A! S-S! H-O! L-E! Everybody!
Oct. 25th, 2002 11:44 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
rachg82Today wasn't too bad, and I was in a relatively good mood when I left for work. I got my debate on, and went Poppy on Mickey's ass (Joe's uncle, who is STILL HERE, by the way). Hee.
Poppy was the kind of guy who didn't let you get away with ignorance, in his presence. I mean, at all. The two of us used to sit and debate issues for hours at a time. And though I think I sometimes held my own, to a degree, he kicked my ass many o' times. The thing with him, was that he was an incredibly intelligent and informed individual (he was borderline genius, and knew his shit in general). And he wouldn't allow people around him to state opinions, without being able to supply facts to back up what they were saying. He was merciless, with it. My ego was badly bruised by him, many times, because of this. He had an amazing way of backing you into a corner, in a debate, and revealing your ignorance. This influenced me as a person, quite a bit. It's part of the reason why I hold myself to such high standards, when it comes to making an effort to be informed about things, and trying not to form opinions about issues without them being able to pass the Poppy Test. When I was younger, I'd often make sure to research things, and really read up on issues, just in case the subject came up with him, so I'd know what I was talking about, and not end up looking like a jackass. After a while, this became natural to me. So now, when I'm in a debate with someone, I kind of hold myself, and the person I'm arguing with, to his standards. Even though he's gone now, the mere thought that he could look down from Heaven and catch me saying "I believe such and such" without facts to back up what I'm saying? And acting like that's okay? Oooh. Heh. How about no. That would be like a slap in the face to everything he taught me.
So, anyway, I just felt like talking about him, because I always think of him, when I get into a debate with someone. I've heard Mickey say things about Islam that aren't true before, and he did it again today. Trying to act like Islam teaches people to murder infidels. Which is not correct. Not true Islam, anyway. It's much more complicated than that. I mean, it's one thing to say you believe certain things about a religion, if you actually know what the Hell you're talking about. But I've researched Islam, and read portions of the Koran directly, and I won't say shit about it, without being able to back up what I'm saying. So, when he was all "it teaches it in the Koran", I was just like "No. Sorry. It doesn't. What part of the Koran are you referring to, exactly?"
I tried to explain to him that a lot of the fundamentalist Muslims twist what Islam teaches, for their own benefit. And that the same has happenned with Christianity, via extremists. And he was all "No, Islam teaches it! Christianity doesn't." So, I was like "Sigh. You're missing the point. And how do you know this, anyway?" and he was all "I just do. People say it."
Me: "Who says this?"
Him: "People on the news."
Me: "What people?"
Him: "I don't know, just people. I just listen to what I hear."
Me: "Have you read the Koran?"
Him: "Well, no."
Me: "Have you researched Islam through primary sources? Or do you just believe what random people on TV say?"
Him: "Um, I don't know. I've never read the Bible, either."
Me: "Well, maybe you should get on that. I mean, if you're going to say you know what the religion teaches."
Later, in the car. . .
Him: Jerry Falwell!
Me: What?
Him: He said, on the news, that Islam teaches that stuff, and supports it.
Me: You believe what Jerry Falwell says?
Him: He's an intelligent man. He's read the Koran.
Me: He's also a right wing Christian.
Him: True. But he wouldn't kill people.
Me: Maybe not, but that doesn't mean you should take what he says about this religion as Gospel truth, when you haven't even tried to learn about it on your own. And it's not like extremist Christians haven't murdered in the name of their beliefs, in the past.
Him: No, they haven't.
Me: Pro lifers?
Him: But it's legal now, so you can't say that.
Me: I said pro-lifers. They have bombed clinics, and used their religious beliefs to excuse it.
Him: Oh. Ummm. Okay, you got me there.
Heh. She shoots, she scores! Poppy would be proud.
Work went all right, but Rosa called in sick, and Vaneeta (one of the new people) quit, so we were short again, tonight. Plus, Drama Queen got fired, so she didn't come in, either. Apparently she already had like seven or more write ups under her belt, when a manager overheard her swearing in front of customers, and when they confronted her about it, she was all "Who gives a fuck?" Heh. So, yeah, she got canned. I feel bad for her, though, because Rick said he came across her crying, after it happenned. And, knowing she lives on her own, and is bipolar and all, it's too bad. But, like I said before, this really wasn't the right job for her. Hopefully she'll find something better suited to her disposition. And hopefully we'll find an MCA who's good, to replace her.
I had a short meeting with Peppy, when I first got there, about my attendance and all. I told her I'd try to start catching an earlier bus, even though I get to work on time, when the bus comes on time, just to make sure I'm not late (you know, in case the bus comes late, which it sometimes does). She seemed to empathize with my migraines and all, as well. She told me she knew I cared about the job, and did the best I could. So, that was good.
