maybe he needs a hug

😄 sometimes the day’s already ruined.

You're a good soul Lyn 👀

Maybe he was banned from X today

Don't talk to crazy ppl hahahh

I see a lot of these types at Target. It's almost like it's a cultural thing to act like a cynical, angsty retard if you work at Target.

i would have asked. maybe he needed a friend or maybe he's just being sarcastic. who knows? maybe he wasn't supposed to be there today 🤣

I know what you mean. I bought an item through a social media platform market. When I picked it up, I felt the woman’s sadness. I could have just taken the item and left, but I couldn’t. Her husband has dementia, he’s hurting himself, they can’t afford caregivers or to move… there is real despair out there. Trust your senses, and realize just showing you care for someone and will listen might be more than anyone else does for them all day.

Sounds like a pretentious twat. He shouldn’t be public facing if he can’t behave in a civilized manner.

Looking forward to the followup on this

I don't think most people have yet realized that most men in his age ARE in fact sad and lonely. It has become normal.

Call it how you want, find it ok or not, an excuse or not, it exists. It started as a dating crisis in Japan, now it's everywhere.

Probably a dot eth 😂

Sounds like he hates being there.

He can't have a good day because no one will listen to his long-winded rambling story about why he is having a bad day, even though he constantly hints at it.

I used to often troll the customers when I was young and working in menial customer facing roles.

I often also had horrible days I did not have the emotional regulation skills to deal with as a young undiagnosed autistic person.

I turned out fine depending on who you ask. I always appreciated the people who checked in whether I was trolling or truly struggling. It takes very little effort to connect enough to put some light into another person's life. I remember that now and do my best to be that light in the life of strangers I meet, if I have to go into public.

Please do! Curious as well

I had a similar experience recently. I felt sad for the kid. But also, I feel like maybe this is a step up from pretending to be happy all day.

Most people live in their bubble and don’t listen to this kid, he probably is hoping someone would just be willing to listen to him for a couple of minutes, it might mean the world to him

It’s a bit like McDonalds …. You say “no fries” but they still say “fries with that?”. It’s Pavlovian

Bravo to that guy

Personal honesty takes courage

Especially in a world that doesn’t want to hear it. That wants you to 100% pretend and STFU

Whatever he meant, I like it more than the “my pleasure” Chick Fill it forced reply with complimentary eye roll.

I really appreciate hearing this anecdote. I have a laundry-list of tiny interactions with people in which I realize I wasn’t really present to engage them when I could have been. Not because I’m special, or better, but because they seemed to need engagement.

I continually use these small regrets to remind myself to try to be more present the next time. And tbh, I have another list of times when I’ve done this, and they’re each and individually very rewarding.

#HumansTogether

Sounds like typical "victim mentality" - only bad things happen to me, I take zero responsibility for anything and I can't do anything to turn things around, so I won't even try.

Engaging “strangers” is a sign of a healthy person and society.

Thanks, and have a nice day! 🤣

Maybe he feels it's impossible to have a good day while he's working. Most people hate their jobs.

Kids today feel so disempowered and worthless compared to their elders.

Hi lyn 🤟😉🏴‍☠️ That’s a fascinating interaction. Sometimes, the smallest things people say can reveal so much about their perspective or mindset. It’s intriguing that he chose to repeat that specific phrase. Maybe it’s a reflection of how he views the world perhaps a form of dry humor, or maybe even a deeper commentary on life’s challenges. It’s easy to overlook these moments, but you’re right engaging in that conversation could have provided a new perspective. Sometimes, a simple question can open up an interesting dialogue and lead to deeper understanding. Let me know if you get the chance to ask him next time!

I wonder if they're doing that to see if anyone is actually paying attention to the response.

Maybe he ran out of chapstick? Or maybe he ate all his pocket tots? Or maybe Tina the fat lard lama wouldn’t eat her goulash?

💜💜💜

Thanks for sharing. I have definitely tended to “undershoot” when it comes to these types of social interactions. The risk of overstepping seems so high, but the reality is there’s far more risk to not engaging. The number of amazing people that have walked in and out of our lives without us ever being vulnerable enough to know them is staggering. Listening to Charlie Houpert started me down the path of getting over my social inhibitions, gave me some tools for conversing, and it has helped my relationships immensely. Link below if you’d like. Good luck!

https://open.spotify.com/episode/3UbfGCbTlxXAxjYeVpAu6G?si=vWAVLH1JQjWNb_bwou7L2A

It’s an interesting situation. While for some people it’s possible to ‘simply’ reframe one’s outlook toward something more positive, if the thoughts weighing him down are deeply felt existential or empathetic melancholy there can sometimes be a sense of duty in remaining in that state. A comfort in being sad, to paraphrase Kurt Cobain. Forcing yourself to look past your troubles can at times feel like shallowness, or artifice. It’s not a great state to be in if you’re a public facing employee, though.

As a middling software developer recently turned cashier/day laborer, I can relate. I suggest this question posed to me by a regular customer recently: "If you could change one thing to turn that frown upside down, what would it be?"

a test if people actually listen...

In an alternate universe, nostr:nprofile1qqsw4v882mfjhq9u63j08kzyhqzqxqc8tgf740p4nxnk9jdv02u37ncpzpmhxue69uhh2uewwf38ytnzd9hsz9rhwden5te0dehhxarjwdshganp9ehx2aqe0kllv you are walking out and wishing you hadn’t asked, and hoping he’s not there next time. 🧐

Young cashiers are either Napoleon or Donnie Darko

He has low test I’m sure … soft cup cake ass generation

Sounds like someone needs a dose of freedom. Maybe he is a socialist.

Went back to the grocery store today but couldn’t find this cashier.

Instead, I ran into the trope of the “little old lady” counting out pennies and holding the line up.

And you know what? Good for her. Probably one of the most based people in the store. Keeping private means of payment alive.

nostr:nevent1qqszrlhleman0w965v5vvanjuju0ypstex8mgg94qvckxqgq2a3w03spzemhxw309ucnjv3wxymrst338qhrww3hxumnwvl4a6q

Anyone with that mindset isn't worth your time.

He was obviously looking to see who would care

This cashier, in his odd way, resists the mechanical social rituals, driven by herd values meant to avoid discomfort and maintain a facade of harmony. He doesn't lash out or rage... he just refuses to participate in the lie. That dry, almost absurd honesty is a quiet act of rebellion against the shallow politeness and empty cheer expected in daily life. He may be suffering, but he is also aware of the hollowness of rote pleasantries, aware of his own alienation, and possibly even challenging others like Lyn to reflect by his strange remark.

I have a distant memory that Stephen Fry, when told to “Have a good day.” replied (or was it threatened to reply?): “Don’t tell me what kind of a day to have.”

Something you grumpy old men can keep tucked away for when the occasion deserves it.

Please do