People with no social skills

Olive8585

No, I don't mean people who are a bit shy or reserved, because I'm like that. I mean people who don't seem capable of the basic concept of interaction and respecting other people.

I was in the supermarket today and went to the self-service checkout queue. There was a guy hovering there with a basket, trying to get the attention of one of the staff. I was going to walk past him, as it looked like he was at one of the checkouts already and having an issue with it, but on the off-chance he was waiting, I said, "Sorry are you waiting?" He made an irritated expression, scowled, tutted and gestured forwards. As if saying "no, go ahead" was just beyond him. I get that he was in a bad mood but it wasn't my bloody fault!

Was at the dentist's yesterday to sort out a mistake THEY made with charging me. I had been told to come in at X o'clock and talk to 'Sarah', as she was the one who had the info to help me. Went into the reception area, for the receptionist to completely ignore me and keep typing. After a minute, I said 'Hi' and she said "Yes, I'll be with you in a minute" without looking up, making me feel like the biggest nuisance of all time. After about two more minutes, she looks up and says "yes?" I said "Is Sarah around?" She said, "no" looking at me if I was a complete and utter moron. I got that Sarah wasn't physically at her desk, but she could have been on lunch, having a fag, on the toilet, anywhere? She didn't offer any explanation as to why Sarah wasn't there or ask me why I was looking for her or any of the normal questions a normal person would ask, so I said, "Oh OK, is she not in today then? I had an appointment with her for this time." Receptionist says "No, she's off sick today." No offer to take a message, or ask what it was regarding, or see if anyone else could help. Then she looked back at her screen. I said, "OK then...I'll ring tomorrow to see if she's back...?" Receptionist says "Yeah, OK", still typing. I left in total disbelief that someone in a customer facing role could be so totally rude and sh1te at their job.

This seems to happen almost every day now and it seems to be mostly people under 25...what is it with these people having NO social skills at all? Is it because they grew up attached to mobile phones and the internet? I'm actually surprised now any time I meet a young person who smiles at you when they talk to you instead of looking irritated and put out, can hold a conversation and has some charm instead of seeming devoid of personality.

Cantremember

Its nothing to do with the internet. Since they sucked their mothers tit there are twenty something's who have been brought up to believe they are gods gift. Stop treating these types with respect. Treat them as the idiot drones they are and kick their self absorbed arses. Then you'll get your rights.

scottp68877

Maybe it's just you?

Archeron

Sorry for keeping you waiting OP, I'm Sarah. How can I help?

michellie

Stop now it's nothing to do with people under 25, I was screamed at in work last week from an older "gentleman" for something that was absolutely not my fault(his fault) but he refused to listen to me.

Maniac, I had to just walk away from him before I lost my cool.

KyussBishop

That's not a lack of social skills, that's just rudeness/being-a-díck.

AlwaysAnyTime

People who interrupt you talking and don't let you finish. You are trying to finish a sentence and can see they are just itching to cut you off and provide their more important opinion. With all due respect to people with ADD, they are the worst offenders.

deseil

You need to be more assertive that receptionist was rude and obnoxious and you let her away with it.
The dude in Tesco sounds like he was just peed off trying to use the brain melt self service tills.

Mr. Incognito

Youth of today!!!!

Rabble rabble rabble.

Rinse wash repeat.

Reminded of the militant grannies that would shoulder charge everyone to get on the bus first as if it was their right and the rest of us queuing were spectators.

Have a cup of tae.

Birneybau

Archeron wrote: »

Sorry for keeping you waiting OP, I'm Sarah. How can I help?

Hilarious. I love when people do that...

Olive8585

KyussBishop wrote: »

That's not a lack of social skills, that's just rudeness/being-a-díck.

In the case of the receptionist, I don't think think she knew she was being a d1ck. I find when you call these people out, they're usually shocked and hurt and don't understand what you're talking about.

deseil

Olive8585 wrote: »

In the case of the receptionist, I don't think think she knew she was being a d1ck. I find when you call these people out, they're usually shocked and hurt and don't understand what you're talking about.

