Shopping for Bad Manners at the Wal-Mart
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Everywhere we look political correctness has invaded our lives. It looks like a duck, it walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, but we do not dare call it a duck for fear of offending someone. It would stand to reason that this prevalent fear of offending someone would translate to an overabundance of good manners. This is not the case at all, as bad manners seem to run amok in our society. We only need to venture to a nearby Wal-Mart, where, beginning with the parking lot, venturing through the shopping aisles, and ending with the check-out, we are assaulted with a wide variety of bad manners.
Upon entering the parking lot of a Wal-Mart an air of bad mannerisms is felt immediately. The drivers, in their rush, will nearly flatten women and small children as they exit the store. In retaliation, the customers walk straight down the middle of the parking aisle, often two or three abreast, on the way to their cars. Often times, cell phones are involved as drivers and pedestrians are holding conversations or text messaging with no concern or acknowledgement of other human beings around them. As retaliation to retaliation, directed in the wrong direction, people will park their cars and walk up the middle of the parking aisle, two or three abreast, eliminating the ability of other vehicles to travel up or down the aisle.
After a fifteen to twenty minute battle in the parking lot, we finally make it inside the store to find more bad manners on display. People will usually stand with their carts directly in front of the items we are looking for. This is usually a result of a cell phone conversation or a conversation with another customer, while we stand patiently waiting for countless minutes until they finally acknowledge our existence and reluctantly move out of the way. This is usually followed by sighs of disgust as they display their anguish for the inconvenience we have wrought upon them. Much like the parking lot aisles, jockeying for position in the shopping aisles is met with the same resistance. If by accident an arm is brushed or a shopping cart bumped, followed by an "excuse me" or "I am sorry", we can sometimes expect a further exhibition of bad manners. I am too much of a gentleman to write what is often times hurled back in response.
Adding insult to injury, we end our adventure at the check-out line, where once again, the cashiers show us a variety of bad manners. The "have a nice day" buttons and tags on the cashier’s shirts offer an excuse from exhibiting any more good manners. The cashier is often times a younger person who puts on an air of "I would rather be somewhere else than here". Many times they will be smacking their gum and have an Ipod earphone in their ear. Too many times it seems there is no recognizing that they are dealing with a person and the process of ringing someone’s items up is the equivalent of a jet on auto-pilot. If there is any indication of human interaction, it is usually the conversation between two cashiers. One gets the impression they may as well be an insect.
Like political correctness, good manners seem to apply only to other people. We only point this discrepancy out on other people and are not concerned with holding ourselves accountable. Bad manners have become the rule and not the exception in a short time. I can think of other places this is displayed but traveling to Wal-Mart numerous times a week, the display becomes more apparent. Other places do not offer, however, the variety of bad manners displayed at a Wal-Mart. At a Wal-Mart we get to see it all; from the time we get to the parking lot, shop up and down the aisles, and as we finish up at the check-out line.
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I worked for Wal-Mart for six years, as a former Front End Manager let me express my sorrow at your Wal-Mart experience. I totally know what you mean though. I had a Cashier when I was manager tell me off in front of Customers because he was too busy sweeping the floor to check them out. He landed in the office with a verbal repremand from me and the next day the store manager came in and gave him another write up over the incident. I was a difficult manager for all of those who could careless about working, unfortunately there was more of them than me and after two years of trying to turn this one store around I quit (on good terms), but it was all I could take. I go in there now and there aren't any managers who really want the people to smile be polite and do a good job.
It's Wall-Mart, what can you expect? People shopping at Wall-Mart are not bright enough to see that by shopping there they are supporting child labour, actually unfair business and labour practices altogether and helping the export of American jobs abroad.
Thus, you cannot expect good manners out of donkeys.
Hey Old Poolman! Somehow I knew I could count on you and Rachell to be the first ones leaving comments. Thank you always. I guess my hub sounds like a slam of Wal-Mart. It is not especially meant to be, it just happens that is one of the few times I am allowed out of the house!
Rachell, I doesn't seem important anywhere anymore unfortunately. I guess it was unfair for me to single out Wal-Mart, but hey I don't get out that much anymore. Thanks as always for coming by. We keep getting in some common scraps together. Just want you to know I always have your back.
LOL, I appreciate you having my back. It's perfectly alright to single out Wal-Mart, working there I hold them to a higher standard than other companies, I think that Sam Walton would be very discouraged with the Wal-Mart of today.
