Racism in the workplace.

Post by **Computron** » Sat May 21, 2005 7:13 pm

Storytime...

Ok, I work as a pharmacist's tech while awaiting school to start up in the fall. However, last friday I was working the front register rather than in the pharmacy proper when a customer approached wishing to buy some items that totalled to 70 dollars.

She whips out her purse, fishes out 3 crisp 20's, sighs discontentedly and says she doesn't have enough.

Alright I say, do you want to put it on a credit card instead?

She responds, "I would, but those 3 negroes who work down the street have my card. I left it there."

At this point I have two conflicting emotions. My first is to respond with invective, or alternatively remain cool under fire.

I choose to remain cool.

So I respond, keeping all the cussing in my mind rather than in my mouth:

"Ma'am, I find that to be incredibly offensive."

She responds: "Oops, I guess I should keep my thoughts to myself."

"Ma'am, I'm not going to assist you any longer. If you want to buy this, you'll have to find someone else to help you."

Then I walked away.

In retrospect I should have just kicked her out of the store rather than passed her on to someone else.

In any case, she's a ****.

Post by **Kaylee** » Sat May 21, 2005 7:16 pm

some people are jerks

Jetfire · Post by **Jetfire** » Sat May 21, 2005 7:19 pm

comp's you reacted in the perfect way. We all love to kick the s### out of racists but that only makes thinsg worse. You did good and made her regret (even for a brief moment) being a racist idiot.

Obfleur · Post by **Obfleur** » Sat May 21, 2005 7:32 pm

Post by **Best First** » Sun May 22, 2005 10:06 am

bah.

out of curioisty - why would she leave her credit card with other people (thats 'people' sweetheart) - i don't get it.

anyway, you did the right thing, by challenging her you mayhave actually made her think about what is and isn't acceptable behaviour.

of course hurling her out the shop would have had that effect as well.

Leatherneck · Post by **Leatherneck** » Sun May 22, 2005 3:25 pm

Kicking her out of the store more than likely would've caused more problems than it'd have solved. While you found her choice of words offensive, I'd bet there's no policy at your place of employment stating that being offensive is grounds for removal. Where I work, we were specifically told very few reasons people can be kicked out for, and being offensive isn't one of them-- I'd guess because what offends some might not offend others. That, and people can still say what they want, no matter how ignorant it may be.

Thumbs up for not berating her.

bobaprime85 · Post by **bobaprime85** » Sun May 22, 2005 6:23 pm

It really is frightening that such blatant ignorance and racism continues to exist in society.

Anyway, thumbs up on how you handled the situation Comps.

Shanti418 · Post by **Shanti418** » Sun May 22, 2005 7:19 pm

Yeah, great job, dude. Most people wouldn't have even stood up to her.

Racism is like one of those moving walkways at the airport. If you just stand there, you're still moving forward. You have to actively walk against the tide to really make strides towards ending racism.

Post by **Best First** » Sun May 22, 2005 7:52 pm

good metaphor.

Impactor returns 2.0 · Post by **Impactor returns 2.0** » Mon May 23, 2005 11:52 am

out of interest, how old was she?

My granny used to say 'negroe' I guess thats what she was brought up, different times and all...

Professor Smooth · Post by **Professor Smooth** » Tue May 24, 2005 8:02 pm

The sad thing is, racists are not all degenerate lowlifes with IQs similar to their shoe sizes. While the majority of the ones I know (and I know more than I'd care to admit) are blithering idiots, there are some that are incredibly intelligent. One guy has a near-genius level IQ but (and this is where it becomes fairly interesting) no social skills whatsoever.

Señior's Covenant · Post by **Señior's Covenant** » Tue May 24, 2005 8:10 pm

Should have taken an oar to the side of her head repeatedly. That would have learned her.

saysadie · Post by **saysadie** » Tue May 24, 2005 8:54 pm

racism is bad, dude.

Yeah, I agree... but taking an oar to someone's head, not really a "right" solution...

Señior's Covenant · Post by **Señior's Covenant** » Tue May 24, 2005 8:56 pm

Is if you're right-handed.

