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So, I'm in Starbucks a LOT. It's a really great way for me (and the bf) to get work done without the distractions of being home.
The one thing I've realized during my time here is the fact that some patrons (in Starbucks and other public venues) lack basic etiquette. Since I'm not the classiest person in the world, I usually give people the benefit of the doubt when it comes to this. But, I do believe that simple consideration for your fellow human beings is a foundational trait.
With that being said, here are a few simple things to keep in mind when in a public place:
Use headphones. What's up with people watching movies and listening to music like they're at home?? Today we were sitting next to two women that turned on their computer with the volume so loud that felt like we were watching it in a public amphitheater. On the train, we sat across from a teenager who played his iPod as if it were a modern boombox...and singing along as if he were on American Idol: F Train Edition. Why is this okay??
Inside voice, please. Whether you're inside a tiny coffee shop or your local strip mall, if you need to talk on the phone, please take it outside. I've heard many conversations (not by choice) about dinner options, medical conditions, dating adventures, etc. I really don't need to know that you're deciding between chicken and meatloaf, or the fact that you think you got an STD because of your burning reproductive parts. Seriously.
Stand in line. Why do some people insist that blocking the door or crowding around the cashier will help expedite their purchases quicker? Or worse, skipping ahead as if the cashier was a bouncer they knew at a local club? This just results in: 1. Cashiers gravitating to the tall guy (so not me) 2. People shouting their orders like they were on the floor of the Stock Exchange. 3. Getting punched, slapped or shoulder shoved - 80's movie style. Please don't do it, and wait your turn.
Be polite. Use your eyes. Look around. Chances are, other people are around you! So, be nice. Speak politely. If you can't speak, use a bodily function to get someone's attention without being rude (a slight burp, a quiet fart, slightly urinate on yourself, etc.) Kidding about the last one (especially since releasing gas can be very offensive), but you know what I mean. Instead of shoving past someone by using your huge bookbag (or butt) say "excuse me" (again, nicely - saying it with a loud attitude eliminates the "nice" factor...) If you're on the customer service end, take care of your customers. I know it's not the best job in the world, and we can be very difficult, but a little courtesy can easily turn a bad day into a slightly improved one.
Flush. No one needs to know what you had for dinner last night.
Say please and thank you. Please? Thank you!
=)
xoxo andrea
