Snob throws a fit

[HotelMinion]

Well it's been snowy and bitterly cold lately, which means canceled flights and that means slow nights. I like slow nights. If every night were slow I'd like my job more.
I haven't even had a weirdo or a stoner, nary a drunk to deal with. I hope I don't jinx it. by saying that...:\
Well, I did get this rich snob who thought he was all that and a bag of chips. I was in the back, just relaxing, when someone told me someone needed service. SO I go.
I see this woman in raggedy, cheap clothes, bundled up from the cold.

Raggedy woman: Hi
Me: Hi can I help you
RW: Yes I need a room, what is your rate?
Me: Let's check the computer...

I go to the computer, which is in Sleep Mode, so it would take a while to start up again. I look up and nearly am nose to nose with this well dressed, suited old man with a grumpy, early morning expression on.

Me: Hi
Old Man: Hi I need a taxi.
Me: Okay. I'll call you one.
Old Man: And I need an envelope.
Me: Sorry, what?
OM: I NEED AN ENEVELOPE!

I started looking around for one, and finally computer boots up. I look at the rate for the lady.

Me: *to RW* The rate's--
OM: *huffs angrily*
Me: One eighty--
OM: Excuse me! *bangs hands* Hurry up I'm in a hurry! *tapping fingers and toes*
Me: Ok, you see, I was just telling her the rate. I saw her first so--
OM: I was here first! And even if I wasn't, you should serve me first, I'm a guest in the hotel! She's just a--*makes sour face at RW, who backs off slooowly*

His jerkicity just bumped him right to the last in my queue.

Me: *in full ignore mode* Ma'am the rate's 186.
RW: Ok...thank you.
OM: *ranting and raving, throws disgusted looks at RW and me*
RW: *leaves in a hurry*
Me: *looking around for anyone else* Next please?
OM: I'M RECORDING THIS! I WANT YOUR NAME FULL AND LAST AND I WANT A FREE CERTIFICATE THIS IS AN OUTRAGE!

My manager came out after hearing the fuss and brought his envelope. I called his taxi, but made sure to get the most expensive one. Hell, he can afford it.

My (and the hotel's) policy is first come, first served, no matter who you are. Once the governor stayed (I don't follow politics so I didn't know who he was other than he was some famous politician) and I just treated him just like any other person. "Good morning, Check in or check out? ID and form of payment please." He looked at me like I was crazy for a moment, but did as I said. His assistants looked at like I had lost my mind, but I don't care. the manager thought I ought to have bowed and scrape to him, and pushed me out of the way, but I wouldn't have. He puts his pants on one leg at a time like everyone else, and bleeds red like everyone. Rich or poor, you're all the same to ME!

He (snobby old man)and that woman I had the other day who demanded a free room because she worked in the gym next to us should get together...

[Silent-Hunter]

What an arsebag.

[An Haddock]

You should have asked "next please" and then completely ignored the old man like he was invisible.

"Next? Anyone? Next? That's funny... I thought there was someone else here."

[taxguykarl]

that woman I had the other day who demanded a free room because she worked in the gym next to us should get together...

OK, I'll bite: by what kind of logic does working at nearby gym entitle one to a free hotel room?

[Jay 2K Winger]

OK, I'll bite: by what kind of logic does working at nearby gym entitle one to a free hotel room?

Insane troll logic, usually.

[JustaCashier]

I like your attitude, Minion. Even if OM was a nice guy, he's no better than any other (nice) person.

I'm just surprised he didn't ask/demand that you guys lick the damn envelope for him, because it would be beneath him to have to taste the lousy flavored glue!

Mike

[Pixilated]

You should have asked "next please" and then completely ignored the old man like he was invisible.

"Next? Anyone? Next? That's funny... I thought there was someone else here."

Oooh, I love that ... it is truly EEEBIL.

[Sapphire Silk]

I've gotten this kind of attitude when we've had local "celebrities" in the ER, usually local news personalities not anyone really famous or who has any real influence.

Managers seemed to think the red carpet treatment should be given.

Yeah, right. I treat everyone the same way: with courtesy and respect, and genuine caring. I kiss no one's ass simply because they are a "celebrity."

[mikoyan29]

As a governor, he is elected by the people and therefore is a servant of the people and not the other way around.

[raudf]

Yup, acting like the "famous" are normal people is honestly the way to go. We'd get our local celebs (news people, politicians, etc) that'd come into the repair center from time to time. Heck, I'm lucky if I can remember my own name on a good day, so I'm not gonna waste brain space trying to remember other people unless I talk to them at least once a week.

I got some weird looks from my co-workers for just doing my job and not going all fan-girl on 'em. Will fan-girling get the job done? Nope. It'd have slowed things down, made the "super, uber, important person" angry and made me look idiotic in the process. I was my normally polite, slightly upbeat, job oriented person I normally was.

In fact, I still carded them when they came in to pick up their products.. even knowing exactly who they are. I made my extended family members show ID. (I didn't help them, so they had to show ID. I'm evil like that.) It's company policy and guess who really paid my wages? (I mean, no customer was going to write a check to ME, after all!)

[An Haddock]

Oooh, I love that ... it is truly EEEBIL.

There was a New Twilight Zone (or Tales from the Darkside?) episode like that... your punishment was being branded with a thing on your forehead and everyone would ignore you. Didn't sound that bad at first, but after a while it drove the person batty.

[greensinestro]

Well, isn't Old Man special? And it's always the rich who demand free stuff when they're "ignored".

[Shalom]

There was a New Twilight Zone (or Tales from the Darkside?) episode like that... your punishment was being branded with a thing on your forehead and everyone would ignore you.

I vaguely remember something like that from an old SF story. (Ray Bradbury sounds about right.) Some guy was convicted of antisocial tendencies or something, and his punishment was to be smitten with incurable B.O., so nobody would want to go near him. His only escape was the swimming pool, but as soon as he got out he started to stink again. Sound familiar to anyone?

(I stopped reading Bradbury thirty years ago. Great writer, but so depressing...)

[Eireann]

There was a New Twilight Zone (or Tales from the Darkside?) episode like that... your punishment was being branded with a thing on your forehead and everyone would ignore you. Didn't sound that bad at first, but after a while it drove the person batty.

Yes, I remember. The person was sentenced to be "invisible", and had a brand on the forehead. The guy who's sentenced to invisibility loves it at first, because he can get away with everything, but then he becomes lonely because he can't talk to anyone. He's able to talk to a blind man for a few minutes, until someone leans over and whispers "Invisible" into the man's ear. He's also unable to get medical help when he's injured, because nobody will have anything to do with him once they see his forehead. Wearing a hat doesn't work, because the brand burns a hole in the hat.

[Jay 2K Winger]

There was a New Twilight Zone (or Tales from the Darkside?) episode like that... your punishment was being branded with a thing on your forehead and everyone would ignore you. Didn't sound that bad at first, but after a while it drove the person batty.

They had something like that in "Dishonored" as well. The Abbey of the Everyman has something called the "Heretic's Brand" that, when applied to an Overseer who has violated the Seven Strictures of their faith, makes it a minor civil offense to offer aid, shelter, or solace to anyone who bears it.

Spoiler related to the plot-- [The game is based around assassinating several key targets, or otherwise eliminating them in a non-lethal manner so they lose power/influence. One of the player-character's first targets is High Overseer Campbell, the leader of the Abbey, and the Brand is the non-lethal method of eliminating him. If you use it, you can actually encounter Campbell in a later mission, having caught the plague infecting the city and become a 'Weeper.']