# Can't you f-----g read (possibly lame rant ahead) **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 21, 2003, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-you-f-g-read-possibly-lame-rant-ahead/183431 "2003-06-21T17:06:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/838e76/32.png) [@One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/One_And_Only_Wanderers)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2003, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-you-f-g-read-possibly-lame-rant-ahead/183431/21 "2003-06-23T11:32:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by friedo \* > \*\*Not really. You need the proper equipment and access to the debit network in order to process debit cards. Some grocery stores will have more aisles than debit or credit terminals available, and therefore will restrict which aisles allow which payment methods. \*\* Here in the UK they use the same swipe machine regardless of whether i hand em a debit or a credit card. I gather this isn’t the case in the States? ---
**Author:** ![Special\_Agent\_Jazz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bcef8e/32.png) [@Special\_Agent\_Jazz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Special_Agent_Jazz)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2003, 11:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-you-f-g-read-possibly-lame-rant-ahead/183431/22 "2003-06-23T11:33:40Z")
I always get, “What’s on sale?” where the sale sign are exactly where the sales are! ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2003, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-you-f-g-read-possibly-lame-rant-ahead/183431/23 "2003-06-23T13:22:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Carl\_A\_Norris \* > Here in the UK they use the same swipe machine regardless of whether i hand em a debit or a credit card. I gather this isn’t the case in the States? At places that accept both debit and credit cards, it typically is the case. My guess on that instance would be that they didn’t get an updated machine that connected to the debit network? There’s a store in my town that’s bothered me since they don’t have their hours posted. It’s a small boutique, and I’ve carefully looked around the windows and doors of the shop, and I assure you there are no posted hours. This past Thursday I decided I would go shopping there, as many shops are open later in the evening on Thursdays in our town. It’s 5:30, I’m down the block from the shop and see some activity in the door, like a sign is being hung. I arrive to see the “Closed” sign there. The next day, I rushed out of work to catch a slightly earlier train, and manage to get there at just before 5:25. Closed. I’d read their hours if they’d give me the **chance**! ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2003, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-you-f-g-read-possibly-lame-rant-ahead/183431/24 "2003-06-23T13:30:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Carl\_A\_Norris \* > \*\*Here in the UK they use the same swipe machine regardless of whether i hand em a debit or a credit card. I gather this isn’t the case in the States? \*\* Sometimes the debit transactions don’t work for some reason, and they have to run it as a credit (my card can work both ways). For a debit transaction, you punch in your PIN and can get cash back; for a credit transaction, you sign the receipt and can’t get cash back. But they both use the same machine. ---
**Author:** ![bayonet1976](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/77aa72/32.png) [@bayonet1976](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bayonet1976)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2003, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-you-f-g-read-possibly-lame-rant-ahead/183431/25 "2003-06-23T13:42:46Z")
Just to be contrarian, if I walk into a store and want to find something I suppose I could just stand around, get my bearings, look for a sign, and head there. Or, I could grab one of the store employees, you know, the ones that are paid by the store to help people like me, ie. customers, and ASK THEM! Yeah, the signs are nice, and if you spend all day at the store looking at them, I’m sure they’re obvious as hell, but since I don’t know where to look for the sign, I’m gonna ask you. If you want to snicker behind my back and laugh about how clueless I am, feel free to do so with my blessings. ---
**Author:** ![Wolfgrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e19b73/32.png) [@Wolfgrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolfgrrl)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2003, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-you-f-g-read-possibly-lame-rant-ahead/183431/26 "2003-06-23T14:13:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by lel \* > \*\*Yes, they try to go through the door on the right, and I was thinking the same thing as **BlackKnight** – I guess they just read it as saying “Please use other door” on instinct and run into a locked door. \*\* I remember one of my teachers talking about a sociology project some kids from my school had done - they arranged with a local laundromat to lock one door and hang a sign on the other saying “Please use this door.” The theory was, in fact, that people were used to seeing the sign as “Please use _other_ door,” and they counted the number of people who would automatically read it that way and try to go through the locked door. I don’t recall the exact percentage but I can safely say it was very high. Speaking of not reading signs - I’ve worked for a number of years as a security guard at local sports and concert venues, and I cannot tell you how many people I’ve spoken to about the no-smoking policy (as if this is not to just be assumed these days?) who say they didn’t realize they couldn’t smoke. Not only is it posted on all the entry doors and in the restrooms, there are signs on the concourse walls, which the offenders are invariably standing directly in front of when they tell me there are no signs. ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2003, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-you-f-g-read-possibly-lame-rant-ahead/183431/27 "2003-06-23T14:30:01Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Lissa \* > \*\*First of all, let me tell you that when you called our store, the first thing you heard was a recording. “Thanks for calling your 24-hour Super K-Mart Center. Please hold for the next available operator who will direct your call.” > > I can’t tell you how many calls I got that evening asking me what time we closed. It amazed me that they would listen to the recording, hear it repeated several times while waiting on hold, and then ask me such a stupid question.\*\* [StevenWright] “I’m sorry, we’re closed.” “But the sign says you’re open 24 hours!” “Well yeah, but not _in a row_.” [/StevenWright] ---
**Author:** ![dwc1970](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a183cd/32.png) [@dwc1970](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dwc1970)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2003, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-you-f-g-read-possibly-lame-rant-ahead/183431/28 "2003-06-23T18:50:57Z")
I think some people try opening the locked door anyway just to see if what the sign says is for real. The sign alone doesn’t convince them that the door is really locked, so they have to find out for themselves. My observation about all this is pretty simple: **PEOPLE DO NOT READ SIGNS!** At OfficeMax people would ask where the Customer Service desk was. Never mind the fact that on the wall in white foam letters 18 inches high, contrasting clearly against the blue paint of the wall, was a sign that said CUSTOMER SERVICE. Then there were people who would ask “what’s the price on this?” I guess as far as these people were concerned, all those bright yellow price labels we’d print out and put on the shelves were just there for decoration. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Faerie\_Nuff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/76d3ee/32.png) [@Faerie\_Nuff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Faerie_Nuff)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2003, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-you-f-g-read-possibly-lame-rant-ahead/183431/29 "2003-06-23T19:59:25Z")
Ugh! I have to deal with people who don’t read almost every day. I work in a four-floor office building. We are the only business on the first floor and have a sign on our door with our company name in big letters. The only other business is the one on the third floor, which for reasons of security is only accessable via the elevator and you need to get someone on the third floor to send the elevator down. I know I’m in for it when someone comes in, looks around confused for a while, looks at our sign, then goes to the elevator and pushes the button. There is a sign _right there_ that tells them to call up to the extension of whoever they’re looking for, or to call the extension for deliveries. But almost every one of them pushes the elevator button, waits a couple minutes, and then comes to ask me to let them up to the third floor. Sometimes they even spend at least a full minute staring at the sign next to the elevator! Okay, people, just because we’re in the same building, it doesn’t mean I have access to the very paranoid people upstairs. Just read the sign and leave me alone. I hope we move my desk soon so they can’t see me from out there. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-you-f-g-read-possibly-lame-rant-ahead/183431.md?page=1)