> wrote in message
...
> Debit and credit cards have been around for ages now. So why do people
> still pay by check which is:
>
> Time-consuming
> Error-prone
> Expensive (checks aren't cheap)
>
> Plus checks are a hassle for the grocery stores to deal with. They
> just pass the cost on to the consumer through higher prices
>
> I can't think of any developed nation that still relies on checks for
> day-to-day consumer transactions.

Better question: Why do people buy one or two items and pay by check or
credit card?

Kswck wrote:

>> I can't think of any developed nation that still relies on checks for
>> day-to-day consumer transactions.
>
> Better question: Why do people buy one or two items and pay by check or
> credit card?
>
>
Because long ago we had checks printed and want to use them up now?

On Sat, 23 May 2009 09:36:19 -0400, Kswck wrote:

> > wrote in message
> ...
>> Debit and credit cards have been around for ages now. So why do people
>> still pay by check which is:
>>
>> Time-consuming
>> Error-prone
>> Expensive (checks aren't cheap)
>>
>> Plus checks are a hassle for the grocery stores to deal with. They
>> just pass the cost on to the consumer through higher prices
>>
>> I can't think of any developed nation that still relies on checks for
>> day-to-day consumer transactions.
>
> Better question: Why do people buy one or two items and pay by check or
> credit card?

hear, hear!

your pal,
'blake

blake murphy > wrote in
:

> On Sat, 23 May 2009 09:36:19 -0400, Kswck wrote:
>
>> Better question: Why do people buy one or two items and pay by check
>> or credit card?
>
> hear, hear!

I'm assuming you mean small transactions. I went to the game store today
and bought a game publication for me and a game for my granddaughter's
birthday. I had 20$ on me but the transaction, tax included, was 77$.
Should I always carry enough to cover all single or double purchases? What
about the time I bought the car? I used my debit card because the full
amount was in my account. Should I have had 10 000$ in my back pocket just
in case?

Just wondering :-)

--

Capitalism is the astounding belief that the most wickedest
of men will do the most wickedest of things for the greatest
good of everyone. - John Maynard Keynes

blake wrote on Sat, 23 May 2009 18:07:44 GMT:

>> > wrote in message
>> ...
>>> Debit and credit cards have been around for ages now. So why
>>> do people still pay by check which is:
>>>
>>> Time-consuming
>>> Error-prone
>>> Expensive (checks aren't cheap)
>>>
>>> Plus checks are a hassle for the grocery stores to deal
>>> with. They just pass the cost on to the consumer through
>>> higher prices
>>>
>>> I can't think of any developed nation that still relies on
>>> checks for day-to-day consumer transactions.
>>
>> Better question: Why do people buy one or two items and pay by check
>> or credit card?

> hear, hear!

I wonder if people who use credit cards for small bills ever bother to
check their statements. I do check and have found and successfully
contested errors. Even checking can be difficult because sometimes the
name on the line bears no resemblance to whom you thought you were
dealing with.
--

James Silverton
Potomac, Maryland

Email, with obvious alterations: not.jim.silverton.at.verizon.not

On Sat, 23 May 2009 13:13:48 -0500, Michel Boucher wrote:

> blake murphy > wrote in
> :
>
>> On Sat, 23 May 2009 09:36:19 -0400, Kswck wrote:
>>
>>> Better question: Why do people buy one or two items and pay by check
>>> or credit card?
>>
>> hear, hear!
>
> I'm assuming you mean small transactions. I went to the game store today
> and bought a game publication for me and a game for my granddaughter's
> birthday. I had 20$ on me but the transaction, tax included, was 77$.
> Should I always carry enough to cover all single or double purchases? What
> about the time I bought the car? I used my debit card because the full
> amount was in my account. Should I have had 10 000$ in my back pocket just
> in case?
>
> Just wondering :-)

yeah, that's what i mean. i guess i'm remembering the seventies, when i
used to see people (almost always young women) writing out checks at the
drug store for one or two items, amount under four or five bucks.

your pal,
blake

"Goomba" > wrote in message
...
> Kswck wrote:
>
>>> I can't think of any developed nation that still relies on checks for
>>> day-to-day consumer transactions.
>>
>> Better question: Why do people buy one or two items and pay by check or
>> credit card?
>>
>>
> Because long ago we had checks printed and want to use them up now?

Why? You'll just get more.

In article >,
"Kswck" > wrote:
>
> Better question: Why do people buy one or two items and pay by check or
> credit card?

