the guest who has made me the maddest....

[tacoboy]

So, I'm in my store. A guest (female,14ish, however she has more facial hair than I do) is looking at the available merch (aimed at little kids) and says to me
"Ya kno, the stuff you have here is pretty gay"
(nicely)"I dont know, I like the stuff i sell"

and then.... the bomb dropped

"are you gay?"
"no"
"are you sure? cuz you kind of seem like you are"
(smiling in my best CM voice) "Have a GREAT DAY!"

There were several things that made me mad.

1. She told me that what i sold was gay. This pissed me off on two levels, one. using gay as an adjective is highly offensive and two. i take pride in what i sell and i can;t believe she would have the gall to say something like that to ANYONE who works here.

2. I am a hetero however, i am fully endorsing of other lifestyles and beliefs. I am a supporter of marriage for EVERYONE and i think everyone shoudl be treated equally. This guest calling me gay was a below the belt kind of hit. Saying something like that to a COMPLETE STRANGER! I wonder how she acts around her friends (if any) and family.

Questions? Comments? Concerns? Opinions?

[crystal_crtr]

I hate the term "That's so gay" or any dirivative of it. I think that it shows exactly how stupid this SG is. One day she will say it to someone who is gay. That person will be infuriated with her and beat the stupid out of her. :duh: My husband used to use this term quite often. He stopped after I beat the stupid out of him. Not that I'm gay I just hate that term.

[june1st1997]

Who raises a kid to believe that is an acceptable way to act? What kind of house are you living in when you think it's ok to speak to another person, much less an adult that way?

What is the matter with the parents?

Tacoboy: Did you see the parents? Are you thinking overprivledged euro trash, maybe Paris Hilton in training, Paris wanna be in training?

I'm guessing teen girls are probably the worst when it comes to comments like that.

I'm guessing the "gay" thing is peer situation. She probably has no idea that it is offensive... which of course it is.

Her parents probably do not have enough respect for her, the people around her or themselves for that matter to set their child straight. Or maybe they are intolerant bigots.

No doubt after a little laser hair removal our "princess charming" will end up on Girls Gone Wild... and I bet her dad brags about it.



Bottomline... I think CM see the best and worst of humanity on a daily basis.

[tacoboy]

well, she was sans parents. she was with another person her age though (who didnt talk)

thanks you both for your kind words. (more than "princess charming" will ever say)

[Scamp]

Perhaps she was just trying to fix you up with someone special.

[Ansem]

was this today or a few days ago? Did the girl have dark hair?

[leftcoaster]

No doubt after a little laser hair removal our "princess charming" will end up on Girls Gone Wild... and I bet her dad brags about it.



No. If she made the cut for Girls Gone Wild, her parents would be shocked, SHOCKED, that their "little girl" would do something like that.

Then they would attempt to sue. :rolleyes:

[june1st1997]

Leftcoaster:

I could see that... But I thought that assumed they had more class than their child demonstrated.

[darph nader]

Taco boy,I can sympathize. A few years ago myself and 3 other people were trying to load a 1200lb glulam 'back' onto my truck by hand. They weren't that heavy 30yrs ago. things are not going so good. So this asshole asks me if I'm gay? I looked him square in the eye and said "Yes,I'm a hardcore lesbian,trapped in a mans body" Stupid dick. :mad:

[mechurchlady]

At a kid friendly site's chat room there are strict rules about sex and sexual orientation. Someone was chided for calling lame stuff gay like "My gay keyboard is not working" and her response was that everyone in her area said that. I also hate the term retarded. If a product does not work then it is because you were to cheap to buy something good, the thing wore out, or other reasons like cheap batteries.

I do not like that people will say Gay or Retarded to discribe things.


The guest assumed that since you defended a gay product that you were Gay. The guest obviously was on somethng or was a total brain dead loser. Do not let them offend you. There is a lot of people out there with opinions that are full of hot air.

