Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site muddcs.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!allegra!bellcore!decvax!ittvax!dcdwest!sdcsvax!sdcrdcf!trwrb!scgvaxd!muddcs!cberry
From: cberry@muddcs.UUCP (Craig Berry)
Newsgroups: net.cooks,net.flame
Subject: Re: Those twits at McDonalds have done it to me for the last time!
Message-ID: <315@muddcs.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 26-Apr-85 09:35:50 EDT
Article-I.D.: muddcs.315
Posted: Fri Apr 26 09:35:50 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 1-May-85 03:03:41 EDT
References: <846@trwatf.UUCP> <1671@gondor.UUCP> <919@uwmacc.UUCP> <443@crystal.UUCP> <448@utai.UUCP>
Reply-To: cberry@muddcs.UUCP (Craig Berry)
Distribution: net
Organization: Harvey Mudd College, Claremont, CA
Lines: 55
Xref: watmath net.cooks:3914 net.flame:9624

In article <448@utai.UUCP> gkloker@utai.UUCP (Geoff Loker) writes:
>>      . . .   Yes, this is nasty, and somewhat humiliating
>>     for the unfortunate employee you pick on.  It IS good for a laugh, though,
>
>Why is there such a streak of cruelty in people that they want to pick on 
>someone just for doing their job (and who is getting paid bare minimum at 
>that)?  I have learned from my time doing menial jobs (such as working at
>McDonald's) what it is like to have to deal with real jerks who seem to
>feel that I should be punished for trying to my best, and what it is like
>to come across someone who makes you feel that what you are doing is 
>worthwhile.  The latter type of person seems to realize that working for
>a place such as McDonald's is not fun & games -- that employees have to
>work their butts off for a meager nickel raise at the end of the year;
>and that even a lowly menial can have a hard day and ***does*** has feelings
>too.  They also seem to realize that it doesn't take a lot on their part
>to establish a good rapport between them and the employee -- a smile, some
>kind words, a little bit of politeness.  I remember that such people were
>a pleasure to come across and a pleasure to serve.  And, oddly enough, I
>was more careful in serving them than I was in serving someone who seemed
>to feel that I was their personal slave or whipping boy.  (Hint, hint, to
>those of you out in net-land that always seem to have trouble with getting
>your orders right.)

I agree completely.  While I was in high school I put in a two year stint
at McD's, and it was most definitely not fun and games.  I found that the
only way for me to cope with the job was to more or less turn off my brain
while working.  90% of the tasks at McDonalds require no conscious thought
at all once you have learned the routine, so I would drift off mentally while
continuing to work physically.  Many employees I knew at McD's and similar
places did the same thing.  This is why if you ask for a QP without cheese,
the counter person is fairly likely to ask "is that with cheese?"  It has
become part of the automatic script.

Geoff is also correct when he says that a little civility with the counter
people can go a long way.  It was always such a pleasure to deal with a
customer who treated me like a human being rather than a McRobot that I
would immediately try to find ways to "reward" the customer--friendlier
service, personal interest, larger orders of fries, etc.  I gave everyone
adequate service, but it was the polite customers for whom I did my all-out
best.

It really annoys me that so many net.flamers seem to feel that the only
way to deal with other people is through rudeness and intimidation.  While
these *do* have their place in extraordinary circumstances, it has been
my experience that civility and consideration for others have greater
benefits for all concerned.


                                  Craig Berry
                                  Harvey Mudd College


{allegra!scgvaxd | ucla-cs}!muddcs!cberry
-----------------------------------------
"!!!MOOB"  "Oh, no!  Sounds like an implosion!"