Tweet
KIDS IN THE WORK FORCE ARE DRAINING THE ECONOMY!
.... I kid.
I am aware that is a completely false, as well as ridiculous statement.
However, I have encountered at least two people in my life who felt this was true.
When I had my first job, working at the local theatre, "The Evil Empire" or "TEE", I had some serious issues with the elderly.
I don't mean the little old men and women who come to the movies, so excited to be out and about, polite as can be, who tip you a quarter because you're friendly.
They go in the category of "nice old people who put a smile on my face".
Sadly, this did not reflect the vast majority of the elderly I encountered on a daily basis at the movie theatre.
This took place three years ago, when I was 18.
Background info: I started my job at TEE in June 2006. The price for senior's tickets was $5.75 . About a year and a half after I started, the price was raised to $5.95. A 20-cent jump after more than a year really isn't that big of a deal. But anyway, the woman comes up, starts whining about the price, and then goes on a tangent of how the senior's coffee is no longer free at Burger King - they have to pay 50 cents [
Why was this relevant to me?]. I was like, "Hmm, k, yeah, enjoy your movie," when this woman actually says:
"I shouldn't have to pay this much for coffee or a movie just to keep you kids employed."
My jaw just dropped.
Wait, so - my minimum wage job is the reason you have to pay for coffee?
Hey dearie, know that nice pension you're getting?
I PAY FOR THAT WITH THE TAXES THAT COME OFF MY PAY, *****!
I actually get shaky from the feeling of rage everytime I think about that woman.
Since that price hike, the senior's price evnentually went up to $6.50.
So this little exchange took place due to that price jump, about a year after the above incident.
A woman comes in, hands me $5.75 (after I have said, "That'll be $6.50, please").
M: Me, overworked, underpaid box office clerk, 18 but looking like I'm going on 12
SOC: Sucky old customer.
M (repeating myself, ever-so-fake friendly and polite): I'm sorry, I need another 75 cents, please.
SOC: Nice try, it's $5.75.
M: No, the price went up to $6.50 back in May, actually.
SOC: I was here last weekend, it was $5.75. [Note: Don't you love the, "But last time...." customers?
]
And all I wanted to say was, "I WORK HERE, YOU STUPID ****, I THINK I KNOW OUR TICKET PRICES!"
But I had to keep my cool.
M: No, I can assure you it has been up at $6.50 since May, when the big movies like Pirates of the Carribbean came out.
SOC: *5 minute tangent I don't recall verbatim (despite me having a massive line of customers behind her) about how seniors didn't have jobs, and how prices should never, ever go up for them and - AND! (this is the kicker, friends)- how this would never happen if minimum wage hadn't gone up. The month before, minmum wage had climbed from $8.10 to $8.60/h.
Excuse me, you old hag, but this would never happen if film distribution costs weren't so astronomically high! If actors didn't want millions of dollars per film, maybe you could see your movie for 5 bucks. It has nothing to do with the 16 and 17 year old kids trying to scrape enough cash to pay their cell phone bills.
Imagine what they'd say if we suddenly abolished the senior category, and they had to pay the full $10.50 that adults do.
****
Thankfully, since I've switched to various jobs where I work with legitimate adults and not just high schoolers, I haven't had to deal with any age discrimination as this. Both of those incidents just made me absolute seethe with anger, and it's nice to get them off my chest.
I am aware that is a completely false, as well as ridiculous statement.
However, I have encountered at least two people in my life who felt this was true.
When I had my first job, working at the local theatre, "The Evil Empire" or "TEE", I had some serious issues with the elderly.
I don't mean the little old men and women who come to the movies, so excited to be out and about, polite as can be, who tip you a quarter because you're friendly.
They go in the category of "nice old people who put a smile on my face".
Sadly, this did not reflect the vast majority of the elderly I encountered on a daily basis at the movie theatre.
This took place three years ago, when I was 18.
Background info: I started my job at TEE in June 2006. The price for senior's tickets was $5.75 . About a year and a half after I started, the price was raised to $5.95. A 20-cent jump after more than a year really isn't that big of a deal. But anyway, the woman comes up, starts whining about the price, and then goes on a tangent of how the senior's coffee is no longer free at Burger King - they have to pay 50 cents [
Why was this relevant to me?]. I was like, "Hmm, k, yeah, enjoy your movie," when this woman actually says:"I shouldn't have to pay this much for coffee or a movie just to keep you kids employed."
My jaw just dropped.
Wait, so - my minimum wage job is the reason you have to pay for coffee?
Hey dearie, know that nice pension you're getting?
I PAY FOR THAT WITH THE TAXES THAT COME OFF MY PAY, *****!
I actually get shaky from the feeling of rage everytime I think about that woman.
Since that price hike, the senior's price evnentually went up to $6.50.
So this little exchange took place due to that price jump, about a year after the above incident.
A woman comes in, hands me $5.75 (after I have said, "That'll be $6.50, please").
M: Me, overworked, underpaid box office clerk, 18 but looking like I'm going on 12
SOC: Sucky old customer.
M (repeating myself, ever-so-fake friendly and polite): I'm sorry, I need another 75 cents, please.
SOC: Nice try, it's $5.75.
M: No, the price went up to $6.50 back in May, actually.
SOC: I was here last weekend, it was $5.75. [Note: Don't you love the, "But last time...." customers?
]And all I wanted to say was, "I WORK HERE, YOU STUPID ****, I THINK I KNOW OUR TICKET PRICES!"
But I had to keep my cool.
M: No, I can assure you it has been up at $6.50 since May, when the big movies like Pirates of the Carribbean came out.
SOC: *5 minute tangent I don't recall verbatim (despite me having a massive line of customers behind her) about how seniors didn't have jobs, and how prices should never, ever go up for them and - AND! (this is the kicker, friends)- how this would never happen if minimum wage hadn't gone up. The month before, minmum wage had climbed from $8.10 to $8.60/h.
Excuse me, you old hag, but this would never happen if film distribution costs weren't so astronomically high! If actors didn't want millions of dollars per film, maybe you could see your movie for 5 bucks. It has nothing to do with the 16 and 17 year old kids trying to scrape enough cash to pay their cell phone bills.
Imagine what they'd say if we suddenly abolished the senior category, and they had to pay the full $10.50 that adults do.
****
Thankfully, since I've switched to various jobs where I work with legitimate adults and not just high schoolers, I haven't had to deal with any age discrimination as this. Both of those incidents just made me absolute seethe with anger, and it's nice to get them off my chest.
Comment