But you didn't call her out you let her away with it, if you pointed out to her how rude(unhelpful) she was she may have changed her tune.

endacl

Olive8585 wrote: »

I find when you call these people out, they're usually shocked and hurt and don't understand what you're talking about.

So?

singledad80

I have to say I am very like that, I have no social skills what so ever, I am sorry its just I was very lonely child growing up and hardly any friends so I lack that skill in a big way I don't mean to be like that and I often forget that I do so I am really sorry its just really hard trying to fit in.

Aint Eazy Being Cheezy

singledad80 wrote: »

I have to say I am very like that, I have no social skills what so ever, I am sorry its just I was very lonely child growing up and hardly any friends so I lack that skill in a big way I don't mean to be like that and I often forget that I do so I am really sorry its just really hard trying to fit in.

You're grand, it's cool. Go back over to where you were, good stuff.

Curly Judge

Nothing at all to do with age but everything to do with ill rearing of a inbred semi - troglodyte class who think "please" and "thank you" and "excuse me" are signs of effeminacy .
These people were reared by parents who could fart more eloquently than they could speak so how were they ever going to learn the social graces most of us take for granted?
I remember when I worked in England in the late sixties and needed to phone home.
The telephone system back then was such that you had to first contact an English telephonist and they would put you through to their Irish counterpart.
On the English side it was generally "Yes Sir"...."Sorry to keep you waiting".... "Trying to connect you".
On the Irish side you would be spoken to in much the same terms as a farmer would address a revenue official outside a cattle market.
Sheer guttural rudeness and unhelpfulness !
It was like getting out of a warm soapy bath and then being plunged into a frozen bog-hole.

Actually I think our young people today are, on the whole, a great improvement, with a few dishonourable exceptions.

Frank Lee Midere

singledad80 wrote: »

I have to say I am very like that, I have no social skills what so ever, I am sorry its just I was very lonely child growing up and hardly any friends so I lack that skill in a big way I don't mean to be like that and I often forget that I do so I am really sorry its just really hard trying to fit in.

Well you are not in a customer facing role.

Olive8585

Curly Judge wrote: »

Nothing at all to do with age but everything to do with ill rearing of a inbred semi - troglodyte class who think "please" and "thank you" and "excuse me" are signs of effeminacy .
These people were reared by parents who could fart more eloquently than they could speak so how were they ever going to learn the social graces most of us take for granted?
I remember when I worked in England in the late sixties and needed to phone home.
The telephone system back then was such that you had to first contact an English telephonist and they would put you through to their Irish counterpart.
On the English side it was generally "Yes Sir"...."Sorry to keep you waiting".... "Trying to connect you".
On the Irish side you would be spoken to in much the same terms as a farmer would address a revenue official outside a cattle market.
Sheer guttural rudeness and unhelpfulness !
It was like getting out of a warm soapy bath and then being plunged into a frozen bog-hole.

Actually I think our young people today are, on the whole, a great improvement, with a few dishonourable exceptions.

I live in London. I think English customer service people are on the whole, much worse than their Irish counterparts.

Frank Lee Midere

Olive8585 wrote: »

No, I don't mean people who are a bit shy or reserved, because I'm like that. I mean people who don't seem capable of the basic concept of interaction and respecting other people.

I was in the supermarket today and went to the self-service checkout queue. There was a guy hovering there with a basket, trying to get the attention of one of the staff. I was going to walk past him, as it looked like he was at one of the checkouts already and having an issue with it, but on the off-chance he was waiting, I said, "Sorry are you waiting?" He made an irritated expression, scowled, tutted and gestured forwards. As if saying "no, go ahead" was just beyond him. I get that he was in a bad mood but it wasn't my bloody fault!

