I think it’s a matter of perspective. Assuming our OP is fairly young, he may have never lived during a time where there were not CDs. He may have learned how to open the cases at the age of 5, and now thinks of it as natural a thing as opening a jar or unzipping a coat. Since I was a bit older when they came out, I distinctly remember thinking at least once “How the hell do you open this thing?” Without that experience, you may not realize how strange a thing it really is.
Give a jar to someone who’s never needed to open one before, and they will be stumped. Of course, if you work at the grocery store and get a call from a person who can’t figure out how to open the pickles they just bought, you might think they’re a bit on the dull side.
Okay, I am fairly young I suppose (22), but I am very familiar with things other than cds…and have been for years. Like I stated…I understand the common problems people have with cds…I have had those problems myself-with packaging and such. I really don’t think I, or most of you, when first confronted with a cd jewel case, had any trouble opening it.
But, that isn’t really my biggest problem with the whole thing. If it was my grandmother…or shit…my mom…or sister…or whatever…that would be fine. I may chuckle to myself, being the apparent snob that I am–but it would be okay. I know them. I don’t know of anyone that would call a complete stranger…you know, if she had come into the store it would have been okay. I could have shown her in 10 seconds. Some things (which seem obvious to me and I have never had to explain them before) are difficult to explain over the phone. Especially when the person you are talking to is totally freaking out…for some reason.
I don’t know where this lady bought her stuff…not from us. She asked me several times after I answered if we were still known as “Blockbuster Music” (folks-it’s been years). She told me she had never been in our store. I am assuming either the stuff she recieved was a gift…from someone that didn’t stick around long enough to explain things to her, no doubt–or she got the stuff at WalMart…or something like that, where the people would be too busy to help her.
We are one of the biggest (if not the biggest) record stores in the city. Someone may have told her to call us. I don’t know. Oh and I use the term “Record Store” although we haven’t sold actual records in awhile. Habit I guess…what the hell else would you call it? Music stores sell instruments and shit. Tikki-thanks for the link. I shall definitely check that out.
Reread the OP. He was trying his best to answer the question, but could not extract from this lady – despite his best intentions – what the question even was. This hapens in retail (and the rest of life) all the time.
Some 20 years ago I was a cashier at a movie theatre. We were showing a movie called “Oh God, You Devil.” One not-so-bright customer had questions about it.
Customer: So what’s it about? Is it appropriate for kids?
Me: Yeah, it’s PG. It’s about God and the Devil fighting over a guy’s soul. It’s a comedy.
C: So who does the “you” refer to in “You Devil”?
M: Huh?
C: Who does the “you” refer to in “You Devil”?
M: Uh, it means the devil.
C: Yeah, but who does the “you” refer to in “You Devil”?
M: It’s a play on words.
C: Yeah, but who does the “you” refer to in “You Devil”?
M: The devil. George Burns plays two roles, God and the Devil.
C: (Growing impatient) Yeah, but who does the “you” refer to in “You Devil”?
M: The devil. George Burns plays the devil.
C: Yeah, but who does the “you” refer to in “You Devil”?
M: I guess I don’t understand your question. What sort of answer are you looking for? The actor’s name? Who Satan is? If someone is calling you the devil?
C: It’s a simple question! I just want to know who the “you” refers to in “You Devil”!
(Continue this nonsense for – I swear --15 minutes)
C: Yeah, but who does the “you” refer to in “You Devil”?
M: You, lady! It refers to you! You are the devil! Begone, Satan!
It was ay this point that I started throwing handfuls of popcorn at her.
To this day I have no idea what sort of answer would have satisfied her.
uh tdn I hate to break it to you but you totally missed this guys question. His question was who was the “you” that the title was referring to as the devil. If I am reading the title correctly the you in this case refers to God.
Ah, but we went down that road. She asked if it referred to God. To which I replied that no, it really didn’t, it was simply a play on words because both roles were played by a single actor.
Stupid questions are part and parcel of retail, unfortunately. At least we get stories to tell.
Super bonus anecdote:
“Can I just check this book out for a few weeks? I don’t need it that long.”
“Uh, no. We don’t loan out books. We sell them.”
“Hmm. Do you know a place I could do that?”
“The library?”
I wasn’t quite an adult when CDs came out, but the players were ungodly expensive and I was happy with my turntable and cassette deck. I had an 8-track deck too, and shut up about it.
I think I was about 18 or 19 when I first had to open a CD case myself. It opened, all right. It never closed again, and it technically wasn’t a case anymore, but I damned sure got that sucker open.
This may sound really dumb now, but my friend had to explain to me why I didn’t need to flip the discs over, too. Heck, I guess it was dumb even then. The point is that never before encountered, somewhat counterintuitive things can be really confusing, even to reasonably intelligent adults (or mopes like me).
“Hey, is Ghostbusters playing here?”
“No, that’s playing at our other theatre, two blocks up the street.”
“So why ain’t it playing here, too? It’s no good?”
The “you” does refer to God. If I said to my friend Bob, “Oh Bob, you devil, you’re always such a rascal,” the “you” in “you devil” is referring to Bob. How can it be any different in the phrase, “Oh God, you devil”?
I don’t see how both roles being played by the same actor has anything to do with it. The “you” refers to God. If the roles had been played by different actors the movie still could have been called the same thing without a bit of difference. My guess is that the woman took offense at God being called a devil.
You’re probably right, but in this case there is a difference. The film makers, I’m sure, were not trying to state categorically that Thy Lord God Almighty, Holy of Holies, Divine Creator of the Known Multiverse, was in fact Satan. (Although this might make a good GD thread.) It was a play on words due to the fact that Burns played both roles. Had it been two different actors, it would have made no sense.
Perhaps the title should have been Oh George, Who Has Previously Played the Almighty in One Blockbuster Movie and One Very Lame Sequel, You Play Him Again, and You Also Play the Devil Concurrently.
But there’s no way in fuck that you could’ve gotten me to put that on the marquee.
Oh sure, I understand. That’s why I suggested he develop his communications skills. He needed to guide her to what she was trying to say. Sometimes, people don’t know enough about something to frame sensible questions. And that’s not really stupidity, but easily eradicated ignorance.
