Doctors and Athletes

So I haven't written anything here in a while, I don't know why, plenty of good stuff has come up recently. Indeed, I actually have a couple things I want to put up on here like my protest experience and about vampires, but for now I'd like to rant a little.

So my English professor is rather odd, I don't know what it is about him, but he's just.. odd. I mean he's really smart, has a PhD blah blah blah been working for years yadda yadda yadda, but he's got that "old" mentality ya know? Everyone has a grandma or grandpa that says fucked up things perfectly naturally, like my grandma, she said "japs" and "chinos" and "negritos" with a straight face and by god she didn't care if it wasn't PC or not. Fact is I don't even think they know what PC is, they're old, we let them say things like that. Now the same goes with my English prof, kinda. He's not really that old, I don't know exactly how old actually--maybe, like, mid-sixties?--either way he just says things that are like.. What? It's not really as bad as my grandma was, but it kinda makes you scratch your head. For example he talks about race in an almost racist way, but not quite. As you all well know, race doesn't really bother me all that much, people can say what they want, it's all a load of crap anyway. Today though he said something that really did bother me.

We were discussing education and why we were in college and what not. I was only semi paying attention I mean I know what I'm going to school for and as entertaining as his stories are it's like meh. So there I was kinda listening, kinda doodling, when he says "I don't think doctors should get paid as much as they do." Uh, what? So he goes on to say that just because they went to school for longer than most people that doesn't mean they should be paid any more and he goes on to say "In fact I think doctors should be paid a lot less and someone working at, say, Albertsons should be paid more. Doctors don't really have to deal with people bitching [he did use bitching] about food or complaining about prices or even as many people as a clerk does." Before I go on let me point out that he doesn't think that a clerk should make more than a doctor, but he thinks that doctors shouldn't be paid nearly as much. He then goes on to say that it's both the doctors fault and the health care system here in America and he cites that "doctors here make more than any other country." Probably true, but still come on! I work retail, you all have seen my rants about how stupid and retarded people can be, but I seriously don't think I should make more just because of that. Especially if the difference means taking money from the people that keep me alive. Jesus H. Christ are you kidding me? I mean I don't understand at all how you can truly think that doctors should be paid less and then go on, with a straight face, that Albertsons employees go through more hardships and deserve to be paid more. Stupid, stupid, stupid! Another thing he said was that the only reason doctors do get paid as much as they do is because "they have to, how else would they pay back all their student loans." Excuse me no no no no. Doctors get paid so much because THEY HELP PEOPLE. Ughhhh

Shit if you think all us retail people need more money why don't you take money from the people that don't actually do anything for society. This, like most of my opinions, is arguable, but I think those people are athletes. Mainly "professional" athletes. What the fuck are these people doing to make millions and millions of dollars per game! If doctors made 2.2 million dollars per patient then okay, take some money from them, but until they do shut the fuck up. At least doctors actually help people, what does a football player do? Run around, grope at other men, toss a ball around, and then make an idiot of himself in the end zone? Cool. So glad you're getting paid the big bucks to not actually do anything. Eh, okay they provide entertainment, but I would by no means call that a service. To be fair I think this is true for actors, eh, they don't do much either, don't even come up with the stories or characters they act. Before people say that musicians are the same way, I'd like to point out that they actually come up with what they're doing, create it, and, this I'm not positive about, I don't think they make millions of dollars per song, they make a lot, but they put a lot of work into it too. Athletes can just shoot up some steroids and bam they're good, no matter what drugs you do, you either have a good voice or you don't. They probably get paid too much too at least in comparison to doctors, so my point still stands. Besides people, do you really want someone without any education prescribe you medication that could potentially kill you? Honestly? No I didn't think so. Just because you put up with idiots on a daily basis does not mean you should get paid way more because of it, it's not like hazard pay. So what if someone treats you like crap, get over it. Plus, doctors get treated like crap all the time, AND have to deal with druggies, hypochondriacs, and insurance companies.

If you want the average joe to get paid more, drop the pay for people that don't do shit. And I'm sorry, talent in a sport does isn't worth shit in the real world. Period.

