People of my age group (I am 60 next month) were, as a rule, brought up to be polite. Not to complain out loud. To think of others. To be considerate. Not to be rude to people, especially those you know (I can think of an exception to this rule, but she was my m-in-law - does that count?)
Anyway, all this crossed my mind today when I went back to collect my prescription at a certain supermarket (see, I'm so well-brought-up I don't like to be rude about them on-line by naming them and I don't want to get the member of staff into trouble! . . .) I'm sure the woman who was supposed to be serving was just busy. She did appear to be doing something as she talked with the Pharmacist. So I waited patiently to collect my prescription. After a couple of minutes, another couple came to join me in the queue, and together we waited calmly. The lady caught my eye and we both raised our eyebrows at being ignored. Then she said, "I can't believe we do this - just wait like this." I agreed, but STILL I didn't say anything to the woman behind the counter who was still being "busy". The other customer and I exchanged pleasantries and both agreed that really, only the English (although, living in Wales, perhaps I ought to say British) would put up with this. In any Mediterranean country there would be raised voices and gesticulations and crossness! At about this point the gist of our conversation must have been overheard by the member of staff and she finally came through and served us, and I thanked her for my prescription and walked off without a single word of complaint. Then I got back to my husband and promptly complained at being kept waiting . . . Perhaps I should have vented my spleen, but I was brought up to be polite . . . Is it just me or would you do the same?
Me too, polite I mean, and yet my husband who speaks up every time has fewer emotional episodes. He is logical to the end of time...
ReplyDeleteIf I did interrupt and ask her to serve I would no doubt be full of apologies, but then I apologise if I bump into a chair........
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't have actually said anything but the lady concerned would have been very aware of my displeasure!
ReplyDeleteStrange. I'm only four years younger than you...but I'd have spoken up. In fact I'm quite capable of pointing out loudly that I'm receiving poor service; that someone's getting in everyone's way with a shopping trolley; that children are being brats; lots of stuff.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure. I might have done either depending on what mood I'm in. I would have looked around or tried to see -- or hear, if there were any extenuating circumstances. But I am capable of speaking up if I think the situation warrants it.
ReplyDeleteYes I would have been exactly the same. I do not like to make a fuss about anything. Not sure that it is necessarily our age - maybe more the way we have been brought up as both of my parents were very reticent and if someone else is making a fuss I want to become invisible.
ReplyDeleteI have become much more inclined to complain and make comments on bad service and behaviour since I got older.I am 65 and I would have suffered in silence in my younger days but not now,this may be because there seem to be so many people out there who have no manners and do not behave in a decent way.
ReplyDeleteI have to say, we were waiting perhaps 2 or 3 minutes max. Much longer and I would have spoken up.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't have made a fuss, but I've gotten to the point where I'd Blog, Tweet and Facebook about it, and I'd name names.
ReplyDeleteI think I would likely have endured in slience. I hate confrontations and they only happen if I am really angry--which isn't a good thing.
ReplyDeleteSomething I find increasingly irritating is to wait to be served--particularly at a check out counter when the clerk is so involved in a personal conversation with the person ahead of me that neither one of them appears to note the rudeness of making the next in line [Me!] wait.