People always gloss over how mentally damaging it can be to work in retail. I fucking hate that whenever I say “I could never work in retail again” someone has to reply “You snowflake millennials can’t take a starter job because you have to INTERACT with other people” No. Fuck you. I’ve worked as a planetarium host. I’ve worked as a public speaker. I’ve worked as a tutor and as a student teacher. I can work with people. I can work with crowds. Retail was fucking different. Retail was being treated as a subhuman. Retail was being treated so poorly that you have anxiety attacks before work. Having to work retail was a factor in my last suicide attempt. If I hear you say one fucking word about retail workers playing the victim I will personally break every bone in your body. Fuck You.
The holidays are coming up. Retail workers are going to be spiraling into a nightmare beyond human comprehension. If you’ve worked retail, you know this. If you haven’t, be aware of it. Please be kind to every retail worker you come across. Please be patient and understanding. It is misery out there.
today at the witchy store:
customer: is this organic?
me:
me: its a crystal
customer: yes, but is it organic?
me: … it’s a stone?
customer: i’m not stupid, I know that. I want to know if this “stone” is organic or not
me:
customer:
me: sure, why not. we didn’t put pesticides on it when we grew it.
customer: I want to talk to your manager
Retail is the same all over.
Headcanon that Tony Stark sometimes supply teaches tech/shop classes at local high schools for free when budget is tight, or to just give the teachers a break. He shows up and the kids lose it for a little bit, but then they settle down and listen. It gives them hope, because everyone always trashes the trades and people who work them, but this genius, billionare, playboy, philanthropist took time to teach them this class. He knows trades, and he thinks they’re worth something. He thinks these kids are worth something.
Me: I don’t have the energy for this
Someone: For what?
Me: *gestures vaguely*