Could it be that Texans are from a part of the culture that generally still have manners? They obviously expect a highr level of service from their waitress than most restaurant patrons. I’d suggest that the whole idea for the segment was born out of bias and predjudice.
ClaireJuly 31, 2012 2:18 pm
Matt, another — I also thought the setup was tacky. I’m not familiar with that show, but apparently they do things like this a lot. As you see by the video itself, they did a similar setup in New York City. And another time they put a lesbian (or actress pretending to be one) into a wedding shop and had her treated rudely for wanting a wedding dress.
Still, even with the tacky setup, I thought the responses were great (and some quite courageous). And if the producers expected to end up sneering at Texas rednecks, they sure got a good reality check.
Kent McManigalJuly 31, 2012 4:53 pm
Homosexuality (OK, let me be honest, male homosexuality) kind of disgusts me. Which may explain why I’m not gay.
But, I understand it is none of my business what other people do as long as they aren’t hurting anyone else. I don’t know for sure if I’ve ever had any gay male friends because it isn’t an issue. I don’t screen my friends to see if they are “worthy” of me, and I hope they don’t screen me first either; I might not pass. I have had many lesbian and bi female friends, and the only reason it ever came up was that we sometimes lusted after the same girls. Or compared our opinions on the “do-ability” of the girls we knew. Yeah, I can be crass.
I suppose when people see me they expect that I will have particular attitudes and opinions. I think some expect me to be a hard-core conservative “hang ’em high” kind of throwback to the Old West, while others see my long hair and assume I am a meth-cooking redneck. Both sides assume I am ignorant and backwards. So, often my opinions shock those who say something, expecting me to agree with them.
I say this to explain that I have been in a similar position to those diners watching the waitress abusing the customers (not quite as blatantly and loudly, though). When I did say something to defend those being put down, I think it was doubly shocking because my appearance caused the bully to expect me to take their side.
***May I never be so scared of a reaction that I keep my mouth shut when someone needs me to speak up for them.***
I had tears in my eyes for at least five minutes after watching that video. Those who spoke up are heroes.
Matt, anotherJuly 31, 2012 7:35 pm
I thought it was a good video over all. I did like the fact that they did show NY city as well, they get credit for that. Wedding dresses are generally expensive, big ticket items. Can’t fathom why they wouldn’t want to sell them to anybody that walks in.
EllendraAugust 1, 2012 10:42 am
I also can’t see why someone would apply that particular screen to their customers for a wedding dress, but I can understand if the customer had a personality that looked like they’d be difficult to work with. Wedding dresses aren’t just a big-ticket item, they’re also a high stress one. The alterations usually required can mean hundreds, sometimes thousands of hours of sewing, only to be wasted when the customer changes their mind, or isn’t clear on what they wanted, or does a crash diet and suddenly it doesn’t fit anymore, or worse, binges during the 2 weeks before the wedding and blimps up (it’s harder to make a dress bigger than it is to make one smaller).
None of those have to do with sexuality, but they are reasons I don’t do wedding apparal in my sewing shop. I haven’t seen the video of the wedding shop, so I can’t say if the customer was displaying any warning signs or not. It doesn’t exuse rudeness on the part of the retailer, though.
ClaireAugust 1, 2012 11:33 am
Interesting info Ellendra. Hearing that, it’s a wonder more wedding shop employees don’t go after their customers with hatchets; never mind merely being rude to them. Yegads.
Just to clarify, the episode with the lesbian and the wedding dress didn’t involve an actual clerk or the policy of any store. I agree, I doubt many stores would refuse to sell a high-ticket item, no matter who the customer. It was just a setup. Both the clerk and the customer were actors creating a scene to see how the real customers would respond to a lesbian being treated rudely. Pretty much the same thing they did in that restaurant video.
The reactions of the customers are real, the rude encounter, not.
MamaLibertyAugust 1, 2012 11:43 am
But, in the end, I live and therefore I am. I don’t need any other person’s permission to live… I don’t need anyone’s vetting of my intentions or sanity, nor approval for who I associate with or how I raise my children…
I don’t NEED to explain myself. I don’t NEED any reasons at all.
And, from now on, that’s exactly what I intend to tell people who don’t mind their own business. Glad the other folks stood up for those under attack, but it’s too bad the ladies spent so much time and emotional energy trying to justify themselves to the twit waitress.
MaryAugust 4, 2012 3:14 pm
My husband and I spent an entertaining 5 minutes once listening (evasdropping) while a very polite waiter listened to a customer question if a la carte items put together would be cheaper than a “breakfast” on the menu. She kept putting different items together and always finding that they individually added up to more. The waiter continued being polite and answering all her questions. Apparently it wasn’t a real matter of cost as she finally ordered a very expensive meal. This was also in Texas where wait staff must be trained in manners as well as patience.