Because I rarely carry much cash. And in a lot of places I don't have
to sign anything for a purchase under $25, including my supermarket of
choice, Cub.
--
-Barb, Mother Superior, HOSSSPoJ
http://web.me.com/barbschaller - good news 4-6-2009
"Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a great battle."
-Philo of Alexandria

"Melba's Jammin'"
> "Kswck" > wrote:
>>
>> Better question: Why do people buy one or two items and pay by check or
>> credit card?
>
> Because I rarely carry much cash. And in a lot of places I don't have >
> to sign anything for a purchase under $25, including my supermarket of
> choice, Cub.
> --
> -Barb

Better question: why do people get so perturbed by anyone using legal tender
of any kind to pay for whatever they are buying? It takes a whole 5
minutes? Well, folks, I think you'd better do something about your life if
5 minutes is usually a real burden to you.

Or is it just that people have to rush home to be sure they are ready when
American Idol comes on?

In article >,
"Giusi" > wrote:

> Better question: why do people get so perturbed by anyone using legal tender
> of any kind to pay for whatever they are buying? It takes a whole 5
> minutes? Well, folks, I think you'd better do something about your life if
> 5 minutes is usually a real burden to you.
>
> Or is it just that people have to rush home to be sure they are ready when
> American Idol comes on?

Thank you!

You'd think they could entertain themselves well enough in line by
shouting into their cell phone.

marcella

Giusi wrote:

> Better question: why do people get so perturbed by anyone using legal
> tender of any kind to pay for whatever they are buying? It takes a
> whole 5 minutes? Well, folks, I think you'd better do something
> about your life if 5 minutes is usually a real burden to you.
>
> Or is it just that people have to rush home to be sure they are ready
> when American Idol comes on?

Hackneyed insult du jour.

Actually, I think it's normal for people to be occasionally irritated by
the actions of people ahead of them in line, much moreso than all
the people here who claim to have never been annoyed by one.

nancy

On Mon, 25 May 2009 12:14:02 -0700, Marcella Peek
> wrote:

>In article >,
> "Giusi" > wrote:
>
>>
>> Or is it just that people have to rush home to be sure they are ready when
>> American Idol comes on?
>
>Thank you!
>
>You'd think they could entertain themselves well enough in line by
>shouting into their cell phone.
>
Whatever happened to reading magazines in line?


--
I love cooking with wine.
Sometimes I even put it in the food.

On Mon, 25 May 2009 15:30:51 -0400, "Nancy Young"
> wrote:

>Giusi wrote:
>
>> Better question: why do people get so perturbed by anyone using legal
>> tender of any kind to pay for whatever they are buying? It takes a
>> whole 5 minutes? Well, folks, I think you'd better do something
>> about your life if 5 minutes is usually a real burden to you.
>>
>> Or is it just that people have to rush home to be sure they are ready
>> when American Idol comes on?
>
>Hackneyed insult du jour.
>
>Actually, I think it's normal for people to be occasionally irritated by
>the actions of people ahead of them in line, much moreso than all
>the people here who claim to have never been annoyed by one.
>
MEEEEOW! Your nail get longer with every post on this topic.

--
I love cooking with wine.
Sometimes I even put it in the food.

sf wrote:
> On Mon, 25 May 2009 15:30:51 -0400, "Nancy Young"
> > wrote:
>
>> Actually, I think it's normal for people to be occasionally
>> irritated by the actions of people ahead of them in line, much
>> moreso than all
>> the people here who claim to have never been annoyed by one.
>>
> MEEEEOW! Your nail get longer with every post on this topic.

(laugh!) Why, because I find it amazing that there are people
who never get annoyed in line? I hardly ever do, but now and
then, surely one is bound to run into an inconsiderate person.
It's just weird to me that they have no opinion about those times.

nancy

Nancy Young wrote:
> sf wrote:
>> On Mon, 25 May 2009 15:30:51 -0400, "Nancy Young"
>> > wrote:
>>
>>> Actually, I think it's normal for people to be occasionally
>>> irritated by the actions of people ahead of them in line, much
>>> moreso than all the people here who claim to have never been annoyed
>>> by one.
>>>
>> MEEEEOW! Your nail get longer with every post on this topic.
>
> (laugh!) Why, because I find it amazing that there are people who never
> get annoyed in line? I hardly ever do, but now and
> then, surely one is bound to run into an inconsiderate person.
> It's just weird to me that they have no opinion about those times.
>
> nancy

Normally I don't get annoyed at folks in the shopping line. Today was
the exception, young man left his cart right in the way and I had to
push it up to him before I could unload my cart. He acted as though he
was startled and that I was trying to hit him with an empty cart. I just
smiled and told him that I thought he might need it before he left the
store so was returning it to him.

