Something for nothing

Post by **Tiff** » Mon Dec 08, 2003 9:26 pm

I had to share this.
I was eating dinner with Derek at his second job, The LAN gaming Zone (basically, a place that's MADE for gamers. There are five computer stations, each with four computers, four big huge screen TVs with XBoxes, food, drinks, etc. it's also combined with a webdesign company) like I do just abuot every night, and he tells me about this customer that came in today. Basically, this single mother came in, saying she talked to Tony (one of the owners) about getting her 13 year old son a membership, but added up the numbers (the membership cost and what it would cost hourly),and it was too expensive.
Compared to many other gaming centers in TX, the LGZ is one of the cheapest you'll ever find.
But here's the kicker: She wanted Derek to give her a discount becuase she's a single mother, and her son has no friends.
Now, come on. Lady, I admire that you're a single mother. Good for you. But so are millions of other women across the globe. You don't deserve free shit because of that. You don't get a discount because you raised your son on your own and can't afford it. This is BUSINESS. She felt it was her right, and that they owed it to her.
While Derek wanted to tell her this, he politely told her he couldn't do that becuase he just worked there, and to contact Tim or Tony in the morning.
Why do so many people want something for nothing? Should we give discounts to African Americans whose ancestors were slaves or part of the civil rights movement, to Jews whose ancestors were in the holocaust, to women who were part of the women's rights movements, and to Japanese people whose ancestors were part of the internment camps in California? Tony's mother owns a liquor store, and black men come in all the time, asking for free alcohol becuase they're black. (I kid you not.) Elderly people come into the candy store where I work, and want free shit becuase they're old. WTF?
I'm sorry things are hard. I'm sorry there are hardships. But everyone has them. Even the wealthy have them, albeit they are very different. Let's just give discounts to teen mothers, too. Hell, how about every college kid that is struggling to support themselves in school? I'd like to step into THAT line.
Agree? Disagree? Comments are appreciated.

KoiNoVash · Post by **KoiNoVash** » Mon Dec 08, 2003 10:16 pm

I agree whole-heartedly. Everyone has problems, but that doesn't mean that they should get special treatment for it. My mom had to raise my sister and I on her own because my father is an ass, but she never once asked a business to give her a special treatment because of it. We claim we are a nation of equality and yet people whine that they deserve special treatment for outragous reasons. When I worked at Blockbuster, I had people asking to be exempt from late fees for all sorts of reasons: they were sports players (we are close to the University of Tennessee Campus), they were decans in their church, they were old, or they had been customers for years. Big deal, I worked there and I still had to pay late fees!

Anna Roz · Post by **Anna Roz** » Mon Dec 08, 2003 10:28 pm

Derek's not the only one who's had to experience something like that. A few days ago, at a local store, there was some "discount ruckus" over at checkout lane 15. This woman was b*tching to the cahsier about the total price of her groceries. I was waiting in line, having to listen to this woman yelling at the cashier to give her a discount "because she's overweight and has back problems" and that the cashier was being "racist to obese people and charging them extra". I got pretty fed up as the woman continued her ranting. She eventually left, still spewing profanities from her mouth. My mom came back from aisle 5 and thanked me for holding her place in line, but I hardly could hear the rest of what she was saying since I was busy thinking about the odd event that had occurred. I'll have to agree that it seems like everyone wants a discount for some reason or another these days, and of course if they don't get it, well, I'd to be the cashier..

Post by **Tiff** » Mon Dec 08, 2003 10:31 pm

Being a cashier can really suck most of the time. We get treated horribly. People think we're there for the sole purpose of bending backwards and going "GO AHEAD, THRUST IT ON IN! AND PUT SOME FORCE INTO IT THIS TIME!".
..If you don't get that, I'm not going to explain it to you ^^;

RyoRei0110 · Post by **RyoRei0110** » Mon Dec 08, 2003 10:39 pm

I agree also.. life's just never fair, so you can't expect to get something because you have a problem, or because of what happened in the past. It just doesn't work that way. Sad thing is I know a lot of people just like that.. they just don't understand. They really believe they deserve things because of what they are and/or their problems.