[Main Streeter]

"Ya kno, the stuff you have here is pretty gay"
(nicely)"I dont know, I like the stuff i sell"
"are you gay?"
"no"
"are you sure? cuz you kind of seem like you are"
(smiling in my best CM voice) "Have a GREAT DAY!"
Tacoboy, your post was incredibly worded, together, & descriptive. 5 snaps & a :star: to you for taking this verbal abuse so well & handling the rudness with such class. CMs such as you add to our (CM) quality guest service reputations. THANK YOU! :) You give the world hope, & I give you much credit for the self control you were able to gather. Me? I'd never have been as kind. :cheers:

[Main Streeter]

I looked him square in the eye and said "Yes,I'm a hardcore lesbian,trapped in a mans body"
ROFL I just knew you were hiding deep dark secrets darph as you were "researching" in Pima Library's dusty out of view bookshelves. :D: :p: You think I'll let this slip by quietly? Not in a million. ;) Thanks Tacoboy for giving me this platform to make fun of darph. :cool:

[felinefan]

You know what worries me? These kids today rely so heavily on cell phones, IM, Blackberries, and other electronic devices, that when they talk face to face with a real person, they aren't as socially aware as those of us who wrote letters with either paper and pen or typewriter, contacted people by landline phone, and actually learned manners and social graces. Take that kid that shot up Virginia Tech; they were saying he had socialization issues, among other things. They say basically the same thing with everyone else who commits a high-profile crime. People have no sense that they have to take other people and their feelings into account, that the world does not revolve around them, etc.. We have all had instances where a guest has wanted something, whether it's for an undersized/oversized member of their party join them on a particular ride, that a store stay open after closing, etc.. In my day, we understood that we couldn't always get what we wanted ; something Mick Jagger obviously understood :) . Nowadays, kids and adults alike have this idea that they can have anything they want, when they want it, and to hell with reality. Ever notice how if an adult says no to something a child wants, the kid tries to negotiate their way into getting it? Are our kids being taught by salespeople to "get past the no"?
What I'm saying is, I'm afraid that we are moving towards a time when not supplying what someone wants will become a crime, and even more violence will result. I think we can all remember incidents where someone didn't get what they wanted and caused major havoc as a result. And not just in the parks. You can say we need more outreach programs, more violence avoidance programs, but that won't change anything. There's an old saying: "If you give a pig and a boy everything they want, you'll have a good pig and a bad boy." Check out the Loeb-Leopold kidnap/murder case of the 1920s; those two were intelligent young men, very wealthy, but their parents weren't there for them, and they got into major trouble--Google it. Calling something gay or retarded shows lazy thinking. Instead of saying something more appropriate, that girl fell into the lazy trap of calling something gay or retarded. Though there was a time when you could call something or someone gay and offend noone, it had a different meaning then. And the word "retarded" doesn't mean stupid, it means slow. People use words that either don't exist (I once had a teenaged guest say something was "funner"; yes I corrected her), or they misuse a word. Obviously they are too busy trying to aid the Latinization of America by teaching Spanish and Mexican studies to teach proper English.

[darph nader]

I know what you mean about proper English felinefan, at work,the loading dock personel will tell a customer "We don't got it right now". :eek:
I'm mentally beating my head against the wall.

[Cranbiz]

I know what you mean about proper English felinefan, at work,the loading dock personel will tell a customer "We don't got it right now". :eek:
I'm mentally beating my head against the wall.


I don't see what youse guys are complaining about :p:
Y'ALL just don't get it.


And what's wrong with the word fugly - It may not be in Websters but I'll bet everyone here knows what it means. ;)





I just had to say those. :cool:

[DisneyMom]

If someone had said something so blatantly rude/harassing to me, I would have called security to escort them out....I hate it that people think they can get away with things because it is "just a service person". You were extraordinarily well- mannered. I usually comfort myself thinking about the bad things that will happen to someone like that in the future :twisted:

[Scamp]

If someone had said something so blatantly rude/harassing to me, I would have called security to escort them out....I hate it that people think they can get away with things because it is "just a service person". You were extraordinarily well- mannered. I usually comfort myself thinking about the bad things that will happen to someone like that in the future :twisted:

You would call security on a 14 year old girl for asking "Are you gay"? Yeah, that would go down well. Perhaps you could also request they use a stun gun, or at the very least drag her out in handcuffs.