Rachell, You are so right. Sam Walton built a great company and I used to enjoy going there. Now I would just as soon be beaten as to go there.
I don't know if you have been by Old Poolman's hub this morning or not. Just wanted you to know I did not take your comment that way at all. I always love to read your comments.
Mr. Happy, not sure about all that. I think the government and NAFTA have more to do with jobs going overseas than Wal-Mart does. I go there to save money in these rough times and even when the times were fine. Part of Obama's "recovery" is double-digit inflation. It is on the way, so you might want to grab a buggy and go to Wal-Mart also. (just don't bump my buggy, please) Thanks for dropping by and leaving a comment.
I agree with you completely about Wal-Mart, JT! I had rather go elsewhere and pay more money than enter this madhouse! Unfortunately, there are some things in this small town found nowhere else! If you have the chance, check out the documentary : Wal-Mart, the high cost of low prices. A real eye-opener!
Thumbs up!
Randy, thanks for stopping by one of my hubs! Where can I find that documentary?
Thank you for the comment!
Hey Jtcarr1164, let me say first and foremost I wish you didn't have to wear that uniform. As in I wish there was no need for such uniforms.
You have to wonder why the products are so cheap though. I personally do not purchase things that are made in countries in South-east Asia (China included) because many of them do not have or enforce child labour laws.
I have a little thirteen year old nice and younger nephews and I cannot picture them working in factories for pennies a day. I cannot purchase anything that is made with the sweat of kids and that is often the case in the countries where Wall-Mart, Nike and the like opperate their factories.
It is a very sad story.
Your's and Rachellrobinson's comments here show how easy it is for you both to flip flop in your opinions.....
Rachel say-LOL, I appreciate you having my back. It's perfectly alright to single out Wal-Mart, working there I hold them to a higher standard than other companies, I think that Sam Walton would be very discouraged with the Wal-Mart of today...............and you respond- Rachell, You are so right. Sam Walton built a great company and I used to enjoy going there. Now I would just as soon be beaten as to go there.
A little hypocritical I would say as those comments are the exact opposite of what you both say in the comments section of my hub on WalMart. Both your comments here prove my point in what I have been saying --WalMart is not what it used to be, now is it.
Okay Jeremey did you even read what was written on either hub. First Jtcarr's hub is about bad manners at Wal Mart, associates being rude. That has nothing to do with your theory via Unions that Wal Mart is setting out to destroy the World. My LoL glad you have my back is in reference to Jtcarr's comment about another hub, and really has nothing to do with this hub. My comment above that one where I explained that with six years worth experience I felt obligated to apologize for others bad manners shows that Wal Mart trains their managers to actually care what the general public thinks about the company. What are we hypocritical about? That we don't think Sam Walton wanted his associates to be rude to customers? Nowhere in your hub do you address that issue, all you talk about is how unfair business practices are with Wal Mart. I suggest you reread Jtcarr's hub, and choose your words carefully next time, otherwise you might come off sounding like you don't know what you are talking about.
Rachel, I guess you beat me to the punch!
Jeremy, as Rachel said, this hub is about bad manners, Wal-Mart is in the hub, because you will find every walk of life there. 99% of my groceries are bought at Wal-Mart.
It is obvious that you can read, it is just as obvious that reading comprehension is a problem. Your hub has to do with Wal-Mart being an evil corporation. The slew of comments had to do with you comparing Wal-Mart to Hitler and then contradicting yourself on unions and so on.
Reading is fundamental!
my commment is referrring to what came out of both of your mouth's regarding WALMART , not the content of your hub, so say what you will , but you can't deny that those comments are the opposite of what you both preach in the comments you've made in my hub. You both are wrong, in one way or another, as I may have been in one instance or another.
and JT you are the one that invented the Hitler comparison and I went with it. I never once contradicted myself regarding unions, if I did prove it! I can read and comprehend quite well my friend. I am beginning to think you on the other hand can read well but comprehend only what agree's with the thoughts already in your head. So you go on with the insults and such, enjoy yourself, I hope you feel good for that, it's the least I could do for you.
And regarding the content of your hub - it shows how you are impatient and unwilling to except people's faults and mistakes.Sorry we are not all as perfect as you. And the Parking lots wouldn't be so hard and troublesome to navigate had they been designed better. WalMart designed them in a way to compact as many spaces into as small an area as possible, with no regard for the comfort of their customers or the safety of their vehicles. I could go on forever JT.
