# Hey lady, what the hell is YOUR problem? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 1, 2006, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-lady-what-the-hell-is-your-problem/350850 "2006-04-01T16:05:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2006, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-lady-what-the-hell-is-your-problem/350850/101 "2006-04-05T18:15:48Z")
[QUOTE=tdn] “Arborway Video, may I help you?” (Three-year-old answers) “Um… Um… Poopy head! Booger!” (Phone drops to floor, sound of child running away laughing.) (Voice of adult in the background) “Billy, pick up the phone and tell the man what movies you want to watch. Billy, come back here. Billy. Billy! If I make you a peanut butter sandwich, will you tell the man what you want? You will? OK, let’s go into the kitchen. Billy, get back here! Billy!” (Voice of adult on the phone) “Hold on.” (Phone drops to floor.) Yeah, that’s just adorable. All the people waiting in line are just beaming in admiration of your little prodigy. [/QUOTE] So you hang up the phone after Um Um Poopy Head. ---
**Author:** ![cowgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8c91f0/32.png) [@cowgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cowgirl)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2006, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-lady-what-the-hell-is-your-problem/350850/102 "2006-04-05T19:01:34Z")
[QUOTE=Charger] If I ever go to a restaurant and see a sign that says “Rude customers will not be tolerated,” I will have a new favorite restaurant. [/QUOTE] In fact my favourite roti place has a little ceramic urn that says “Ashes of problem customers” on the side. (That’s not even why they’re my favourite. They actually make great roti too.) ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2006, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-lady-what-the-hell-is-your-problem/350850/103 "2006-04-05T19:07:42Z")
[QUOTE=Ceejaytee] [Woman gets kicked out a mall for using her cell phone](http://www.nbcactionnews.com/kshb/nw_local_news/article/0,1925,KSHB_9424_4585429,00.html) My god, the clerk asked her to get off the phone, and it was \*\*just like \*\* she’s been shoplifting. The article doesn’t mention it, but she must have been kicking up quite a fuss to actually get kicked out of the mall (not just the store, but the mall). I’m sure the clerk’s just devastated that she won’t be coming back. [/QUOTE] Funny. I’ll bet 20 bucks she raised a huge hissy and got no sympathy at all. She apparently thinks the fact that she \*might \* spend some money there gives her the right to be rude and inconsiderate. I’m very glad they threw her out and from her comments she needs it to happen again and again until she suspects that maybe it’s her attitude that’s the problem. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2006, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-lady-what-the-hell-is-your-problem/350850/104 "2006-04-05T19:31:46Z")
[QUOTE=ivylass] So you hang up the phone after Um Um Poopy Head. [/QUOTE] Yep. Soon to be followed by a call from the irate parent. ---
**Author:** ![Sean\_Factotum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/50afbb/32.png) [@Sean\_Factotum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sean_Factotum)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2006, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-lady-what-the-hell-is-your-problem/350850/105 "2006-04-05T19:59:42Z")
[QUOTE=cosmosdan] Funny. I’ll bet 20 bucks she raised a huge hissy and got no sympathy at all. She apparently thinks the fact that she \*might \* spend some money there gives her the right to be rude and inconsiderate. I’m very glad they threw her out and from her comments she needs it to happen again and again until she suspects that maybe it’s her attitude that’s the problem. [/QUOTE] If she’s surprised that this happened to her, she’s of the type that will never learn, no matter how often it happens. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2006, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-lady-what-the-hell-is-your-problem/350850/106 "2006-04-05T20:42:41Z")
[QUOTE=tdn] Yep. Soon to be followed by a call from the irate parent. [/QUOTE] “I’m sorry, I thought it was a crank call. We’re very busy here tonight, so I didn’t want to hold up our other customers. How may I help you?” ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2006, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-lady-what-the-hell-is-your-problem/350850/107 "2006-04-05T21:15:53Z")
[QUOTE=ivylass] So you hang up the phone after Um Um Poopy Head. [/QUOTE] I could be wrong, but I think only the party who made the call can break the connection. OTOH, if it’s busy in the store, having the phone tied up just means one less thing to do. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2006, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-lady-what-the-hell-is-your-problem/350850/108 "2006-04-05T21:19:31Z")
[QUOTE=Rilchiam] I could be wrong, but I think only the party who made the call can break the connection. OTOH, if it’s busy in the store, having the phone tied up just means one less thing to do. [/QUOTE] That hasn’t been true in most of the USA for a few decades now. Try it. ---
