Um, WTF?

[orcprincess]

While taking this woman's order today...and being beyond patient thankyouverymuch...I hear a baby crying in the background.
So, what does she say?

"Sometimes I want to kill that baby".


So, I took down her phone number, and gave it to my supervisor. I hope they'll pull the call and listen to it...it really bothered me.

[skeptic53]

Normal to think this, common to joke about it with friends & family, not very common to joke with complete strangers, definitely creepy if she sounded utterly serious.

[officegirl]

That is awful!!! I don't understand why people mistreat their children. It breaks my heart to hear and to see. Children are jewels and must be treasured... Something that's really sad- you will see some of the worst stuff working in daycares and sometimes there isn't much you can do about it.

[Cole]

today i had lady come in and ask to use the phone. I coudln't help but hear the conversation....."Honey you need to come down and get me, i locked the baby and the keys in the car again"

[Jester]

That is awful!!! I don't understand why people mistreat their children. It breaks my heart to hear and to see. Children are jewels and must be treasured... Something that's really sad- you will see some of the worst stuff working in daycares and sometimes there isn't much you can do about it.

Two things to remember.

1. We don't know that the crying baby in the background is HER baby. It may well be that of a roommate, a friend, a sibling, etc. I know *I* have gotten annoyed with some other people's kids. Frankly, we don't even know that the lady in question was even in her own home. A million possibilities. Sure, she probably should not be saying this to a call center operator, but how often has something slipped out without our mouths checking in with our brains?

2. Sorry, but not all children are jewels, frankly. Many of them are snotty annoying little buggers. This may well be due to their parents, but it does not change their level of obnoxiousness and irritation.

[JustaCashier]

today i had lady come in and ask to use the phone. I coudln't help but hear the conversation....."Honey you need to come down and get me, i locked the baby and the keys in the car again"

Again?!?!?

Okay, lady! Time for a salmon lobotomy!

Mike

[Jester]

Or a broomstickectomy.

[Seanette]

1. We don't know that the crying baby in the background is HER baby. It may well be that of a roommate, a friend, a sibling, etc. I know *I* have gotten annoyed with some other people's kids. Frankly, we don't even know that the lady in question was even in her own home. A million possibilities. Sure, she probably should not be saying this to a call center operator, but how often has something slipped out without our mouths checking in with our brains?

Reminds me of a comic I once saw when a character had just blurted out something she probably didn't really want to say aloud. The balloon in the next panel had
"Sender: brain@<character>
Recipient: mouth@<character>
Subject: WTF?"

[Mongo Skruddgemire]

Two things to remember.

1. We don't know that the crying baby in the background is HER baby. It may well be that of a roommate, a friend, a sibling, etc. I know *I* have gotten annoyed with some other people's kids. Frankly, we don't even know that the lady in question was even in her own home. A million possibilities. Sure, she probably should not be saying this to a call center operator, but how often has something slipped out without our mouths checking in with our brains?

2. Sorry, but not all children are jewels, frankly. Many of them are snotty annoying little buggers. This may well be due to their parents, but it does not change their level of obnoxiousness and irritation.

Indeed. For that is known, the mother could be calling in an order in a public place and being done on a cell phone.

Besides, My mother has stated that she wanted to kill me at times too numerous to count and I'm still here. I make jokes about my children (when they're at each other's throats) and "Children's Chewable Thorizne" and "Benedryl Milkshakes" but I'm not about to do either. It could be harmless parental frustration manifesting itself in the form of a verbal outlet. Granted that should be kept off the phone with a stranger, but is likely to be a simple venting.

Mongo

[pbmods]

Thankfully, the only illegal stuff I have to be on the lookout for is child pornography (and if you take a picture of yourself doing something illegal, I'll probably call the cops on you anyway just for being so stupid). Fortunately, there are very few people (at least that go to my lab) that joke about child pornography.

I'll bet airport security gets to have a field day on stupid customers, on the other hand....

[Jester]

I'll bet airport security gets to have a field day on stupid customers, on the other hand....

I imagine comedians must have a lot of trouble in airports.

"Man, I bombed last night."

"Not me...I just blew the whole place up. Just killed them all."

[officegirl]

I still believe what I say

2. Sorry, but not all children are jewels, frankly. Many of them are snotty annoying little buggers. This may well be due to their parents, but it does not change their level of obnoxiousness and irritation.

I stand by what I say. Every child IS a jewel. The ones who are snotty annoying little buggers are the ones who AREN'T treated as jewels by the people who are suppose to love them. When I was working at daycares, for example, there was always one child in every room that all the teachers considered to be the "problem child." The very first day care I worked at, I worked in the toddler room and there was a problem child. He was a little terror. He was mean to other children, he would not listen, he woul not take naps, etc. Well, my first day, the head teacher said, "Watch out for him. He's a pain!" Even at the very young age of two, children know what is expected of them and if you expect no more than a problem from them, that's what they will be. I ended up bonding with this child and he began listening and behaving... He just completely changed his attitude. He was one of the sweetest, most adorable little boys. Children need boundaries to follow and they need lots and lots of love. Remember, a child is exactly that- a child! They need guidance and limitations and discipline. That is how they learn what is acceptable and what is not. And as I keep repeating, children need LOVE!

[Becks]

Normal to think this, common to joke about it with friends & family, not very common to joke with complete strangers, definitely creepy if she sounded utterly serious.

Well said, and I agree.