If you have 'skills', wouldn't working at convenience store = prison?

[Iamme]

I jsut want to see how some of you feel. This thread wasn't intended to ruffle anyone's feathers.

I have learned how to do many different things. I have over 30 years of working experince in various things. My overall knowledge has grown imensely since I got out of school. I did a little of this, and a little of that...to get me where I am at today (nowhere :D ).

I have both worked for others, and have spent the last 25 years working for myself with the exception of about a 2-year run where I worked for someone else as an employee.

There is no way in chino....(however that word is spelled)..I could *ever* punch a clock at a place like a convenience store, of all places. All the ones I frequent, nobody does anymore than they have to. They are basically behind the counter. I would go com*pletely* out of my gourd. I would have to ask someone if they had a gun on them so I could shoot myself.

[LostAngeles]

Originally posted by Iamme
I jsut want to see how some of you feel. This thread wasn't intended to ruffle anyone's feathers.

I have learned how to do many different things. I have over 30 years of working experince in various things. My overall knowledge has grown imensely since I got out of school. I did a little of this, and a little of that...to get me where I am at today (nowhere :D ).

I have both worked for others, and have spent the last 25 years working for myself with the exception of about a 2-year run where I worked for someone else as an employee.

There is no way in chino....(however that word is spelled)..I could *ever* punch a clock at a place like a convenience store, of all places. All the ones I frequent, nobody does anymore than they have to. They are basically behind the counter. I would go com*pletely* out of my gourd. I would have to ask someone if they had a gun on them so I could shoot myself.

Been there, done that. There isn't much to do at a convience store other than deal with people not wanting to buy a certain brand of milk because "they put fish milk in that," or the guy who always buys porn and decides he's going to walk up the isle at you while playing with his penis.

All customer service and retail is hell. I blame the customers.

So what's your point?

[Iamme]

Originally posted by LostAngeles
Been there, done that. There isn't much to do at a convience store other than deal with people not wanting to buy a certain brand of milk because "they put fish milk in that," or the guy who always buys porn and decides he's going to walk up the isle at you while playing with his penis.

All customer service and retail is hell. I blame the customers.

So what's your point?

----------------------------------------

My point is the thread topic. It's pretty clear.

In your opinion, this line of work is hell. But it was hell for you for a different reason than I was asking about.

If *you* thought it was hell, and let's say that was the only job you ever had, up to that point...that would be *one* thing. But if you knew how to build houses...work on cars...and repair almost everything with*in* those two lines of work....*and* were self employed...and *then* you *had* to go back to a job that you had to punch a time clock for..and the job was that of working in a convenience store, of all things, that required no skills other than how to operate a cash register or reactivate a gas pump....

...well, I would go out of my mind...have a nervous breakdown...and wouldn't imagine that being in prison would seem any worse...because I would feel that by being confined at that place for 8 hours, without being able to put my learned skills to use...well, I think I would do myself in. Maybe I'd go out to the gas pumps and stick a gas hose down my throat and turn it on.:v:

[Bill Burke]

Great question, URU. Some general comments follow, for what they might be worth.

Yes, anytime we're restrained for virtually any reason from satisfying our desires, the restraints are very much like the walls and bars of prison. It seems to me.

Even more so, probably, when we have the kinds of skills that would, in principle, allow us to work in a more satisfying job.

But as far as the skills go, they are sometimes either unmarketable for a variety of practical reasons, or we don't have the needed marketing skills. In such cases, the skills aren't "effective' skills, so to speak, and we might as well forget about them, at least temporarily.

Essentially, though, the problem you describe seems about the same as anyone's on any job or in any marriage etc. that is unsatisying by itself. Perhaps 90% of people are affected? A lot, anyway.

The solution, therefore, which goes at least back to the ancient Greeks and Romans, is simply to take control, if you can, of your desires and other emotions. Edmund Burke (no relation) once said that people who don't master their passions must reamin forever enslaved to them and this is what we have here. It seems to me.

So an additional "skill" we have to acquire in that kind of situation is that of "inner mastery" or whatever you wish to call it. It's often a tough skill to acquire but probably no more so than, say, becoming computer literate and much less so than becoming fluent in a foreign language.

And the payoffs from this skill are of course immense in their potential.

