Lonan3 Posted June 22, 2007 Share Posted June 22, 2007 I was in one shop near to me buying everyday stuff like bread or milk and on two seperate occasions, and with two different members of staff, I was asked me if I was going on holiday this year and if I had any plans for the weekend. They're not my friends, I dont want to engage in small talk with them but I'm still obliged to give them some sort of curt answer. There's nothing wrong with a polite exchange of civilities, but please just leave me alone to get on with my day. "Here he comes, Mavis! Just ask him where he's going on his hols. You won't believe how much it winds him up!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gidderwook Posted June 22, 2007 Share Posted June 22, 2007 I hate small talk. Having said that I'd rather be told 'Have a nice day' by someone who doesn't mean that 'F*** off you c***' by someone who does! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Sausages Posted June 22, 2007 Share Posted June 22, 2007 "I can't go on holiday as my wife is terminally ill and I have to care for her full time. This causes me severe bouts of depression, causing me to break down regularly, and my doctor has advised against being out of his supervision for too long. Also, I'm scared of hotels." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miss Take Posted June 22, 2007 Share Posted June 22, 2007 Why should they think I want to listen to them in the first place. It is their lack of training and confidence that makes them want to fill the silence with noise. It is nothing to do with my attitude. [The thing is, you've not gone in there for a chat. You've gone in to buy something. I just want to conclude the transaction and get on with something more interesting really. Hello, please, thanks, goodbye are really all the words I need or want. I was in one shop near to me buying everyday stuff like bread or milk and on two seperate occasions, and with two different members of staff, I was asked me if I was going on holiday this year and if I had any plans for the weekend. They're not my friends, I dont want to engage in small talk with them but I'm still obliged to give them some sort of curt answer. There's nothing wrong with a polite exchange of civilities, but please just leave me alone to get on with my day. You'd be surprised at the amount of people who do want a chat and who find it to be a highlight of their shopping experience - a least back when I worked in Shoprite anyway. *edited to say, not that I'm inferring that I'm a great conversationalist or anything* You two are just grumpy sods. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sarahc Posted June 22, 2007 Share Posted June 22, 2007 Politeness is like an air cushion. There's nothing in it, but it eases the burden wonderfully. So there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VinnieK Posted June 22, 2007 Share Posted June 22, 2007 I think it's an awful erosion of our customs and a frightening infringement of those civil liberties pertaining to our inalienable right not to be wished to have a nice day, and, as such, deserves to be stamped out with an iron jackboot. In an ideal world all shop staff would conclude any transaction with a stirring rendition of Land of Our Birth, in Manx. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Speckled Frost Posted June 22, 2007 Share Posted June 22, 2007 Efficiency is more important than politeness. If you have no small talk skills like me then it can be really awkward when someone tries to engage you - I don't even like barbers doing it. So it can do harm - it harms me emotionally and exposes my social ineptitude Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Sausages Posted June 22, 2007 Share Posted June 22, 2007 And a wink. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silentbob Posted June 22, 2007 Share Posted June 22, 2007 Maybe this is where my customer facing skills could be improved, I always used to say "Piss off and die". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Speckled Frost Posted June 22, 2007 Share Posted June 22, 2007 Sorry to go off on a tangent here, but how has my post come up before Vinnie's despite being a whole minute later and no editing has gone on? Is one of us a timelord? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Sausages Posted June 22, 2007 Share Posted June 22, 2007 You've broken the universe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Speckled Frost Posted June 22, 2007 Share Posted June 22, 2007 Shit, I can be so clumsy sometimes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WilDDog Posted June 22, 2007 Share Posted June 22, 2007 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hugh Jampton Posted June 22, 2007 Share Posted June 22, 2007 Albert, which gas man was that? The Cockney one does chat but is very pleasant and helpful. He used to have very long hair Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pragmatopian Posted June 22, 2007 Share Posted June 22, 2007 Nothing wrong with exchanging a few common courtesies when out shopping, including "Have a nice day" when genuinely expressed. I happily walk a few hundred yards more to get my groceries from a store where the assistant smiles and says 'good morning' to me, rather than use the closest shop where the assistant sees me as an inconvenience and practically throws my shopping through the barcode reader. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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