Was at the dentist's yesterday to sort out a mistake THEY made with charging me. I had been told to come in at X o'clock and talk to 'Sarah', as she was the one who had the info to help me. Went into the reception area, for the receptionist to completely ignore me and keep typing. After a minute, I said 'Hi' and she said "Yes, I'll be with you in a minute" without looking up, making me feel like the biggest nuisance of all time. After about two more minutes, she looks up and says "yes?" I said "Is Sarah around?" She said, "no" looking at me if I was a complete and utter moron. I got that Sarah wasn't physically at her desk, but she could have been on lunch, having a fag, on the toilet, anywhere? She didn't offer any explanation as to why Sarah wasn't there or ask me why I was looking for her or any of the normal questions a normal person would ask, so I said, "Oh OK, is she not in today then? I had an appointment with her for this time." Receptionist says "No, she's off sick today." No offer to take a message, or ask what it was regarding, or see if anyone else could help. Then she looked back at her screen. I said, "OK then...I'll ring tomorrow to see if she's back...?" Receptionist says "Yeah, OK", still typing. I left in total disbelief that someone in a customer facing role could be so totally rude and sh1te at their job.

This seems to happen almost every day now and it seems to be mostly people under 25...what is it with these people having NO social skills at all? Is it because they grew up attached to mobile phones and the internet? I'm actually surprised now any time I meet a young person who smiles at you when they talk to you instead of looking irritated and put out, can hold a conversation and has some charm instead of seeming devoid of personality.

Complain to the dentist. You don't have to go to him. The receptionists main job is people facing. Her main role is meeting people. If typing were her main role a he could be in a different room typing.

If she was genuinely busy she should stop , look up, and say "be with you in a second". The proper response to "is sara here" is "no, can I help you".

She's like a taxi driver who can't drive.

As for the other guy at the self service - he's not anybody's employee so I would write that off.

Frank Lee Midere

Olive8585 wrote: »

I live in London. I think English customer service people are on the whole, much worse than their Irish counterparts.

London maybe. I found the South West very friendly.

Frank Lee Midere

Curly Judge wrote: »

Nothing at all to do with age but everything to do with ill rearing of a inbred semi - troglodyte class who think "please" and "thank you" and "excuse me" are signs of effeminacy .
These people were reared by parents who could fart more eloquently than they could speak so how were they ever going to learn the social graces most of us take for granted?
I remember when I worked in England in the late sixties and needed to phone home.
The telephone system back then was such that you had to first contact an English telephonist and they would put you through to their Irish counterpart.
On the English side it was generally "Yes Sir"...."Sorry to keep you waiting".... "Trying to connect you".
On the Irish side you would be spoken to in much the same terms as a farmer would address a revenue official outside a cattle market.
Sheer guttural rudeness and unhelpfulness !
It was like getting out of a warm soapy bath and then being plunged into a frozen bog-hole.

Actually I think our young people today are, on the whole, a great improvement, with a few dishonourable exceptions.

With the exception of the feral underclass. I agree. The younger people are in Ireland the politer they are.

scwazrh

Curly Judge wrote: »

same terms as a farmer would address a revenue official outside a cattle market.

That's the best way of describing a persons level of rudeness I've heard in a while !

Tail Docker

deseil wrote: »

But you didn't call her out you let her away with it, if you pointed out to her how rude(unhelpful) she was she may have changed her tune.

i.e, it's all your fault OP. As per usual.


BTW, I'm with you - walk into a shop, you get a grunt, or "yeah?" or "you ok?" or just a glance up. It's like being in a Kevin and Perry sketch in some places.

Olive8585

Tail Docker wrote: »

i.e, it's all your fault OP. As per usual.


BTW, I'm with you - walk into a shop, you get a grunt, or "yeah?" or "you ok?" or just a glance up. It's like being in a Kevin and Perry sketch in some places.

LOL yeah I know. Someone was rude and it was my fault for not telling her she was rude?

I just remembered a new one. This one is with Americans. You say thank you and they say.......mmmm hmmm. Yes, mmmm hmmmm. This apparently has replaced 'you're welcome' for lots of Americans. Drives me insane. It's much worse than saying nothing.

Shakespeare's Sister

KyussBishop wrote: »

That's not a lack of social skills, that's just rudeness/being-a-díck.

