General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: The Starbucks thing... [View all]grumpyduck
(6,321 posts)"Whose fault was it" "Did the cops have to arrest them?" "Is the manager racist?"
Makes me want to puke.
Twenty-thirty years ago, when people still had common sense, the scenario would have been different, even with a racist manager:
The two guys were waiting for a friend. They could have ordered something in the meantime. Now they're customers. Case closed.
I've met people at Starbucks many times, and, if I'm first there, I order something. I would have done so anyway, so where's the problem?
"Why should I have to order something?" Bull-shit. That sounds like a three-year-old whining "Why should I have to take a bath?" Sometimes a little common sense goes a lot farther than being stubborn about your rights.
Back then the cops show up. "What's the problem?" "They're trespassing." "Why? This is a coffee shop." "They haven't ordered anything." (Cops roll their eyes) So they, showing common sense like people had in those days, walk to the guys. "Hey, the manager says you're trespassing because you haven't ordered anything." "We're waiting for a friend, but okay, we'll order something." Cops to manager: "They want to order something. Is that good enough for you?"
"Yes." Case closed.
"No." Cops: "Why are you denying service to them?" Manager: whatever she says. (Cops roll their eyes again)
Cops: "Okay, I think we need a field supervisor here." IOW, push it back on the store.
And so on.
Me, back then, when the friend showed up, I would have said, "Joe, the manager doesn't want our business, probably because we're black. Let's take our money someplace else," loud enough for the other customers to hear it. I'll bet several of them would have walked out too.
We could do "what ifs" until hell freezes over, gets hot again, and freezes over again, but my point is that twenty-thirty years ago this would have gone differently. Even with an (allegedly) asshole racist manager.
It could still happen today, but nowadays it seems people are more hung up on their "rights" than on common sense even with minor issues.
On a side note: I've had this waking dream (fantasy?) for years, of a guy dressed like a homeless person walking into a shop or something similar. The clerk refuses to serve him. The customer, who's really a billionaire, says, "Pal, I could buy your whole fucking company with pocket change and fire your sorry ass."