One of the interesting tactics involved in this, for example, is to transform most of your present "needs" into "mere preferences." It has probably been done, mostly vaguely and unconsciously by billions of people since we first climbed down from the trees or perhaps crawled up from the ooze. Not as difficult as it seems at first.

But maybe you know all this already and just want to kick the ball around a little. <s>

[Tmy]

What if you OWN the store. Then its a labor of love> Its your baby.

You can then ask "why would you work for someone else when you can work for yourself.".

[roger]

I found it truly unpleasant when I did it, but I was using it to pay for college, and thus abided, since I knew it was only a short term proposition (the length of summer vacation). I think I would despair if it was my only occupation for the forseeable future.

[Pyrts]

Been there, done that.

In fact, AM there, and am doing that. I got downsized and am going back to school for another degree (changing professions.) I'm currently working in the computer labs for minimum wage.

It depends on what's important to you. The job is low status and I'm a menial -- BUT -- until I can get that higher paying job, I need some sort of income and this is the only solution that lets me finish my degree quickly and get into the new field quickly.

You can't eat pride. You can't pay the bills with pride. I'll do WHATEVER it takes, for however long it takes. And until I get that job, I'll be glad of this humble little job which does pay a bill or two and buys my lunch and gas.

[Vagabond]

Like most jobs there are probably places that aren't that bad and others that are hell. For some reason, many employers try to make the job as difficult as possible for you, apparently feeling if you are miserable enough they are getting their money's worth. The place I worked at gave you a 500 dollar bonus if you made it 3 months. I only made it for 2. They give the bonus because hardly anybody makes it for 2. They made you work ten hours a day 5 days a week. You had to stay standing the whole time. You had to eat lunch, take breaks while you were working. You didn't really get any breaks and barely could eat. I took it because I needed the money badly at the time and for a starting job you made decent money because you are working ten hours overtime every week. Also because they need people so badly you can start in a few days. I hoped I could make it for three months to get the bonus but I never had any intention of staying any longer than that.

[pauldmin]

I currently do work that involves a lot of brain-work, i.e. troubleshooting and problem solving but in the past I have had filler jobs that involved no brain power.

e.g. I packed coffee in a factory for a few months and also served petrol in a service station.

One thing I must say is that the menial type of job is sort of relaxing in a way. A bit like digging the garden to wind down after a hard day thinking.

Perhaps my view would be different though, if I were to do those jobs for the rest of my life.

[kittynh]

I think that NOW I could make a good go of about any job. As a younger person I really needed to use my brain and my skills. I would starve to work with art, and did so! Hey, Ramen noodles!

Now, I'm much more of a spectator! I could enjoy people watching, because I'm not so much into how other people look at me. I've done a lot I'm proud of, I've proved myself, and also found what really matters. I wouldn't want to work in say a 7-11, but then again, I'd probably start to write a book about it!

I would try to see the customers as people. I've learned to work with some people that are those we usually try not to see in our society. They are very interesting. A lot of them are well educated, or have interesting life stories. Or not.

I wouldn't like it, but I'd try to make the most of it I could.

It would be better than sitting in a room by myself all day. And prison really sucks. Big time. I've done volunteer work there, trust me on this.

[LostAngeles]

Originally posted by kittynh
...

I would try to see the customers as people. I've learned to work with some people that are those we usually try not to see in our society. They are very interesting. A lot of them are well educated, or have interesting life stories. Or not.

...

...BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Customers are like the proverbial girl with curl. When they're good, they're very, very good, but when they're bad...

Fire pretty.

lamme, I have other "skills." I had other "skills." Working in a convience store because you're working in a convience store.

[Rolfe]

I'm just going down to the convenience store to buy some food. I'm very glad there are people who are prepared to be there so that I'll find it open. And I'm sure I'll have a nice chat with one of them while I'm paying for my purchases.

Don't be such a snob, Lamme.

Rolfe.

[gnome]

Originally posted by Vagabond
Like most jobs there are probably places that aren't that bad and others that are hell. For some reason, many employers try to make the job as difficult as possible for you, apparently feeling if you are miserable enough they are getting their money's worth. The place I worked at gave you a 500 dollar bonus if you made it 3 months. I only made it for 2. They give the bonus because hardly anybody makes it for 2. They made you work ten hours a day 5 days a week. You had to stay standing the whole time. You had to eat lunch, take breaks while you were working. You didn't really get any breaks and barely could eat. I took it because I needed the money badly at the time and for a starting job you made decent money because you are working ten hours overtime every week. Also because they need people so badly you can start in a few days. I hoped I could make it for three months to get the bonus but I never had any intention of staying any longer than that.

