Tuesday, November 20, 2007

I take Offense

Why do people assume you won't be offended by something if it doesn't apply to you? Taboo words are called so for a reason, not only are they politically incorrect, but a large number of people find them offensive. There is someone I work with who has used the 'F' word when talking of some one who is homosexual and it offends me. I have said that it offends me and yet it continues to be used. What is the need to use such a phrase when there are others that can be used to express what you are talking about?

And while on things that are offensive, I take offense to other judging people at a split seconds notice. I've always tried to give people the benefit of the doubt and not judge them until I know them. You can't know that someone is a drug addict because of where they live and how old they look. You can't judge someones sexuality by the way they talk, walk or dress. And for that matter, who cares? Does it hurt you? Even if you think someone is going to hell for their choices, it isn't going to affect you, so leave them alone. Not everyone wants to hear your tirade. Do I judge you for working a job that I'm using to earn money while I go to school so I get a better job where I will make a lot more money and have job satisfaction? No, because my path isn't right for everyone, but I could... easily.

I feel that people really need to learn to think before they speak. You don't need to preach, especially to people you don't know, because you never know how that person will react. You may have just alienated someone who could have been a friend.

Monday, November 19, 2007

How to REALLY tick off your bank teller

One would think that people would be at least pleasant to the people handling their money, and by large most are. But there are the select few, who make it seem like the majority, that really are rude, crude or just plain mean. I guess they just enjoy being rude to people who they know can't do anything back. (Or can we??)

I've been known to give people the really annoying $2 bills or dollar coins when I know they probably don't want them. There is nothing wrong with it, it is perfectly legal tender. Or someone will be cashing a small check and I give them the largest bills possible, or .99 in nickels and pennies. The list could go on and on of the perfectly legal things I can do to make your day worse than you are making mine. :)

Here is a small list of the things that probably really tick your bank tellers off:

* Not knowing your account number
~is it really that hard to memorize, and if you can't do that how hard is it to keep it in your wallet or purse?

* Rolling your eyes or putting up a fight when we ask for ID
~ This is the 21st century. The days of knowing your banker on a friendly first name basis is gone unless you live in a really small town. We see hundreds of people a day, if you only come in once a week, the likely hood that we know you well enough to feel comfortable to cash your several thousand dollar check without ID is slim to none. Oh, and for the record we can refuse to cash it if you don't show your ID. :)

* Being to lazy to...
~ put your name on a blank deposit slip
~ fill out how much money you want back
~ fill out how much you want to deposit
~ write down your own transactions in your checking/savings registers
~ put your cash in some order. Mixing up the bills makes it really hard to count
~ come inside and then complain about how long the drive-thru line is

* Getting upset over check holds
~ yes, we are well aware that it is an inconvenience, but it really is for your protection (and yes for the bank as well). If you deposit a, lets say, $8,000.00 check and we don't put it on hold and you spend said money. Then a few days later (and yes, even in the electronic age, it can take a few days) it gets returned for what ever reason, you now owe the bank $8,000.00 + return deposit fee + what ever overdraft fees you may get. Now you so upset about a 5 day hold?

* Getting upset over not returning you checks in your statement
~ That is a US government thing, not your bank. If you bank hasn't switched to images, they will. To make a long story short it is a post 9/11 thing, and the Federal Reserve shreds them when we send them. We don't get them back so we can't give them to you.


* Talking on your phone
~ Really, this is just plain rude. We are trying to be pleasant and say hello and when you ignore us, it makes us want to ignore you. (This probably goes for everywhere, not just the bank.) Is it really to hard to say hi? Or at least smile and wave?