Dear Abby??

[technical.angel]

I totally agree with everyone who suggests writing to Abby. She's really good about about posting letters that disagree with her when she gets a slew of them.

So, if we all write a letter to her at http://www.dearabby.com, she'll know she was wrong!

[marasbaras]

I didn't mean to imply "deal with it" in my message. Just that when dealing with the public that one has to expect all manners of poor behavior.

Is touching OK? No. Is it going to happen? Yes.

For those for this is a big issue, and you're certainly within your boundaries here, I would suggest talking to your supervisor about a reasonable response. You don't want to blurt back "HEY DON'T FUCKING TOUCH ME, BIATCH, DON'T MAKE ME PUT A CAP IN YO ASS" ... on the other hand, you don't want to just take it.

Somewhere in between is a happy compromise.

[Chantilly]

Well, I had to send Abby (or Pauline or whoever the hell she is) my two cents. Probably just pissing in the wind, but I felt compelled.
This is the comment I sent:

RE: response to "Nicki in Maryland", 3/22/08.
Your advice to the retail salesperson who disliked being touched by customers was way off base! Personal space is just that, and no one should have to submit to being touched if it makes them uncomfortable. Just because she works in the service industry shouldn't mean she has less right to her personal space as others. To tell 'Nicki' that she should just put up with people touching her or grabbing at her to keep from losing a customer is basically saying to her "Like it, lump it, or quit; the customer is always right." That's usually the mantra of a bad customer. Personally, I wouldn't be too keen on keeping the business of someone who doesn't know how to keep their hands to themselves.

I can almost feel her beady little eyes looking down her nose at me already ...

[Gawdzillers]

Reminds me of a song:
http://www.lyricsfreak.com/j/john+pr..._20074810.html

[RecoveringKinkoid]

I've noticed her attitude towards all service workers in general, especially retail and food service. I say a couple of us need to "open her eyes" with some opinion letters, honestly.

I was gonna suggest this very thing.

I saw that article and I was as disgusted as the rest of you. I figured someone would probably mention it.

[IHateStupidCustomers]

I HATE being touched, too. I usually can't ever think of anything halfway nice to say quick enough when it happens, though.

I agree, customers should not be encouraged! I heard a jewelry store commercial on the radio the other day, that had a "couple" talking about their experience at the store. One part, they said "and they even stayed late after closing to help us pick out the perfect ring!" Oh GREAT! I'm sure every employee there is jumping for joy that they're advertising that!

[CaroPhoenix]

I say a bunch of us should write letters to Dear Abby to rebut her answer to the poor retail worker.

[Lace Neil Singer]

I have bubble problems; ie, if someone gets inside my bubble, I will make sure they have a problem. -.-

[edible_hat]

"Dear Abby,

An advice columnist suggested something ridiculous. It is obvious the columnist has no experience with living in the real world...

[Irving Patrick Freleigh]

Perhaps the next time "Dear Abby" or whoever's writing that column decides to get all hands-y with a retail wage slave, said retail wage slave should return the favor and just rub his/her hands around her body, so she knows how they feel.

As others have said, it is blatantly obvious the column writer hasn't worked a day in retail. Nobody should have to suck it up and deal with unwanted touching just because "it will keep the customer coming back"

[JLRodgers]

I can't believe anyone would basically say to "deal with it" over touching....

I once had a co-worker (known for being "touchy") touch me. Don't know what my response was (I thought I just turned), but she immediately froze apoloziged and said she'd never to it again (with me saying nothing other than "it's ok, I just wasn't expecting it").
If I ever had a customer do that.... I don't even want to know what that response would've been. Not even the touching itself -- but not everyone is comfortable with being touched - and no one in retail should expect even being touched; and it sure shouldn't be treated as acceptable.

[cinnamaniac]

She probably wrote that in response because when she goes to stores she does that sort of thing to retail workers.

Anyone getting in your personal space is not okay, ever. I don't care if it's a tap or a flat out grope. You don't just "deal with it" or "find a new job". Someone mentioned that Abby was trying to get across that its unavoidable at times, but let that customer touch a person with a lot less tolerance and them getting punched in the face will also be unavoidable.

[k386trl]

What would possess someone to touch a stranger, retail worker or not? I have never touched a retail worker unless they were handing me bags. That is such a foreign concept to me. You'd better believe someone grabs my arm to pull me somewhere, they're going to lose a hand...

[powerboy]

Dear Abby is good. But when she talks about service workers, it gets under my skin. It is clear that she has never worked for the public.

[Nakajo]

I've noticed her attitude towards all service workers in general, especially retail and food service. I say a couple of us need to "open her eyes" with some opinion letters, honestly.