I honestly believe he thought he was going to PO a senior citizen but I
popped it back into his court. Cashier thought it was funny and so did
the sacker. Told me after he was gone in a huff that he usually was
trying to pull something on someone to make them angry.

React with courtesy and politeness and hold the anger within your heart
until such time as you can really, really get even with aholes. <G>

George Shirley wrote:
> Nancy Young wrote:

>> (laugh!) Why, because I find it amazing that there are people who
>> never get annoyed in line? I hardly ever do, but now and
>> then, surely one is bound to run into an inconsiderate person.
>> It's just weird to me that they have no opinion about those times.

> Normally I don't get annoyed at folks in the shopping line. Today was
> the exception, young man left his cart right in the way and I had to
> push it up to him before I could unload my cart. He acted as though he
> was startled and that I was trying to hit him with an empty cart. I
> just smiled and told him that I thought he might need it before he
> left the store so was returning it to him.

Oh, man. That happened to me once, and the people actually
left the store with the cart still in the lane. I was cooking. I haven't
seen
that before or since. I bet you were a little annoyed, funny you pushed
his cart to him, cracks me up.

> I honestly believe he thought he was going to PO a senior citizen but
> I popped it back into his court. Cashier thought it was funny and so
> did the sacker. Told me after he was gone in a huff that he usually
> was trying to pull something on someone to make them angry.

Thought he got you. Heh.

> React with courtesy and politeness and hold the anger within your
> heart until such time as you can really, really get even with aholes.
> <G>

I usually find something interesting to (not) look at so whoever it
is doesn't know I'm irritated. Which hardly ever happens, anyway,
despite what people might think. But there are the occasional, you
know, aholes. (laugh)

nancy

On Mon, 25 May 2009 15:41:07 -0500, George Shirley
> wrote:

>Normally I don't get annoyed at folks in the shopping line. Today was
>the exception, young man left his cart right in the way and I had to
>push it up to him before I could unload my cart. He acted as though he
>was startled and that I was trying to hit him with an empty cart. I just
>smiled and told him that I thought he might need it before he left the
>store so was returning it to him.

I've run into that too. People empty their carts and leave them there
sitting there. I figure they feel like the world revolves around
them. All the world is there to serve them.
>
>I honestly believe he thought he was going to PO a senior citizen but I
>popped it back into his court. Cashier thought it was funny and so did
>the sacker. Told me after he was gone in a huff that he usually was
>trying to pull something on someone to make them angry.

At least you got feedback from the cashier about him.

--
I love cooking with wine.
Sometimes I even put it in the food.

Nancy Young wrote:
> George Shirley wrote:
>> Nancy Young wrote:
>
>>> (laugh!) Why, because I find it amazing that there are people who
>>> never get annoyed in line? I hardly ever do, but now and
>>> then, surely one is bound to run into an inconsiderate person.
>>> It's just weird to me that they have no opinion about those times.
>
>> Normally I don't get annoyed at folks in the shopping line. Today was
>> the exception, young man left his cart right in the way and I had to
>> push it up to him before I could unload my cart. He acted as though he
>> was startled and that I was trying to hit him with an empty cart. I
>> just smiled and told him that I thought he might need it before he
>> left the store so was returning it to him.
>
> Oh, man. That happened to me once, and the people actually
> left the store with the cart still in the lane. I was cooking. I
> haven't seen
> that before or since. I bet you were a little annoyed, funny you pushed
> his cart to him, cracks me up.
>
>> I honestly believe he thought he was going to PO a senior citizen but
>> I popped it back into his court. Cashier thought it was funny and so
>> did the sacker. Told me after he was gone in a huff that he usually
>> was trying to pull something on someone to make them angry.
>
> Thought he got you. Heh.
>
>> React with courtesy and politeness and hold the anger within your
>> heart until such time as you can really, really get even with aholes.
>> <G>
>
> I usually find something interesting to (not) look at so whoever it
> is doesn't know I'm irritated. Which hardly ever happens, anyway,
> despite what people might think. But there are the occasional, you
> know, aholes. (laugh)
>
> nancy
>
>
Once you really, really learn to hold your temper you can do it with a
sweet smile, even if smoke is coming out of your ears. It just ticks the
opposition all the more because you're not rising to the bait.

