Time-Traveling SCs, Mind Reading, and More...

[GiftShopGirl]

I know we joke about some SCs being time travelers, but seriously these people make me wonder....

btw, I work at a science center gift shop and ticket office.

You're half a century too late....
So one day I'm manning the register and minding my own business when an elderly lady wanders up to me in a huff.

SC: Can you tell me where the Orrery is? I have been all over this entire building and I can't find it!
Our Orrery opened in 1950. It closed about three years ago due to age and has been replaced by an exhibit.
Me: Well ma'am, our Orrery closed a few years ago and now we have an exhibit in that room. Here is a map of our building to help to help you find it -
SC: WHAT??? The Orrery's closed?
Me: Yes, but there's a new interactive exhibit there now which is free to explore.
SC: So the Orrery is closed forever?
Me: I believe so.
SC: Well, that's outrageous!! I was here not that long ago, and it was under construction then! How could they take it down already?!
Me: Ma'am, the Orreryopened in 1950. It lasted about fifty years and then it broke beyond repair. It was open for a very long time.
SC: No, I was here not that long ago. I can't believe this. This is outrageous! What are you going to do about?
Me: How may I resolve this for you, ma'am?
SC: I don't know! I just feel like I deserve compensation for this! I drove 5 hours just to see this Orrery!
I was too irritated by her stupidity to keep dealing with her (she wants me to believe she drove 5 hours just to see an exhibit that was under construction the last time she came, 50 years ago? yea freakin right) so I got my manager. He gave her a ticket to see a free show the next time she comes. . . . which I think is hilarious, cause there's no way she's making it another 50 years to visit again.

Believe it or not, our schedule changes decade to decade....
So it was another boring Saturday of selling tickets to our science presentations when a very particular woman came in. She was very professionally-dressed, carried a briefcase, and held a portfolio full of papers. There was nothing to indicate what came next....

SC: Yes, I would like a ticket to Winnie the Pooh and the Golden Rocket, Rusty Rocket, and Sky Tales.
Me: I apologize, ma'am; I've never heard of those shows before. Today we have <rattles off our saturday schedule>, and here is a brochure with a written list of our shows and descriptions of each.
SC: How could you not have those shows? They're online.
Me: *brought up our website and turned the screen to face her* I don't see them on our official website. This is same schedule that's in your brochure. Perhaps you meant <rattles off similar shows to the ones she mentioned>?
SC: No, I'm positive it was those three. Here's a list I printed off. *she took some papers from her portfolio and handed them to me. It was a list of shows, but...*
Me: Ma'am, this schedule is from 1998. It says that at the top of the page.
SC: WHAT? Let me see that!.... Oh my goodness, you're right.... So you don't show those show anymore?

Read my mind!
Sometimes kids are the worst customers. They'll buy something, then hand me a stack of money without even knowing how much they gave me. I ask how much they gave me, and if they stall and stutter, I'll chide them for not counting and give it back to them to count out. This is because they give me far more than they should, and I'm sure their parents would be furious to know how their children don't count their money on a field trip. Plus, it's just irresponsible. Those kids are just annoying, but this kid was downright bizarre.

SK (strange kid): *put some putty and three rings on the counter*
Me: That's $9.00.
SK: *staring at me with gigantic eyes*...............................
Me: Do you have $9.00?
SK:...............................
Me: Do you have $9.00?
SK:...............................
CW: *who saw what was happening* Do you have $9.00?
SK:...............................
CW: You have to pay the lady for those things. Do you have any money?
SK: ..............................
Me: *to CW* Oh my goodness, what in the world?
SK: But I bought the rings earlier. *other CW* already rung them up.
Me: Haha oh okay. Then you only owe me $3.00.
SK: *gives me $3*
Me: You know, you have to tell people those kind of things. I don't know those kinds of things unless you tell me.
CW: Haha you mean you can't read minds, GiftShopGirl? That was a prerequisite for your job!
Me: Yea, I'm shocked I've managed to work here so long without anyone noticing!

