I hate it when they try to help me. I want to browse and maybe indulge in some financially irresponsible impulse buys. When you make me talk to strangers many times, I get the one thing I want (or nothing at all!) and leave as quickly as possible. Genius!

Obligatory for mandatory things which employers try to pretend your have a choice about.

Yeah, definitely. I know I, personally, would prefer people just wear their faces, and clearly I’m not alone in this. I believe corporate management tries to enforce manic smiling as a control tactic- plus they can then fire people who aren’t smiling enough, which is useful if they’re looking for a reason to fire them…

I don’t mind the New Seasons folks because they seem to be genuine - at the one I go to, anyway. I actually was put off by the service I received multiple places in Bend recently because it was SO chipper and they asked weirdly personal questions. Everywhere from my hotel check-in counter to Market of Choice.

What blows my mind are the complaints from customers. I’ve had conversations with several different people who complain about unsmiling service employees and I’m just like “why do you even care??” And they act like I’m the unreasonable one.

I appreciate when employees help me, but I don’t need 14 different workers asking me how am I doing. I know there’s mystery shops (which offer nothing of value), but jeez. The problem is certain customers love the attention. “Oh they’re so nice at _____” even though it’s all forced from top to bottom.

This is why I liked shopping in the UK— They have this reputation for poor customer service but really what it is is that the woman or man ringing you up doesn’t bother to pretend that they’re excited about it. That’s a lot more comfortable than forced pleasantries.

Weiner has a serious case of RBF. I passed him on the street outside my office a few months back and he was scowling so strongly I thought he was about to hit me.

It must be depressing being The Ween, realizing that your entire life can be reduced to an Aerosmith playlist.

A year ago I might have agreed but this is beyond someone being self destructive and having online affairs with consenting adults. Now that it’s about sexting with a child, I’m not sure we can assume it’s never gone beyond virtual. The FBI has his computer and there could be evidence on there to contradict that.

You’re still not getting a pony ride.

So hippotheraphy is a real thing with benefits, for various disorders. But considering he is an adult and this is not a long term program I am guessing it is the usual covering of one’s ass tactic.

SIGH

What kind of white people bullshit is this.

I lived in sin for three years first, so I think I’m good for at least some sort of minor fire or tornado.

Lame, right? It’s like I married for nothing!

No fair. My heterosexual marriage doesn’t have any superpowers.

To me, the waves of grief idea really worked. I would just be doing something and all of a sudden I would be drowning in grief, helpless, taken by this huge wave. The waves keep coming, but farther apart and smaller, and now they’re more like a small, twingey reminder instead of a tsunami I was helpless against.