**Author:** ![OtakuLoki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ac8455/32.png) [@OtakuLoki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtakuLoki)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2006, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-lady-what-the-hell-is-your-problem/350850/109 "2006-04-06T02:15:27Z")
[QUOTE=Sampiro] Also at Vortex (I’m paraphrasing): “If you’re finished and there’s a line to get in and you’re just nursing a Coke and reading a book, you will be asked to leave- trust us, you’ll appreciate this policy when you’re the one waiting for a guy nursing a coke and reading a book to leave” and “No, you cannot have a table that seats six when you’re alone so that you spread out your papers, trust us, you’ll appreciate this policy when…”. [/QUOTE] Just what sort of **King of the World** [sup]TM[/sup] idiot do you have to be to show up with your book for a single dinner during the rush hours at a restaurant? I eat with a book. A lot. I show up no earlier than 8 PM, and make a point to tell my server that if I’m getting in the way after I’ve finished my meal, I’ll be glad to leave. I’ve never been pushed on my way, and always get great service when I do this. (I’ll admit, it helps that I tip well, and really want nothing more than regular refills.) But doing this at a resturant’s busy time? Sheesh. ---
**Author:** ![FlyingRamenMonster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@FlyingRamenMonster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlyingRamenMonster)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2006, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-lady-what-the-hell-is-your-problem/350850/110 "2006-04-06T03:10:20Z")
[QUOTE=cowgirl] In fact my favourite roti place has a little ceramic urn that says “Ashes of problem customers” on the side. (That’s not even why they’re my favourite. They actually make great roti too.) [/QUOTE] One of my campus eateries has one of those! Heh heh 😃 ---
**Author:** ![shamrock227](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@shamrock227](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shamrock227)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2006, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-lady-what-the-hell-is-your-problem/350850/111 "2006-04-06T03:25:08Z")
[QUOTE=OtakuLoki] Just what sort of **King of the World** [sup]TM[/sup] idiot do you have to be to show up with your book for a single dinner during the rush hours at a restaurant? [/QUOTE] So, if I do not happen to have a date I am not allowed to eat dinner at dinnertime? ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2006, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-lady-what-the-hell-is-your-problem/350850/112 "2006-04-06T03:34:35Z")
[QUOTE=FlyingRamenMonster] One of my campus eateries has one of those! Heh heh 😃 [/QUOTE] My hairstylist has one of those too. She’s great. ---
**Author:** ![Agonist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/439d5e/32.png) [@Agonist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agonist)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2006, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-lady-what-the-hell-is-your-problem/350850/113 "2006-04-06T03:42:18Z")
[QUOTE=OtakuLoki] Just what sort of **King of the World** [sup]TM[/sup] idiot do you have to be to show up with your book for a single dinner during the rush hours at a restaurant? [/QUOTE] I take a book on my lunch break all the time. Why would reading while you eat be any kind of an inconvenience or take any longer than eating with a friend? It’s not like I hang out for an hour after I’ve paid. ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2006, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-lady-what-the-hell-is-your-problem/350850/114 "2006-04-06T03:47:42Z")
[QUOTE=Otto] Well, no, from the perspective of a manager, it’s a choice between appeasing the idiot and leaving a positive impression and telling the idiot to get bent so that the idiot can tell everyone she knows how terrible the place is, how awful the people are and how poorly she was treated so be sure never to eat there again! [/QUOTE] But that “positive impression” may well amount to a conclusion by the idiot customer that here is a place whose spineless manager caves in to unreasonable demands - an attractive future target. As for the idiot’s friends, some may understand she tends to be unreasonable and thus be able to correctly interpret her tale of rejection. Others, being like her, may feel incensed and avoid the place - thus reducing the chances of similar future unpleasantness. ---
**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:** [April 6, 2006, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-lady-what-the-hell-is-your-problem/350850/115 "2006-04-06T03:51:45Z")
I **HOPE** that **OtakuLoki** is talking about a single diner with a book who LINGERS reading at the table after the meal is finished and the check is ready and waiting to be paid, while new diners are waiting to be seated. That’s rude whether you’re lingering with a book or yakking with your friends. The restaurant needs the table to serve other customers. Go linger at a bar or coffeeshop. Yeah, I know, “I paid for this table and I’ll stay as long as I like!” No you didn’t. You paid for the meal and the use of the table while you were eating. Get out and let somebody else have their turn. But it’s nobody’s business whether diners entertain themselves with a solitary book or conversation with dinner partners while they’re eating. I don’t do so often, but every so often I know I’ll be dining out alone, and I bring a book to occupy myself. And vacate the table as expediently as if I were in a group. ---