Kinda the same thing, no?

I know exactly what you mean OP - you put it in a nut-shell when you said it was as if it was beyond the guy to say "Go ahead". The receptionist - what a ****. Bla bla you should have given out to her - you shouldn't have had to do anything; she was the one who shouldn't have behaved as she did.
The above kinda people aren't just rude, they're sort of... incapable of interacting in the normal way; it's as if they just can't do it, which I suppose isn't their fault, but it's still annoying.

KyussBishop

Separate to what the OP meant: Can we get rid of the idea/concept that 'no social skills' is a bad thing? There are plenty of reasons why people - through no fault of their own - end up deficient in this area, and have a lot of trouble regaining their abilities here (especially as an adult), so it's kind of a shít thing to judge someone by as well.

KyussBishop

Magaggie wrote: »

Kinda the same thing, no?

I know exactly what you mean OP - you put it in a nut-shell when you said it was as if it was beyond the guy to say "Go ahead". The receptionist - what a ****. Bla bla you should have given out to her - you shouldn't have had to do anything; she was the one who shouldn't have behaved as she did.
The above kinda people aren't just rude, they're sort of... incapable of interacting in the normal way; it's as if they just can't do it, which I suppose isn't their fault, but it's still annoying.

No, it's completely different - you can have underdeveloped social skills, without being rude at all; it's kind of an insult to anyone who has had to deal with issues which isolate them socially, leading to a deterioration in their social skills (a lot more common than people think - and judging people based on that, is about as shítty a thing to do, as judging a person suffering from depression, for being 'negative' or depressed).

Frank Lee Midere

KyussBishop wrote: »

Separate to what the OP meant: Can we get rid of the idea/concept that 'no social skills' is a bad thing? There are plenty of reasons why people - through no fault of their own - end up deficient in this area, and have a lot of trouble regaining their abilities here (especially as an adult), so it's kind of a shít thing to judge someone by as well.

The problem is the thread title. I am with her on the rude receptionist, I wouldn't be too upset by the guy in the self service queue. Plenty of people with low social skills ( like lack of confidence etc.) are nevertheless not rude.

Thread should be titled. "Rude people".

KyussBishop

Frank Lee Midere wrote: »

The problem is the thread title. I am with her on the rude receptionist, I wouldn't be too upset by the guy in the self service queue. Plenty of people with low social skills ( like lack of confidence etc.) are nevertheless not rude.

Ya - I see what the OP is saying, just a poorly chosen title/thing-to-pin-the-blame-on.

Stheno

Its nothing to do with upbringing etc imo.

I have been personality tested a few times, every time they mention that I am very introverted but have learned to deal with social situations using various methods.

Where I do not have to be sociable, I simply am not, e.g. tonight in the supermarket something wouldn't scan, I was annoyed, and made that clear.

The staff member didn't believe me when I told them the price of the item, said I was lying and got it checked, and held me up five minutes.

Lo and behold it was the price I said, I've no interest either in engaging with people etc

That said I have good manners and loathe those with bad manners

Shakespeare's Sister

Oh yeh rudeness can be at any age - I don't know why under-25s are being brought into it.

Curly Judge wrote: »

Nothing at all to do with age but everything to do with ill rearing of a inbred semi - troglodyte class who think "please" and "thank you" and "excuse me" are signs of effeminacy .
These people were reared by parents who could fart more eloquently than they could speak so how were they ever going to learn the social graces most of us take for granted?

Not sure it's everything to do with that either. Staggeringly rude people can be from all walks of life.

Lou.m

Olive8585 wrote: »

No, I don't mean people who are a bit shy or reserved, because I'm like that. I mean people who don't seem capable of the basic concept of interaction and respecting other people.

I was in the supermarket today and went to the self-service checkout queue. There was a guy hovering there with a basket, trying to get the attention of one of the staff. I was going to walk past him, as it looked like he was at one of the checkouts already and having an issue with it, but on the off-chance he was waiting, I said, "Sorry are you waiting?" He made an irritated expression, scowled, tutted and gestured forwards. As if saying "no, go ahead" was just beyond him. I get that he was in a bad mood but it wasn't my bloody fault!