Thoughts From a Bookstore Part 2: The Dumb and the Awkward

So, I know I said I was going to do my next one of these on the religious people, but after a good 20 minute rant to my girlfriend I figured I had enough content for another topic. Everyone complains how the rest of the world thinks Americans are idiots; perhaps this section will shed some light as to why that is.

The Dumb

There are several assumptions one can make about people that shop at a bookstore. First and foremost is that they can read. Well I have discovered that is not always the case, in fact, I think it's safe to say many are flat out blind. For example, the question we get asked most doesn't have anything to do with books, nor music, nor movies, but where the bathroom is. Now this is a logical question seeing as we're a public facility and all, and hell even in some parts of the store, but most seem to enjoy standing right under the freaking sign, or even in a direct line of sight to it. Along the same line we get people who come up to the desk and ask for CDs or DVDs, which are conveniently pointed out by 5 foot black and white contrasting signs hanging from the God damn ceiling. To add insult to injury when I point the sign out, they still don't see it. Come on people. Big black and white sign. Not hard to miss. I'll give some people credit, though, older folks do have fairly bad sight, but anyone under 50 has no excuse. Next up we have the people who refuse to take "we don't have it" for an answer. These people come in all self righteous, refuse help saying they can look it up on their own. Which they can, it is a pretty easy program to use, and all the buttons are clearly labeled as are the results. The screen even says either "Likely in store" with the location of the item listed or in bold red font "ORDER" if we don't currently have it in. Seems pretty easy doesn't it? Even still these people will then yell at us and ask "Where is this, it doesn't say" of course the item they're looking for isn't there. I tell them such and they proceed to practically scream saying such and such is a "classic" why don't you have it blah blah blah this is outrageous. Then as if any of us care, they say "well *lifts nose up* Barnes and Nobel will has it". Uh, okay, cool, is that suppose to be an insult? Pretty sure we each carry different shit, big deal. And more than likely they don't have it seeing as Hastings, Borders, and B&N all get books from the same distributors. This next incident I couldn't make up if I wanted too: On multiple occasions we've had people all and ask "hi, Do you have books?" Whoa.. what? Okay sure calling a place like Hastings you could ask that, seeing as they mainly carry multimedia, but this is Borders BOOKSTORE. Come on. Though, sadly, we've had someone come in, walk through the front of the store--which I might add is full of all sorts of books--and ask if we carried paperbacks. Sigh shoot me seriously. The last example I have by far takes the cake on American stupidity. I was fixing the audiobooks and this couple next to me was looking at Homers The Odyssey. The man was scrutinizing it pretty intently; I thought maybe he was just hard of seeing, but nooo he comments to his wife: "So do you think this is read by the original author? This, uh, Homer guy? I think it might be." I stopped what I was doing and was just hoping and praying he was joking, but I looked over and they both looked puzzled. And the final blow came from the wife, "I hope so, I heard he has a wonderful voice!" Oh lord.. Just.. yeah... And we wonder why everyone thinks we're fucking idiots.

The Awkward

This section is somewhat worse than the one above, but for different reasons. As most of you should know, bookstores have an adult erotica section. As such we get all sorts of weirdos because of it, not to mention the 14 year old horny middle school students. First I should probably mention that we have some pretty fucked up books back there too--har har "fucked up"--such as The Fetish Book, which is conveniently made of rubber for even the most wacky sex. I should also mention that I'm pretty open when it comes what people do behind closed doors, but it's still.. awkward when people are super open about it. For example way too many times have I had an older couple, maybe in their 50s or 60s, come up and ask where the sex section was. That's cool, I mean, heck its natural, but these people are like teenagers! Again, that's cool, but I don't think I'll ever get used to the sight of an old man grabbing his old wife's bum and sucking on her saggy neck.