On Mon, 25 May 2009 14:39:14 -0700, sf > wrote:

>On Mon, 25 May 2009 15:41:07 -0500, George Shirley
> wrote:
>
>>Normally I don't get annoyed at folks in the shopping line. Today was
>>the exception, young man left his cart right in the way and I had to
>>push it up to him before I could unload my cart. He acted as though he
>>was startled and that I was trying to hit him with an empty cart. I just
>>smiled and told him that I thought he might need it before he left the
>>store so was returning it to him.
>
>I've run into that too. People empty their carts and leave them there
>sitting there. I figure they feel like the world revolves around
>them. All the world is there to serve them.
>>
>>I honestly believe he thought he was going to PO a senior citizen but I
>>popped it back into his court. Cashier thought it was funny and so did
>>the sacker. Told me after he was gone in a huff that he usually was
>>trying to pull something on someone to make them angry.
>
>At least you got feedback from the cashier about him.


God you must live in the stoneage, we've had carts that cost a $1 to
use for along time. When you're done, just take it back to the cart
rack and get your $1 back.
I'm betting people wouldn't leave them around if it cost them money,
but if they did I could see Nancy and Lynn running around the lot
collecting them

On Mon, 25 May 2009 16:51:57 -0500, wrote:

>God you must live in the stoneage, we've had carts that cost a $1 to
>use for along time. When you're done, just take it back to the cart
>rack and get your $1 back.
>I'm betting people wouldn't leave them around if it cost them money,
>but if they did I could see Nancy and Lynn running around the lot
>collecting them

We went through that era 10 years ago. They tried, it failed. Yeah,
maybe homeless people did gather in the parking lot to collect orphans
and pocket the money.

--
I love cooking with wine.
Sometimes I even put it in the food.

wrote:

> God you must live in the stoneage, we've had carts that cost a $1 to
> use for along time. When you're done, just take it back to the cart
> rack and get your $1 back.

It was a quarter here. People hated them so the few stores that
tried it discontinued it.

nancy

Nancy Young wrote:

>
> (laugh!) Why, because I find it amazing that there are people who never
> get annoyed in line? I hardly ever do, but now and
> then, surely one is bound to run into an inconsiderate person.
> It's just weird to me that they have no opinion about those times.
>


Blame it on short memories.

gloria p

On Mon, 25 May 2009 16:58:47 -0600, Puester >
wrote:

>Nancy Young wrote:
>>
>> (laugh!) Why, because I find it amazing that there are people who never
>> get annoyed in line? I hardly ever do, but now and
>> then, surely one is bound to run into an inconsiderate person.
>> It's just weird to me that they have no opinion about those times.
>>
>
>
>Blame it on short memories.
>
Different things tick off different people. Check writers don't annoy
me. I'm the one who is annoyed by people who stand in front of their
cart to unload and then leave it there for the person behind to deal
with.


--
I love cooking with wine.
Sometimes I even put it in the food.

sf wrote:

> Different things tick off different people. Check writers don't annoy
> me. I'm the one who is annoyed by people who stand in front of their
> cart to unload and then leave it there for the person behind to deal
> with.


One of my major beefs is people behind me who start unloading their
carts on the conveyor belt before I am finished unloading my cart. I
usually stand in front of of beside my cart and unload the stuff in the
front of the cart, then push it ahead unload the stuff on the top rack.
When I am finished I reach over for one of those little bars and set it
behind my stuff. Several times I have had people start unloading their
stuff before I am finished, and if the cashier runs the belt forward,
their stuff ends up in front of mine.

Dave Smith wrote:
> sf wrote:
>
>> Different things tick off different people. Check writers don't annoy
>> me. I'm the one who is annoyed by people who stand in front of their
>> cart to unload and then leave it there for the person behind to deal
>> with.
>
>
>
> One of my major beefs is people behind me who start unloading their
> carts on the conveyor belt before I am finished unloading my cart. I
> usually stand in front of of beside my cart and unload the stuff in the
> front of the cart, then push it ahead unload the stuff on the top rack.
> When I am finished I reach over for one of those little bars and set it
> behind my stuff. Several times I have had people start unloading their
> stuff before I am finished, and if the cashier runs the belt forward,
> their stuff ends up in front of mine.

Im pretty tolerant of most things but i have noticed a new phenomena
that really irritates me.