I believe some of those conditions violate regulations, don't they?

I understand people who don't want to risk making a stink while relying on a job for income, but I'm surprised there isn't more reporting of such offenses after people have left...

I have a friend who worked for 60+ hours a week and his boss didn't pay ovetime, on the grounds that my friend was a contractor. As it happens, his position did not meet the legal standard of a contract position. After he left, I advised him to get a lawyer for all the unpaid overtime, but he never bothered. I don't really get it. He had the chance to bring in a chunk of money he badly needed, and at the same time force someone to treat his replacements better...

[Chimera]

Rolfe wrote:
I'm just going down to the convenience store to buy some food. I'm very glad there are people who are prepared to be there so that I'll find it open. And I'm sure I'll have a nice chat with one of them while I'm paying for my purchases.

Don't be such a snob, Lamme.

If everyone was as appreciative and gracious as you when frequenting convenience stores (or any place of business, for that matter), then working at one wouldn't be such torture. But the fact is that the majority of people are rude bastards. My theory is that many people are unhappy with their lot in life and take their misery out on others who they perceive to be worse off than themselves.

Show me a happy man and I'll show you a man who is respectful to his waitress.

[Jeff Corey]

Originally posted by J-No
...Show me a happy man and I'll show you a man who is respectful to his waitress.
"A decent person is respectful at all times." Mulla Nasrudin.

[Rolfe]

Originally posted by J-No
But the fact is that the majority of people are rude bastards.I live in a village with two convenience stores, both open long hours. I patronise both. I've never heard anyone being rude to the staff. Some people are taciturn and just pay over their money and leave, but many chat with the assistants in a very friendly way. A couple of the assistants even ask after my mother, who lives a long way away, but visits occasionally.

For Pete's sake, J-No, tell me where you live so I can avoid it!

Rolfe.

[LostAngeles]

If I ever get back into customer service, I'm making sure to clone and repopulate the world with Rolfe first.

[Alkatran]

I'm the kid of customer that doesn't like to talk much. I'll say hi if you do, but I'm not talkative.

I had a job at a gas station. I didn't mind it all the time, but some times it just drove me nuts. It seemed like everyone always forgot to pop their tank, has something sharp in there (no I am not kidding, rusted metal is not fun). On top of that, the place was a mess. When people's cars were fixed we weren't told about it and were just expected to magically know which car was whose etc... I gave the keys to someone who hadn't paid their bill yet! (I was NOT to blame, the system was, and my boss agreed)

On top of that, no matter what we did, the money was always off. I think it was just something to scare us, because the 'older' boss once said that "There wasn't enough litres recorded on the pumps to account for the cash register and not enough cash in the register to account for the pumps." WHAT?!

By the way. If it's raining and you pull up to a full-serve with no roof-thingy for shelter do NOT SAY "Oh I'm so sorry you have to get wet" because you're clearly making me do it. :(

Bah, programming is so much better.

[Chimera]

Rolfe wrote: For Pete's sake, J-No, tell me where you live so I can avoid it!
J-No
Scholar
Registered: Jan 2005
Location: Las Vegas
Posts: 66

That's in Nevada, USA. And I do admit that it is filled with notoriously rude people. But so are many other cities. People who live in small villages with only a few stores are surely more likely to be pleasant to each other.

[Rolfe]

Originally posted by J-No
Location: Las Vegas
That's in Nevada, USA.Cool! Didn't you have a dragon try to eat the sun a year or two back?

Rolfe.

[Chimera]

Rolfe wrote:Cool! Didn't you have a dragon try to eat the sun a year or two back?

That's us! This fall we're due for a swarm of locusts.

Jen

[bigred]

Originally posted by Rolfe
I'm just going down to the convenience store to buy some food. I'm very glad there are people who are prepared to be there so that I'll find it open. And I'm sure I'll have a nice chat with one of them while I'm paying for my purchases.

Don't be such a snob, Lamme.

Rolfe. Bravo.

I'm no fan of these things and avoid them as much as possible...and they are major targets for theft/etc....but more than a few times I was glad one was around.