(I started sewing a few years ago, and got good enough at it to make most of my clothes myself, which has resulted in a wardrobe consisting of some unusual prints. A regular customer comes up to me.)

Customer: “I love your dress! You’re always wearing such special clothes! Do tell me where you shop!”

Me: “Actually, I made this one myself. Thanks for the compliment!”

Customer: “Really? That’s great! Can you make one for me?”

Me: “Um… I have never made anything for someone else, and besides, I don’t have any of this fabric left, so I’m afraid I can’t do that!”

(The customer suddenly gets angry.)

Customer: “Now that’s just rude! Why would you do that? You’re just making pretty clothes for yourself so you can tell other people they will never have them!”

(The customer slams the money on the counter, and leaves in a huff.)

(A customer walks up to my teller window, and throws two rolls of pennies down. They are covered in wet blood. I try not to look disgusted.)

Me: “Sir, I’m sorry; I can’t accept that.”

Customer: “Why not? It’s good American money.”

Me: “I’m sure it is, but it’s covered in blood; I’m not going to touch that.”

Customer: “It’s fine; it’s just my blood.”

Me: “Excuse me while I get my manager.”

(I happily escape to the back to try to settle my stomach while the manager talks to the man.)

Manager: “Sir, we can’t accept these pennies like this.”

Customer: “It’s perfectly good American money!”

Manager: “Yes, but we can’t take it like this. If you like, I can give you new wrappers. You can re-roll the pennies, and then we can deposit them for you.”

Customer: “F*** this country! My money isn’t good in a bank; it isn’t good anywhere!” *storms out*

(I work security at a light rail. The last light rail heading south comes through my station at 11:38 pm. It is currently 11:50 pm.)

Patron: “Excuse me, officer, when is the next light rail heading south supposed to come?”

Me: “Sorry, sir, the last light rail heading south left at 11:38. There are no more running till tomorrow morning at 5:30 am.”

Patron: “Bull-s***! I always catch the light rail later than this. You are full of s***! Just tell me when the next one is coming.”

Me: “I’m sorry, sir, there are no more coming tonight. I have been working at this particular station for six months, and can assure you that no more are coming tonight.”

Patron: “Well, how the h*** are you getting home?”

Me: “Well, sir, when my shift ends, I drive myself home.”

Patron: “Well, you’re gonna have to drive me home then.”

Me: “Sorry, sir, I will not be able to do that. If you would like I can call you a cab. But there are no more light rails heading south tonight.”

Patron: “Aren’t you security? You have to give me a ride home. It’s not my fault the f****** light rail stopped running early. Give me a f****** ride home.”

Me: “No, sir, I will not give you a ride home. Unfortunately, there are no light rails running south anymore, and if you are not catching the light rail north or east, I am going to have to ask you to leave, due to a no loitering law on the light rail stations.”

Patron: “Bull-s***! I ain’t going nowhere if you don’t give me a ride!”

Me: “Sir, if you refuse to leave, I am going to be forced to radio the light rail police.”

Patron: “Call the mother-f****** police. I don’t give a f***!”

(I go through with his “request” to call the police. When they arrive, he demands they give him a ride, and continues to refuse to leave. They end up giving him a ride—to jail.)

(I am working the lunch shift at a sandwich shop that delivers. When I arrive, snow is starting to fall. After about an hour, the delivery drivers start to report that the roads are getting worse. The manager decides to stop delivery, but, as customers are still coming into the shop, he opts to keep the restaurant open. I answer a call.)

Caller: “Are you guys still open?”

Me: “Yes, for the time being.”

Caller: “Thank goodness! Everybody is closing because of the snowstorm!”

Me: “Yes, it’s starting to get pretty bad out there. In fact, we’re thinking about closing early ourselves.”

Caller: “Well, I’m glad that you’re not closed yet! I’d like to place a delivery order.”

Me: “Well, unfortunately, we’re not delivering right now. The storm has gotten so bad that we’re concerned for the safety of our drivers. However, as I said, we are still open. You can still place an order with me and come pick it up at the shop.”

Caller: “Are you kidding me!? I’m not going out on these roads!”

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(I work night shift. We’re a leveraged team, so we cover approximately 100 corporate and business clients. My manager is on leave, so another manager is covering for her; he’s known for being very pushy. One morning, he comes up to me.)

Other Manager: “So, are you coming to the training day for [his biggest client]?”

Me: “Training day? I didn’t know that there were any arranged. [My manager] didn’t say that any were scheduled.”

Other Manager: “Yes, it’s been specially arranged. I’ve noticed that your team is rather lacking when it comes to service for [client]. You really need to connect with the client and understand your role better.”

Me: “When is it?”

Other Manager: “It’s on next Wednesday, from 10 am to 3 pm.”

Me: “Uh, I can’t make that. I’m working Tuesday and Wednesday nights.”

Other Manager: “But it’s essential! You really should be making more of an effort.”

Me: “Uh, really, no. I’m working those nights, I really need the sleep.”

Other Manager: You should still come. We all have to make some sacrifices!”

Me: “No. Not unless you want me to go for 48—no, 72 hours without sleep. Short of [my manager] directly ordering me to do this on pain of dismissal, I’m not coming.”

Other Manager: “I’m going to report you to [your manager]!”

Me: “I think my manager will be very interested to hear about this. Especially given that this seems to have been arranged on very short notice, and without her approval.”

(The rest of my team gave similar answers. When he took our responses to  to my manager as a complaint, she turned him down flat. Soon after, he got fired for interfering with other teams!)