I have to say I think Mr. Taco had a slightly better approach to this situation than your plan of calling in the brute squad.

[DisneyMom]

Well, scamp, seeing that I work in a medical clinic with close proximity to the random people, I guess I would have viewed it as more threatening than you would. It's just me. Our security is not the brute squad, just would have escorted her outside at my request. I cannot concentrate on things like starting IV's, giving IV meds,taking MD orders when somebody is actively harassing me. I am not a cast member, but my son works at a theme park, so I come here to read the stories, sympathize, and occasionally chime in. I guess your post indicates that you have a high tolerance for that sort of behavior.

[Scamp]

I guess your post indicates that you have a high tolerance for that sort of behavior.

That's OK. I guess your post just says you are a trigger happy uptight employee.

[DisneyMom]

My apologies to all the rude/harassing people I've asked security to escort out of my clinic....I've been diagnosed as "Trigger Happy!" Thank You, Dr. Scamp!!!!! :p:

[Scamp]

My apologies to all the rude/harassing people I've asked security to escort out of my clinic....I've been diagnosed as "Trigger Happy!" Thank You, Dr. Scamp!!!!! :p:

Oh please my dear no need at all to apologise to me. It's probably myself that owes your esteemed presence an apology. After all if I was faced with a 14 year old girl in a gift shop asking questions I'd probably muck the whole thing up by trying something stupid like oh I don't know, asking her to leave, before taking the time away from my duties to call on security. Hell I'd even be stupid enough to think that perhaps security might have more important duties to attend to than coming to escort out teens who dare to ask questions, even ones I might interpret as being insulting. I'd be worried someone else might fall victim to harm during the time the security officer(s) were busy escorting this child from the crime scene. So I guess I'm just thick that way. Sorry.

[DisneyMom]

So which one of the two people are you that I called security on? I was only apologising to them! Surely you are not the screaming Mom with the precious
Heely- wearing child ! Or were you the Older Man who was angry that you were not called BEFORE your appointment time, who I patiently explained to our system for a good 10 minutes only to have him return for a second round of screaming! Only then did I call security. He actually angered another patient who I was attending to while he was at it. I run in to impatient, angry people all day, and I rarely call security (to prevent the escalation of behaviors). Health care workers are too frequently the victims of violence on the job.Look it up on the OSHA website. I would not call security on you unless you REALLY deserved it! So, I recommend that you not be so concerned about me, I really haven't called you anything but "More Tolerant".
and "Dr. Scamp". Both were incorrect.

[Scamp]

I run in to impatient, angry people all day, and I rarely call security (to prevent the escalation of behaviors). .... I would not call security on you unless you REALLY deserved it! .....

Ahh sweetie you once again put me in my place. Of course you would only call security in the most dire situations. Ones where the heath and wellbeing of the individual or others was in direct jeopardy. However I'm still a bit unclear how the case of a little girl in a gift shop asking the sales person "Are you gay?" fits that definition. Again, please excuse my slowness on this matter.



If someone had said something so blatantly rude/harassing to me, I would have called security to escort them out....I hate it that people think they can get away with things because it is "just a service person".

I still think that sounds more vindictive than proactive.

[Notatourist]

Can both of you quit acting like you're seven for a moment? Thank you.

I'm not a moderator, but the retorts are taking away from my fun and education here.

Getting back to the point, tacoboy, you answered it well. Way to go. People like that 14 year old need to be educated that in public, that is not the question to ask. It's sad the parents haven't done that for the rest of us, isn't it?

