# Marching through Georgia; or, My Bizarre Gas Station Experience. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 16, 2002, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marching-through-georgia-or-my-bizarre-gas-station-experience/143102 "2002-12-16T16:39:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2002, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marching-through-georgia-or-my-bizarre-gas-station-experience/143102/1 "2002-12-16T16:39:25Z")
This happened on my trip to Florida. I stopped for gas at a small service station along the Interstate in Georgia. Filled up the tank. I went in to pay with a $10 bill. I laid it on the counter, face down. The cashier says-- **What are you tryin’ to pull?!?** Me-_Excuse me?_ **Where’s the money?** _Right there (points). It’s a ten dollar bill._ **That ain’t no ten dollar bill! The President’s face is on money! Where’s his face!?!** I flip the bill over. _Right there._ ( **Bosda** is puzzled, nervous.) Cashier stares at bill for 15-20 seconds, doesn’t touch it. **Ah won’t take it.** _But…WHY?_ **Faces wasn’t there a minute ago…it’s some kind of trick.** 😕 :eek: I count out ten singles & leave. FAST! Can anybody top this? ---
**Author:** ![rubes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@rubes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rubes)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2002, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marching-through-georgia-or-my-bizarre-gas-station-experience/143102/2 "2002-12-16T17:20:11Z")
Holy smokes. I’m anxious to read if anyone can top this, but that is VERY scary. ---
**Author:** ![Mullinator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c2a13f/32.png) [@Mullinator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mullinator)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2002, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marching-through-georgia-or-my-bizarre-gas-station-experience/143102/3 "2002-12-16T17:20:14Z")
As a resident of Georgia, I just need to know what road this was on and the general location of the gas station. At that point, I can be sure to move far, far away. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2002, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marching-through-georgia-or-my-bizarre-gas-station-experience/143102/4 "2002-12-16T18:35:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mullinator \* > \*\*As a resident of Georgia, I just need to know what road this was on and the general location of the gas station. > > At that point, I can be sure to move far, far away. \*\* I-75, south of Macon, is the best I can tell you. ---
**Author:** ![Lsura](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@Lsura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lsura)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2002, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marching-through-georgia-or-my-bizarre-gas-station-experience/143102/5 "2002-12-16T18:42:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bosda Di’Chi of Tricor \* > \*\*I-75, south of Macon, is the best I can tell you. \*\* I knew it had to be southern Georgia…but I didn’t want to say anything until **Bosda** said it first. I mean, just 'cause I think of northern Georgia as more…cosmopolitan, doesn’t mean there aren’t people there who would do that. ---
**Author:** ![Berkut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a88e57/32.png) [@Berkut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Berkut)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2002, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marching-through-georgia-or-my-bizarre-gas-station-experience/143102/6 "2002-12-16T19:23:56Z")
When travelling, you should carry currency appropriate to the location. Like maybe his cousin. Or his sister, for really big purchases. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2002, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marching-through-georgia-or-my-bizarre-gas-station-experience/143102/7 "2002-12-16T19:25:02Z")
And people in this state wonder why we’re at the bottom of the list for education. [Popeye]How embaraskin’[Popeye] ---
**Author:** ![Olentzero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90ced4/32.png) [@Olentzero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Olentzero)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2002, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marching-through-georgia-or-my-bizarre-gas-station-experience/143102/8 "2002-12-16T19:28:45Z")
It is at this point that I am reminded of the janitor Beauregard on _The Muppet Show_, getting an autograph from the guest star. He hands it back, saying “It’s upside down,” at which point the guest star turns it over and gives it back. “How did you _do_ that?!” Beauregard exclaims, puzzled beyond all earthly comprehension. Didn’t think there were actually _people_ like that. ---
