Cats and Clerks
Sep. 8th, 2005 08:23 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
missroseroseI think my cat is a bit smarter than the average cat that the writers of Cat Fancy come across. In this month's issue, there was a suggestion for bored cats: "Buy a food dispensing toy, or make one of your own! Simply fill an empty toilet paper tube partway with food, tape the ends shut, and cut a hole in the side! Your cat will be entertained for hours!" Dexter is currently happily engaged in ripping the whole thing apart. I guess he prefers to have his food all at once...
On a completely unrelated note, I've never liked the tradition retailers have of making customer service employees wear name tags. I suppose I can understand the idea - you're trying to be friendly and helpful, so the name tag allows customers to feel more at ease, or something - but it's always struck me as a bit demeaning. There are all sorts of traditions in various cultures about when and how you can use someone's name, because it gives you power over them; even though we may not believe that these days, there's something to the stories. For one thing, when someone calls you by name, it tends to put you at a brief disadvantage - most people will first think "Do I know this person?" and often panic when they realize they don't. I guess that even though names are considered relatively valueless in this society (so much so that we tend to reuse the same few thousand in a country of several hundred million), I personally don't like people to have my name unless I've given it to them. I can't help but think that there are a few people in low-wage retail jobs who might agree with me.
In a way, I suppose it's quite possibly a classist thing. Plenty of higher-up jobs require the use of name tags - surgeons, for instance - but they almost always say "Dr. {lastname}" or just have a first initial and last name. Having your first name being blazed out to the general public whether you like it or not sends the message that you are beneath the customer, and therefore it's okay to abuse you (by name, which is even worse than in general). The same way that so many minimum wage jobs require drug screening, despite the fact that it's rather expensive and that the only drug likely to be detected (marijuana) is also the most innocuous. Everything else burns through your system too quickly.
I dunno. I know almost everyone's worked low wage jobs before, so maybe I'm just overthinking this. But since reading Nickel and Dimed it's just something I've noticed more...
On a completely unrelated note, I've never liked the tradition retailers have of making customer service employees wear name tags. I suppose I can understand the idea - you're trying to be friendly and helpful, so the name tag allows customers to feel more at ease, or something - but it's always struck me as a bit demeaning. There are all sorts of traditions in various cultures about when and how you can use someone's name, because it gives you power over them; even though we may not believe that these days, there's something to the stories. For one thing, when someone calls you by name, it tends to put you at a brief disadvantage - most people will first think "Do I know this person?" and often panic when they realize they don't. I guess that even though names are considered relatively valueless in this society (so much so that we tend to reuse the same few thousand in a country of several hundred million), I personally don't like people to have my name unless I've given it to them. I can't help but think that there are a few people in low-wage retail jobs who might agree with me.
In a way, I suppose it's quite possibly a classist thing. Plenty of higher-up jobs require the use of name tags - surgeons, for instance - but they almost always say "Dr. {lastname}" or just have a first initial and last name. Having your first name being blazed out to the general public whether you like it or not sends the message that you are beneath the customer, and therefore it's okay to abuse you (by name, which is even worse than in general). The same way that so many minimum wage jobs require drug screening, despite the fact that it's rather expensive and that the only drug likely to be detected (marijuana) is also the most innocuous. Everything else burns through your system too quickly.
I dunno. I know almost everyone's worked low wage jobs before, so maybe I'm just overthinking this. But since reading Nickel and Dimed it's just something I've noticed more...
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Date: 2005-09-09 06:25 pm (UTC)Name tags and the people that wear them.
Date: 2005-09-10 08:24 am (UTC)Fire fighters. First name or last name or both.
EMT and Paramedics. First name last initial.
Pharmacy Employees. First or Full name with title.
Mechanics. First name with title.
Nuclear Engineers. Full name with title.
Hotel Employees. First name with title.
Theme Park Employees. First name with home town.
Cashiers. First name.
Restaurant Staff. First name.
TSA. First and last name.
Airport staff and Flight Attendants. First name and title.
Anonymity is not a sign of a higher class. Giving a person your name initiates trust and establishes a relationship. In any business in order to sell a product whether it be clothes at a department store, a meal at a restaurant or tickets in an amusement park, trust is imperative in keeping the customer interested.
Your name can give you individuality among the masses. Especially in a retail location where you are one of hundreds of employees that all dress similar. It can tell people that even though you may be working at a low income job, you are not ashamed to be identified. That you're not just a service to them you are a human being.
Every time I check out at Safeway, I depart with a "thank you Ms. Merritt, you've saved blank amount of money for using your club card." I am reminded of the check I have written to purchase my food and what nots. The check gives the cashier my first and last name, my billing address, my telephone number and bank account number (at the bottom of the check). It's only the least bit friendly or helpful that they reveal their first name to me.
Mainly only trying to amuse myself. I'm not trying to be completely antagonistic or make an enemy. Just a different point of view.
Also I think your cat is oh so very awesome. I'm very jealous of his cute, fuzzy curiosity. Happy kitty snuggling.
Re: Name tags and the people that wear them.
Date: 2005-09-11 12:11 am (UTC)Out of curiousity, do I know you? Your username sounds very familiar and your info page says you're here in Juneau, but I'm drawing a total blank on who you are...sorry.
Hello My Name is Crystal.
Date: 2005-09-11 12:59 am (UTC)Re: Hello My Name is Crystal.
Date: 2005-09-11 06:39 am (UTC)I'm Rose. Nice to meet you. =)