I had a hard time maintaing my good mood, though, because--as usual--the fitting room business was retarded and frustrating. Like, cashiers not knowing if people are checking them, or who is even supposed to be doing it, and when, and all sorts of bullshit. Meanwhile it's a Friday night, Peppy has just lectured us about going in there ourselves, and shit is piling up, because of it. And I brought this up to Peppy privately, as well as in the meeting that all the MCAs were at. She was all "You guys are NOT supposed to go into the fitting rooms." I wasn't having it, obviously, and told her flat-out that everyone does it, and that we need to, if we want to get our jobs done. And everyone agreed. I was like "Either there aren't enough cashiers to do it, or there are, but there's lines so they can't leave the cashwrap, or it's so disorganized that no one even does it at all, or as often as necessary." She was like "Call the managers then, when that happens." I said "I have. I called the cashwrap lead, as well as Shelley. Nothing was done." Heh, I was all "Stick THAT in your pipe and smoke it." It was great, because everyone else was just nodding and agreeing with everything I said. So she couldn't really brush me off. And I was like "Having to worry about whether there's a person checking the fitting rooms, is a nuisance that takes away from our time and ability to get our jobs done. Because half the time, cashiers don't even know who's supposed to be checking them. We shouldn't have to be even worrying about calling managers. The cashwrap leads should already be aware of who is checking the fitting rooms, and when. And letting us MCAs know, if there isn't anyone to do it. By the time we've looked in the fitting rooms, realized no one has checked them, asked clueless cashiers what's up, called managers, and waited for them to send someone to check them once for the whole night, we could've gotten that stuff out ourselves. It's helpful to have cashiers checking the fitting rooms, but not allowing MCAs to do it, when they know they should, is not efficient, in my opinion." And everyone was all "Yeah!" Heh. But then she was all "But you guys are NOT supposed to go into them. This is a process, we're taking care of it." I've been hearing that since I came back to work, in July. So, yeah. I'm not going to leave this issue alone. If I have to constantly breathe down the managers' necks over it, asking what's being done in this so called "process", I will. Because this is ridiculous.
Other than that, the night wasn't too bad. I dragged ass a lot of the time, though, yo. I was just sort of worn out. I have to be back there at ten tomorrow morning (well, this morning, technically), but only for four hours. So, that's cool. Then, I work a closing shift again on Sunday, but I don't work after that until Thursday. Rock.
Poppy was the kind of guy who didn't let you get away with ignorance, in his presence. I mean, at all. The two of us used to sit and debate issues for hours at a time. And though I think I sometimes held my own, to a degree, he kicked my ass many o' times. The thing with him, was that he was an incredibly intelligent and informed individual (he was borderline genius, and knew his shit in general). And he wouldn't allow people around him to state opinions, without being able to supply facts to back up what they were saying. He was merciless, with it. My ego was badly bruised by him, many times, because of this. He had an amazing way of backing you into a corner, in a debate, and revealing your ignorance. This influenced me as a person, quite a bit. It's part of the reason why I hold myself to such high standards, when it comes to making an effort to be informed about things, and trying not to form opinions about issues without them being able to pass the Poppy Test. When I was younger, I'd often make sure to research things, and really read up on issues, just in case the subject came up with him, so I'd know what I was talking about, and not end up looking like a jackass. After a while, this became natural to me. So now, when I'm in a debate with someone, I kind of hold myself, and the person I'm arguing with, to his standards. Even though he's gone now, the mere thought that he could look down from Heaven and catch me saying "I believe such and such" without facts to back up what I'm saying? And acting like that's okay? Oooh. Heh. How about no. That would be like a slap in the face to everything he taught me.
So, anyway, I just felt like talking about him, because I always think of him, when I get into a debate with someone. I've heard Mickey say things about Islam that aren't true before, and he did it again today. Trying to act like Islam teaches people to murder infidels. Which is not correct. Not true Islam, anyway. It's much more complicated than that. I mean, it's one thing to say you believe certain things about a religion, if you actually know what the Hell you're talking about. But I've researched Islam, and read portions of the Koran directly, and I won't say shit about it, without being able to back up what I'm saying. So, when he was all "it teaches it in the Koran", I was just like "No. Sorry. It doesn't. What part of the Koran are you referring to, exactly?"
I tried to explain to him that a lot of the fundamentalist Muslims twist what Islam teaches, for their own benefit. And that the same has happenned with Christianity, via extremists. And he was all "No, Islam teaches it! Christianity doesn't." So, I was like "Sigh. You're missing the point. And how do you know this, anyway?" and he was all "I just do. People say it."
Me: "Who says this?"
Him: "People on the news."
Me: "What people?"
Him: "I don't know, just people. I just listen to what I hear."
Me: "Have you read the Koran?"
