Asda entitled SC (long)

[greek_jester]

I'm posting this on behalf of my sister, who works the checkout at Asda (UK supermarket owned by Wally World).

Today is Remembrance Sunday, & in the UK we have a 2 minute silence at 11am as a mark of respect for the servicemen/women killed in the various wars since the First World War. It's also known as Poppy Day, because of the red paper poppies sold to raise money for the Royal British Legion on behalf of veterans. This is an annual event, although it is only recently that we have a 2 minute rather than a 1 minute silence. Sorry if I'm repeating info you already know, but I know there are a lot of subscribers from other cultures so I'm not sure who knows what

Anyway, my sister was on the till this morning, & the management had decided that as a mark of respect, all activity (checking out, cooking, shelf stacking etc.) was to cease for the duration of the silence. Employees had been warned in advance, & it was put out over the tannoy 10 minutes before the silence.

Roll forward that morning to 10:59. An oldish lady (approx 60ish) loaded her one item (costing £5.99) onto the belt & stood, £20 note in hand, waiting for H to scan it just after the one minute warning went out.

H: my sister, checkout operator extraordinaire
SC: do I really need to say this?

H: I'm afraid I can't scan this quite yet, we're just about to down tools for the 2 minute silence.
SC: But you can scan me through, I've only got one item!
H: I'm out of £5 & £10 notes so giving you your change will take it into the silence. [as she finishes speaking, the tannoy announcement for the silence goes out]
SC: So what! You have to serve me! I can't be bothered with this, I'm leaving!
H: [ignores SC, maintains respectful silence, head down. SC doesn't move]
SC: I don't see why you can't serve me, I'm going to complain to the manager! [ignoring glares from other aisles]

H rang her through as soon as the announcement that the silence was over went out. She couldn't see whether the SC stormed off to complain to a manager (she was certainly huffing & puffing enough) but no-one mentioned it to her later, so we're assuming no.

[rerant]

GAH! When I worked at Ikea I was working one Rememberance Day and for the one minute of silence we did the same thing: stopping all activity.
It was nauseating how many people huffed and puffed and went on about how we could, "ring them through while still staying silent."
UGH! Just take 60 seconds out of your miserable little life to stand there and shut up. Nothing you will do today will be greatly affected by ONE minute and it is the absolute least you could do to show respect.

[greek_jester]

Some people are just ridiculous. The concept of respect seems to be dying. And now I sound like my nan *sighs*

I've never had much trouble in my office jobs. One place I worked was quite good, it was a small firm so my desk doubled as reception/switchboard, so I used to put the answerphone on In others I'd just ignore any calls reception tried to put through, or if I was in the middle of a call, I'd ask them just before it started whether they wanted to call back afterwards or hold through (most held, despite me having a direct line).

Found this site, which is quite interesting & informative about RS.

http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch...membrance.html

[PizzaDrone]

I always find that people get really really scary when they get into Asda. Something about it drives them crazy. I'm sure people regard these big shops as places where their behaviour doesn't count. I think everyone and their families has been touched by war at some point, so everyone should be respectful of it.

As well, its Remembrance Sunday....if you're out at 11am you're going to have to shut up at some point. Deal with it and be an idiot in private if you can't respect it.

[Chromatix]

Apparently, my mother's mother's first husband was killed in the First World War. My mother is therefore a result of the second husband, after the war. So that's my connection.

[greek_jester]

Don't know much about my father's side (lost touch with the bastard a while ago) but my mum's dad fought in the war (it's how he met my nan) & my stepdad fought in the Falklands. Makes it rather personal, & that's what made H so upset about the SC.

[rerant]

My grandfather on my mom's side fought in the war. He was 18 at the time and was hit in the chest with shrapnell.
They had to preform emergency surgery in the trenches and remove one of his lungs. His only anesthetic was a bottle of whiskey.

And that's where I get my badassery from.

[PepperElf]

i'm betting if she complained... other customers would follow her up just to complain about HER yelling during the 2 minutes of silence.

and thank you by the way... my family went to canada this weekend. at one of the stops someone picked up a paper poppy pin for my little nephew who wanted it... now i know why they were being sold.

[Bandit]

At past jobs (all office type), I have lead a virtual revolt when I found out the company would not hold a minute of silence on Remembrance Day. The kicker to me was that the founders of the company were from Hong Kong (post war), and our neighbour behind was a Hong Kong Vet from the Army. He survived the POW camps.

The founders said, basically "Who cares? That was 50 years ago."

I have a very personal connection to WWII - my dad was a tail-gunner in a Lancaster Bomber at the same age as when I was looking for the latest bar to go to.

Every time I get pissed off at one of our arguments, I think of what he did, so that I can do what I do.

I'm glad I can attend the National ceremony again. Been 20 years since the last time, and it's time again. Taking a 1/2 day off to do it.

B

[greek_jester]

My grandfather on my mom's side fought in the war. He was 18 at the time and was hit in the chest with shrapnell.
They had to preform emergency surgery in the trenches and remove one of his lungs. His only anesthetic was a bottle of whiskey.

Amazing what the human body can handle. Your granddad was one brave guy!

[One-Fang]

Wow. Just wow.

Have never heard of that custom, so thanks for the explanation. I think it's a great idea.

Were I in line, I'd have been soooo tempted to enforce the silence. Unconscious people don't make much noise.

(Note I am not advocating violence - I would be tempted - I would want to - I would not DO it and do not think anyone else should. But we can dream about it.)

[greek_jester]

Were I in line, I'd have been soooo tempted to enforce the silence. Unconscious people don't make much noise.

I would have been tempted too. I've been in the middle of a crowded shopping centre in one of the more self-centred towns in the region, thousands of people around me, when the announcement went out for the silence. Everyone went quiet, even the shops turned off their music. This in a town that was famous for being 'Me! Me! Me!' to the point where people would whip it out & wee against a wall on a crowded pavement. It was rather inspiring, & a real tribute to everyone who ever fought for peace, that a town like that would go silent. Then someone in a town with a much more laid-back reputation was willing to trash that for their own selfish desire to leave 2 minutes earlier...

[rae6684]

re: Asda entitled SC

My two great uncles fought and died in the first world war, one at Gallipoli and one in France. I have seen photos. They are so young. Younger than my boys are now.
Louise

[smileyeagle1021]

Everyone has connections to the world wars (and even more recent wars). Both my grandfathers were marines on the Japanese front in WW2. My den leader in Cub Scouts was a Vietnam vet (he was Airforce). My 6th grade teacher was a Korean War vet (Naval Helicopter pilot). One of my high school friends starts basic training next month, another shipped off to Iraq 2 months ago. If I can think of that many connections off the top of my head I think that I can safely say that everyone has at least one connection to the military. So refusing the moments of silence isn't just disrespecting those around you but whoever it is in your life that has served. So glad not to have friends who disrespect me so.

[Pagan]

Wow! I hope that old hag is never in the US on Sept 11! There's several moments of silence that we have. But, this country being what it is, I've never seen anyone actually stop and observe any of them. Would be nice.

I don't really have any personal connections to either World War, my maternal grandfather never left the US and my paternal grandfather was too old (in addition to raising two young sons by himself out the the middle of BFE Arizona).

Our state though, does have a big connection - Bataan. A huge chunk of the New Mexico National Guard died there and we're losing more of the survivors every year. This is why you see a bunch of people (some in full gear) marching across the southern New Mexico desert every March.