Working for a large supermarket during the holidays, though a source of great personal pain, is nevertheless a fascinating insight into humanity. I can safely say that I shall never forget the woman who thought it appropriate to engage my assistance by shouting out ‘Oi you!’ I was torn between a two fingered salute, a well deserved shin-kicking, and the casual use of an archaic put-down which I, rightly or wrongly, believe would have gone over her head.
I guess the main point I’m making here is that we are really not that nice to each other. Shelf stacking, for instance, seems to take you right back to the bottom of the social ladder. I’ve lost count of the number of people who have run over my feet or into my ankles with their trolleys, and then looked in the general direction of the floor, bewildered, trying to figure out what that annoying jolt was that so inconsiderately interrupted their shopping spree.
The irony is, of course, that I am a perpetrator, as much as a victim, as is evident by my smug self-satisfaction and entirely unfounded belief that I am intellectually superior to the aforementioned insolent customer. So why are we so inconsiderate and rude? Why do we swear so profusely at the driver who pulls out without looking? (It could have been a genuine accident.) Why did he pull out without looking? (He’s clearly a dick.)
There’s a real sense of mistrust around. But this is a country based on benefit of the doubt, innocent until proven guilty etc. So chill out, guys… summer of love and all that.
Though anyone perpetuating the attitudes of Mrs. ‘Oi you!’ deserves everything they get. You have been warned.
Holly C. Millar
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