Until now.
When I Googled "today's society," this is what I got.
Sad, isn't it?
Well, I've had three real life experiences to back up the fact that we're doomed...that today's society/the young generation is going down the crapper (if not already down it.)
As mentioned above, I don't complain about these big picture things. However, this was a "three strikes and you're out"/"straw that broke the camel's back" situation. (Can I throw any more euphemisms out there? Is euphemism the right word? I digress...) After the last of the three situations below happened, I knew I had to write a blog post. I couldn't keep it in anymore. I had to let it out.
Scenario #1:
A few months ago, I was shopping at Walmart. (Some of you readers are saying to yourself that in and of itself makes us doomed!). There were two customers ahead of me in line. As the person at the front of the line was paying, I saw the cashier doing something on his phone.
Now, I'm pretty naive. So naive that I thought that maybe the cashier was scanning a coupon for the customer off of her phone. I gave the cashier the benefit of the doubt.
The person in front of me moves up, items are scanned, and she's ready to pay. The cashier whips his phone out again and is typing away.
CLEARLY this is not a situation where the cashier is scanning a customer's coupon.
This jerk is texting while working!
The customer swipes her credit card and it doesn't go through so she has to interrupt his texting to ask him what to do. He mumbles, "Swipe it again" and promptly goes back to texting. She swipes again and it's Groundhog Day all over again. It doesn't go through. She asks him what to do. He mumbles, "Swipe it again" and promptly goes back to texting. Now, stay with me here. It doesn't go through for a THIRD time. She says something again and this time her husband (clearly agitated) pipes up, "This is the THIRD time my wife's had to ask you what to do for payment and you're busy texting."
Wait for it.
Little ole' me says, "Yeah, when I was a cashier, we got in trouble for TALKING to other cashiers." (I should've just called myself a dinosaur."
Wait for it. There's more.
The cashier then says, "I'm going to the Army in 30 days. I'll be gone soon. My Mom's really worried about me and she's texting me."
Mother.of.gawd. Yup. That's right. He may be defending our country. I feel sorry for any of his fellow soldiers that he may have to put his life on the line for.
Anywho.
The customer immediately tries to calm everyone down and say it's no big deal but the husband keeps saying it is a big deal and the cashier keeps saying he's leaving to go in the Army.
Can I please just pay for my 40 lb bag of bird seed and get out of dodge???
Scenario #2
John and I were in a Dunkin' Donuts (yes, I know, another stellar establishment) a few weeks ago. We ordered and it came to $4.89. John handed the cashier a $20 bill and she punched it in and the drawer popped open and immediately she yelled to her co-worker, "I have no 5's."
OK. Stop the tape.
Do you not have a 10 and five ones? Do you not have fifteen ones?
Back to the action.
She just stands there, unsure of what to do.
I say that I'm going to buy a bottle of water from the gas station cashier (they're attached) and will come back with a smaller bill.
I do that and come back with a five and hand it to her.
Again with the "unsure of what to do" look.
????
She whips out her phone BECAUSE SHE HAS TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE CHANGE WILL BE FOR A FIVE DOLLAR BILL INSTEAD OF A TWENTY DOLLAR BILL, WHICH IS WHAT THE REGISTER IS SHOWING.
Are you f'ing kidding me??????????
ELEVEN CENTS. Just take away the $15 part. It's not rocket science, people. Elementary school math, people.
::sigh::
Scenario #3:
NOTE: The names/situations in this scenario have been slightly altered to protect the innocent (guilty).
Let's just say that Jane's son was graduating from kindergarten and it being a special occasion, a family party would be planned. Jane's significant other's parents offer to her significant other (Adam) to host the party at their house. Adam tells Jane this.
What does Jane do?
Jane sends a message to Adam's mother via social media thanking her so much for offering to host the party and oh, what day would work best for you -- Friday or Saturday?
Stop.the.bus.
What would YOU do?
I'll tell you what I would do. I'd thank my significant other's mother in person (or by phone if in person not possible due to distance, etc...) and maybe even give her a little thank you gift. I'd tell her how much it means and that she won't have to do anything and that whatever day of the week is best for her is best for the party.
OR/IN ADDITION (and I know that this is totally radical), I'd write her a thank you note and mail it to her.
I sound about 90 years old, don't I? It's all about manners, people. Nothing to do with age. Manners.
So, as you can see, we're doomed.
The demise of today's society has begun and is well underway.
That is all. Carry on.
