I work at a museum. We recently installed a virtual reality exhibit guests can pay extra to try. Two guests walk in.

Me: “Hello! Let me know if you guys have questions or want to buy tickets.”

They do not acknowledge me and keep walking toward the arcade setup.

Coworker: “Hello! Let me know if you guys have questions.”

They do not acknowledge him, either, walk straight into an arcade bay, and start fiddling with the equipment. 

Coworker: “Hey, did you all want to buy tickets?”

Guest: “You have to buy tickets? I wish we’d known that!”

I work for an organization that is commonly mistaken as a government agency. This person called three times this morning. The calls were almost identical.

Me: “Good morning, [My Name] speaking.”

Caller: “Hi there. I was wondering if you have an [Officer Title] there?”

Me: “No, I’m sorry. The [Officer Title] works for the [Government Agency]. Would you like their phone number?”

Caller: “No, no. I just want to confirm. I’m writing an article. You don’t have an [Officer Title] there?”

Me: “No, we don’t. He works for [Government Agency].”

Caller: “Aren’t you the [Government Agency]?”

Me: “No, we’re not.” 

I go on to explain the differences between my organization and the government agency, and the call ends with her seeming to understand.

Five minutes later, she calls back, and we repeat the call.

Five minutes later, she calls back, seemingly more confused than ever. I explain that she can Google the government agency, and she’ll find all she needs to know about the [Officer Title], and that I can direct her to their office, if she’d like, for more information.

Caller: “You sound like you’re trying to be helpful, but I know you’re trying to brush me off! Just because I stutter doesn’t mean I’m an idiot! I know you’re the same organization! Why don’t you get off your high horse and help me?!”

Me: “Miss, I’m sorry you feel I am being patronizing. I am not. My organization may seem to be similar to [Government Agency], but—”

I go on to explain again.

Me: “I would very much like to help you, but the best way I can do that is to direct you towards the office and person you are seeking. Would you like that phone number?”

Caller: “NO! Ugh. You’re useless. I’ll call the corporate office.”

I haven’t had a call from them yet, but… yeah. Awesome!

I’m shopping in a discount store when a little boy about three years old runs past me screaming. He starts circling the racks of clothes shouting nonsense words while his mother, who is about three racks away, lazily calls for him to stop once or twice.

After a while, I am at the cash register, and as I am waiting for my credit card to go through, the cashier starts looking towards the door, which I can’t see because of the other cash register.

The cashier turns to two ladies by the door.

Cashier: “Excuse me, does he belong to you?”

The two ladies look and say no. Suddenly, the cashier takes off from behind the counter and out of the store. She comes back in holding the hand of the little boy who was running around earlier. 

Cashier: “Sweetie, you can’t go outside without your mommy or daddy. You could get hurt! Do you know where your mommy or daddy are?”

The child’s mother then comes walking casually along the aisle towards the door, as if nothing had happened. When the child sees her, he again starts screaming and tries to take off through the door. The mother takes his hand from the cashier and leads him out of the store without a word. The cashier comes back to the register.

Cashier: “I’m so sorry about that. Here’s your receipt.”

Me: “Are you kidding? You shouldn’t be apologizing to me; that mother should have been apologizing to you! Good for you.”

It’s 10:10 pm, and I’m managing a fast food restaurant that closes at 10:00 pm. A few minutes ago, I locked all the doors and turned off all the exterior lights, the road sign, the dining room, and the drive-up menu board.

A car pulls on the lot. A customer gets out of her car, walks up to the vestibule-type entry, yanks on the door, and finds it locked. She walks to the other side of the vestibule, yanks on that door, and finds it locked. She walks around the building, to the door on the other side and — you guessed it — finds it locked. 

She then proceeds to walk up to the drive-up window, bangs on it until I come over, and then asks, “Are you open?”

Related:
Not Very Closed Minded, Part 34
Not Very Closed Minded, Part 33
Not Very Closed Minded, Part 32
Not Very Closed Minded, Part 31
Not Very Closed Minded, Part 30

I go to my pharmacy’s drive-up window to pick up a prescription. I give the pharmacy technician my information and put my HSA card — medical debit card — in a cup in the slide-out drawer provided for that purpose.

A few minutes later, she hands me a small bag.

Technician: “Here is your prescription; your card is in the bag.”

Me: “Thank you.”

I start to drive away.

Technician: “WAIT! YOUR CARD IS IN THE CUP!”

Me: *Stops* “I thought you said my card was in the bag?”

Technician: “I made that up.”