Was at the dentist's yesterday to sort out a mistake THEY made with charging me. I had been told to come in at X o'clock and talk to 'Sarah', as she was the one who had the info to help me. Went into the reception area, for the receptionist to completely ignore me and keep typing. After a minute, I said 'Hi' and she said "Yes, I'll be with you in a minute" without looking up, making me feel like the biggest nuisance of all time. After about two more minutes, she looks up and says "yes?" I said "Is Sarah around?" She said, "no" looking at me if I was a complete and utter moron. I got that Sarah wasn't physically at her desk, but she could have been on lunch, having a fag, on the toilet, anywhere? She didn't offer any explanation as to why Sarah wasn't there or ask me why I was looking for her or any of the normal questions a normal person would ask, so I said, "Oh OK, is she not in today then? I had an appointment with her for this time." Receptionist says "No, she's off sick today." No offer to take a message, or ask what it was regarding, or see if anyone else could help. Then she looked back at her screen. I said, "OK then...I'll ring tomorrow to see if she's back...?" Receptionist says "Yeah, OK", still typing. I left in total disbelief that someone in a customer facing role could be so totally rude and sh1te at their job.

This seems to happen almost every day now and it seems to be mostly people under 25...what is it with these people having NO social skills at all? Is it because they grew up attached to mobile phones and the internet? I'm actually surprised now any time I meet a young person who smiles at you when they talk to you instead of looking irritated and put out, can hold a conversation and has some charm instead of seeming devoid of personality.

A moments interaction is not a good representation. Perhaps if you had seen them the next day you would have got on famously.

Social interaction is a two way thing.

Introverts are not shy or lacking in social skill. We are people who need space.

Grumpiness comes from bitterness or stress.

Generally I find people very nice.

NoCrackHaving

I don't know where the under 25's thing came into it.

In my experience working in a job where I made contact with all walks of Irish life the rudest people bar none were men and women from rural backgrounds in their late 50s and up, by far. People the same age from cities and towns were perfectly fine but god they were ****ers.

Actually I find that Irish people are generally friendlier and more polite the younger the generation these days. I assume it's a generational thing but the older generations definately seem more 'reserved', almost the sort of thing you associate with some English people.

nomdeboardie

Curly Judge wrote: »

... who think "please" and "thank you" and "excuse me" are signs of effeminacy ...

... parents who could fart more eloquently than they could speak ...

Olive8585

KyussBishop wrote: »

Ya - I see what the OP is saying, just a poorly chosen title/thing-to-pin-the-blame-on.

I already explained that I DON'T mean shy/reserved/introverted or people who aren't outgoing or overly social. I mean people who don't make the slightest bit of effort to make others feel comfortable and don't seem to know how to deal with people at all.

NoCrackHaving wrote: »

I don't know where the under 25's thing came into it.

In my experience working in a job where I made contact with all walks of Irish life the rudest people bar none were men and women from rural backgrounds in their late 50s and up, by far. People the same age from cities and towns were perfectly fine but god they were ****ers.

Actually I find that Irish people are generally friendlier and more polite the younger the generation these days. I assume it's a generational thing but the older generations definately seem more 'reserved', almost the sort of thing you associate with some English people.

Yep, younger Irish people are grand. Maybe it's a London thing.

FreshKnickers

AlwaysAnyTime wrote: »

People who interrupt you talking and don't let you finish. You are trying to finish a sentence and can see they are just itching to cut you off and provide their more important opinion. With all due respect to people with ADD, they are the worst offenders.

That's fupping annoying though, isn't it? When you're halfway through your sentance and their face bubbles up because they want to say something and they're just holding onto the thought until you're done so they can go. You know they're not listening so what's the point in even finishing your sentance? I should start randomly giving away prizes at the ends of my sentances sometimes. Not all the time of course, just the odd time. Maybe then people will hang around for the full stop before they start braying.

Bribing people to listen to me.