The other common awkward experience is those that deal with recovery. As many of you know, or should know anyway, people have problems, lots and lots of problems. It also goes without question there are plenty of people out there that are willing to help, or at least make money pretending to help. Many times I'll have guests come in, sadly a lot of parents and grandparents that are looking for ways to get their kids/grandkids off drugs, or through other addictions. It's so hard to know what to say when they ask for something like that, I mean usually I like to try and make conversation with my customers, but with something like abuse, or drugs, or many other topics in that area, it’s hard to know where the line is. There are people that are willing to share their entire life story with you and others that don't want you to talk at all. The ones I find especially difficult are those that deal with abuse. We have a whole section on it, and there are some really helpful books out there, but when it comes to talking about it, or helping someone it’s just so.. I don't know difficult. Cause I feel bad, but at the same time I'm supposed to be impartial and keep my nose out of things. Or before we used to order specific books for people and when they got in we'd give them a call telling them their book has arrived. A lot of the time people won't answer, for good reason too I mean it is a random number, but what am I suppose to say when the title is something like When Daddy Hurts Mommy or Love Shouldn't Hurt, or Get Out Now!, what if it’s a general mailbox and the child hears? Or the abuser listens? I don't know, this probably isn't the tone you were expecting after the first examples, but it's something worth noting I guess.

So I was planning on doing one other section, but I'm just going to cut it cause its kinda stupid anyway. Essentially it was just how half the people out there think they know how to run the store better than we do. Meh, people are freaking stupid anyway. I hope this little adventure gave you some laughs and maybe even got you thinking.

Thoughts from a Bookstore Part 1: Politics

2008 is undoubtedly a year cram full of politics, so it’s no surprise that there have been a surplus of political books and consequently political “activists” around. Indeed with the general elections right around the corner and the primaries now past it’s expected to see less politics and more bashing going on. What I didn’t expect was the sheer stupidity of people when they go practically blind with political pride. Sure, I’ve heard rumors of some of the antics that go on but usually those are few and far between and generally only come from extreme right or left people. Well I was wrong thinking it only came from extreme supporters, alas it seems that this being an election year many, many usually moderate supporters become rabid fiends. Since starting at Borders a little under a year ago I’ve gotten a taste of the lengths people will take for their candidates. And that taste was quite bitter.

There seems to be two types of political junkies out there. The first being the insanely loyal all year round supporters and the second spring up in two waves; during primary time and then leading up to the general elections in November, especially around convention time. Within the two groups there’s a sliding scale of just how extreme the average Joe can turn. I almost hesitate to use the word “radical” here but considering the actions, it’s by far the most fitting word. At first, I didn’t see much of a difference between conservatives (meaning republicans) and liberals (meaning democrats) but it was quickly clear as to who was the more radical of the two. There is, most likely, a margin of error in my conclusions considering the vicious primary battle between Obama and Clinton but here are some of my observations on the strange world of ‘campaigning’ in a bookstore.

Thinking back on it now, my first experience with the two groups mentioned above was from the year round supporters. I was back in our calendar section, this being December ish, and I noticed that a couple of our calendars were turned over. At Borders we carry a large selection of calendars from nature to dogs to movies and seeing as 2007 was the eve of the general election year we had a bunch of candidate calendars. We had practically all the big runners, McCain, Obama, Hillary, and then their ‘smaller’ competitors, Giuliani, Romney, and Huckabee. All of them were made by the same company, I believe, seeing as they were all titled “Countdown to Victory”. Which, now, seems kind of funny, I mean what on earth are you going to do with a Giuliani or Romney calendar now. Sure, maybe back in December it seemed plausible that one of them could win the nomination but now? I’m sure these people feel really proud when they have a guest over and there hanging in the foyer is a “Rudy Giuliani Countdown to Victory” calendar. It’s the same with the bumper stickers; I can understand sporting your candidate’s sticker when it’s the presidential sticker but before the primaries are even over? No, no, that just makes for snickers along the highway. In any case, there I was with these, seemingly randomly selected calendars turned over. Oh how I was wrong. It seemed someone decided to not only turn over the Obama and Hillary calendars but to actually put Giuliani calendars over them after that. This boggled my mind to be perfectly honest. I asked around and found out rather quickly that our store, and I’m assuming most bookstores, are continually proved to be a battleground for political junkies. I guess it makes sense in a way, I mean these people aren’t about to actually go out there and debate or protest or do anything to actually change the political standing so instead they must lower themselves to flipping calendars and books too. This, I soon found out, was the first group striking. They do it all year long, usually attacking the politics section, flipping and rearranging the books they don’t like. Not only that, though, these amateur political activists take it upon themselves to voice their absolute fury to none other than the employees. I don’t know how many times I’ve been pulled aside by one of these people, it doesn’t matter if their liberals or conservatives either, they all have relatively the same thing to say: “I’m offended that you’re displaying this *insert liberal or conservative* trash! What? Do these slanderous authors pay you to put up their slander? I demand you remove it from display and put *insert liberal or conservative title* up instead.” Luckily, after many conversations like this I’ve managed to control the urge to burst out laughing and explain rationally why we have what we have up. We’ve been called a liberal store and a conservative store and, indeed, many of these activists say they’ll never shop with us again, only to be seen a few weeks later harassing another member of the staff or flipping more books. The only plus side about these year round junkies is the fact that there aren’t many of them, and most of their political attacks come few and far between, but the other group is a whole other story.

