I don’t know. I think the thing is, the degree of hyperbole is so slight as to be imperceptible. I find it not at all unbelievable that some jerk in a coffee shop might have his panties in a wad about customers and go ahead and put caffeine in the decaf, or slip some dairy in the soy beverage. Not that I’d expect most people to go ahead and do so, but it’s far from an outrageous thing to imagine.
That said, and not really knowing VC03, it doesn’t seem that off to read this as truth, or as something intended to be treated as truth (lissener presents a good reading of the OP, IMHO).
But, to respond to the OPs rant, man, I’ve worked behind a counter, and it’s true you get all types coming in. At what point, though, does the fact that a customer is ‘talking down to you’ become less of a fact and more of an interpretation based on your perceptions, and less on the customer’s actions? Not saying that there aren’t jerks, but if you’re feeling like there are so many jerks you can’t enjoy your job, I don’t know, maybe you’re reading your own dissatisfaction about being a double-degreed guy working a coffee shop into your interactions with customers.
That’s apparently rare, though. But there are a lot of medications that change the way people metabolize caffeine and someone who had heart problems (and maybe even someone who didn’t) and was taking one of those drugs, and who unknowingly drank a lot of caffeine, might end up in the emergency room thinking they were dying. They probably wouldn’t die, but emergency room fees and tests and such would cost the victim and/or their insurance company and/or the taxpayers a shitload of money.
I’ve worked food-service myself, so I agree that it happens, but to me, there was just a certain tone in the OP that made it seem like obvious hyperbole to me.
And perhaps because the OP is a serial Pitter of anyone and everyone who doesn’t fit into his narrow worldview. I’m surprised that he’s old enough to have two degrees.
I know you’re on tirade mode, and I don’t really feel like pulling your wrath away from the OP, but for what it’s worth… milk makes me poopy, but I don’t tell people i’m DEATHLY allergic.
For a coffee to be labeled “decaf” at least 97% of the caffeine must be removed. I’m not arguing with your numbers (they are basically correct) I’m just saying that if there were a product on the market i was DEATHLY ALLERGIC TO I wouldn’t fuck around with it. Your brave mother reminds me of a Sienfeld scit about maximum strength dosage Find out how much a person can take before it kills him, than back it off a notch for me.
I’ve also worked as a barrista in several shops. There is so much room for human error along the way to receiving that decaf that if you really do have that allergy you are playing russian roulette.
Yeah, i don’t agree with the OP’s position. However, I would also say your dear mum is being irresponsible.
That has to be one of the dumbest comparisons ever. Seriously.
First, the over the top reaction to someone who doesn’t live anywhere near you or your mother is more frightening than his obviously made up OP. You acted as if he said “Peter Wiggen’s mother is going to get a steaming cup of MegaCaffeine next time I see her.” Seriously, calm the fuck down. Nobody threatened your Mommy.
If I had a “deathly” allergy to caffeine, I’d make damn sure the only coffee/tea/etc that passed my lips was one that I prepared myself or was prepared by someone that I know. ACCIDENTS can happen where someone doesn’t even mean to fuck with your coffee. Sure, if someone accidently gave your mom Extra Octane coffee her estate could sue, but she’d still be dead. Would she be in the right? You bet. Would it be worth it? Probably not. Just because you SHOULD be able to do something, doesn’t make it a good fucking idea when your life is on the line. I’d rather be alive and drinking my own decaf than dead and exercising my rights to drink coffee at Starfucks. Then again, if she made the coffee herself you wouldn’t get the skullfucking you were foaming about.
What the hey is your problem? I posted what, three times in this thread? I understand there are jerks out there who do ILLEGAL things to food. I also specifically stated that perhaps the reason why some people are rude to the food preparers is that those same people don’t expect the preparer to do something illegal to that food.
Hi Daisy Mae. This wasn’t a comparison. It was an exploration of the principle that neuroman suggested (and you re-suggested). That is: blame the victim for being the victim of an intentional crime. As I pointed out, this principle doesn’t appear to hold up when applied to the crime of rape. I don’t think it should apply to the crime of assault either.
You see, that’s hardly the point. I’d be pissed if it was your mother who got slipped the extra pick-me-up. The only difference is that my mother has an extreme sensitivity. Since I don’t know anything about your mother, I used my own as an example.
I really don’t understand your extreme reaction to my “extreme reaction.” If the OP was threatening to slip peanuts into schoolkids lunches, not caring whether any were allergic, would you react the same way? Because I don’t see a difference between the two acts. There is malicious intent and a total disregard to the safety of others. Fuck that.
Again, you’re talking about blaming the victim. I disagree with that. But let’s move on. If/when my mother goes to a Starbucks and orders a tall coffee, that’s called assumption of the risk. She assumes the risk that there might be a switcharoo and she gets caffeine and all is not well.
HOWEVER, what she doesn’t assume is that the dumbfuck with the English major behind the bar is going to take out his high school frustrations by slipping her a mickey. What she doesn’t assume is that someone is so passive-aggressive that he would add copious amounts of caffeine to her drink because she PUT THE GODDAMN MONEY ON THE COUNTER INSTEAD OF IN HIS SWEATY LITTLE PALM. In other words, she doesn’t assume that there will be calculated actions against her.
Two remarks: (a) I’m giving the Skullfucking, not receiving; and (b) see above.
You know it seems like people are getting a little riled, because instead of debating with the OP, and saying things like “oh that’s terrible” or “please don’t do this,” I jumped right to the idea of skullfucking him. In regard to that, let me just say: This thread was not posted to Captain Kangaroo’s Magical Powderpuff Care Bear Forum. It was posted to the BBQ Pit. Ergo, you bring the skull, I bring the fucking.
If your Mommy ordered a tall coffee, she’d be doing more assuming the risk. She’d be ordering caffeine and, according to you, she’d soon be pushing up daisies by her own mistake.
My example talked of a possibility of an ACCIDENT. Forget the OP, how about the carelessness of just plain OOPS that can happen any time there are human hands at work. If your mother’s allergy is that extreme, I hardly think it is blaming the victim to suggest that although she might have the almighty right to drink Starfucks coffee, it would be wiser for her to skip it altogether. Better to be alive and cautious than dead but correct.
Fine by me but I dare say all the holes in my skull are going to be too large for the tool to be used.
