Old habits die hard

[auntiem]

I used to be a House Manager - haven't been for nearly a decade, but never fails that I fall into "house manager" mode when out at an event.
Last weekend I went to a Max Brooks (Zombie Survival Guide) lecture to be held in the Main Theatre at 7pm. We get there and notice not only a full lobby, but a small sign for a string quartet performing in the Concert Hall (same building - shares same lobby) at 7:30pm - HM in me wakes up because this is going to go wrong I just know it.
Someone comes out and announces that the lecture won't start until 7:30pm doors at 7 (HM in me assumes technical difficulties - but also hopes that means there will be a movie!). HM in me is now activly scanning the lobby to "make sure" string quartet folk don't enter the wrong theatre. I see one couple out of place, but my SO tells me I'm silly if I go up to them to make sure they get into the right theatre.
Sure enough, at 7:25pm someone goes to the stage to announce there are two performances in the building and this is not the string quartet. Sure enough the two people I saw in the lobby get up and exit. 15 min into the lecture another couple figures it out and exits (which means they probably missed the first piece performed by the quartet) - I felt really bad for them.
Anybody else have trouble shutting off when it isn't your problem anymore?

[Shangri-laschild]

Very much know what you mean. I always want to face stuff in the stores when I get bored in line. I've nearly answered the phone wrong several times but have gotten better about it. I still usually end up saying the closing lines (thank you, have a nice day, etc) sooner than the cashier and I haven't worked at the gas station for a while. And now that I work with they key system I just know that's going to start invading the other bits of my life too. Oh well.

[Gerrinson]

I haven't worked at the grocery store in *thinks hard* 4 years. But I still know all the codes, which items never scan properly, etc. I often find myself telling cashiers the codes so they don't waste my time looking them up. Not to mention the store brand egg cartons that never ever scan. After about 8 swipes across the scanner, I told the cashier to just punch in 12345 67890 because it was faster. She gave me a blank stare and I had to point out that was the numbers from the bar code.

Not trying to thread jack but, on a side note, what in the hell do they teach the kids these days that they don't know the numbers correspond to the bar codes?

[ArcticChicken]

Wait, there are people out there who don't know that those numbers are the bar code? Oh, right, people are stupid, I keep forgetting.

Back on topic, not only do I find my self facing at the grocery store, I find myself re-alphabetizing the books at the book store, and I only worked there for a couple months.

[JoitheArtist]

Totally. I have to work really hard NOT to straighten the clothes on the racks and shelves in stores. And the librarian in me go nuts in Borders over sloppy displays/shelves.

[Valkyrie]

Sadly, I find myself doing this for jobs I've never had (Yes, I have control issues. Why do you ask?). At Borders, I not only re-order shelves correctly, I've been known to assist clueless customers. In grocery stores I straighten the Krispy Kreme displays -- full disclosure: DH is a sales manager for KK.

[Sylvia727]

I never knew that the numbers corresponded to the bar codes until I was 17 years old. I still wouldn't except I happened to shop at my friend's retail store and she explained it to me. I know enough to get through life. I can find the location of the item, read the label and price tag, compare brands and sizes, swipe the bar code at the self-scan, and pay for it. Knowing how a bar code works, while interesting and informative, is hardly essential knowledge.

EDIT: Upon rereading Gerrinson's post, I notice that the ignorant party is a store employee, and knowledge of bar codes is part of his job. Open mouth, insert foot