Me: *on the phone* “Thank you for calling [Tech Support]. My name is [My Name]. How can I assist you today?”

Customer: “Yeah, I need some help. My son just shot my TV.”

Me: “Excuse me?”

Customer: “Yeah, he was playing around with a BB gun and shot the center of the TV. It’s dead. I need to know what to do.”

Me: “Well, unfortunately, sir… that’s not something that’s covered under warranty.”

Customer: “Oh, obviously. I know that, but I need to know what to do.”

Me: “I can get you the number of a repair shop near you…”

Customer: “No, I need to know what to do to my son. He shot my f****** TV. What do I do? Ground him? Spank him?”

Me: “Uh… unfortunately, that’s not something I can assist you with, sir.”

Customer: “Oh. Right. Well, I thought I would try anyway.”

(I was a customer watching this exchange. A customer walked up to the counter with his young child to purchase ‘Halo 3.’)

Cashier 1: “Just to check, you know this game is rated ‘M’, right?”

Customer: “Yeah, yeah, I know.”

Cashier 1: “Sorry, just have to check, part of the job.”

Customer: “What good is that for?”

Cashier 2: “It’s just to prevent minors from playing games with violent or mature content, unless parents are OK with it.”

Customer: “Well that’s stupid.”

Cashier 2: “It’s required by law. If we don’t check, we could lose our job. It’s a violent game – shooting aliens, blood, etc.”

Customer: “I’ve been shooting aliens since I was 12!”

Cashier 1: “Well, it’s our job and we have to do it.”

Customer: *storms out with the child* “Thanks for nothing!”

(A man and woman with a 10-year-old kid come up to my counter to rent Grand Theft Auto 4.)

Me: “You know, this game is rated and ‘M’ and generally not considered a good choice for young children.”

Parent: “Yeah, so?”

Me: “Just saying… Some parents don’t know. I just wanted to make sure.”

Parent: “Pfft… like I care about that. You’re going to be a boring parent!”

(I overhear this odd exchange while shopping at a local used music store. It takes place between the clerk and a woman with a heavy accent.)

Customer: “I am looking for a CD of band called Wet Noodle.”

Clerk: “Wet Noodle? I don’t think we have anything like…”

Customer: “You have it! My grandson says he wants the CD of band Wet Noodle!”

(The clerk searches for the band on his computer, to no avail.)

Clerk: “I’m sorry, we don’t have any record of any products by a band called Wet Noodle.”

(I put one and one together and interject.)

Me: “Ma’am, do you mean Limp Bizkit?”

Customer: “Yes! Some band like Wet Noodle or Limp Bizkit or some food!”

(The clerk gets the CDs for the lady, finishes her transaction, and then turns to me.)

Clerk: *to me* “I’m giving you every discount I know of.”

(A woman with a newborn baby walks into the store looking a little disoriented and heads towards the baby swings.)

Me: “Can I help you, ma’am?”

Customer: “Yes, my child keeps falling out of the swing and hitting her head. Why is that?”

Me: “Well, ma’am, your swing must be defective. Your baby shouldn’t be able to fall out if she’s buckled in and the tray is secured.”

Customer: “You mean I have to put the tray on?!”

This story is part of our Even More Dangerous Parent’s roundup!

Read the next Even More Dangerous Parent’s roundup story!

Read the Even More Dangerous Parent’s roundup!