The Never-Ending Arguement
I was in my (last ever) English Curriculum class today and we were discussing the perception of class based on the job you do. There is much snobbery, especially around the university, that glorifies education and lowers tradespeople. There were a lot of people in the class who commented on parents/sibling/relatives who work in trades and how people have looked down on them because of their lack of formal education.
The idea was to get us thinking as teachers about the students in our classes who would be better suited in a trade, and probably end up a lot happier with their job. I don't remember there being any talk of specialized trades as a career choice when I was in high school. I also remember several times during university when I felt that maybe I wasn't cut out for higher education either, since I was struggling. Both interesting things to think about, considering where I am in my life right now, being just on the verge of graduating from my second degree program. Of course, to be a teacher higher education is a must, so I knew that would have to be a part of the equation. I won't say that it hasn't been difficult though.
Anyway, what I really wanted to talk about was another part of the discussion where my classmates were giving their own experiences of working in thankless jobs, such as being a waiter. It reminded me of all the horrible fast food jobs I have had in the past and how my own behavior towards people in the service industry has changed as a result. I try to be very patient with service people, sometimes way more patient than I really feel they deserve me to be.
Couple this with the fact that I am currently reading "Talk to the Hand" by Lynne Truss, which is a book about how manners have decayed to the point where it might be better to (jokingly) stay home and lock the door. It reminded me of an ongoing argument that I have been having with my mother. I say argument instead of discussion, because I really disagree with her and she really disagrees with me and if we ever resolve it I'll get the shock of my life.
So, the argument is about the attitude of people in the service industry. It's a catch-22 if you will. I say that service people are rude because they have been beaten down so much by rude customers that they have lost the will to be nice anymore. My mom argues that customers are rude because they have had so many experiences with bad customer service that they are fed up. She speaks as a customer, though she once worked as a grocery store cashier long before I was born but obviously doesn't remember it (haha). I speak as a cashier who has tried so hard to be nice, and got yelled at again and again for my troubles.
It saddens me that there seems no resolution to this argument, but what's worse is that there seems no solution to this problem. One person (me) trying to be nice to customers doesn't make up for the millions of others who are rude just because they can be. I'm not saying that I have never had a good retail experience. I have had plenty of nice waitresses and cashiers. But one can only take so much abuse, either as a customer or a worker. What do you think?
The idea was to get us thinking as teachers about the students in our classes who would be better suited in a trade, and probably end up a lot happier with their job. I don't remember there being any talk of specialized trades as a career choice when I was in high school. I also remember several times during university when I felt that maybe I wasn't cut out for higher education either, since I was struggling. Both interesting things to think about, considering where I am in my life right now, being just on the verge of graduating from my second degree program. Of course, to be a teacher higher education is a must, so I knew that would have to be a part of the equation. I won't say that it hasn't been difficult though.
Anyway, what I really wanted to talk about was another part of the discussion where my classmates were giving their own experiences of working in thankless jobs, such as being a waiter. It reminded me of all the horrible fast food jobs I have had in the past and how my own behavior towards people in the service industry has changed as a result. I try to be very patient with service people, sometimes way more patient than I really feel they deserve me to be.
Couple this with the fact that I am currently reading "Talk to the Hand" by Lynne Truss, which is a book about how manners have decayed to the point where it might be better to (jokingly) stay home and lock the door. It reminded me of an ongoing argument that I have been having with my mother. I say argument instead of discussion, because I really disagree with her and she really disagrees with me and if we ever resolve it I'll get the shock of my life.
So, the argument is about the attitude of people in the service industry. It's a catch-22 if you will. I say that service people are rude because they have been beaten down so much by rude customers that they have lost the will to be nice anymore. My mom argues that customers are rude because they have had so many experiences with bad customer service that they are fed up. She speaks as a customer, though she once worked as a grocery store cashier long before I was born but obviously doesn't remember it (haha). I speak as a cashier who has tried so hard to be nice, and got yelled at again and again for my troubles.
It saddens me that there seems no resolution to this argument, but what's worse is that there seems no solution to this problem. One person (me) trying to be nice to customers doesn't make up for the millions of others who are rude just because they can be. I'm not saying that I have never had a good retail experience. I have had plenty of nice waitresses and cashiers. But one can only take so much abuse, either as a customer or a worker. What do you think?