You greeted me with a vacant stare from behind the cash register at my favorite local coffeehouse. It was like you were stoned or sleep deprived or both, but clearly you weren’t all there. I handed you a $10 bill for my $5.02 purchase, expecting to get a five dollar bill in return. But you proceeded to count out $4.98 just like the computer screen told you. When I said “Hey, just give me a five,” you froze like your brain couldn’t process the request. The guy behind me laughed and put a nickel on the counter, but you went back to counting change. Then you handed me four dollar bills, 98 cents, and the nickel! The manager came by to see what was going on, cancelled the transaction, and gave me the $5 bill. He was still there talking to you when I left. I can’t imagine what he was saying. OK, so I realize you don’t have the most challenging job in the world. But I hope you’ll learn to think for yourself someday soon. Without good judgement and plain old common sense, we’re doomed to become slaves to the machines.
I Saw You is an anonymous “man on the street” column. Email your rants and raves about co-workers or any badly behaving citizens to
iS*****@me*******.com
, or send to 380 S. First St, San Jose, 95113. Submissions should stick to about 100 words.