**Author:** ![Uncommon\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Uncommon\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncommon_Sense)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2002, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marching-through-georgia-or-my-bizarre-gas-station-experience/143102/9 "2002-12-16T19:31:17Z")
Is it the gas station where they sell pecans (which ones don`t) and where the service bay of the station is so full of crap that they have to work on the cars in the small parking lot outside? Also, the bathroom in this one needed some minor work done, like possibly ADDING one. If this is the place, I`ve been to it. It was on the same freeway in the Macon area. I played it safe and payed with a credit card, surprisingly. ---
**Author:** ![UncleBill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/d26b3c/32.png) [@UncleBill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBill)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2002, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marching-through-georgia-or-my-bizarre-gas-station-experience/143102/10 "2002-12-16T19:50:05Z")
What!?! I can’t BELIEVE that! How in the hell can that happen? I have never heard of anything so ludicrous in all my life! You filled up for **$10**!?! The rest I believe. Unfortunately. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2002, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marching-through-georgia-or-my-bizarre-gas-station-experience/143102/11 "2002-12-16T20:02:38Z")
Yike. :eek: That’s all I can say. Just… yike. ---
**Author:** ![purgepro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e68b1a/32.png) [@purgepro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purgepro)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2002, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marching-through-georgia-or-my-bizarre-gas-station-experience/143102/12 "2002-12-16T20:11:24Z")
I can’t remember having any problems getting gas around Macon, but I was driving a '62 dodge pickup, so Ah guess Ah fit raht in. ---
**Author:** ![Eats\_Crayons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/278dde/32.png) [@Eats\_Crayons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eats_Crayons)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2002, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marching-through-georgia-or-my-bizarre-gas-station-experience/143102/13 "2002-12-16T20:59:33Z")
Um… Any possibility that he was handicapped? I knew someone whose brother, Brian (mid-40s), sometimes had to be left in charge of their convenience store for about 10-20 minutes. He’s “very slow” as a result of a toboganning accident that caused brain damage. The last time he was left alone for ten minutes, some smartasses took advantage and paid with “Canadian Tire Money” – picture a very fancy version Monopoly money that is used like currency/coupons ONLY in a _harware store chain_. Denominations are like 5 cents, 10 cents etc. Brian can count, and do very basic math, so he can punch in the amount in a cash register and return the change that the cash register tells him to (though if your change is $15 he may give you fifteen loonies). But he couldn’t tell the difference between real money and the hardware store fake stuff. He felt _horribly_ guilty that he’d made a mistake (it was only about a $20 blunder, but to him that may as well be thousands.) I could see him becoming confused in the circumstances **Bosda** described. Brian takes things very literally. If he’s told: “First look at the number. If it says ‘20’, look for the picture of the loon bird. Then look for the picture of Queen Elizabeth on the other side.” Brian will evaluate in _exactly_ that order: 1. Number 20 2. Loon 3. Queen If you gave him the bill, Queen-side up so it was Number 20, then Queen… he might think that was wrong. ---
**Author:** ![moodtobestewed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3ab097/32.png) [@moodtobestewed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moodtobestewed)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2002, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marching-through-georgia-or-my-bizarre-gas-station-experience/143102/14 "2002-12-16T21:44:58Z")
I once bought gas at a tiny station in North Georgia. I noticed while pumping that the pump was old skool gas station - no LCD display, just the old, slot-machine style tumbling numbers. When I went inside to pay, the cashier _picked up a pair of binoculars_ and looked out at the amount on the pump. Apparently, it wasn’t connected to any display inside. Pretty cool. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Carter\_of\_Mars](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/2bfe46/32.png) [@John\_Carter\_of\_Mars](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Carter_of_Mars)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2002, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marching-through-georgia-or-my-bizarre-gas-station-experience/143102/15 "2002-12-16T23:23:56Z")
The very best honkey-tonk in Georgia, _Whiskey River_, is located in Macon. Maybe if you stop there first on your next trip through, things will be clear to you at the gas station. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Skid\_Row](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/779978/32.png) [@Skid\_Row](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skid_Row)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2002, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marching-through-georgia-or-my-bizarre-gas-station-experience/143102/16 "2002-12-16T23:51:24Z")