FullblownRose

I know someone who is outgoing, some would say forward and loud, and not apparently shy. He looked me up and down slowly in a weird way as I was walking towards him once, and when I mentioned it to a frend they suggested that he might be socially anxious and this isn't a reflection of his opinion of me. I know socially awkward people might be shy of making eye contact, so how does staring at someone for too long equate to social awkwardness/lack of social skills? Surely a socially awkward person would be embarassed if they were caught taring like that or doing something that might make them look bad?

Lack of social skills and rudeness are two diferent things, I think.

donegal__road

Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about, be kind.

Shakespeare's Sister

donegal__road wrote: »

Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about, be kind.

Two-way street!

That receptionist obviously wasn't thinking along those lines.

donegal__road

Magaggie wrote: »

Two-way street!

That receptionist obviously wasn't thinking along those lines.

I just had another look at your OP, and my guess is that Sarah is not popular.






.

Olive8585

Magaggie wrote: »

Two-way street!

That receptionist obviously wasn't thinking along those lines.

Exactly. It's not exactly hard to be nice to people, is it? No matter what sorts of personal trauma I'm going through, I don't scowl and snap and grunt at people who have done nothing wrong.

Shakespeare's Sister

Friends and I went for a meal the other day - the girl at the bar was severely irritated by us asking for menus. Then when she brought down our drinks, she slammed the drinks on the table without a word. We had been nothing but pleasant to her - she was just being an asshole. Even if she is going through a bad time, so what? Some of the group I was with are too, and they didn't take it out on her.

We weren't expecting to be fawned over either - just not treated with contempt. Hardly a lot to ask of someone who works with customers.

ColeTrain

Magaggie wrote: »

Friends and I went for a meal the other day - the girl at the bar was severely irritated by us asking for menus. Then when she brought down our drinks, she slammed the drinks on the table without a word. We had been nothing but pleasant to her - she was just being an asshole. Even if she is going through a bad time, so what? Some of the group I was with are too, and they didn't take it out on her.

We weren't expecting to be fawned over either - just not treated with contempt. Hardly a lot to ask of someone who works with customers.

You should have asked for her manager and then told him/her that you were leaving and explain why.

Going out for a meal these days is expensive enough, fúck being served with a bad attitude on top of the expense, go somewhere else.

guitarzero

Some ppl need to hear it. If someone is being rude, call them on it without hesitation.

Frito

I had an issue with a hotel staff member (she might have been the duty manager) who was quite disrespectful to me. Myself and a disabled companion were going to the hotel bar for a drink but there wasn't any disabled access at the front of the building, it was a long way round the back and not at all signposted. I badly needed the loo whilst I was figuring out how to get my companion in, so I went in to use it.

The staff member was more concerned with asserting that the hotel's toilet facilities were not for public use, and when I explained that my companion was waiting outside for me to bring them in her response was 'so you're just going to leave them there are you?'. I was furious!

I spoke to her about it afterwards, and she just maintained it was her job to make sure people weren't coming in off the street to use the toilet. I agreed but said her manner was rude to continue to suspect me when she could see my companion was waiting outside, unable get in, when her correct response should've been 'can I get someone to help you?'.

WilyCoyote

OP, if what you're saying is true ...... she wouldn't last a nano second here.
Void personalities are a problem ...... but the HR that give them the job are at fault. An interview can gauge the personality of the interviewee. Or, in this case, if the interviewer is the employer ....... then he/she was too deeply into their studies to develop the nose for such things. Good luck.

Dublinpato

If you meet an A**hole today..well you've met an A**hole. If you meet an A**hole everyday then maybe you're the A**hole.

But on the serious side OP don't let it get to you, if someone is being rude to you, be polite back to them, being rude back to these people only fuels their rudeness and then everyone's having a bad day. So the next time you meet a grumpy just smile and be polite and if you really want to grind their gears throw in a (have a nice day) before you walk away. You never know OP your politeness might rub off that person and they might actually stop being rude.

beks101

I would totally call someone on that. Be a pain in the ass back.