MonkeyDLuffy · Post by **MonkeyDLuffy** » Tue Dec 09, 2003 12:29 am

I get crap with teh movies. It is bad when old people come, and they are 55, and our senior citizen fee is 60 and up...and they complain how they deserve it...and I go, "Sorry, but if I do, my manager standing right there can get me fired." *in head* 'Pay the stupid 1.50 more!' Then, the teens....dear God, that is the worst. Who leaves their house without their wallet? And is seeing an R rated movie? And does NOT look 20 or older to buy more than one? How did you drive here without it? And then the student fee, you need a student ID for it. If you don't, no dice. And the parents, OH MY GOD! Sorry your kid isn't smart enough to bring it with'em. Just pay the extra 1.50$! Some people just ruin work >.<

DreamEmpress · Post by **DreamEmpress** » Tue Dec 09, 2003 1:22 am

*covers eyes and shakes head* Frankly, I'll never understand why people feel they deserve things for the dumbest reasons. People feel they deserve discounts. Stars feel that just because of who they are they are exempt from the laws of the rest of us mere mortals. This world makes me sick sometimes.

Maybe the words "common sense" and "conscience" have leaked out of our vocabulary.

On a side note: I used to be a cashier and yes I do know what it's like to have to put up with all the abuse. "Your the last person that the customers are going to have contact with, so you have to make a good impression" They don't pay cashiers enough to deal with the stuff that they do. I hated dealing with customer problems and questions that could have been handled in the customer service department. For some reason they feel that I could magically answer everything and give them a discount for their troubles. That and customers cutting in front just to ask something or complain. I always wished they'd give combat pay. (I worked at Target during the big Pokemon card craze in 1999)

Akarui Kibuno · Post by **Akarui Kibuno** » Tue Dec 09, 2003 9:37 am

Woops, cashier, working with customers, I know that.

I know that people in my supermarket don't always ask for discounts, and basically, they can't, cause even if there was a system I wouldn't be allowed to do that on my own (people would end up paying $ 30 for a real price of $ 50 ).

Bwah, anyway. I know in France we have a "large family" card, that allows you to have certain discounts (like for the train, for example). My mother has five children including me, and doesn't earn much, so sometimes we use the card and sometimes, we don't.

But that's not a reason why we feel we should get discounts (I'm speaking of my case here because it shows you that there are reasons why you can get discounts... depends on where you ask for them) everywhere.

I mean, that lady at Derek's job, she asked for a discount in a gaming area. Come on. Her son doesn't have friends ? Fine, that's not a reason why he should be gaming all the time to have even less occasion of having friends. I'm not against gamers, see, lots and most of them have a life, they have friends, they go out...

I think you "could" ask for discounts in theatres (well, there are student, child, things-like-that discounts anyway, just bring the justification). Or for the train. But not for groceries. You just can't put everything in your... your... *anyone can input here the word for the-thing-with-wheels-that-carries-groceries ?* , get expensive things, and then yell for a discount. Get what you can afford, buddies.

That was part rant, part agreeing with Tiff. Mostly agreeing with Tiff

Jed-kun · Post by **Jed-kun** » Tue Dec 09, 2003 12:58 pm

[about original post] I'm all for giving charity and discounts, but not to just any ol' person who thinks that they deserve them just for being alive. This woman may be a single mother, but isn't that what alimony is for? Or if she's poor or out of work Welfair or organizations like the Salvation Army?
Now what's really crazy is the fact that you can get a discount on your taxes for WILLINGLY doing charitable work... WTF?

peachvampiress · Post by **peachvampiress** » Tue Dec 09, 2003 1:55 pm

Thank you Tiff! I can't tell you how many times I've been called a racist because I don't think blacks, jews, natives should be given discounts and special priviledges (sp?) I live in Canada and the treatment that the natives recieve is unbelieveable. They don't have to pay pst, gst, pay for gasoline (the prices are SOOO high here) etc. and they don't have to pay for college at all. They can do shit all in school, fail all their courses, and go to college for free.

