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November 18th, 2008
02:32 pm - buncha savages in this town
Miss C. and I often get our weekday lunch at a Fort Point bakery called Flour, which is one of those slightly-upscale-twee places with cute little slogans like "Life is short - Eat dessert first!" written in happy childlike letters on the chalkboard and stuff. And even if you don't like twee, the bakery's image does not take away from the fact that they have very tasty fresh baked cookies, scones, sticky buns, and a whole buncha lunch and dinner items, including an interesting variety of soups, some of which (like the orange root vegetable/coconut milk/curry) I have enjoyed time and time again. The place is staffed by artsy twenty-somethings with piercings and tats and stylish glasses, and the vibes are generally positive and happy over there.
And then there was this morning. We arrived just in time to watch an older businessman in a Severe Suit and Power Haircut loudly arguing with one of the guys behind the counter. Judging from the conversation, we quickly divined the order of events which had led to the present outburst:- The businessman approached the counter while on his cellphone, even though there are multiple signs around the place that politely request that you not use your cellphone when you're at the counter placing your order.
- The fellow behind the counter informed the businessman that he'd be happy to take the man's order once he was done on his phone.
- The businessman exploded in a fit of extreme self-importance and began to holler.
During this most impressive tantrum, the businessman made the following points:- He wasn't talking on his cellphone, he was merely listening to his voicemail.
- He is a very busy and very important businessman who takes many important phone calls during the course of the day and naturally he needs to be on his phone at all times in case he misses a very important phone call.
- He did not want to finish his call before giving his order because, being a very busy and important businessman, he knew how to multitask (he actually said this) and that if the young man behind the counter couldn't multitask, that wasn't his fault.
- The young man behind the counter was impertinent, rude, and completely out of line for chastising his superior, this paying customer, this man whose purchase of a $3.50 coffee drink would undoubtedly make or break the company.
- (And this is the best one) He saw the signs, he knew the rules, but he wanted to be on his cellphone anyway.
Eventually the businessman made his Summon Manager roll and up came the manager on duty, a fellow who, like the rest of us in line, could not believe that this fine example of humanity was behaving like this. The manager, then, made the following statements while listening to the businessman reiterate his previous points:- Uh huh.
- Yes sir.
- Yes sir.
- Uh huh.
- You know, I don't have time for this.
And off the manager went, leaving the businessman with a cup of coffee drink in one hand and his cellphone in the other. There should have been a round of applause at this point, but I believe we as an audience were too speechless, marvelling as we were at the fact that never before had we seen someone be so completely, utterly, and unequivocably wrong yet still insist he was the aggrieved party.
The guy ended up paying for his drink and stomping out. Everybody looked around, shrugged, and life went on as usual in the bakery. Still, I was trying to find a moral to this tale of people who can't get over themselves, but all I could come up with is "This is what gentrification brings, kiddies! Enjoy!"
Oh, and my lunch was very delicious indeed thank you for asking.
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The manager should have also poured orange juice into the jerk's coffee (and into his cellphone, for that matter) and walked away.
Edited at 2008-11-18 08:00 pm (UTC) If he needed to be on his cellphone at all times in order to make sure that he did not miss any of his Very Important Calls, then why would he ever need to check his voicemail? Obviously, if someone called, he would have answered, because it would clearly be a Very Important Call.
Good for Flour. I've always liked that company. ![[User Picture]](https://l-userpic.livejournal.com/79213823/864661) | | From: |  wring |
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| Date: | November 18th, 2008 08:13 pm (UTC) |
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the time he spent arguing with the cashier and hollering for the manager would've been saved if he put away his cellphone and completed the transaction. douchetruckery. oh well at least he's not wearing a bluetooth. The tragedy of smoking bans is that a humble food-service monkey can no longer 'accidentally' knock an ashtray into the lap of an arrogant douchebag, and then make matters ten times worse by 'cleaning them up' with a nasty slimy old floor-rag. ![[User Picture]](https://l-userpic.livejournal.com/122121710/5174434) | | From: | bex77 |
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| Date: | November 18th, 2008 08:16 pm (UTC) |
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I am so jealous that you get to go there a lot! You are hereby deputized to bring us their baked goods anytime!
One of my best student workers at Harvard also works baking at Flour a couple of days a week. He's brought back samples, which are all drool-worthy. The owner graduated from Harvard, and is the Chang behind Myers&Chang, the twee Asian place nearby! ![[User Picture]](https://l-userpic.livejournal.com/77633291/1000771) | | From: | beth47 |
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| Date: | November 18th, 2008 08:16 pm (UTC) |
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Ah yes. We deal with the Self-Important,Boy-Isn't-Everyone-I-Meet-So-STUPID types around this office fairly often. (Most of the time, those folks? Have computers that are VITAL TO THEIR EXISTENCE and we should bump them to the front of the line! SHEESH!)
(My theory is that life is very unpleasant for folks like him. Because no matter where he goes, there are IMBECILES! Who do not REALIZE! How IMPORTANT HE IS. It must be terribly aggravating ALL THE TIME.)
![[User Picture]](https://l-userpic.livejournal.com/43394483/504102) | | From: | srakkt |
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| Date: | November 18th, 2008 08:17 pm (UTC) |
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Oy.
![[User Picture]](https://l-userpic.livejournal.com/101137718/1485934) | | From: | dpolicar |
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| Date: | November 18th, 2008 08:18 pm (UTC) |
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He should take a moment to be grateful that his coffee drink was visible throughout its production. In the words of Captain Darling from Blackadder: "Ah! Cappucino! Have you got any of that brown stuff you sprinkle on top?" ![[User Picture]](https://l-userpic.livejournal.com/48080630/1344165) | | From: | muffyjo |
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| Date: | November 18th, 2008 10:04 pm (UTC) |
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I would suggest that the VIP learn better time management and people skills if he really wants to succeed in furthering his career. Clearly he's not important enough to have learned that lesson. Guaranteed he's either in sales, or he's a one-man shop. | From: | dcart |
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| Date: | November 18th, 2008 11:09 pm (UTC) |
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I wish I could do something nice for that manager.
"You know, I don't have time for this" is alarmingly similar to the line I used the last time I quit a crappy job. The manager guy sounds like Zach, he rocks. Was it?
And yet, the business douche did in fact get his coffee, so someone did in fact take his order despite the cell phone policy.
A shame, but probably the quickest way to get him out of the shop. And Flour does tend to get crowded.
I was just thinking today how much I do miss Flour, but am also relieved to be far away from it these days, as the Globe caf is way better on my waistline, being far less tempting. Good manager. But has any manager ever said, "You are important to us, but no more important than all the poor dopes looking at the back of your swollen head right now and trying to make it explode with their minds"? ![[User Picture]](https://l-userpic.livejournal.com/1824848/366947) | | From: | hyperina |
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| Date: | November 19th, 2008 08:29 pm (UTC) |
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I'd root for the Suit! |
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