[Polar33]

Okay folks, it's time for me to remind everyone to keep on topic and to refrain from personal attacks against other posters.

SGT Rules #2 and #3 come to mind.
2.) Unlike other forums out there, flame wars or fighting among users will not be tolerated. Conduct yourself in a civil manner. If you cannot do that then you are not welcome here. If threads degrade into flame wars, they will be locked, and the instigator may be banned.

3.) Attack the message, not the messenger. If you have a problem with a particular post, don’t make personal attacks against the poster. Instead, state in a civil manor what your disagreement with the post is. Personal attacks of any kind are not allowed.If these, or any other, site rules are not followed, the thread will be closed.

[goodvibrations]

Ugh, you have my condolences. I know how that feels. I work at a roller rink and weekend nights are when all the 12-14 year olds come in and treat it as if it were a nightclub. Selling balloons and electric grills in an area about the size of your average bathroom stall is pretty much an open invitation for them to come try and harass you. I think I'm even a little jaded by those types of remarks by now, lol. :rolleyes: Some of them are pretty nice, but it's those certain ones that make me want to rip my hair out (or their's, rather.)

[DisneyMom]

Thanks, Polar, for reminding us to not be SG on this forum! I have been really enjoying the forum, just hate to get "beaten up" without a chance to get back...something that I think happens to us all everyday. Tacoboy did great,
but we are all different in how we handle things like harassment. Yeah, I'm uptight...but we are talking about the same SG being treated differently in a different environment...different work guidelines and different norms... I've been in the nursing field since 1980, so I think I've had plenty of time to figure out what works best for me.
That 14 year old knew she was harassing him and he couldn't retaliate without causing problems for himself...and yes, I hate that!

[CycloneMan]

It's been a while since I've posted because I've been busy busy busy, but anyway:

At the Zoo, I had a guest come up to me while I was holding a Fire Skink. He asked if he could touch and I said, "Yes, but use two fingers, and just rub his back gently". The boy looks at me and said "Okay" and he lift his hand and hit him pretty hard on the top of his head! No I have a freaked out Skink who's trying to get out of my hand (which is hard to control) and an angry Docent who yells at the kid in front of his family. The best part is, the kids was probably about 8, and his father touched him first, and put alot of pressure on the Skink's back. And with all of this, the parents did absolutely nothing :blowup: ! This happens more than people think, but usually the parents or siblings will yell at them!

On Sunday, I became completely nerodic because I took out Snake Scales (Biofacts). I was with my two friends in the brand new Reptile Wing, so we got pretty crowded. Well, some kid asked if he could feel the snake scales. I told him, "Of course you can, but you must be gentle." The kid grabbed it as hard as he could and I heard fricking crunching sounds! I flipped out on the kid, and had to put the remains back! I should of kicked him and his family out right there for damaging Zoo property, but my Sup told me it wasn't a big deal, because we always get scales, but I'm not taking them back out!

-Dainan

[Scamp]

In this case you all might want to step back for a second and consider the efforts of the various gay and lesbian activist groups over the last few decades.

It has been their relentless mission to gain national acceptance for the homosexual life style in our culture. Well guess what? It worked. Kids today are exposed to gays and lesbians on an almost daily basis. It's on TV, it's in their music, it's in print ads. For today's kids someone being gay is just no big deal. It's an everyday thing.

So for them to ask "are you gay" has (to them) all the emotional baggage of asking "Are you from Cleveland?". It's just no big deal. Sure the girl in question was being a brat but, from her perspective, I think it's far less of a crime than some would ascribe to it.

[Big Wallaby]

I'm finding that I don't like dealing with the SG's first thing of the day. Many I can laugh off, but the first ones I see are at TTC. I had a kid on Heelys going to the dock, opposite direction of me, and I told him to please put the wheels up. He kept rolling, and his farter...eh, father, who was right behind him laughed at me and told me to f*ck off. That's the way it was the whole way around the monorail platforms, with five distinct experiences of not just rude but nasty SG's. Finally, I stopped saying anything to anyone because it wasn't going to help anything, and I just walked to my bus. I knew it was going to be a long day.

