DEAR MISS MANNERS: When did having a bad day become an excuse to be rude in the customer service industry?
Frequently, I come across things online that state, “Maybe the person was having a bad day ... you never know what someone is going through.”
Yes, I agree that we never know what someone is going through. Isn’t that more of a reason to be kind, regardless of your own troubles? If you’re in the customer service industry, you don’t take it out on patrons.
Is kindness in the face of personal adversity not a sign of maturity? When my mother passed away, I still smiled and welcomed everyone warmly. I have suffered from major depressive disorder my whole life, but no one would know it.
It just seems that nowadays, people would rather be a victim to themselves and their troubles, and that makes it suddenly OK to take it out on others.
When we come home from work, we’re told to leave our work troubles at the door, so why does the same not apply to personal problems when you reach work?
I doubt anyone would give the go-ahead to be rude if someone said they were having a bad day, yet that is the idea being enforced when we tell people to excuse behavior because of a bad day. Where do you stand on this?
GENTLE READER: Right beside you, cheering.
(Please send your questions to Miss Manners at her website, www.missmanners.com; to her email, dearmissmanners@gmail.com; or through postal mail to Miss Manners, Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.)