I am working with a coworker, and we’re both experiencing a couple of blessed minutes of downtime. We’re both big anime fans, so we’re chatting about the recent episodes of a show we’re both watching, “Attack On Titan”. The show is known for being quite intense and putting its characters through a lot.
Me: “Can you believe everything that they’ve been putting up with this season?”
Coworker: “I know! I keep saying, ‘We just can’t catch a break!'”
As we’re talking, an older customer is walking past and is glaring at us.
Customer: “That’s the problem with your generation! Always complaining about how hard you’ve got it! You always need little breaks! I don’t know what you think you’ve got to complain about, but back in my day, we just got on with it and didn’t expect a pat on the back for the privilege.”
Coworker: “Oh, sir, we weren’t complaining about our jobs. We’re just talking about a show we watch where the characters have to endure a lot, and we were feeling sorry for them.”
Customer: “Let me guess. They’re struggling because they have to work a full eight hours and they’ve run out of mental health days?”
Coworker: “No, they have to fight man-eating giants who have just consumed all their friends and family in increasingly violent and disturbing ways.”
Customer: “Hmph! Sounds stupid! Back in my day, shows were about real things! Starsky & Hutch! Hawaii Five-O! And the real one, not that new one where everyone is Asian!”
Me: “Sir, did you need help with anything in the store?”
Customer: “No! I can do it myself! You should all just stop moaning!”
Coworker: “We will… try, sir.”
And off he went, looking for new things to grumble about.