I will choose a short line, be standing behind, usually a kid or young
person who seems to have nothing to purchase and when they get to be
next in line they motion over a cart full of stuff from another longer line.

I was in a warehouse store the other day and it happened AGAIN!!! i made
such an issue of it they opened up a new register for me.

It almost seems like the employees don't know how to handle the
situation of a parent stationing their kids in several lines and then
rushing over to which ever gets to the checker first.

A couple of times i have been called a 'racist' for even making an issue
of it.

Like the African americans who seem to be the ones that do it don't
think i would make just as big a fuss if an Native american or Asian or
just plain whitey did the same thing.

Grrrrr....
--
JL

Joseph Littleshoes wrote:
>
> Im pretty tolerant of most things but i have noticed a new phenomena
> that really irritates me.
>
> I will choose a short line, be standing behind, usually a kid or young
> person who seems to have nothing to purchase and when they get to be
> next in line they motion over a cart full of stuff from another longer
> line.
>
> I was in a warehouse store the other day and it happened AGAIN!!! i made
> such an issue of it they opened up a new register for me.
>
> It almost seems like the employees don't know how to handle the
> situation of a parent stationing their kids in several lines and then
> rushing over to which ever gets to the checker first.
>
> A couple of times i have been called a 'racist' for even making an issue
> of it.
>
> Like the African americans who seem to be the ones that do it don't
> think i would make just as big a fuss if an Native american or Asian or
> just plain whitey did the same thing.
>
> Grrrrr....

That's just plain wrong. You have every reason to chose a line with the
least traffic. If people of a particular race are the only culprits they
have no business pulling out the race card. As if they don't have
enough stereotypes to deal with there is not much sense in setting
themselves up for a new one. Personally, I would not tolerate it, and I
would make a fuss over it too.

On Mon, 25 May 2009 17:10:43 -0700, Joseph Littleshoes
> wrote:


>Like the African americans who seem to be the ones that do it don't
>think i would make just as big a fuss if an Native american or Asian or
>just plain whitey did the same thing.
>
>Grrrrr....

Did you ever live in inner-city?

That kind of behavior was always fairly common. I generally inserted
myself in front of the child if it happened. I never had trouble.

They know better, so they seldom challenge you.

They realize nobody wants to make a fuss, but good for you that you
did!

It's a matter of becoming "civilized" with the emphasis on "civility"
--
mad

wrote:
> On Mon, 25 May 2009 14:39:14 -0700, sf > wrote:
>
>> On Mon, 25 May 2009 15:41:07 -0500, George Shirley
>> > wrote:
>>
>>> Normally I don't get annoyed at folks in the shopping line. Today was
>>> the exception, young man left his cart right in the way and I had to
>>> push it up to him before I could unload my cart. He acted as though he
>>> was startled and that I was trying to hit him with an empty cart. I just
>>> smiled and told him that I thought he might need it before he left the
>>> store so was returning it to him.
>> I've run into that too. People empty their carts and leave them there
>> sitting there. I figure they feel like the world revolves around
>> them. All the world is there to serve them.
>>> I honestly believe he thought he was going to PO a senior citizen but I
>>> popped it back into his court. Cashier thought it was funny and so did
>>> the sacker. Told me after he was gone in a huff that he usually was
>>> trying to pull something on someone to make them angry.
>> At least you got feedback from the cashier about him.
>
>
> God you must live in the stoneage, we've had carts that cost a $1 to
> use for along time. When you're done, just take it back to the cart
> rack and get your $1 back.
> I'm betting people wouldn't leave them around if it cost them money,
> but if they did I could see Nancy and Lynn running around the lot
> collecting them
I've never encountered a rental cart of any kind in the US except at
airports. And you say we're backward?

On Mon, 25 May 2009 18:03:30 -0400, "Nancy Young"
> wrote:

wrote:
>
>> God you must live in the stoneage, we've had carts that cost a $1 to
>> use for along time. When you're done, just take it back to the cart
>> rack and get your $1 back.
>
>It was a quarter here. People hated them so the few stores that
>tried it discontinued it.
>
>nancy

They should of made it a dollar, but then you'al don't have dollar
coins do you.

> On Mon, 25 May 2009 18:03:30 -0400, "Nancy Young"
> > wrote:
>
wrote:
>>
>>> God you must live in the stoneage, we've had carts that cost a $1 to
>>> use for along time. When you're done, just take it back to the cart
>>> rack and get your $1 back.
>>
>>It was a quarter here. People hated them so the few stores that
>>tried it discontinued it.
>>
>>nancy
>
> They should of made it a dollar, but then you'al don't have dollar
> coins do you.


