Posted by D2357BI at 238-231.suscom-maine.net on September 24, 2003 at 05:34:01:
Yesterday, I wrote a question/comment that a couple of you may have interpreted as a cry for Kevin to reply to more postings. While that suggestion MAY BE APPROPRIATE, it was not my motivation.
Have you ever entered a Quick Mart and just observed? I was standing in line to purchase a frosty beverage the other day and a "19" year old chick (with rolls of her belly cascading from under her tube top over the waistband of her spandex) was having a hard time describing the pack o' cigarettes she "needed." It was a classic scene!
However - regardless of her story - it was the clerk behind the counter who cast me a glance that immediately put us in the same frame of reference. He was empathizing with the fact I had to stand behind her waiting to get the hell out of there - and I was empathizing with the fact that he had to stand in front of her and serve her instead of getting the hell out of there. The only thing that I could think of was Randal's comment about how we "have to rip into the occasional customer."
Smoking in itself has derived some serious negativity recently, but quite honestly even if this girl (it could have just as easily been a guy) was old enough to purchase cigarettes... she should have been denied the right for simply being too stupid to smoke.
So, my point was more to appreciate the steamy, stinky, piles of cow pie that a $5 / hour "register jockey" has to put up with in a given day. Thank you for your input, though!
Kevin - you have my email.