I was in the store this afternoon. I was wearing a baseball cap that says "CHILE" on it. Here is the conversation I had with the cashier:

Cashier: (pointing to my hat) Did you serve your mission in Chile?
Me: Ha ha...nope.
Cashier: Did your son serve there?
Me: No, I just like the hat.
Cashier: Have you ever been there?
Me: No...but my best friend is from there.
Cashier: Your wife?
Me: No...it's my friend. (sounding irritated)
Cashier: Well, I served in Paris, France.
Me: That's nice.
Cashier: Did you serve a mission?
Me: (VERY IRRITATED AT THIS POINT) Yes, I went to Ohio.
Cashier: Didn't you just love it?
Me: (PISSED) Frankly no.
Cashier: Really? Why not?
Me: Many reasons. I don't really want to talk about it.
Cashier: Well, I loved my mission. I wish I could go again.
Me: Okay
Cashier: Well, maybe you can go to Chile one day.
Me: (through clenched teeth) I would love it.
Cashier: Maybe your friend will take you.
Me: Yeah, I guess.
Cashier: How long have you known this friend?
Me: A long time.
Cashier: How did you meet him?
Me: A friend introduced us.
Cashier: Does he speak English?
Me: Yes he does.
Cashier: Well I speak French.
Me: Okay
Cashier: What's his name?
Me: (Ready to scream at this point) His name is M------, and he is my boyfriend. What else would you like to know?

The cashier did not say another word to me and the customer behind me laughed out loud. I know it was rude, but man I get sick of stuff like that.

Another pet peeve of mine is when a store employee feels the need to make some weird comment on your purchases. Today at Costco the woman at the door who checks your receipt looked at my two purchases, whipped cream and chicken thighs, and says "That's an odd combination!" I felt like saying, "What, you've never had whipped cream on thighs?"

You probably really confused him! He he

I had to buy a quick church outfit for my daughter before sacrament this afternoon as she had nothing appropriate and the cashier asked if it was a special occasion. Just said she's going to church today.

I was done with that little twerp. Quit assuming everyone is LDS. It is one of my biggest pet peeves.

That was some great self restraint. Had it been me, that cashier would have been left in tears and I would have been escorted out.

Ha, ha! That's priceless. I would have loved to have seen the look on their face. I'm sorry they were so irritating though. I can't imagine a complete stranger being that nosey.

I congratulate you on your restraint!!

I heard this awhile back: "Dumb as a box of rocks" ! :-)

Ooooooo you could change that up to dumb as a rock in a hat.

... just because they ask us a (nosy) question.

As soon as we find ourselves starting to get irritated, the chances are good that inappropriate questions are being asked. Time to stop answering and to shift the conversation! In the above case:

Cashier: (pointing to my hat) Did you serve your mission in Chile?
Me: Ha ha...nope.
Cashier: Did your son serve there ?
Me: No, I just like the hat.

At this point, you have shared enough information, Wendell.

Once the cashier asked, "Have you ever been there [to Chile]?" you might have said, "You certainly have a great interest in Chile. Have YOU been there?" and let the cashier be on the receiving end of the questions;

or (ignoring his question):

"I appreciate your expediting my purchases today" and step a bit away from him, looking at the bagger, the bags, your wallet, whatever, to make it clear that you have no desire to chitchat with him further.

As we exmos practice setting boundaries with others, we take back the power we were conditioned to give away.

I simply kept thinking the conversation would end after each question, but somehow he kept right on going. I'll be better prepared next time. Thanks.

Cashier: Did you serve a mission?
You: (Sadly) Why, no.
Cashier: Why not?
You: Well, the rules....
Cashier: Really? What rules?
You: I don't want to talk about it.
Cashier: Why not?
You: I'm not allowed to.
Cashier: Not allowed?
You: (through clenched teeth) No.
Cashier: Now why wouldn't you be allowed to talk about it?
You: (Heavy sigh) I couldn't go on a mission because I'm on parole. It's a condition of my parole that I don't talk about that store clerk I shot because he asked me too many #@&* questions that were none of his freakin'-.
Cashier: (Disappears)

That was priceless.

But you are way more ballsy that I could ever be. Good one.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/19/2010 08:04PM by wendell.

Wendell, I love the way you handle things. You just keep moving foreword no matter what happens. I hope you see how strong you are. I sure do.
Roger

Thanks for noticing!

You: So you're a mormon:

Twit: True Blue

You: What did you say when your Bishop asked if you masturbated in your last interview?

Twit: Gasps (shifts eyes) person behind you gets it, ha ha!

I remember when I was fresh back from my mission I was working as a Sales/Cashier in Northern California and a customer had the name"Joseph Smith" after he signed his name. I was naive back when I was Mormon and remember starting a conversation about his name. I remember asking him if he knew who Joseph Smith was and I said he was a very important person in history. I remember him kinda grumbling a looking irritated at me. hahahha I was so stupid. I remember feeling a little embarrassed afterwards and not quite understanding why he was so irritated. I just figured he got that a lot.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/20/2010 12:54AM by thebrianguy.

OUTOFUTAH. so glad I don't have to put up with that nonsense in the real world.

And I certainly DON'T mean a "latter day saint."

I don't know why i didn't lose it, but for some reason I didn't. I have no clue how.

The longer you are out living your own true life, the more control you will have. It just starts to happen on its own. When all the extra crappy rules are gone it is just easier to flow with life and see it for what it really is.

You fed it by answering his questions. Be glad you're the interesting-looking guy in the Chile hat and not the other one, checking groceries (or whatever you were getting).

Sir -- Have you ever considered minding your own business as a way of life?

Repeat that as necessary for two or three more times.

If the questioning still persists, ask this --

What part of minding your own business don't you understand ???

You holding up OK?

Oh, and good for you for not holding back on that "person."

It wouldn't hurt to ask to speak to his manager. Maybe this guy is completely clueless about appropiate boundries when working. It's one thing to be friendly, another to be invasive. It doesn't matter if it's Happy Valley or not. He sounds like a nosy 7 year asking, "Why not? Why not? How come?" over and over.

"Me: No...but my best friend is from there.
Cashier: Your wife?"

GAH! If it was your wife, wouldn't you have said that?

Jebus, some people are DUMB.