MaryAugust 4, 2012 3:15 pm
My husband and I spent an entertaining 5 minutes once listening (evasdropping) while a very polite waiter listened to a customer question if a la carte items put together would be cheaper than a “breakfast” on the menu. She kept putting different items together and always finding that they individually added up to more. The waiter continued being polite and answering all her questions. Apparently it wasn’t a real matter of cost as she finally ordered a very expensive meal. This was also in Texas where wait staff must be trained in manners as well as patience. Not all of them may be geniuses, but they sure try to be nice even to the most difficult of customers
Could it be that Texans are from a part of the culture that generally still have manners? They obviously expect a highr level of service from their waitress than most restaurant patrons. I’d suggest that the whole idea for the segment was born out of bias and predjudice.
Matt, another — I also thought the setup was tacky. I’m not familiar with that show, but apparently they do things like this a lot. As you see by the video itself, they did a similar setup in New York City. And another time they put a lesbian (or actress pretending to be one) into a wedding shop and had her treated rudely for wanting a wedding dress.
Still, even with the tacky setup, I thought the responses were great (and some quite courageous). And if the producers expected to end up sneering at Texas rednecks, they sure got a good reality check.
Homosexuality (OK, let me be honest, male homosexuality) kind of disgusts me. Which may explain why I’m not gay.
But, I understand it is none of my business what other people do as long as they aren’t hurting anyone else. I don’t know for sure if I’ve ever had any gay male friends because it isn’t an issue. I don’t screen my friends to see if they are “worthy” of me, and I hope they don’t screen me first either; I might not pass. I have had many lesbian and bi female friends, and the only reason it ever came up was that we sometimes lusted after the same girls. Or compared our opinions on the “do-ability” of the girls we knew. Yeah, I can be crass.
I suppose when people see me they expect that I will have particular attitudes and opinions. I think some expect me to be a hard-core conservative “hang ’em high” kind of throwback to the Old West, while others see my long hair and assume I am a meth-cooking redneck. Both sides assume I am ignorant and backwards. So, often my opinions shock those who say something, expecting me to agree with them.
I say this to explain that I have been in a similar position to those diners watching the waitress abusing the customers (not quite as blatantly and loudly, though). When I did say something to defend those being put down, I think it was doubly shocking because my appearance caused the bully to expect me to take their side.
***May I never be so scared of a reaction that I keep my mouth shut when someone needs me to speak up for them.***
I had tears in my eyes for at least five minutes after watching that video. Those who spoke up are heroes.
I thought it was a good video over all. I did like the fact that they did show NY city as well, they get credit for that. Wedding dresses are generally expensive, big ticket items. Can’t fathom why they wouldn’t want to sell them to anybody that walks in.
I also can’t see why someone would apply that particular screen to their customers for a wedding dress, but I can understand if the customer had a personality that looked like they’d be difficult to work with. Wedding dresses aren’t just a big-ticket item, they’re also a high stress one. The alterations usually required can mean hundreds, sometimes thousands of hours of sewing, only to be wasted when the customer changes their mind, or isn’t clear on what they wanted, or does a crash diet and suddenly it doesn’t fit anymore, or worse, binges during the 2 weeks before the wedding and blimps up (it’s harder to make a dress bigger than it is to make one smaller).
None of those have to do with sexuality, but they are reasons I don’t do wedding apparal in my sewing shop. I haven’t seen the video of the wedding shop, so I can’t say if the customer was displaying any warning signs or not. It doesn’t exuse rudeness on the part of the retailer, though.
Interesting info Ellendra. Hearing that, it’s a wonder more wedding shop employees don’t go after their customers with hatchets; never mind merely being rude to them. Yegads.
Just to clarify, the episode with the lesbian and the wedding dress didn’t involve an actual clerk or the policy of any store. I agree, I doubt many stores would refuse to sell a high-ticket item, no matter who the customer. It was just a setup. Both the clerk and the customer were actors creating a scene to see how the real customers would respond to a lesbian being treated rudely. Pretty much the same thing they did in that restaurant video.
The reactions of the customers are real, the rude encounter, not.
But, in the end, I live and therefore I am. I don’t need any other person’s permission to live… I don’t need anyone’s vetting of my intentions or sanity, nor approval for who I associate with or how I raise my children…
I don’t NEED to explain myself. I don’t NEED any reasons at all.
And, from now on, that’s exactly what I intend to tell people who don’t mind their own business. Glad the other folks stood up for those under attack, but it’s too bad the ladies spent so much time and emotional energy trying to justify themselves to the twit waitress.
My husband and I spent an entertaining 5 minutes once listening (evasdropping) while a very polite waiter listened to a customer question if a la carte items put together would be cheaper than a “breakfast” on the menu. She kept putting different items together and always finding that they individually added up to more. The waiter continued being polite and answering all her questions. Apparently it wasn’t a real matter of cost as she finally ordered a very expensive meal. This was also in Texas where wait staff must be trained in manners as well as patience.
My husband and I spent an entertaining 5 minutes once listening (evasdropping) while a very polite waiter listened to a customer question if a la carte items put together would be cheaper than a “breakfast” on the menu. She kept putting different items together and always finding that they individually added up to more. The waiter continued being polite and answering all her questions. Apparently it wasn’t a real matter of cost as she finally ordered a very expensive meal. This was also in Texas where wait staff must be trained in manners as well as patience. Not all of them may be geniuses, but they sure try to be nice even to the most difficult of customers