I spend a lot of time in Starbucks. Seriously. Between Monday nights at the SB Cafe in Barnes and Noble and the late nights at the 24 hour one, I'm there more often than not. If I'm not there, I'm at Panera or, here recently, the 24 hour Dunkin Donuts. Needless to say, I spend time in the coffee shops writing. I get more work done there than anywhere else. Because of my introverted nature (an INFJ on the Myers-Briggs scale), I watch people and I listen. Here recently, I've noticed that people are forgetting what is socially appropriate and what is not and, honestly, it is quite disturbing and irritating. It is common sense. You would think people out in public would act like adults, right? So here is a list that I have compiled on the things that I have seen in the past month and my rants with each.
1. When some one holds the door for you, you say “Thank you.” You are not so important that you can't have a little bit of courtesy when some one does something that nice for you. I could let it slam in your face and make you spill your four venti coffees all over the place.
2. Get off your phone while you are ordering something. The baristas had stuff to do, I have stuff to do and that doesn't include waiting fifteen minutes while you jabber on about your club night. While we are on the subject don't get pissy with me when I say “excuse me, could you order because there are four people behind you.”
3. If you are taking my order, get off your phone. I may still be deciding what I want, but you should not have your phone in your hand while working in the first place, unless it is an emergency. If I have to say “Okay I'm ready to order” three times before you look up ,you need to not be behind the counter. I'm looking at you cashier at Baja Fresh.
4. Don't be a jerk to your server if the kitchen messes up your food. It is not the server's fault. In the state of Virginia, the wage for a server is $2.15 an hour. Everything else is tips. They want you to be happy so you will tip them. So be nice. Also, do the math when you tip. I have found that the computer automated tip calculator is short changing the servers by $.11-.25 every check. I've complained about this so many times.
5. When you are dining, use your freaking fork and knife to cut your food properly, especially when you are dining with another person. Spearing a large chunk of meat on your fork and holding it the air as you rip slobbery bites off is not only rude and socially inappropriate, it is disgusting. I mean, seriously disgusting. I don't want to see lines of spit connecting your food and lips as you pull away. Have some manners and courtesy for your fellow diners.
6. When on an escalator, stand to the right so people can pass you on the left.
7. Think before you speak in public, even when you are with a group of people you are familiar with. If it is going to offend or upset some one, don't say it. For instance, saying sexual innuendos to people you do not know very well. This is very uncomfortable.
8. Smoking in non-designated areas. I understand that this must suck for a smoker, however, you need to realize that you stink and I don't want to walk through a cloud of nasty smoke on my way to the store, especially since I'm an asthmatic. I'm looking at you Giant employees. You can be on your break all you want, but when your rude ass won't let the mother with three small kids have the weird oversized basket because you are too busy sitting on it smoking, you need to rethink the image you are presenting.
9. Picking your nose in public is nasty. Seriously. I mean, ew. Do that in the bathroom. Just because you are in a car on the highway does not mean people can not see you picking a winner.
10. If some one is kind enough to drive you places, you need to have enough decency to offer to give them gas money.
11. Just because people you know are making plans, does not mean you are automatically invited to join. People are allowed to make plans on their own. If you were going to be included in those plans, you would have received an invite. You should not assume you are invited. Not only is this rude, it makes it incredibly difficult for the other person/group who is/are now put in a bind. It is incredibly awkward to have to tell some one, “I'm sorry, but you are not invited.” then have to deal with hurt feelings. The situation could be avoided all together if you wouldn't assume.
12. If some one lets you over in traffic, the proper thing to do is wave. If you don't wave, I should be allowed to run you over. Just sayin.
13. Also, if you have a “Baby on Board” sticker and you drive like a stupid idiot, I should be allowed to report you and have you brought up on child endangerment charges.
14. Body Odor. For the love of everyone’s olfactory glands, wear deodorant. Axe body spray does not fall into this category.
15. If you walk your 60lb, not leash trained dog on a flexi-lead, and wonder why you can't control her, and not listen to what four, FOUR neighbors say to you, you don't need to own a dog. When you dog breaks her leash again and tries to go after my dog, I'm going to punch you in the fucking face and you are going to be paying the medical bills.
16.And finally, if you go to Starbucks to play cards, loudly, ever freaking night, you need to have some courtesy for people who are there to work/write/study. Being obnoxiously loud and constantly banging on the table is not courteous.
So these are my rants. Take them or leave them. I've just had it with rude people.