Wireless People I Salute You

My heart goes out to the people who work in the cell phone place across the corridor from my bookstore.

There was a guy in there who was screaming at the poor guy and girl who work there. He was so loud that not only could I hear him in my store, but I could hear him in the back of my store (and my store is kind of long). He was shouting at them to buy back his phone and telling them that if they didn't buy it back and give him back all of the money he had spent he was going to take back every good thing he had ever said about them and tell everybody how terrible they were and he was going to make sure that they never had any business ever again. He was so verbally abusive that one of the guy who was working actually walked out of the store so he wouldn't have to deal with the guy anymore...and by the time the customer finally left, the poor girl who was left to deal with him and try to calm him down had pushed the chair she was sitting in all the way back against the wall and had her arms folded and was leaning back... I've never seen such defensive body language.

I felt so bad for them. If I had gotten around to taking my break I would have gone and bought them some treats for having to deal with such a colossel jerk.

I have to give them credit though, the customer did not get what he wanted (his phone bought back from him and all of his bill payments refunded, from the sound of it). No matter how loudly he yelled and how many threats he made, he didn't get his way. He finally stomped out yelling about what terrible service the girl had given him. The girl looked like she wanted to rocket launch her stapler into the back of his skull, but she refrained. I don't know that I could have kept myself so calm in the same situation.

Why do people act like that? Why do they think that by screaming at somebody that person in turn becomes more agreeable? Verbal abuse does not help the situation people. I know that when it comes to me, it makes me even less likely to try and help you. Not only that, but your behavior backfires on you. Not only do you make yourself even more angry, but you build up sympathy for the poor person trying to help you. At no point are you the good guy.

My hat goes off to you people at the wireless place across the hall. I hope tomorrow is better.