Right off the bat in January we began to see the first hinting of the wave that was to come. I noticed more and more books being flipped and more people deciding to voice their opinion and, at first, I thought it was just that the new year empowering the political amateurs. Certainly the first group is part of the waves that crash into our store around primary time but they go from amateurs to rabid junkies. Most of the time we don’t even get a chance to flip the books back around before someone from the other camp is there making their candidates stick out and hiding the opposing. I’ve always wondered what would happen if one were to catch their rival in the act of ‘defacing’ their books, would a fight ensue? Probably not. From what I’ve seen these junkies only have the courage to speak their mind to a worker who, under the decree of “the customer is always right”, can’t voice their opinion at all. I respect that everyone has the right to their opinion, this blog wouldn’t be here if we couldn’t voice our opinion, but sometimes people should keep their mouth shut if they don’t know what they’re talking about. One example sticks out in my mind. Obama Nation by Jerome R Corsi, note the childish play on words, came out and, naturally, it was causing quite the stir. I had someone come up to the desk and ask to see the book. I first thought she was another happy conservative wanting to purchase the book, but then I noticed the Obama button she was sporting. I thought this could go two ways, a.) I’m about to get chewed out for selling this book and having it on display or b.) she doesn’t know quite what it’s about. Sadly, both were correct. She was quite excited to get the book going out of her way to mention to me how handsome Obama was, but then as she read the inside of the dust jacket her face first fell then tightened in anger. I noticed this and tried my best to make a getaway, no such luck. I won’t go into exactly what she said about the author, the publisher, and Borders in general but it wasn’t fun. I’ve had to go and flip the books around again, sometimes multiple times, each day. Not only Obama though, the liberals fight just as dirty they hide McCains book or cover it with Hillarys books but the thing I find most entertaining about the primary junkies is the liberals. It’s possible that conservatives are the cause of a lot of the Obama/Hillary defacing but the majority, during the primaries, were Obama vs. Hillary or vice versa. If the Dems don’t think that their party is split all they need to do is go into any bookstore across the country. Hillary books covering Obama books, Obama books hiding the Hillary books, it’s outrageous. I’m just glad that the primaries are over, now at least, all I have to do is worry about McCain and Obama rather than dems vs. dems then again it could turn into something worse with November rapidly approaching.

To this day I don’t understand what flipping a book over accomplishes. Sure, it might cause 3 or 4 people to not see the book but when it comes to politics I seriously don’t think there’s much of a correlation between the books people see and the books people don’t see. Most people when they shop for a politics book they already know what they’re looking for, they’ve seen or heard of the book on the radio and even when books like Obama Nation are on display not very many people stop and take a look at it. America seems to be fed up with politics so it isn’t a surprise to me when someone passes up a political book for a fantasy or romance. It doesn’t help that 75% of political books are pure slander either. One last observation before I call this quits. From my, albeit somewhat limited, experience the majority of conservative activists that get the courage to speak their opinion also have it in them to try and save our souls from the wrath of god. These religious nuts are part 2 in Thoughts from a Bookstore.