Dear Chipotle Cell Phone Girl,

[kybearfuzz]

I have noticed that I have a growing impatience with inconsiderate people. In my car, I vent verbally to drivers who drive 20 miles under the speed limit. In the movie theater, I have no problem telling people to shut up (this one I'm not letting go of, however). After this week at work, I've realized that I need to *try* to curb this. I wont go into the specifics, but let's just say I've seen far worse than me and I hope and pray I don't turn into it.

Today was test number one. Instead of just letting go and telling an inconsiderate stranger how rude she is, I bit my tongue. If I were writing her a letter, it would have gone like this:

Dear Chipotle Cell Phone Girl,

Thank you so much for sharing your vapid life with the line of people standing behind you waiting to order. I was amazed how casually you ignored the poor server standing there waiting for you to state what you wanted. Your phone call was obviously more important than anything going on around you, as pointed out by your giggling, smiling verbage and devil-may-care stance. When the people in front of you moved on and yet another server was free to add the salsa and side items for the order that WASN'T coming, I want you to realize the self control it took on my part to not tell you what an inconsiderate bitch you must be. My inner "ghey" is quite disappointed.

Please count your blessings as today is your lucky day. You dodged an embarrassing verbal, Julia-Sugarbaker-esque (or stripedtiger-ian) onslaught from me, a tirade of public ass-showing that would have made my father swell with pride. I learned from the best.

While I am happy that I managed to restrain myself, please be aware that everyone has a limit. I guess that if your behavior is the norm, which your body language suggested it is, it wont be long before someone else will tag you on this later. You should hope it is not me, because now that I have had time to ponder it, my speech is now ready and honed to razor-like precision.

Sincerely,
The Hungry Man Behind You

Comments

[snowboardjoe.livejournal.com]

Hell hat no fury like kybearfuzz scorned--don't come between him and his Chipotle.

[bearland.livejournal.com]

I can understand trying to curb some of the behavior you are speaking about, and I can understand you not letting go of the theater one.

For me, The cell phone is the biggest irritation. Now don't get me wrong, I carry a cell phone constantly, but am very adamant about when it is proper to use it. I personally would have gone "Julia Sugarbaker" on her, but again that is me.

I guess that is why I got so many customer complaints when I worked at Popeye's or Burger King. I absolutely refused to wait on a person that was talking on a cell phone. In addition, placing the cell phone down while they ordered their food was not an option either, I would tell them very plainly that they either needed to end the call right then, or go out into the dining room and finish their conversation. I don't just do that to customers, either. I have grabbed phones from friends and family and hung up on the people they are talking to if I see them acting in this manner as well.

The main reason I have this peeve, is that I have found that people having conversations on cell phones are paying more attention to the conversation than to what is going on around them. When they place an order for food, they may forget to mention a special item or a special was of preparing the food, or they may mention it but are not listening when the server repeats the order back to them to make sure it is correct. Then the customer gets angry and starts yelling because a mistake was made, even though it was due to their not paying attention...

Sorry, this topic hit a bad cord with me...I apologize for the rant...

[denverjordan.livejournal.com]

I have been trying to do the opposite lately. I have a tendency to be quiet and peaceful 99% of the time and not say anything in times like these as to not cause a fuss. But there are times when things need to be said, and people need to have their inconsideracy pointed out to them, and I have been trying to be a bit more confrontational.
Maybe we can teach each other hehehe

[bookish-cub.livejournal.com]

When I find myself in those situations, I generally just let the person behind the counter know that I am actually ready to be helped.