Oh, and as I looked back, Heelybrat was on the ground in pain, and dad was consoling him. After the reception I had received, there was no snowball's chance you-know-where that I was going to go back and help. I didn't care to be abused again right then, this time because the guy's kid got hurt and I'm sure I did nothing about it. Like, oh, say, ask him to please stay off the Heelys.

[Syndrome]

Some people are totally clueless, and others seem to lack the switch that turns off lame remarks before they make it from brain to mouth. I am in a group in which one member is gay (I knew him, and knew that fact, prior to the group). When another member, who hadn't known him before, found out his orientation, she kept saying, "No! No, I don't believe it! You're kidding, right? You're not gay, right?" This went on for like ten minutes! Finally he said, "Yes, I AM gay...do you want me to show you my Disney ID to prove it?" (He actually is a CM.) I think that went right over her head though; then she spent the rest of the evening telling her he needed to introduce her to some gay guys who know a lot about sports (I never did figure that one out). :confused:

[CBeilby]

That's OK. I guess your post just says you are a trigger happy uptight employee.

Hey, Scamp. You're fairly new here, so here's a little bit of advice. Kind of refrain from the personal attacks. The moderation staff doesn't take too kindly to them, and it will make you fairly unpopular with the other members.

[tacoboy]

wow. all i can say is wow.
Thank you all very much for this wonder support and the subsequent discussion topic. I thought this would be read and forgotten like the topic with the guest calling me a dog. But wow. This makes me happy that i have so much sympathy for the situation. Luckilly, i haven't seen our princess charming ever since so i can't complain. To be honest, that was one of the worst guest experiences i have ever had. I am very happy that all of you agree.

since i have been off the computer-box for a while, i will respond to all the questions in this post.

leftcoaster: If this girl went on "girls gone wild" the company would have definately used her as a VERY VERY last resort.

Darphnader: XD that probably would have been my response if a guest asked me such a question out of costume.

Main Streeter: Thanks for your compliments. I am at least glad some of my cast members watched me handle the girl and it hopefully rubbed off on them.

DisneyMom: I do actually share your ideals somewhat. I was just a little shooken up by the situation. Besides, she wasn't much of a threat. I HAVE however, kicked other people out of the park for using similar phrases.

Scamp: Thanks for the compliment however, escorting her out of the park is very different than police activity. The rent-acops probably don';t even know how to use hand cuffs :P

FelineFan/Scamp: Those theorys make a lot of sense. I guess thats why i always yell at my cast members to keep their phones off.

Once again, thank you all very very much for the response. It made my day. Hopefully, i will be posting much more often as time permits me.

Love always,
tacoboy.

[DisneyMom]

Tacoboy,
Thanks for sharing your story and your views on all the comments. I think your story hit a nerve with many of us who have been in similar situations!(Excuse me,now, still looking for a new Tazer gun online....) :p:

[DevilDuckie]

I got in some hot water with a friend over this once.

Me: I saw the GAYEST Pooh bear the other day!
Her: ZOMG! Don't say things are gay!!!!
Me: No, seriously, he was dressed in leather and holding a rainbow flag. He was totally Pride Parade Pooh!


But yeah, short of that, stuff is not generally gay.

[ktulu]

I had a boss who is a lesbian, she used to call things gay all the time.

[disneyprincess1988]

I happen to have a gay cousin myself so these types of remarks really aggravate me.

[Big Wallaby]

I used to work graveyard with a gay guy in Portland. We were the only employees in the hotel for most of our shift. I've never heard this one certain three-lettered word that ends in "G", starts with "F" and has an "A" in the middle more than working with him.

[BRWombat]

People who throw around insults like that are so gay.

Oh, wait...

[BarryH]

I'm not gay, but I play one on TV and stayed at a Holiday Inn last night.