Post by **Tiff** » Tue Dec 09, 2003 2:18 pm

peachvampiress wrote:Thank you Tiff! I can't tell you how many times I've been called a racist because I don't think blacks, jews, natives should be given discounts and special priviledges (sp?) I live in Canada and the treatment that the natives recieve is unbelieveable. They don't have to pay pst, gst, pay for gasoline (the prices are SOOO high here) etc. and they don't have to pay for college at all. They can do shit all in school, fail all their courses, and go to college for free.

*nodsnods* I took a class called "social problems" in college (a really awesome class), and we were discussing jobs and minorities, and this black girl starts ranting and raving about how nobody will give blacks jobs. I stood up, eyed her up and down, and said calmly "Perhaps if some black people would stop wearing robes and slippers to interviews, then they'd get hired." She stared at me with her mouth open, and shut the hell up.
That's how it is here. I know all blacks are not like that, so nobody please jump on me. But a lot of the black people here, where I live, ARE. They go to interviews in slippers and pajama bottoms. Almost all of them are on welfare. They make up most of the teen mother population in our town.

I mean, that lady at Derek's job, she asked for a discount in a gaming area. Come on. Her son doesn't have friends ? Fine, that's not a reason why he should be gaming all the time to have even less occasion of having friends. I'm not against gamers, see, lots and most of them have a life, they have friends, they go out...

No shit. Gaming is NOT a necessity. Food is. Clothing is. Adequate heat and cooling (in texas) is. NOT GAMING. Get your kid into some free afterschool programs. HE'S THIRTEEN. He shouldn't be spending three times a week in a gaming place anyway. [/quote]

peachvampiress · Post by **peachvampiress** » Tue Dec 09, 2003 4:45 pm

Tiff

*nodsnods* I took a class called "social problems" in college (a really awesome class), and we were discussing jobs and minorities, and this black girl starts ranting and raving about how nobody will give blacks jobs. I stood up, eyed her up and down, and said calmly "Perhaps if some black people would stop wearing robes and slippers to interviews, then they'd get hired." She stared at me with her mouth open, and shut the hell up.
That's how it is here. I know all blacks are not like that, so nobody please jump on me. But a lot of the black people here, where I live, ARE. They go to interviews in slippers and pajama bottoms. Almost all of them are on welfare. They make up most of the teen mother population in our town.

You are my idol of the day Tiff. A few months ago in Canada, there was this incident where a fishing company was hiring new employees and in their advertisment they said (and I quote) "Whites need not apply"

Anthy · Post by **Anthy** » Tue Dec 09, 2003 4:55 pm

Well... there is a way for people to get discounts: don't buy expesive things. If you have food in your mouth, a bed, water to drink, a job or school, and a safe, secure place to live, you shouldn't complain.

I know this might sound offensive, but that mother is just using her situation as a way to generate sympathy. Sympathy can sometimes equal money. It's too fucking bad that people have to deal with that kind of thing, but do they deserve discounts? Nope, sorry.

If you're at a disadvantage, it's no excuse to sit around and ask for discounts or special treatment like that. It means you have better incentive to work twice as hard as someone who isn't at a disadvantage and become twice as good.

Jed-kun · Post by **Jed-kun** » Tue Dec 09, 2003 5:16 pm

About "natives", I DO think that they should get discounts because there land was forsibly removed from them. Black people, who were taken to another land, were givin a charterd trip back to where they came from. Oh, and FYI, when the one's who took the trip got there they inslaved there own people. However, "natives" don't have anywere to go "back" to.

Cardcaptor Takato · Post by **Cardcaptor Takato** » Tue Dec 09, 2003 5:34 pm

o.O How do you enslave your own people? Of course, that's probaby a whole nother topic, so I don't want this to go off-topic here. Anyway, I'll hopefully be going into the working world soon, and I now know for sure that I'm not going to be a cashier. I'm not good with money, anyway. ^^;;

Anthy · Post by **Anthy** » Tue Dec 09, 2003 7:02 pm

Jed-kun wrote:About "natives", I DO think that they should get discounts because there land was forsibly removed from them.