A dollar coin is an ultra-stupid idea!!!

Andy

> wrote:

>They should of made it a dollar, but then you'al don't have dollar
>coins do you.

They exist, but the average person never uses one, unless
it is foisted upon them by a postal-service stamp-vending machine.

Steve

> wrote in message

> They should of made it a dollar, but then you'al don't have dollar
> coins do you.

Yes, we do, but we keep them in banks and continue to use the paper. I have
a couple in a drawer someplace, but I've not seen one in circulation for
many years.

wrote:
> On Mon, 25 May 2009 18:03:30 -0400, "Nancy Young"
> > wrote:
>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> God you must live in the stoneage, we've had carts that cost a $1 to
>>> use for along time. When you're done, just take it back to the cart
>>> rack and get your $1 back.
>>
>> It was a quarter here. People hated them so the few stores that
>> tried it discontinued it.

> They should of

have

> made it a dollar, but then you'al don't have dollar coins do you.

Several kinds.

nancy

On Mon, 25 May 2009 22:10:00 -0400, "Nancy Young"
> wrote:

wrote:
>> On Mon, 25 May 2009 18:03:30 -0400, "Nancy Young"
>> > wrote:
>>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> God you must live in the stoneage, we've had carts that cost a $1 to
>>>> use for along time. When you're done, just take it back to the cart
>>>> rack and get your $1 back.
>>>
>>> It was a quarter here. People hated them so the few stores that
>>> tried it discontinued it.
>
>> They should of
>
>have
>
>> made it a dollar, but then you'al don't have dollar coins do you.
>
>Several kinds.

I went to my desk drawer just now, and pulled out a film container
holding twenty dollar coins - different ones, too. I counted them.

Then I came to the group and clicked on your message out of the blue.
--
mad

Mack A. Damia wrote:
> On Mon, 25 May 2009 17:10:43 -0700, Joseph Littleshoes wrote:
>
>
>
>>Like the African americans who seem to be the ones that do it don't
>>think i would make just as big a fuss if an Native american or Asian or
>>just plain whitey did the same thing.
>>
>>Grrrrr....

>
>
> Did you ever live in inner-city?
>

I live in Oakland Ca. at this time.



> That kind of behavior was always fairly common.

I have only experienced that specific rudeness in the last year or 2.
And i have lived in the bay area for 30+ years.

I have had little old Asian women in "Chinatown" routinely just ignore
my presence and step in front of me in a line in a store in Chinatown.
Usually this can be circumvented by just a quicker step than they can take

However if a couple of little old ladies of any race were to do the
check out hustle with me chances are i wouldn't object and even offer to
carry their groceries for them.

But when perfectly healthy people younger than i .......

> I generally inserted
> myself in front of the child if it happened. I never had trouble.

People have been shot for less around here.....

>
> They know better, so they seldom challenge you.

That's not my experiance...the 3 times it has happened to me were
escalating scenes of increasing hostility, in the next to last case i
put down my quart of milk and left the store rather than suffer the
abuse being heaped on me as the parent and children 'cut' in line ahead
of me with a full cart.

>
> They realize nobody wants to make a fuss, but good for you that you
> did!
>

This last time it happened was at a big crowded 'Safeway' and i was able
to attract a 'Manager' quickly enough to defuse the situation by opening
a line just for me.

> It's a matter of becoming "civilized" with the emphasis on "civility"

I intend to move to a more rural area, where i know there will still be
rude people just fewer of them i hope

And if it were only the grocery store lines where such irrational
aggressive posturing and animalistic territoriality were perpetuated i
would consider my self lucky that its only been an issue 3 times in over
30 years.

Unfortunately, big city living is full of gratuitous rudeness. I once
had an Iranian gas station attendant get up set with me for not speaking
Iranian.

Another Arab type went ballistic on me when i crossed my legs and
pointed the sole of one of my feet at him.

I suppose some of the people whom i have objected to their rudeness to
me are setting around news groups talking about that insensitive dolt
who dared to criticize their behavior.

One time i was all dressed up in a brand new Nino Cerutti 3 piece double
breasted suit with one of my own brightly colored silk ties on and my
good hounds tooth over my shoulders going to a business meeting.

I found myself at the top of a very steep stair way in a
local subway station and i saw an old chinese woman struggling with a
precariously balanced and heavily laden "old lady" cart, it was just a
few block from china town, she probly had a months worth of food in that
cart.

