Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

At the library

Collapse
This topic is closed.
X
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • At the library

    I suppose technically the individual in this post wasn't really a 'customer', but this is the closest place I can find to put it.

    So yesterday I went to the library to do some research. As usual, I took along my crusty old laptop for internet access and to take notes. While the library has computers, you are limited to only 30 minutes if there are others waiting (and there is ALWAYS a list), but if you bring your WiFi-equipped laptop, you don’t have that limitation.

    I was doing my thing at a table near the back of the library. I’d pushed the laptop aside for a few minutes while I was reading when out of the blue, a woman planted her ass in the chair across from me, turned my laptop to face her, and just began using it like it was her own personal property. No ‘Hello’, no ‘May I…’, NOTHING.

    Now, if she had ASKED first, I probably would have been okay with it – though I would have saved my notes first. But she DIDN’T ask, and when I spoke up about it, she gave me this look like she’d accidentally discovered some new kind of particularly disgusting fungus – and, ignoring me, went right back to clattering away on the keyboard.

    Don’t ask, and then ignore me? Congratulations, baby. You’ve just discovered how to cold-start my ‘asshole’ mode.

    I reached over and yanked the power cord out of the laptop. The battery in this thing is completely shot, so once the adapter is unplugged, it shuts off instantly.

    Cue the rage. How DARE I deny her access to the Internet?

    MY laptop, lady. Bring your own, wait your turn for the public terminals, or ASK before using someone else’s property.

    She blathered on about how it was a PUBLIC library. Indeed it is. But ‘public’ doesn’t extend to MY laptop.

    When it became clear that I wasn’t buying into her half-assed argument, she stomped off to the front desk. I don’t know what was said there – I wasn’t close enough to hear the exchange, but there were several gestures in my general direction, and apparently she didn’t like the librarian’s answer, because she became even MORE agitated. A bit more of the flailing of the arms and she finally stomped out of the library altogether.

    On a side note, I got big love for Auto-Save.

  • #2
    If someone had done that with my laptop, I wouldn't have yanked the power cord, but I would have reached over and shut the laptop and then pulled it back to myself.

    I probably would have had a few choice words for her, too. Mostly of the four-letter variety.
    PWNADE(TM) - Serve up a glass today! | PWNZER - An act of pwnage so awesome, it's like the victim got hit by a tank.

    There are only Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse because I choose to walk!

    Comment


    • #3
      It's a "public library" so your laptop is public, huh? I guess that means so is her purse. Thanks for the cash!


      Yeah, let's see how well that one would have gone over.


      And yanking out the power cord is a hell of a lot nicer than I would have been. I commend you on your restraint.
      "If your day is filled with firefighting, you need to start taking the matches away from the toddlers…” - HM

      Comment


      • #4
        My response would have started with closing the laptop on her fingers.

        Comment


        • #5
          I do believe you ran into a relative of the person I dealt with some time back.

          Yeah, hands off my computer. Not going to happen.
          Random conversation:
          Me: Okay..so I think I get why Zoro wears a bandana
          DDD: Cuz it's cool

          So, by using the Doctor's reasoning, bow ties, fezzes and bandanas are cool.

          Comment


          • #6
            Quoth Rodimal View Post
            My response would have started with closing the laptop on her fingers.
            This, totally. And if I was feeling like being proactive, I'd've told staff about her and probably gotten her written up or kicked out for the day. One time offenders are often repeat offenders.

            Comment


            • #7
              Quoth camjuniper View Post
              This, totally. And if I was feeling like being proactive, I'd've told staff about her and probably gotten her written up or kicked out for the day. One time offenders are often repeat offenders.
              Tempting though that is, it's probably better that I didn't think of it. I could see someone that self-entitled filing a complaint for assault - and if she'd been injured even slightly, well.... I'm sure you can divine the implications of THAT.

              A more immediate concern, though, would be the welfare of the laptop itself. Suddenly closing up a laptop when there's something obstructing the lid usually doesn't end well. Something's going to give, either the hinges or - more likely - the display. Replacing either on a machine this old would cost considerably more than it's worth.

              It IS very old, true enough, and I do plan on replacing it with something newer in the coming months, but for now, I'd like to keep it functional. I *COULD* replace the machine right now if I needed to, but I'd rather not.

              I'd like to point out, in all honesty, that this logic is all the result of retrospect. NONE of it passed through my noggin at that particular moment. If I *HAD* thought of slamming the lid shut, I probably would have, because I'm not the most rational person when I'm in asshole mode.

              Comment


              • #8
                Quoth Crossbow View Post
                It's a "public library" so your laptop is public, huh? I guess that means so is her purse. Thanks for the cash!


                Yeah, let's see how well that one would have gone over.


                And yanking out the power cord is a hell of a lot nicer than I would have been. I commend you on your restraint.
                I wish I'd thought of this. Or maybe her car keys.

                Comment


                • #9
                  Quoth Crossbow View Post
                  It's a "public library" so your laptop is public, huh? I guess that means so is her purse. Thanks for the cash!

                  *snip*
                  Love it! Her reaction would no doubt have been YouTube-worthy.

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Someday, she'll probably do this to someone who has a laptop and cell phone like mine. After she refuses to return the laptop, the owner can spend half a minute tapping on the phone and have the laptop make an annoying sound. Another minute of tapping, and the laptop reboots. It would then come up demanding an unlock code and displaying the message "Stolen from [name] by a woman who needs a lesson in public behavior."

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Y'alls more considerate than me even... I'd just pull out my phone, dial 911 and tell her she has 10 seconds to cease and desist before I press send and report the theft.
                      Yeah, I know that the 911 operator probably wouldn't be amused when I follow through on my threat, but 911 is to report crimes and at that point she would technically be guilty (excuse me suspect, guilt no matter how obvious can't be determined outside of court) of theft.
                      If you wish to find meaning, listen to the music not the song

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        i hate it when people think they can use personal property not belonging to them because of "entitlement rights" and what not. Uh, sorry pal....NOT gonna happen
                        NEVER underestimate the stupidity of the customer

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          My personal favorite is too much perfume. I was at a terminal yesterday, next to a woman who had obviously bathed in the stuff. I have pretty bad allergies so when I started coughing & sneezing, she got a snotty tone & told me to stay home if I'm sick. TWAT. I (loudly) told her it was a reaction to her OVERUSE OF PERFUME. Cue CatButtFace. I heard the staff snickering behind the desk.
                          Here Mr Customer, let me pull that out of my arse for you!

                          Comment

                          Working...
                          X