As a native (but thankfully no longer a resident) of South Georgia, I apologize. I can speak with a great deal of expertise when I say that the majority of Georgians south of Macon and west of Dublin are knuckle-dragging troglodytes. I know - I used to be one. Remember, these are the same people who vote based SOLELY on the the candidate’s stand regarding the old Georgia flag. They are unintelligent morons. To hell with them and those like them. I apologize again. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2002, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marching-through-georgia-or-my-bizarre-gas-station-experience/143102/17 "2002-12-17T00:20:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Eats\_Crayons \* > \*\*Um… Any possibility that he was handicapped? I knew someone whose brother, Brian (mid-40s), sometimes had to be left in charge of their convenience store for about 10-20 minutes. He’s “very slow” as a result of a toboganning accident that caused brain damage. > > The last time he was left alone for ten minutes, some smartasses took advantage and paid with “Canadian Tire Money” – picture a very fancy version Monopoly money that is used like currency/coupons ONLY in a _harware store chain_. Denominations are like 5 cents, 10 cents etc. > > Brian can count, and do very basic math, so he can punch in the amount in a cash register and return the change that the cash register tells him to (though if your change is $15 he may give you fifteen loonies). But he couldn’t tell the difference between real money and the hardware store fake stuff. > > He felt _horribly_ guilty that he’d made a mistake (it was only about a $20 blunder, but to him that may as well be thousands.) > > I could see him becoming confused in the circumstances **Bosda** described. Brian takes things very literally. If he’s told: “First look at the number. If it says ‘20’, look for the picture of the loon bird. Then look for the picture of Queen Elizabeth on the other side.” > > Brian will evaluate in _exactly_ that order: > > 1. Number 20 > 2. Loon > 3. Queen > > If you gave him the bill, Queen-side up so it was Number 20, then Queen… he might think that was wrong. \*\* If that is true, it didn’t impede his speech or motor skills. I thinks this was pure: “Mongo Think Strangers _BAAAAAAD_!” ---
**Author:** ![Eats\_Crayons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/278dde/32.png) [@Eats\_Crayons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eats_Crayons)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2002, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marching-through-georgia-or-my-bizarre-gas-station-experience/143102/18 "2002-12-17T00:45:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bosda Di’Chi of Tricor \* > \*\*If that is true, it didn’t impede his speech or motor skills. > > I thinks this was pure: “Mongo Think Strangers _BAAAAAAD_!” \*\* Doesn’t necessarily. Brian’s motor skills are fine, his speech is a little odd (hard to describe it – his vowels are a little too long and he punctuates his sentences with “yah!” a lot), but you wouldn’t really notice anything until you tried to have a conversation with him. He reminds me of the Abominable Snowman on Bugs Bunny – “My very own bunny rabit. I’ll love him and squeeze him and call him George.” Perhaps Mongo has a still out in back… (or consumes other paranoia inducing substances that make him both stupid and wary of strangers.) Or his Momma kept using lead paint in the house… ---
**Author:** ![TPWombat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbce88/32.png) [@TPWombat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TPWombat)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2002, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marching-through-georgia-or-my-bizarre-gas-station-experience/143102/19 "2002-12-17T01:07:11Z")
Maybe he was just just messing with you for grins? His buddies listening in the back room holding their sides and stuffing socks in their mouths? Hey, that was a _good_ one!!! My turn next!!" ---
**Author:** ![John\_Carter\_of\_Mars](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/2bfe46/32.png) [@John\_Carter\_of\_Mars](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Carter_of_Mars)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2002, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marching-through-georgia-or-my-bizarre-gas-station-experience/143102/20 "2002-12-17T02:03:51Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Skid Row \* > \*\*As a native (but thankfully no longer a resident) of South Georgia, I apologize. I can speak with a great deal of expertise when I say that the majority of Georgians south of Macon and west of Dublin are knuckle-dragging troglodytes. I know - I used to be one. > > Remember, these are the same people who vote based SOLELY on the the candidate’s stand regarding the old Georgia flag. They are unintelligent morons. To hell with them and those like them. > > I apologize again. \*\* **Skid Row** : Do you include southwest Georgia natives ex-president Jimmy and first lady Roslyn Carter in the above? Just curious. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marching-through-georgia-or-my-bizarre-gas-station-experience/143102.md?page=2)