You know… kids are dumb; it's really an undeniable and certifiable fact. In fact, it's not even a programming error rather it's actually one of the features of being a kid; you don't have to know everything or be responsible and can romp around; it's up to your parents, other guardians, or mining foreman to manage that for you and teach it to you in constructive ways. “You can't always get what you want” is one of those first lessons that you're taught in life, and has been an essential part of…

Who does she think she is?

That's not his job

Being a customer service representative is not always an easy or enjoyable job. What is the hardest part, you ask? One instance that springs to mind is having to tell clients 'no', which usually leads them to feel upset and frustrated. The story below is an account of a frustrated front desk clerk. As usual, OP was at the front desk when she received a call from someone claiming to have checked out earlier but to have forgotten his suitcase. At first, OP informs the man that the housekeeper has…

Almost 99 percent of the time, customer service representatives handle difficult clients. In one contact with a customer service representative, a customer can release weeks' worth of stress and anxiety. The story below is an account of a hotel front desk clerk. The Karen of the century checks into the hotel, marking the official start of the story. OP can tell Karen is a troublemaker as soon as she sets foot in the vicinity. The altercation started with disagreements over the pet policy, then…

There are those who struggle more than others. In the game of life, not everyone is dealt the same hand. The story that follows tells the story of a generous individual who made an effort to help someone in need. The story begins with OP setting the stage. There are a lot of homeless people wandering in the area where OP resides. This particular morning, OP decided to give some extra change to a homeless person before going to the petrol station across the street. But as he starts to pump petro…

Ninety percent of the time, the food industry is demanding and stressful. Even in the wee hours of the night, you depend on an infinite number of associates and suppliers to make ends meet. The story below is of a woman who worked at a privately owned fine dining restaurant. OP reflects on her time in the culinary world. She makes it very clear throughout her story that running a restaurant is never easy. However, on this particular occasion, even OP failed to get a hand on the situation. The s…

As they say, ‘What goes around, comes around'. The way you treat those around you serves as a glimpse into the future because, eventually—perhaps not today or tomorrow—that is how you will also be treated. The story that follows is an excellent example of how Karma never lets us down. OP works as a front desk agent in a high-end hotel. She was working the morning shift this particular weekend when an entitled guest walked into the hotel. OP knew the woman would be in trouble as soon as she set…

As we often say, being a customer service representative has perks as well as drawbacks. But what happens when hierarchy enters the picture? If we're being really honest here, that means you will most likely be forced to work every holiday, birthday, and significant occasion up until a new hire steps in to take your place. The following story tells an account of a distressed server who had to work on Christmas Eve. Since OP was a new employee at the time, she was forced to give up her Christmas…

In my younger years, I worked as a waitress to support myself. My eight-hour shift at the restaurant would be followed by a job working in retail till the early hours of the morning. To be honest, though, I wasn't very good at being a waitress, and I didn't particularly love my work there either. The story below is of a stubborn customer who demands that his server adjust the quantity of the meal before accepting the order. And to make matters worse, the customer refused to leave a tip after th…

As a former server, I can attest to the fact that ninety-nine percent of customers are Karens. However, it's our positive outlook that keeps us sane. Though the evidence may seem to contradict our sense of optimism, we, for some reason, hold onto this notion that one day our table will greet us with a smile and leave us with a fat tip. The story below is an account of a frustrated waiter who has to deal with a table of Karens who won't pay the well-deserving servers. It's one thing when the tab…

Karens have been around long before we labeled them as Karens. A lot of boomers don't like the Karen label (usually because they display some Karen tendencies themselves), but boomers can't deny that the term Karen serves a specific and useful linguistic function. There didn't use to be a concise word to describe an entitled, impatient, cruel, boomer white woman who drives everyone up the wall. The absolute worst thing about Karens is the self-centeredness they seem to all possess. They perceiv…

What you do outside of work hours is your business. No customer, parent, or boss should have any say in what you do when you're off the clock. I feel bad for people with highly scrutinized professions, like teachers, who need to drive an hour away to feel comfortable going to a bar. So many parents expect teachers to be more moral than them, even when the teachers are nowhere near their kids. It's a highly unrealistic expectation that shouldn't be projected onto anybody. Teachers aren't the onl…

Totally broke the illusion

Flying with kids is so nerve-wracking. The most stressful part is gauging whether your kids will cry or have tantrums inside an enclosed metal tube for three hours. The second biggest challenge is keeping them occupied, which is much easier nowadays with tablets and iPads. A tertiary concern might be that your kids could make a mess on the plane. Luckily, if they don't throw up or have an accident, most messes are easy to pick up! At least, so we think. Semi-famous people are obsessed with twee…