I am a university tutor. I go to return a book at the uni library before my class. The library is on the other side of the substantial campus. It is 9:55 am, and there is a sign in front of the checkout counter that says the counter opens at 10:00 am.

Me: “Hey there, sorry to bother you. I did see the sign, but I have to be on the other side of campus in ten minutes. Can I return this book now?”

Librarian: “No, it’s not 10:00 am yet.”

Me: “Well, could I leave the book here and you return it at 10:00 am?”

Librarian: “No.”

Me: “Okay, then.”

I just stood there staring at her for several minutes until it was 10:00 am. Then, she accepted the book.

I did make it to class in time but was out of breath.

Back when I was just out of high school, I got a job in the sporting goods department of a popular Canadian store. Because it was my third job, I could only work limited hours, mostly limited to weekday evenings. Evenings were LAX in this store. I was set the task of restocking the fishing lure aisle (the most nitpicky job), but the other two associates in my area just goofed off all night each night while I worked my butt off in that fishing aisle with the thousands of lures and price tags. The assistant manager rode around the store on a toddler bike — not exactly high performing. Plus, they made me buy the ugly red sweatshirt uniform.

One night, a couple of weeks into the job, an older man came up to me and asked for help finding an item in housewares. I couldn’t find an associate in housewares, so I walked him over myself. On the way, he started making inappropriate comments toward me, focusing on specific details of my looks and talking about what he wanted me to do with him. I put on my retail face, found his item, and sent him on his way as quickly as I could.

I talked to my manager at the start of my shift the next day. I brought up the incident and asked if there was camera footage since there were cameras all over the place.

Manager: “The cameras are all dummy cameras. There’s nothing we can do.”

Me: “Well, what about the next time it happens?”

Manager: “Just find a manager if you can.”

Right. Find a manager who’s riding around the store on a tiny bicycle while pretending to help a creepy man and not alerting him to what I’m doing. That’s the best you have?

Three days later, at the start of my shift, I was pulled into a private room by my manager and let go, presumably because I couldn’t work enough hours.

I was never so happy to be fired in my life.

I am pregnant and have noticed reduced movements with my baby, so I call my doctor’s office as they told me to do if I experience any problems. After going through the prompts and requesting to speak with a nurse, this is the conversation I have with the receptionist. 

Receptionist: “Thank you for calling [Doctor]’s office. How can I help you?”

Me: “Hi, my name is [My Full Name]. I’m a patient of [Doctor]. I’m about thirty-two weeks pregnant and have noticed that my baby isn’t moving as much as she normally does. Can I please be transferred to a nurse?”

Receptionist: “Uh, I don’t know. Are you a patient?”

Me: “Yes, I’m a patient of [Doctor].”

Receptionist: “What’s the name and birthdate?”

Me: “[My Full Name], [birthdate].”

Receptionist: “And are you pregnant?”

Me: “Yes, I’m about thirty-two weeks.”

Receptionist: “How far along are you?”

Me: “Thirty-two weeks.”

Receptionist: “And you said you’re pregnant?”

There’s a long pause.

Me: “Yes.”

Receptionist: “And why do you want to speak to a nurse?”

Me: “Reduced fetal movements. I was told to call if I noticed any and want to know what the next steps are.”

Receptionist: “I mean, I guess I can leave a message for a nurse, but I’m not really sure what you want us to do.”

After hanging up, I decided I was just going to go into the ER and make sure everything was okay. Thankfully, a nurse called me immediately after and told me to come in for monitoring. The baby was fine, but I had a very similar conversation with the receptionist when I called after going into labor.

I am a personal trainer working with a client. Another member is removing all the dumbbells from the rack, testing each weight, and then leaving them on the floor. When he’s decided on the one he wants, he just walks away, leaving the rest discarded on the floor.

Me: “Aren’t you going to lift those back into place?”

Member: *Disgusted* “I don’t come to the gym to lift things!”

My laptop breaks down less than a week before I’m going to be moving abroad for months. I’m desperate to get it repaired before I leave. My father drives me to the repair place on the day they said it would be ready. He has a bad temper when things don’t go his way, so I talk to him beforehand.

Me: “These people are doing a rush job for me, so I need to be extra polite. Please, just let me do all the talking.”

Dad: “Sure.”

Me: *To the clerk* “I’m here to pick up my laptop.”

Clerk: “I’m afraid we haven’t gotten to it yet.”

Me: *Extra sugary* “I told the other guy that I’m leaving the country in a couple of days, and he said he’d try to have it ready by today.”

Clerk: “We didn’t have a chance yet.”

Dad: “So, in other words, it was a lie!”

I ended up leaving the country without my laptop.