**Author:** ![OtakuLoki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ac8455/32.png) [@OtakuLoki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtakuLoki)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2006, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-lady-what-the-hell-is-your-problem/350850/116 "2006-04-06T04:51:04Z")
**Scarlett67** has it right. I’m talking about the guy who chooses his resturant for A/C, and free beverage refills. Not just going in to get your meal quickly, and leave. If the resturant is dead, I don’t see anything wrong with lingering. If they need the table, though, that’s something else entirely. Staying to linger over my book and beverage is rude. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Plastic\_Ninja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f07891/32.png) [@Little\_Plastic\_Ninja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Plastic_Ninja)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2006, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-lady-what-the-hell-is-your-problem/350850/117 "2006-04-06T05:51:08Z")
[QUOTE=Sampiro] “I know this is not your fault, **but** I’ very frustrated…” [/QUOTE] I always do this. ALWAYS. Unless the person is very obviously being a lazy dick. And it’s not just “I’m sorry, I’m afraid we can’t x, it’s against company policy” or “I can’t, the computer won’t let me” – it’s “Yeah, we don’t do that” or just a flat “No”. Giving me a reason why, even if I don’t like the reason, will prompt a “Damn. DAMN. I know this isn’t your fault but this is REALLY frustrating.” Being a dick about it will get a “Fine, you can’t do anything. Please transfer me to someone who can. What was your name again?” ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2006, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-lady-what-the-hell-is-your-problem/350850/118 "2006-04-06T14:07:32Z")
[QUOTE=Little Plastic Ninja] I always do this. ALWAYS. Unless the person is very obviously being a lazy dick. And it’s not just “I’m sorry, I’m afraid we can’t x, it’s against company policy” or “I can’t, the computer won’t let me” – it’s “Yeah, we don’t do that” or just a flat “No”. \ [/QUOTE] There’s a local medical clinic with staff who pull this kind of shit (Beddington Medical Clinic for you Calgarians - staffed by the bitches from hell) regularly. They are the most willfully unhelpful “professionals” I’ve run into in a long time. The kicker - they have a sign in their clinic saying rudeness to and abuse of staff will not be tolerated. Not enough rolleyes in the world. I understand why they have the sign now - the staff baits clients. ---
**Author:** ![shamrock227](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@shamrock227](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shamrock227)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2006, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-lady-what-the-hell-is-your-problem/350850/119 "2006-04-06T18:13:42Z")
[QUOTE=OtakuLoki] **Scarlett67** has it right. I’m talking about the guy who chooses his resturant for A/C, and free beverage refills. Not just going in to get your meal quickly, and leave. If the resturant is dead, I don’t see anything wrong with lingering. If they need the table, though, that’s something else entirely. Staying to linger over my book and beverage is rude. [/QUOTE] Then I misread your first post. Sorry about that. I agree with this completely. ---
**Author:** ![Arianne\_aka\_Hey\_You](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/73ab20/32.png) [@Arianne\_aka\_Hey\_You](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arianne_aka_Hey_You)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2006, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-lady-what-the-hell-is-your-problem/350850/120 "2006-04-07T04:34:35Z")
[QUOTE=Sampiro] On a related note, one little phrase made a ton of difference in how helpful I was to an irate customer. If they said something to the effect of “I know this is not your fault, **but** I’ very frustrated…” then I would return the compassion and help you to the absolute limit of my abilities and then stretch the limit. If you’re screaming at me for something that I have absolutely nothing to do with and only limited recourse in helping you, I’m not going to respond to your complete lack of respect any more than my job description says I absolutely have to. [/QUOTE] I like to use “Would it help if I asked you to put in my file that I called you everything but a decent human being? I don’t want to, or intend to, but if you think it might help, can we just incorporate it by reference?” Usually the customer service person laughs and we get on with what he or she can do to try to fix my problem. Arianne [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-lady-what-the-hell-is-your-problem/350850.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-lady-what-the-hell-is-your-problem/350850.md?page=7)