I asked her if i could help but she spoke to me in chinese, probly
saying, im assuming, "i don't speak english". Or just "no thank you" i
couldn't tell.

So i picked her 50 - 75 lb. cart up and quickly and easily carried it to
the bottom of the long, steep stair way.

Setting it down on the subway platform i turned to look up at her only
to see her literally gasping in horror, clutching her chest with one
hand and clinging desperately to the stair rail with the other and
obviously convinced that some crazy man had just stolen all her food.

I instinctually assessed the situation and bowed formally to her from
the waist, as i stepped away from and gestured to her cart.

She hurried down the stairs as quickly as she could, grabbed her cart
and started to dash away as quickly as her old legs could carry her away
from the mad man i so obviously was, she took about 3 steps, came to a
halt, stopped, paused for a moment, turned, looked me in the eye, smiled
and bowed to me and then continued, calmly, on her way.

As pleased as i was with the final out come of my shocking rudeness, it
forced me to reassess my random acts of kindness, i should have just
very slowly walked down the stair way in front of her waiting for her to
need assistance, rather than rudely inserting myself before there was
any real need.

Had she spoke english i would have pointed out the elevators to her.
--
JL

Mack A. Damia wrote:
> On Mon, 25 May 2009 22:10:00 -0400, "Nancy Young"
> > wrote:
>
>> wrote:

>>> made it a dollar, but then you'al don't have dollar coins do you.
>>
>> Several kinds.
>
> I went to my desk drawer just now, and pulled out a film container
> holding twenty dollar coins - different ones, too. I counted them.
>
> Then I came to the group and clicked on your message out of the blue.

Cue Twilight Zone! Heh. My favorite is the one that looks just like
a quarter. Grrr. Actually, my favorite are the beautiful gold colored
ones with the stars on the edges.

nancy

On Mon, 25 May 2009 20:07:36 -0700, Joseph Littleshoes
> wrote:

>Mack A. Damia wrote:
>> On Mon, 25 May 2009 17:10:43 -0700, Joseph Littleshoes wrote:
>>
>>>Like the African americans who seem to be the ones that do it don't
>>>think i would make just as big a fuss if an Native american or Asian or
>>>just plain whitey did the same thing.
>>>
>>>Grrrrr....
>
>> Did you ever live in inner-city?
>
>I live in Oakland Ca. at this time.
>
>> That kind of behavior was always fairly common.
>
>I have only experienced that specific rudeness in the last year or 2.
>And i have lived in the bay area for 30+ years.
>
>I have had little old Asian women in "Chinatown" routinely just ignore
>my presence and step in front of me in a line in a store in Chinatown.
>Usually this can be circumvented by just a quicker step than they can take
>
>However if a couple of little old ladies of any race were to do the
>check out hustle with me chances are i wouldn't object and even offer to
>carry their groceries for them.
>
>But when perfectly healthy people younger than i .......
>
>> I generally inserted
>> myself in front of the child if it happened. I never had trouble.
>
>People have been shot for less around here.....
>
>> They know better, so they seldom challenge you.
>
>That's not my experiance...the 3 times it has happened to me were
>escalating scenes of increasing hostility, in the next to last case i
>put down my quart of milk and left the store rather than suffer the
>abuse being heaped on me as the parent and children 'cut' in line ahead
>of me with a full cart.
>
>> They realize nobody wants to make a fuss, but good for you that you
>> did!
>
>This last time it happened was at a big crowded 'Safeway' and i was able
>to attract a 'Manager' quickly enough to defuse the situation by opening
>a line just for me.
>
>> It's a matter of becoming "civilized" with the emphasis on "civility"
>
>I intend to move to a more rural area, where i know there will still be
>rude people just fewer of them i hope
>
>And if it were only the grocery store lines where such irrational
>aggressive posturing and animalistic territoriality were perpetuated i
>would consider my self lucky that its only been an issue 3 times in over
>30 years.
>
>Unfortunately, big city living is full of gratuitous rudeness. I once
>had an Iranian gas station attendant get up set with me for not speaking
>Iranian.
>
>Another Arab type went ballistic on me when i crossed my legs and
>pointed the sole of one of my feet at him.
>
>I suppose some of the people whom i have objected to their rudeness to
>me are setting around news groups talking about that insensitive dolt
>who dared to criticize their behavior.
>
>One time i was all dressed up in a brand new Nino Cerutti 3 piece double
>breasted suit with one of my own brightly colored silk ties on and my
>good hounds tooth over my shoulders going to a business meeting.
>
>I found myself at the top of a very steep stair way in a
>local subway station and i saw an old chinese woman struggling with a
>precariously balanced and heavily laden "old lady" cart, it was just a
>few block from china town, she probly had a months worth of food in that
>cart.
>
>I asked her if i could help but she spoke to me in chinese, probly
>saying, im assuming, "i don't speak english". Or just "no thank you" i
>couldn't tell.
>
>So i picked her 50 - 75 lb. cart up and quickly and easily carried it to
>the bottom of the long, steep stair way.
>
>Setting it down on the subway platform i turned to look up at her only
>to see her literally gasping in horror, clutching her chest with one
>hand and clinging desperately to the stair rail with the other and
>obviously convinced that some crazy man had just stolen all her food.
>
>I instinctually assessed the situation and bowed formally to her from
>the waist, as i stepped away from and gestured to her cart.
>
>She hurried down the stairs as quickly as she could, grabbed her cart
>and started to dash away as quickly as her old legs could carry her away
>from the mad man i so obviously was, she took about 3 steps, came to a
>halt, stopped, paused for a moment, turned, looked me in the eye, smiled
>and bowed to me and then continued, calmly, on her way.
>
>As pleased as i was with the final out come of my shocking rudeness, it
>forced me to reassess my random acts of kindness, i should have just
>very slowly walked down the stair way in front of her waiting for her to
>need assistance, rather than rudely inserting myself before there was
>any real need.
>
>Had she spoke english i would have pointed out the elevators to her.