Him: "Well, no."
Me: "Have you researched Islam through primary sources? Or do you just believe what random people on TV say?"
Him: "Um, I don't know. I've never read the Bible, either."
Me: "Well, maybe you should get on that. I mean, if you're going to say you know what the religion teaches."
Later, in the car. . .
Him: Jerry Falwell!
Me: What?
Him: He said, on the news, that Islam teaches that stuff, and supports it.
Me: You believe what Jerry Falwell says?
Him: He's an intelligent man. He's read the Koran.
Me: He's also a right wing Christian.
Him: True. But he wouldn't kill people.
Me: Maybe not, but that doesn't mean you should take what he says about this religion as Gospel truth, when you haven't even tried to learn about it on your own. And it's not like extremist Christians haven't murdered in the name of their beliefs, in the past.
Him: No, they haven't.
Me: Pro lifers?
Him: But it's legal now, so you can't say that.
Me: I said pro-lifers. They have bombed clinics, and used their religious beliefs to excuse it.
Him: Oh. Ummm. Okay, you got me there.
Heh. She shoots, she scores! Poppy would be proud.
Work went all right, but Rosa called in sick, and Vaneeta (one of the new people) quit, so we were short again, tonight. Plus, Drama Queen got fired, so she didn't come in, either. Apparently she already had like seven or more write ups under her belt, when a manager overheard her swearing in front of customers, and when they confronted her about it, she was all "Who gives a fuck?" Heh. So, yeah, she got canned. I feel bad for her, though, because Rick said he came across her crying, after it happenned. And, knowing she lives on her own, and is bipolar and all, it's too bad. But, like I said before, this really wasn't the right job for her. Hopefully she'll find something better suited to her disposition. And hopefully we'll find an MCA who's good, to replace her.
I had a short meeting with Peppy, when I first got there, about my attendance and all. I told her I'd try to start catching an earlier bus, even though I get to work on time, when the bus comes on time, just to make sure I'm not late (you know, in case the bus comes late, which it sometimes does). She seemed to empathize with my migraines and all, as well. She told me she knew I cared about the job, and did the best I could. So, that was good.
I had a hard time maintaing my good mood, though, because--as usual--the fitting room business was retarded and frustrating. Like, cashiers not knowing if people are checking them, or who is even supposed to be doing it, and when, and all sorts of bullshit. Meanwhile it's a Friday night, Peppy has just lectured us about going in there ourselves, and shit is piling up, because of it. And I brought this up to Peppy privately, as well as in the meeting that all the MCAs were at. She was all "You guys are NOT supposed to go into the fitting rooms." I wasn't having it, obviously, and told her flat-out that everyone does it, and that we need to, if we want to get our jobs done. And everyone agreed. I was like "Either there aren't enough cashiers to do it, or there are, but there's lines so they can't leave the cashwrap, or it's so disorganized that no one even does it at all, or as often as necessary." She was like "Call the managers then, when that happens." I said "I have. I called the cashwrap lead, as well as Shelley. Nothing was done." Heh, I was all "Stick THAT in your pipe and smoke it." It was great, because everyone else was just nodding and agreeing with everything I said. So she couldn't really brush me off. And I was like "Having to worry about whether there's a person checking the fitting rooms, is a nuisance that takes away from our time and ability to get our jobs done. Because half the time, cashiers don't even know who's supposed to be checking them. We shouldn't have to be even worrying about calling managers. The cashwrap leads should already be aware of who is checking the fitting rooms, and when. And letting us MCAs know, if there isn't anyone to do it. By the time we've looked in the fitting rooms, realized no one has checked them, asked clueless cashiers what's up, called managers, and waited for them to send someone to check them once for the whole night, we could've gotten that stuff out ourselves. It's helpful to have cashiers checking the fitting rooms, but not allowing MCAs to do it, when they know they should, is not efficient, in my opinion." And everyone was all "Yeah!" Heh. But then she was all "But you guys are NOT supposed to go into them. This is a process, we're taking care of it." I've been hearing that since I came back to work, in July. So, yeah. I'm not going to leave this issue alone. If I have to constantly breathe down the managers' necks over it, asking what's being done in this so called "process", I will. Because this is ridiculous.
Other than that, the night wasn't too bad. I dragged ass a lot of the time, though, yo. I was just sort of worn out. I have to be back there at ten tomorrow morning (well, this morning, technically), but only for four hours. So, that's cool. Then, I work a closing shift again on Sunday, but I don't work after that until Thursday. Rock.
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(no subject)
Date: 2002-10-26 03:18 am (UTC)Go you, kicking his ass like that. Not that he ever stood a chance. Sounds like your Poppy was a really great guy, too. He'd be totally proud.
Also? Definitely keep on the managers about the fitting room thing. 'Cause that truly is ridiculous.