Discount from taxes, maybe, but not from consumer goods like gameboys or bananas!

Post by **Tiff** » Tue Dec 09, 2003 8:12 pm

I know this might sound offensive, but that mother is just using her situation as a way to generate sympathy. Sympathy can sometimes equal money. It's too fucking bad that people have to deal with that kind of thing, but do they deserve discounts? Nope, sorry.

It's not offensive, it's true. Go whine to someone who cares, lady. I applaud single parents who dedicate themselves to getting what their kids NEED, not those who use their situation as fuel for pity.

o.O How do you enslave your own people?

Easy. Social classes. Those in higher power enslave those in lower power. And he's right. Original slaves from Africa WERE enslaved by Africans.

You are my idol of the day Tiff. A few months ago in Canada, there was this incident where a fishing company was hiring new employees and in their advertisment they said (and I quote) "Whites need not apply"

XD Thanks.
and don't you know? It's okay to be prejudiced against whites, becuase we're evil. </sarcasm>

ParaKiss_Groupie · Post by **ParaKiss_Groupie** » Tue Dec 09, 2003 9:44 pm

Here's the thing I don't like: When people yell racism for things that aren't. And this happens a lot. I am a white male. Therefore, I am the epitome of evil. I really am. Anyone can make a comment about how horrible men are. Anyone can make a comment about what white people can and can't do. But if I make a comment, or even a joke for that matter, about women or non-white people, then I'm all of a sudden racist and sexist. Hell, I don't even have to say something negative. For instance, a few weeks ago I was talking to one of my friends at school. This guy that she didn't like kept bugging her, and she felt sorry for him because nobody liked him (there's a reason. He's rude, arrogant, and an overall ass). She told me about it, and I told her that she was really nice. Then I started teasing her, saying that she was too nice, and that I didn't like nice people. I gave a playful glare, and said "I hate your kind." These two girls beside us erupted, and started calling me racist, and one of them moved to slap me. Had my friend not jumped in the way and explained to them everything, I would've got my ass kicked. ^^;;

I don't think anyone should get special treatment for things that aren't necessities. No matter what the circumstances. "I'm in a wheelchair. Can I get into the movies for free?" "I'm old. Can I get this for free?" "I'm stupid. Do you have any discounts for stupid people?" It bothers me. I pissed someone off in the line to see a movie once, because she asked if she could get in for free because she was black, and she had been oppressed all her life by white people, and her people were slave people, and just on and on. So, when it got to my turn, she was standing next to the ticket counter. I asked if I could get a discount for being remotely-intelligent. And especially since I was white. I needed to save money to buy all my slaves, you know the ones that were freed almost 150 years ago? This man behind me laughed, and this woman got pissed and stormed out of the theater. It was great.

Post by **Tiff** » Tue Dec 09, 2003 11:19 pm

ParaKiss_Groupie wrote: I pissed someone off in the line to see a movie once, because she asked if she could get in for free because she was black, and she had been oppressed all her life by white people, and her people were slave people, and just on and on. So, when it got to my turn, she was standing next to the ticket counter. I asked if I could get a discount for being remotely-intelligent. And especially since I was white. I needed to save money to buy all my slaves, you know the ones that were freed almost 150 years ago? This man behind me laughed, and this woman got pissed and stormed out of the theater. It was great.

For this, ParaKiss, I award you with the "Kickass" award, exclusively by Tiff.
I bestow upon you this honor.
http://tpm.sweetserenity.com/kickass.jpg

Jed-kun · Post by **Jed-kun** » Tue Dec 09, 2003 11:25 pm

Anthy wrote:
Jed-kun wrote:About "natives", I DO think that they should get discounts because there land was forsibly removed from them.
Discount from taxes, maybe, but not from consumer goods like gameboys or bananas!

Yeah, I don't think that there should be an overall discount like a "I'm a Native" card or something. But they should get sertain reparations. Like exemption from taxes, if they live as a part of the "Insert Tribe Name Here Nation", and should get to go to college for free... however, they should have to EARN the right to go to college the same as anybody else.