Post by **Best First** » Tue May 24, 2005 10:44 pm

iq isd sucha bull**** concept.

"I can do sums but can't interact with people!"

piss off then.

Professor Smooth · Post by **Professor Smooth** » Wed May 25, 2005 12:12 am

Best First wrote:iq isd sucha bull**** concept.

"I can do sums but can't interact with people!"

piss off then.

That's quickly becoming my philosophy as well...

Jetfire · Post by **Jetfire** » Wed May 25, 2005 12:41 am

Professor Smooth wrote:The sad thing is, racists are not all degenerate lowlifes with IQs similar to their shoe sizes.

has a near-genius level IQ but (and this is where it becomes fairly interesting) no social skills whatsoever.

Ignorant people come in all shapes and sizes. People often use "inteligence" to justify their ignorance. We all recall a recent example of this.

Post by **Kaylee** » Wed May 25, 2005 6:31 am

Quite right. Intelligence isn't the same thing as wisdom imho.

Post by **spiderfrommars** » Wed May 25, 2005 8:31 am

Good on you Comps.

I'd like to think I would've done the same.

Impactor returns 2.0 · Post by **Impactor returns 2.0** » Wed May 25, 2005 11:03 am

I still think Racism can be inherited through bad education and brain washing by your peers...

Somtimes I like to look at ignorance and see where it comes from within someone.

Legion · Post by **Legion** » Wed May 25, 2005 12:28 pm

Karl Lynch wrote:Quite right. Intelligence isn't the same thing as wisdom imho.

that's true, i learnt that from playing RPGs as a kid!

Señior's Covenant · Post by **Señior's Covenant** » Wed May 25, 2005 1:22 pm

Legion wrote:
Karl Lynch wrote:Quite right. Intelligence isn't the same thing as wisdom imho.
that's true, i learnt that from playing RPGs as a kid!

Yet another reason RPGs kickass.

Brendocon · Post by **Brendocon** » Wed May 25, 2005 1:47 pm

Karl Lynch wrote:Quite right. Intelligence isn't the same thing as wisdom imho.

SIKOZU: No... but I simply cannot comprehend how --
RYGEL: Neither can I. -- Who cares? We're here, they did it, and that's that. You consider yourself intelligent?
SIKOZU: Yes, I do.
RYGEL: Then stop behaving like a child.
SIKOZU: I am not a child!
RYGEL: You're an infant! You've studied but you haven't experienced. You know nothing of life.
SIKOZU: And you do?
RYGEL: I've been around long enough to know how ignorant I am. I don't assume the universe obeys my preconceptions. Hah! But I know a frelling fact when it hits me in the face.

Dunno why that came to mind... intellect vs. experience

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed May 25, 2005 6:08 pm

Karl Lynch wrote:Quite right. Intelligence isn't the same thing as wisdom imho.

How about going for an Intellectual Quotient, rather than an Intelligence Quotient, then?

Chief amongst the factors being "Can you hold your own during a debate?" and not "How many of these odd-one-out puzzles can you solve?"

Knowing how to do things is Knowledge. Wisdom on the other hand, is knowing when to use that knowledge.

Most 'intelligent' people have all the knowledge, but none of the wisdom.

Post by **Kaylee** » Wed May 25, 2005 8:53 pm

From Dictionary.com:

Wisdom: being able to read one of Rebis' posts without going 'buh?'

buh?

Kup_1 · Post by **Kup_1** » Thu May 26, 2005 7:00 pm

bobaprime85 wrote:It really is frightening that such blatant ignorance and racism continues to exist in society.

Anyway, thumbs up on how you handled the situation Comps.

I agree.

Post by **Computron** » Thu May 26, 2005 7:09 pm

spiderfrommars wrote:Good on you Comps.

I'd like to think I would've done the same.

When confronted with her I got my willpower to confront her from thinking about what I'd feel if I hadn't done anything at all.

That and I'd dealt with enough jackasses on the Internet that some random person isn't gonna stand up to examples of idiocy like a certain proud wolf...