[Bronzebow]

SC: Well, that's outrageous!! I was here not that long ago, and it was under construction then! How could they take it down already?!
Me: Ma'am, the Orreryopened in 1950. It lasted about fifty years and then it broke beyond repair. It was open for a very long time.

Just out of curiosity, did she ask what year it was, then furrow her brown in confusion when you told her?

[LillFilly]

And people ask me directions to stores that haven't been where I work for 2-5 years, and claim the stores were there days/weeks/months ago. Mmmm-Hmmm.

[Android Kaeli]

And people ask me directions to stores that haven't been where I work for 2-5 years, and claim the stores were there days/weeks/months ago. Mmmm-Hmmm.

Or the products that haven't been in store for the same amount.

Gee you would think that people would call ahead to see if something is still there but that would require thinking, wouldn't it?

[One-Fang]

I'm wondering if office-job-lady discussed great shows at your place with someone who went something like "Yeah my kids really loved the shows we saw". They then found the schedule they'd printed in 1998 (cos they're just THAT organised) and offered it with nothing more helpful than "This is the schedule from their website". Office-job-lady took it without glancing at the date at the top, assuming helpful colleague had gone to the website and just printed that out, right now.

At least she seemed okay about it once pointed out. Although asking if you still play those shows, she didn't demand that you *should* still play them because her kids were told they were going to see Winnie the Pooh and the Golden Rocket and there is no way she can go home and tell them they're not going to get to see Winnie the Pooh and the Golden Rocket, so you better put those shows on because she can't tell her own kids "no"!

[GiftShopGirl]

Just out of curiosity, did she ask what year it was, then furrow her brown in confusion when you told her?

I was so tempted to tell her that, but thought better of it because she was obviously ticked and might throw an even bigger shitfit if she thought I was being rude And I kept waiting for her to mention flux capacitors.....

[DGoddessChardonnay]

I was so tempted to tell her that, but thought better of it because she was obviously ticked and might throw an even bigger shitfit if she thought I was being rude And I kept waiting for her to mention flux capacitors.....

Been even funnier if she'd taken it a step further and mentioned something about vacuum tubes for radios and stereo systems (that was in the early days before transistors.)

Or maybe she'd have complained about the lack of hitching posts outside for horses, which were a mode of transportation before automobiles came along in the early 1900's . . .

Either way, she definitely sounds like she's way out of her league . . .

[El Pollo Guerrera]

Just out of curiosity, did she ask what year it was, then furrow her brown in confusion when you told her?

What would have been great is if she turned and started talking to some invisible next to her...

"OK, Al, what happened? Where am I now?"

(bonus point if get the reference...)

[Horsetuna]

wow, some stories.

I'm also dissapointed the Wikia for the orrery does not mention the huge, awesome one in The Dark Crystal.

[JianWolf]

What would have been great is if she turned and started talking to some invisible next to her...

"OK, Al, what happened? Where am I now?"

(bonus point if get the reference...)

"Well, Sam ,according to Ziggy (right? - it's been awhile) you are in 1997, Your name is James whatever.. and you are here to make sure the Orrery doesn't break down so SC can see it in 2009

[smileyeagle1021]

Oh, I love the time travelers... especially the ones that insist that we are (not us) because last time they were in salt lake 15 years ago we were a (not us) and just can't believe that we are no longer (not us) and are upset that we won't honor their frequent traveller points for (not us).

[Ironclad Alibi]

SC: Can you tell me where the Orrery is? I have been all over this entire building and I can't find it!

I'm also dissapointed the Wikia for the orrery does not mention the huge, awesome one in The Dark Crystal.

I've always wanted to own an orrery, but never found good one that I could afford. I did get a non-operating armillary one year for christmas, courtesy of my wife.

There was also a lovely depiction of an orrery in the computer game Ultima VII. However, the positions of the planets never lined up with the game plot.

[ShockQueen]

I'm also dissapointed the Wikia for the orrery does not mention the huge, awesome one in The Dark Crystal.

Ooo...that WAS an AWESOME piece of work! Absolutely loved it.