OK, again back to when I worked in that club.
It was "members only", but to promote the club as a students' place (as I lived in an University town) there was a policy in place: foreigners resident in the country got a 50% discount on the membership fee; foreigners *not* resident in the country got a "one-night" pass for a symbolic price. To be clear: when the membership (for one year) costed 20 Euro, a "foreign resident" could get it for 10 and a "one night pass" costed 1.
In comes an African guy (I specify it because he used this to attempt an, albeit minor, scam).
Me: the big guy at the door, on a slow night
SC: the guy mentioned above. He is tall and muscular
Boss: the awesome boss I mentioned in another post
DW: the cook of the club, a New Yorker of African descent (and very proud of it)
Maybe I should be specifying that all this was happening in Italy about 10 years ago, where there was a string presence of people from diverse countries and cultures but mostly first generation immigrants.
SC walks in ignoring me
Me: "Sorry mate, can I see your card please?"
SC: "Which card?"
Me (assuming he had never been in the club and therefore ignored its policy - even though it was written in clear letters on the door): This is a membership-only club, membership costs 20 Euro, I can fill in your membership application immediately if you have a document on you" (mind, in Italy it is considered a felony to not be carrying a form of personal identification)
SC: "But I only want to have a beer"
Me: "If you don't intend to apply for membership I can not allow you inside. However, there is a pub across the street if you only want to have a drink or two"
SC: "No, I have been here last week and your colleague has allowed me to get in with no card"
Me: "It seems very unlikely, but if it happened I'm sure it was an exception and I can not allow you in"
SC: "I will leave my document with you, can I get in?"
Me: "If you leave your document with me I will fill in your membership application."
SC hands me his document anyway, and I notice that he is not an Italian citizen but has an Italian ID card (and therefore is a resident). So I explain him that he has the right to have a 50% discount on the membership.
SC, changing topic: "You are racist, you don't let me in because I'm black"
Me: "Sir, I will allow you in the club if you have a membership card"
SC: "Look, there are Brothers in there!" (pointing at a group of people clearly of African descent)
Me: "This should prove that racism is not in question here. They all have their membership cards"
SC: "Call them and I will ask them to prove it! I am friends with [Boss] anyway"
Me: "I will not bother our members to accommodate your request Sir. And if you are friends with [Boss] you will know that he is strict in his policies"
SC: "I WANT TO TALK WITH [Boss]". Yes, in CAPITAL LETTERS. I am not small (no, I am not), but he was towering over me.
Boss peeks from his "office".
Boss: "Who is calling me?"
SC: "He won't let me in!"
Boss: "Do you have a membership card?"
SC: "No, but..."
Boss (interrupting him): "So he is right to not allow you in the club. Goodbye" (and disappears)
SC (towards the office): "HEY! I WILL TELL EVERYBODY THAT YOU ARE RACISTS!"
Boss (comes out from the office, clearly upset. he is as tall as the SC): "I do not accept you insulting me and my club this way. Now please, leave."
SC: "I do not talk to racists." - and of course doesn't show any intention to leave.
Boss: "OK, wait here", and walks away. He comes back after less than a minute with DW, our cook. Who is an African-American (and a former US Army Officer as well).
DW: "Any problem?"
SC: "You understand me! You will! These guys are racists! They won't let me in the club!"
DW: "Mate, I know them. I work with them. They are definitely not racists. You need a membership card to come in here"
SC: "Why, do you have one?"
DW: "I am working here, you genius! Anyway yes, I do"
SC seems puzzled. Then rummages in his pockets. Produces... yes. You guessed it. a membership card.
SC: "I just wanted to see if you are racist, and now I know you are! I'm never coming back and I'll tell all my friends!", and walks away.
Me, Boss and DW:
It was "members only", but to promote the club as a students' place (as I lived in an University town) there was a policy in place: foreigners resident in the country got a 50% discount on the membership fee; foreigners *not* resident in the country got a "one-night" pass for a symbolic price. To be clear: when the membership (for one year) costed 20 Euro, a "foreign resident" could get it for 10 and a "one night pass" costed 1.
In comes an African guy (I specify it because he used this to attempt an, albeit minor, scam).
Me: the big guy at the door, on a slow night
SC: the guy mentioned above. He is tall and muscular
Boss: the awesome boss I mentioned in another post
DW: the cook of the club, a New Yorker of African descent (and very proud of it)
Maybe I should be specifying that all this was happening in Italy about 10 years ago, where there was a string presence of people from diverse countries and cultures but mostly first generation immigrants.
SC walks in ignoring me
Me: "Sorry mate, can I see your card please?"
SC: "Which card?"
Me (assuming he had never been in the club and therefore ignored its policy - even though it was written in clear letters on the door): This is a membership-only club, membership costs 20 Euro, I can fill in your membership application immediately if you have a document on you" (mind, in Italy it is considered a felony to not be carrying a form of personal identification)
SC: "But I only want to have a beer"
Me: "If you don't intend to apply for membership I can not allow you inside. However, there is a pub across the street if you only want to have a drink or two"
SC: "No, I have been here last week and your colleague has allowed me to get in with no card"
Me: "It seems very unlikely, but if it happened I'm sure it was an exception and I can not allow you in"
SC: "I will leave my document with you, can I get in?"
Me: "If you leave your document with me I will fill in your membership application."
SC hands me his document anyway, and I notice that he is not an Italian citizen but has an Italian ID card (and therefore is a resident). So I explain him that he has the right to have a 50% discount on the membership.
SC, changing topic: "You are racist, you don't let me in because I'm black"
Me: "Sir, I will allow you in the club if you have a membership card"
SC: "Look, there are Brothers in there!" (pointing at a group of people clearly of African descent)
Me: "This should prove that racism is not in question here. They all have their membership cards"
SC: "Call them and I will ask them to prove it! I am friends with [Boss] anyway"
Me: "I will not bother our members to accommodate your request Sir. And if you are friends with [Boss] you will know that he is strict in his policies"
SC: "I WANT TO TALK WITH [Boss]". Yes, in CAPITAL LETTERS. I am not small (no, I am not), but he was towering over me.
Boss peeks from his "office".
Boss: "Who is calling me?"
SC: "He won't let me in!"
Boss: "Do you have a membership card?"
SC: "No, but..."
Boss (interrupting him): "So he is right to not allow you in the club. Goodbye" (and disappears)
SC (towards the office): "HEY! I WILL TELL EVERYBODY THAT YOU ARE RACISTS!"
Boss (comes out from the office, clearly upset. he is as tall as the SC): "I do not accept you insulting me and my club this way. Now please, leave."
SC: "I do not talk to racists." - and of course doesn't show any intention to leave.
Boss: "OK, wait here", and walks away. He comes back after less than a minute with DW, our cook. Who is an African-American (and a former US Army Officer as well).
DW: "Any problem?"
SC: "You understand me! You will! These guys are racists! They won't let me in the club!"
DW: "Mate, I know them. I work with them. They are definitely not racists. You need a membership card to come in here"
SC: "Why, do you have one?"
DW: "I am working here, you genius! Anyway yes, I do"
SC seems puzzled. Then rummages in his pockets. Produces... yes. You guessed it. a membership card.
SC: "I just wanted to see if you are racist, and now I know you are! I'm never coming back and I'll tell all my friends!", and walks away.
Me, Boss and DW:
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