My hub was a comparison of the good and bad of WalMart, my opiniion is very much so that WalMart HAS BECOME an 'evil' corporation, you tell me when and where greed and manipulation of our laws is good and I will change my opinion.
And had you went to another place to shop, say a little shop on main street, I bet you would enjoy your shopping experience more so. You maybe should be thinking before you comment.
And in regardss to you buying your food at WalMart, look into the legislation they are supporting in regards to goverment regulations on our food sources, they are supporting it because they have the most to gain from it. Think about it, think good and hard, there is logic to the crap that comes out of opinions on WalMart. Prove me wrong in any way other than saying I base my opinions on 'union' info because a small percentage does come from that but most of it comes from analyzing the information all across the board, from the numbers to former and current employee's words. I gaurantee I know 100% more about WalMart as a whole than you or Rachel know from your single store experiences.
And last but not least in your hub you say---" People will usually stand with their carts directly in front of the items we are looking for" that just shows the amount of respect you have for other people, I anm sure they didn't just jump in front of you while you were reaching for a product and stood there talking on there phone just to irritate you, They most likely were there first and the fact they were pre-occupied and didn't acknowledge that you needed to get by them or around them is what irritated you. Grow up man, and welcome to the world, if you can't deal with other people being in it stay home next time and write some more stories about how people irritate you. I bet you can write a dozen on me right now. Have a nice Christmas, and God Bless you!
Jeremy, Once again, reading comprehension is very important. The comments in this hub pertain to this hub, which is about bad manners in society. Yes, Sam Walton would be disappointed, but he would feel the same about any retail store. This hub is not about Wal-Mart, though Wal-Mart is the example used. Like I said, its where I buy stuff. I could not base my hub on somewhere,like say, CostCo because my experience in not there.
Not once have I depicted Wal-Mart as some evil corporation that is responsible for global economic chaos, as you have suggested it is.
The Hitler statement was not an opinion. Hitler controlled, though did not own, all industry in Germany. Government intervention in industry IS one step closer to Hitler. The progressive's in Washington have stated that we are heading towards "state capitalism" because they dare not call it what it is: National Socialism. You, my friend, are the one who made a comparison with Hitler (a ludicrous one at that).
If your reading comprehension skills are so sharp, why is it you take everything I say out of the intended context. Not once have you responded to a statement I have made in a comment. You come back with empty rhetoric about how blind I am. Birds cant fly shit that is equivalent to "Bush lied, people died!".
Your rants all go back to one thing, you resent wealth. You want to punish success. You feel that corporations should do with their money what you think they should do. Guess what, for now, we are still free and people can do within legality what they want with their money. It matters not if someone has more money than someone else. You want to tax Wal-Mart because they are greedy. Most every corporation is greedy and it can not, or should not be regulated. Would you like someone to tell you where you should spend your money? Wal-Mart, on the same hand, should not have anyone tell them where to spend their money.
You said in one of your comments that Wal-Mart does not control all of the dollar, that is true. They only control the dollar that they earn in profit. That is the way it should be. Wal-Mart, like all corporations, has their money they throw at politicians. They do not have exclusivity there. They do not control the Federal Reserve.
In case you haven't noticed in your hub, we have been arguing about the role of government in the economic woes. That is something you refuse, for some reason, to see. Wal-Mart shops overseas because the government forced the jobs over there. Wal-Mart buys more overseas products than anyone because more consumers buy from Wal-Mart than the other retailers, hence the No.1 ranking in the world. Is Wal-Mart evil and hellbent on world domination? Hardly. Does Wal-Mart (like most corporations) practice some unscrupulous business practices. Yes. Corporations exist for one purpose; to make money.
I misread one of your things so I was confused about your union loyalty or lack thereof. I apologize for that. I see now that it is the Right to Work Organization you are a member of. I mistook that for something else. Again, I am sorry. You did, however, state that you do not support unions, but then said they were above making skewed or biased reports.
It seems to me that anyone with your views would be against any and all corporations, but you single out Wal-Mart for some reason.
You can not design the rudeness factor of people out of a parking lot.
"And regarding the content of your hub - it shows are impatient and unwilling to except people's faults and mistakes."
You don't know shit about me, so that is just spouting some high and mighty b/s. You sound like the progressive and liberal elitist with that one! I am a very happy go-lucky, tolerant, patient man. I have had to be to serve for twenty + years. That does not mean I have to kiss anyone's ass or put myself out over someone else being an idiot.
