Wait staff and flight attendant c/o customers

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Academics.

There are plenty of FB groups and communities dedicated to wait staff and airline staff, where they can vent about customers. Most of the time, I don't quite understand what they are so on about. For example, there is a meme about an airline passenger being unable to get into the bathroom with a pic of a flight attendant laughing. Huh?

I read these things, and my first thought is, "You ARE customer service--no doubt about it--so why are you complaining??" It's not like you've just finished up a rapid response on someone, and you are getting yelled at because you didn't bring fresh water to someone fast enough.

I just don't get it. Everyone is entitled to vent about demanding people in customer service, but my compassion meter is broken when someone in customer service is having a fit over a passenger or customer asking for a glass of water.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

Having worked in the fast food industry many moons ago, I can unequivocally tell you that the public is rude. Civility is a dying trait in our self-centered society.

It would be nice if people simply asked for the water without poking fun at the server or telling the cashier that she's stupid or slow.

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Have you ever worked these types of jobs? I always put on my happy face but you can bet I'd complain about some of them after they were gone. Some people equate customer service with slave/punching bag.

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Specializes in LTC.

I was a card dealer for years, and I still follow dealer memes and a casino employee group. I knew the job I was going to have when I got into the industry, but day in and day out being treated like crap, it gets old. Being abused by a public who thinks they are always right (uh they aren't always) is not fun. I always over tip now. It's not fun to be treated like dirt and go home broke.

And yeah, maybe my job wasn't as 'important' then, but it didn't hurt any less to be treated like dirt. And yeah, sometimes it was awful to deal with someone who just wanted to change 50 dollars to chips for the 50th time even when it was my job (buy in all at once, jeez!). And sometimes I complained and vented when it wasn't warranted, but it was tiring some days.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Academics.

Yes, I've worked fast food and retail. I was always more annoyed by lazy coworkers than I ever was with customers. The only thing that bugged me in retail was when people would allow their kids to play with toys, and then leave them all in the middle of the aisle!

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Specializes in PDN; Burn; Phone triage.

I think flight attendants have quite a bit of specialized training and are an instrumental piece in the whole "safety" aspect of flying.

People suck sometimes. And doing customer service with sucky customers for sucky pay also sucks. Your job title doesn't give you more of a reason to complain about the public than someone else.

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People don't become magically well-behaved when they leave the hospital and hop on a plane. I've flown quite a bit and I've seen LOTS of reasons for airline staff to feel annoyed.

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Specializes in Trauma, Orthopedics.

I feel like if you have ever wanted tables, you'd never question this.

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I read these things, and my first thought is, "You ARE customer service--no doubt about it--so why are you complaining??" It's not like you've just finished up a rapid response on someone, and you are getting yelled at because you didn't bring fresh water to someone fast enough.

I just don't get it. Everyone is entitled to vent about demanding people in customer service, but my compassion meter is broken when someone in customer service is having a fit over a passenger or customer asking for a glass of water.

I totally get it. My compassion meter is at a zero right now as you vent about others in different fields needing to vent, and how their need to vent is not as valid as your need to vent.

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Just because your vent is about more serious matters does not negate someone else's frustration. How would it be different for someone from 3rd world country to say about you "What is that person complaining about?? I haven't eaten in 2 days and I'm a mile from fresh water."

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Specializes in Trauma, Orthopedics.

The OP has clearly never felt subhuman/had trouble paying their bills because of a forgotten side of ranch.

Which makes me think the OP is that customer.

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The OP has clearly never felt subhuman/had trouble paying their bills because of a forgotten side of ranch.

Which makes me think the OP is that customer.

Did you ever have those server dreams? I used to sit straight up in my bed and say out loud "I can't get to that table now. I am at home and they are 10 miles away at the restaurant. They're gonna have to wait.... Or.... Are they seating people in my living room?"

I've always said that the world would be a better place if at some point everyone had to spend a year working for tips. Everyone should have how nice they are (directly) determine the amount of money they make.

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