’ll call a manager.”

Me: “Go ahead. You know, employees here wear vests with nametags; I’m in a T-shirt and jeans. You’d better check your attitude if you’re going to get any help whatsoever.”

She screams at a passing manager and tells him to fire me.

Manager: *Confused* “I don’t know him, so he doesn’t work for us.”

She cursed at both of us for bad customer service and stomped out of the store while shrieking that she was never shopping here again.

Manager: *To me* “You work retail?”

Me: *Chuckling* “Yep!”

Manager: “I think she could smell that all over you!”

We shared a good laugh.

I was in my department alone when I nipped to the canteen to grab a quick cuppa. When I returned, after ten minutes or so, a couple was standing there muttering under their breath, glaring around. I greeted them cheerfully, and they snapped:

Customer: “Why is nobody here? There should be someone here at all times.”

Me: “Unfortunately, my colleague was involved in a car crash on her way into work this morning, and I am waiting for another worker to come in who has agreed to give up her day to cover for her. I have to have a break for the loo and a drink; it is illegal for me not to. Now, what can I do for you?”

They had nothing to say to that.

I come from a country that has weird expectations of women’s bodies. I have always been a chubby girl. I was taunted my entire childhood for that, and after pregnancy, I have gained some more weight. I have always been on various diets and exercises, and my weight fluctuates like the weather.

I have moved temporarily to London and am clothes shopping one day. It’s a beautiful high-end shop known for good collections of formal clothes. Every design that I like is not available in my size, and naturally, I am upset about it. A shop assistant comes up to help me.

Clothes shopping has never been fun for me at all, so I am apprehensive to ask for help. I am also worried that I may offend her by declining help.

Me: *Timidly* “Umm… I am not finding anything that fits me well.”

Employee: “What size are you looking at?”

Me: “I am not very familiar with the sizes here. Eight or ten seems too small and sixteen and above is a little too big. I am guessing twelve to fourteen may be my size but I am not sure. There aren’t many options in that size range.”

Employee: “Well, ma’am, that’s a popular size range in work attires. This is the middle of summer and peak shopping season; we usually run out of those sizes pretty soon, but I can check our system and let you know if we have any in stock in our store or any nearby stores. If you are sure, we can place them on hold, too. Do you want to do that?”

I was surprised that A) she did not judge me, B) she is happy to help, and C) if my size is popular, then there are many women like me, so I am not abnormally huge! With these thoughts in my head, I show her a few designs that I like and she gets a few of them for me to try on. When I am done making my choices and am leaving with my purchase, I summon the courage to thank her.

Me: “Thanks so much for your help! You have no idea how incredibly helpful you have been.”

Employee: “No problem at all, ma’am! I am glad you found something you liked.”

Me: “Well, that’s the point. I usually never find anything in my size. I have had people mock at me for not being slim. Clothes shopping for people like me is a nightmare. You’ve made it so much easier today.”

Employee: “I don’t know why anyone would make you think like that! Most women I have met are in this size range, but we really shouldn’t limit ourselves by our bodies.”

I got really emotional because of her words. We talked a bit about body shaming and such. I had never felt so empowered about my body.

I am slowly on the path to accepting myself for who I am rather than by what society wants me to be. I maintain a healthy lifestyle and am still no skinny person, but I have stopped worrying about my weight when I occasionally decide to indulge. It’s a long journey of self-acceptance, but thanks to that kind lady who gave me the much-needed confidence. I can never forget her!