I help folks who are struggling. I've never thought about my
intentions being misunderstood.

I lived in NYC in the '80s - inner city Brooklyn - and I moved there
from suburban/rural Pennsylvania. Lots of drug violence in NYC at
that time. Shootings around Times Square.

I decided that I had to create and assume a posture that wouldn't
attract predators. I'd walk very quickly wherever I went, and I was
ready to cross the road at a moment's notice.

I was asked on several occasions while on the subway late at night to
show my weapon; I was mistaken for an undercover cop. Just shook my
head very slowly while looking them in the eye.

Interesting times - Times Square at 3 am before it was gentrified.

People seem to behave themselves here in Mexico pretty well, although
I've seen the behavior you describe in supermarkets.
--
mad

On Mon, 25 May 2009 23:09:39 -0400, "Nancy Young"
> wrote:

>Mack A. Damia wrote:
>> On Mon, 25 May 2009 22:10:00 -0400, "Nancy Young"
>> > wrote:
>>
>>> wrote:
>
>>>> made it a dollar, but then you'al don't have dollar coins do you.
>>>
>>> Several kinds.
>>
>> I went to my desk drawer just now, and pulled out a film container
>> holding twenty dollar coins - different ones, too. I counted them.
>>
>> Then I came to the group and clicked on your message out of the blue.
>
>Cue Twilight Zone! Heh. My favorite is the one that looks just like
>a quarter. Grrr. Actually, my favorite are the beautiful gold colored
>ones with the stars on the edges.
>
>nancy

I also originally put <*cue .......*>. I was going to put
"Twightlight Zone music", but changed my mind.

Are we related?

Machines giving postal stamps will give the coins as change.

I got four of the gold ones just a couple of weeks ago.
--
mad

Ed Pawlowski wrote:
> > wrote in message
>
>> They should of made it a dollar, but then you'al don't have dollar
>> coins do you.
>
> Yes, we do, but we keep them in banks and continue to use the paper. I have
> a couple in a drawer someplace, but I've not seen one in circulation for
> many years.
>
>
I actually got an Eisenhower dollar in change a year or so ago. I keep
it safe to show my greatgrandkids.

On Mon, 25 May 2009 12:14:02 -0700, Marcella Peek wrote:

> In article >,
> "Giusi" > wrote:
>
>> Better question: why do people get so perturbed by anyone using legal tender
>> of any kind to pay for whatever they are buying? It takes a whole 5
>> minutes? Well, folks, I think you'd better do something about your life if
>> 5 minutes is usually a real burden to you.
>>
>> Or is it just that people have to rush home to be sure they are ready when
>> American Idol comes on?
>
> Thank you!
>
> You'd think they could entertain themselves well enough in line by
> shouting into their cell phone.
>
> marcella

the way some of them shout, you wonder why they need a phone.

your pal,
blake