I am also very open minded and I can change my mind. As you can see above, I am also capable of apology. With that said, once I analyze and research a topic, weed out the rhetoric and bull, I form an opinion. I have been persuaded several times. I can be convinced, but you have to give a good argument. I require documented facts, you can't just say "This is a government study" and expect me to buy it (hmmm climategate comes to mind here). It takes several unbiased sources.
Jeremey: I would just like to throw in, that I mentioned on your hub my Wal-Mart experience, and that it went a lot further than one store. I guess you missed that. In total I have worked for three Super Centers and One small town store.
The one that I was talking about in this hub, the last one is a small town store. It's been here for 27 years, the Mom and Pop shop (that Wal Mart supposedly always puts out of Business) has been doing great, I don't know if they shop at Wal Mart but I know a lot of the people that work for Wal Mart, myself included shopped there.... however that is getting off topic, four stores six years as I moved up in Management, more associates than I can possibly remember, my ex works for Wal Mart, after getting fired mind you from one Super Center he was able to get hired on approximately a year later at another one and he's been there for the last four years. He's also tried out for management positions.
My experience is not limited in any means to 1 Wal Mart store. This last store though employees 82 people, it's the largest employer in town and three years ago when Tyson decided to move the chicken plant to Oklahoma; Wal Mart became the only thing really keeping this town alive. Now I am sure somehow you can twist that to say see if Wal Mart hadn't moved in then the town wouldn't practically be a ghost town but if you talk to the residence, and the wonderful people who work for that store they will all tell you that Wal Mart has been a godsend.
Let's try this again, since we've established that we are talking about two different things, where has Jtcarr and I been hypocritical, and do you even know what that word means?
A special note to all Hubbers:
If you start out a comment with yelling (All caps), you do not even get read. You get deleted. So don't waste your time. Thank you for your support.
Jtcarr: I've read that last sentence like five times since I posted it, I think it should have read:
Let's try this again, since we've established that we are talking about two different things, where have jtcarr and I been hypocritical, and do you even know what that word means?
Sorry about that, some mornings I don't think my brain is working lol.
Rachel, It is quite alright. My brain is working on about four hours sleep in the last two days, so I can sympathize!
Fair enough, you're entitled. My use of caps was to stress my comprehension not to yell and hurt your ears. Sorry you mis comprehended my intentions. You both have a good day, we have all taken this too far any way. Take care.
Jeremy, I can assure you, you did not hurt my ears. I am not the guy on the couch in the Geico commercial. I am the one talking about Mamby Pamby land. (Hope I did not upset you mentioning another corporation, especially one that keeps actors out of work by sending the jobs to cavemen!)
When I see a friend of mine's comments followed by all caps, I can only assume that my friend is being yelled at, and I for one, will not stand for it.
To Rachel, I am curious as to know why you would insist on ME correctly spelling your name but at the same time fail to do the same to someone who is 'on your side'? Seems a bit unfair to me. What ever your opinions are of me, I have done nothing to deserve the 'unfairness' coming at me from the both of you. My apologies if my opinions offend either of you, it was never my intention...... and seeing through the sarcasm above, I happen to respect GEICO, and the actions and believe of the company owner, Warren Buffet.
When did I mis-spell someone's name Jeremey? Are you going to answer my question about when Jtcarr and I have been hypocritical or do you even know what that word means?
Reading comprehension Rachel. You didn't but JT has continuously misspelled your name and you failed to correct him, but jumped down my throat when I did it on accident and even assumed is was intentional. I haven't had any of my questions answered by either of you, why should I answer yours? If you had better comprehension skills maybe you would see your hypocracy as well as mine. Regardless I have no need to answer your question because you already have your mind made up as to what my answer is.
I have read through each of the comments, I do not see where Jtcarr has added any extra letters to my name. I even e-mailed him about the matter and he didn't see it; so you want to tell me where he has misspelled my name.
I guess by your response that you do not in fact know what hypocrite means and that is why you won't answer. A simple I thought it would make you guys mad if I called you that would suffice for the answer and would probably be the closest thing to the truth that you have ever written.
Jeremey, my comments have been long successions of paragraphs in response to almost all of your comments. Of course, when you take things out of context, it is hard to realize such. I have plenty of reading comprehension. I started school before the Dept of Education existed and taught everyone to think inside a box. I have enough reading comprehension to recognize George Soros b/s when I read it.
