Prejudices - I do confess!

Last week I had to go to an outlet of a well known Swedish home-centre and return some parts. Let me point out at first that the degree of service of the counter staff was excellent, nothing to complain about. I showed up at the counter as the first customer in the morning, being also the first in the queue. On the side of it there is a sign which says: “Please pick a number and we will call you”. Unfortunately I did not notice this sign, therefore I did not pick a number, but due to the fact that I have been the first in the waiting line, and was noticed my the service  employee at the counter, I was called to approach him first. I approached the counter with two carts full of products, one in the left and one in the right hand. While bravely manoeuvring my carts, the gentleman I passed by on my way while approaching the counter desk, stopped me, asking me what I was doing. He claimed that he was the first one to draw the number, and I should immediately step back. I kindly asked him to calm down, and that I did nothing else then approaching the counter as I were asked by the service employee.
At that point I just heard him complaining behind my back to all the others standing in the queue behind, about my rude behaviour and his “right” to be first. So far so good. I traded my goods in, but just needed a receipt from another desk to complete my transaction. I were told to come back with the paperwork and I just need to put it on the counter and everything would be set. I did as I were told, went back and handed in the form – without even needing the attention of the service employee. The lady that has been helped at the counter suddenly started to shout at me, by stating that she had to wait in line as well and I should get back immediately to the end of the queue.
At this point, I prefer not to provide the reader with details on how I was insulted, though some of these expressions I just knew from hearsay.
I see myself as a calm person, but that was definitely destroying the good mood I am usually in. And here come the prejudices and the generalization: I asked her if all people in Vienna (I am a country boy;)  are in a bad mood as a matter of principle and if they do not have anything better to do than just running around and being angry and grumpy?!?
I left the home-centre and went to the office by car, while being shocked even about my reaction. Part of my job is to work on a better understanding of diversity. How could I revert into stereotypes and prejudices?! (MaS)

About these ads