"I'm sorry, is there a problem here? Is this something you can help me with, because I specifically came in to see Sarah? Can you call her please, thanks. I'll wait."

And then "OK then, I'll talk to (dentist) if you can't help me."

No-one whose job it is to help the general public should get away lightly with being a dick. I'd actually take pleasure in being a dick back.

ncmc

Not everyone feels comfortable pulling someone else up on rudeness or asking to speak to a manager. The fact remains that the receptionist shouldn't be in a customer facing role if she can't even be polite and helpful to customers. The OP shouldn't feel like she had to pull her up on it.

I'm in a customer facing role and have to deal with some awful eegits, some days you might be having a bad day and would love to tell them to f*ck right off, but I'm paid to deal with them and it's not their fault I'm having a bad day.

I'm normally very unconfrontational but was in my local service station queueing for breakfast last week (they also have a sit down cafe area) I asked the girl behind the counter for two full Irish breakfasts (which probably every second person was getting) She rolled her eyes back so far that she must have been able to see the inside of her brain, before asking if I wanted brown or white toast. Now this really peed me off because it was so blatant and obvious. So I said "sorry what's with the eye rolling?" She was stunned that I pulled her up and started stuttering "what...no" so I said "did you just roll your eyes when I asked for breakfast?" "No, no I just asked if you wanted brown or white toast" and so we carried on and she was nice as pie after that, offered to help me down with my tray etc! As I say, I'm normally not one for confronting people, but bare faced rudeness like that is just not on.

SusieBlue

When I worked in retail I worked in a big department store. One day, a lady came up to me almost in tears because she just realised she had lost her phone somewhere in the store and it had lots of sentimental photos on it of some now deceased relative or another.

I was taking down a description of the phone from the now tearful lady when this absolute MORON barged up to the counter (ignoring the "please wait here" sign and 2 other customers), cut across the crying lady mid sentence and demanded to know the price of some t-shirt she had in her hand, almost pushing her out of the way in the process.

I completely ignored her and asked the (now shocked) woman to continue what she was saying. Within 2 seconds, she cut across and asked again, this time with elaborate hand gestures as if I was some sort of numpty not understanding the question. I explained that I was dealing with another customer and that if she bared with me, I'd check for her asap.

She sighed loudly and waited mere millimetres from the other customers shoulder, giving us both evils and trying to be intimidating. I was still taking details (getting the customer to retrace her steps mentally, etc.) when she interrupted again. At this stage I was struggling to be polite but asked her nicely to please have patience and I'd be with her shortly.

Then she told the other customer that she was wasting everyones time and that we all had better things to be doing than searching the shop for the stupid phone. I asked her to please stop harassing other customers and her answer was "I wouldn't be harassing anyone if you just checked the bleeping price for me when I asked, its your job, come on now and check it for me like a good girl". I ignored the comment only for the moron to practically shout "EXCUSE MEEE I ASKED YOU A QUESTION!!!!".

At this point I was in shock that someone could be this ignorant and rude, so my A1 customer service skills (;)) went out the window and I told the lady that if she interrupted me one more time I'd have her removed from the store.

She became highly indignant and flounced off muttering about us "never getting her good money again". The whole thing lasted less than 5 minutes which is not a long wait, especially in the circumstances. Everyone could see that the lady was very upset. No other customers had a problem waiting given what was going on, a few even asked if they could help look for it when she was leaving the counter.

She was single handedly probably the rudest, stupidest most ignorant I've ever met. The type that goes to Kildare Outlet centre for a spot of shopping and drops a few hundred euro on a polo shirt, if you know what I mean. Money can't buy manners, though.

R.D. aka MR.D

I live in Asia and the amount of socially awkward expats that you meet here is insane.

I understand that they come here because the locals can't notice how weird they are but it makes them very frustrating to work with.

There is a guy that works part time with me. Now, i'm about 5'6' and he's definitely over 6ft and when i say hello to him, the look of terror in his eyes is hard to take. I've actually stopping trying to speak to him because he looks so afraid.