You say that your hub was to point out what I said in comments, that Wal-Mart is not what it used to be. There is nothing that resembles a thesis to that effect in your introductions and your hub comes across as an attack on capitalism and the rich. Evidenced by the comments on your hub.
Jeremey, I thought you were done with these discussions. That is what, the third or fourth time you have said so? Just curious, when that was going to actually happen? Not that don't appreciate the multiple up arrows this hub now enjoys.
My last comment got ignored : ( lol
Mr. Happy, so sorry about that. Did not mean to ignore you. I would have sworn I had replied. I know China does not have the best record when it comes to human rights. I was shocked to hear how many times Nike has moved their factories in search of cheap labor. I for one am not a fan of buying Chinese goods, but sometimes we do not have a choice. Of course a boycott is one's only viable choice. We can not count on the UN to address human rights violations, especially since they have China on their Human Rights council.
I appreciate your concern for me in uniform. However, my years of service are my choice and I can blame no one nor any event for my continuing to serve. Unfortunately the need for soldiers will always exist.
All the best and thank you.
13 days ago
Rachell, You are so right. Sam Walton built a great company and I used to enjoy going there. Now I would just as soon be beaten as to go there.
Looks like an extra 'L' to me! and in the comment before that one as well! Just saying.
There are two ll's in my name rachellrobinson.... there isn't however an E which is what you added and I tried to tell you wasn't there. Even the slightest correction comes off as criticism to you, and it becomes a major blow to your ego.
Looking for other people's mistakes, don't you have something better to do with your time?
It seems you have nothing better to do either, so where does that leave you? First I put 2 L's and you corrected me so I started spelling it with one, in the comments above you'll see your name spelled with both one L and 2 l's by the same person yet you made no correction to them! I just don't appreciate when I am told I am wrong when I am not, just like any one else. It has nothing to do with ego, and if you knew me you'd know, but you don't so why would you go and make the same mistake I did by attacking someone's ego who I don't know. Guess our emotions get the best of us sometimes and a person without ego issues can make mistakes and accept them. That is all I am trying to do. To answer your question no, today I have absolutely nothing better to do with my time, but my intention today wasn't to look for mistakes, it was to defend myself for not making the mistake I was accused of, there is a difference. All I was looking for was for you to say that you could see how the spelling error could be made instead of belittling me because you have a grudge against my perspective on things. I never meant any disrespect to either of you and tried to display that but I was "attacked" and did what most people would have done. This is my attempt at an apology for taking such an empty issue and blowing it out of proportion. The apology is more of an ego thing for me than anything else is in our little quarrel. Take care, both of you.
I stated that there was no E I never corrected you about the number of L's, why are you arguing this, did I hurt your precious ego so much? I thought that perhaps rather than realizing that you didn't spell it correct you would like to know. If I had known that telling you there was no E would cause you so much pain and suffering.... I would have done it anyway, because it's my name and I prefer people don't arbitrarily add letters to it.
Go back to the comment in question and you will see that even after that you wrote Rachelle, and I reminded you that a person who shows respect for others realizes their mistakes and makes an attempt to correct them. You on the other hand have no respect for other people's feeling because instead of admitting that you are wrong you go and try to find someone else to say AHA they made the same mistake. You say in your Profile that you are "Open-minded" I would like someone who is open-minded could admit a simple thing as when they were wrong about the spelling of someone's name without making a huge deal out of it. You are acting very juvenile trying to twist this into me being the bad guy when all I did was tell you there is no E after the second l in my name.
Here in South Africa, we experience similarly hideous behaviour in the stores. Another pet peeve is when people decide to hold full-out conversations in the store doorway, and heaven help you if you ask them to move. Anyone would think that you've just asked them to chew off a limb...
Well-written, voted up and you have a new follower :-)
buy crap get crap
Old Poolman Level 7 Commenter 18 months ago
Oh Oh, now you did it. The Wal-Marters of the world are going to come down on you like a ton of bricks. I buy ammunition at Wal-Mart because the price is oh so right. However, I park next door in a restuarant parking lot, sneak in through the nursery section entrance, purchase my ammo at the sporting goods counter, and get out of there. I refuse to put up with all the things you described in your hub.
Common sense is something we are supposed to be born with. Good manners were supposed to be taught in the home. Watching the events you describe at Wal-Mart or any other place groups of people gather would lead you to believe many left both common sense and manners at home that day, or they posess neither.
Great hub and it gives us all something to think about prior to our next shopping excursion.