to think that a lot of the public have no manners and should keep their mouths shut?

[diamond457]

I work in a council tax office at reception. I am becoming increasingly annoyed with people that come in and make comments about my job.

I have people coming in and say things like 'what a boring job you have' or are you just sitting there waiting to win the lottery. The worst one is smile or cheer up it mite never happen. I'm sitting doing my job and there is nothing wrong with me but I hate people saying it as I find it so insensitive to say things like that to a total stranger who may be going through god knows what! A lot of these people who say I have a boring job don't even work!
I just ignore the people that say things like that to me or carry on looking at my computer screen and not acknowledge it and it soon wipes the smile off their face. Although customer service is important I don't believe in being fake and charming to people who are rude and abusive.


The joys of the public.

[Lottapianos]

That is shockingly rude of them! Its true that a lot of people have absolutely no manners. There are some lovely people around but being faced with the rude ones really gets you down. I think ignoring their pathetic behaviour is the way forward. Being customer-facing doesn't mean that you have to put up with endless amounts of crap

[thecatsarecrazy]

People are arseholes. I have to wear a name badge. I choose not to if I can get away with it. I have an unusual name so get lots of odd comments. The other day a man kept staring and mumbling. He said something to his wife and she said oh he's reading your name badge, she said my name and laughed. I gave them a dirty look and carried on

[anonymice]

I hate people who say cheer up it might never happen. They are the reason I look cross all the time. I am not in favour of the general public and think they should be abolished.....

[Realhousewivesofshit]

Are you the receptionist then? Or is your desk just in reception? If the first one then you are being unreasonable if the second one you arnt.

[Mybugslife]

I always get that I'm too young to work in my job....there's no age limit!!! And it makes me feel like I'm somehow inferior to the people who are older or that I don't know how to do my job! It's so annoying

[yerbutnobut]

Same theme, slightly different note...I had chemo last year and hair is short after just coming back beginning of year. I work in a shop and was serving at a till with my back turned to a few customers, an older guy said to his wife that he was going to ask the young man (me) for some advice once available, when I was I laughed (easy mistake to make) and said, young lady, he looked mortified and I felt sorry for him until he then rattled on about how you can never tell these days, girls looking like boys and vice versa. I then said well I don't exactly like having hair this short but unfortunately didn't have a choice due to chemo. His wife was bright red whilst he completely ignored what I'd just said and banged on. So rude to make generalised comments about a strangers appearance.

[CockacidalManiac]

The public can be a pain in the arse sometimes.

[TaterTots]

I'm going to go against the grain and say you're being unreasonable. Whilst it must get boring listening to it day in day out, it's part of the job. Can you name me one job with no downsides?

[RedSauceAndJellyJuice]

I bloody loved being a receptionist
Appealed to my sense of humour

[Lottapianos]

Part of the job? Being told to cheer up and having people suggest that your job must be deathly boring? I don't think so.

[BorpBorpBorp]

I think anyone who has worked in customer service can confirm that people are the absolute worst.

[coldcanary]

YANBU. My last receptionist job was at a gp surgery.
99% of the time it was a great job, the other 1% was utterly awful an made me detest the great British public! Rude comments, patronising people and the odd threat (as in to my life, my house and my children) because I couldn't deliver what they demanded right now this minute - on one memorable occasion I had someone demanding an appointment & threatening to have me fired while I was calling 999... She could have had it by that point!
Most are great but the knobs ruin it for everyone else.

[diamond457]

There are downsides to every job yes but I won't put up with complete strangers trying to put me down because of what job I do. It's a temporary posision so just a stop gap and I have another job lined up but for now it pays my bills and its not the public's business how boring it is and my face is not for decoration. I'm polite, friendly and deliver the service I'm supposed to. I'm not going to sit and say oh I'm sorry for not smiling the second you walked in the door when I'm in the middle of something.

A man came sauntering in with his dog one time and I said sorry but we aren't aloud dogs in the building. He asked me to hold his dog for him outside and when I said I have a job to do he said no your just sat on your arse. He said he was coming for me if something happened to his dog outside. He then bawled at me asking where the no dogs sign is and I told him it was in front of him.....total ass hole.
I draw the line of being nice to assholes and would rather have my self respect than a job where you need to pander to them...unless of course I was actually in the wrong.

[Greydog]

I tour guide and meet and greet at an historic site. Last week a coach party came in, most of whom ignored me and went straight to the cafe. One woman stood and stared at me as I spoke to her and her friend. Just stared, so I stopped what I was saying, and apologised as I hadn't realised they didn't speak English, and would they prefer French or German? (In those languages) she turned bright red, mumbled I am English, so I smiled sweetly and gave her a leaflet. You can have 100 decent people through, but it only takes one, and sadly rude people are becoming more common

[5tardusty]

Do you perhaps have "resting bitch face"? My sister does- she looks realy grumpy a lot of the time even though she is really quite chirpy and easy going. Maybe you look like youre unhappy.

I do agree that people shouldn't comment though. But until people learn to stop asking women questions such as 'why hasn't your fella popped the question?' Or 'still no babies then?' I think we've a long way to go.

[Iliveinalighthousewiththeghost]

I'll say it as I see it. Going to tax offices can be daunting enough for people. Without you sitting there looking Stone faced and unapproachable. A smile is all that's expected. No one is ever going to ask you to do s merry dance like a court jester.
Being friendly and smiley is part of working with the public. If you don't like it. Get out and let someone else do the job.

[Spiderpigspiderpig]

I agree with liveinalight
If you are the forefront of the company. The 1st person a customer sees, then that person needs to be smiley and friendly looking.
Doesn't sound like the right job for you.

Love the resting bitch face, never heard of that. My sis had it

[TaterTots]

Last week a coach party came in, most of whom ignored me and went straight to the cafe. One woman stood and stared at me as I spoke to her and her friend. Just stared, so I stopped what I was saying, and apologised as I hadn't realised they didn't speak English, and would they prefer French or German? (In those languages) she turned bright red, mumbled I am English, so I smiled sweetly and gave her a leaflet

Yeah, God forbid they should be enjoying themselves instead of making friends with the tour guide

[diamond457]

I am friendly and say hello to everyone that comes in and smile unless I am in the middle of typing something up then I just say hello when I see them. The people that say cheer up it mite never happen always catch me when I'm busy. I don't snub people.
I do know how to do my job but I hate rude comments and don't climb up prods backsides when they have been out of order or say something I find offensive. I am approachable and a nice person actually!

[diamond457]

I must also say I am getting out. New job starting soon, not one that is customer facing so I am sure I will have something different to moan about soon.