I Am A Mean Ol' Poo Head

So, I was over at the Verizon store today trying to finagle a swank new phone when a cherub of Chinese delight made of smiles, rainbows, and Sanrio scented gift packs wearing a fishing hat bounces up to me at the counter asking if I would like to Save The Children in heavily accented English.  She showed me a laminated picture of eastern Asia covered in Chinese characters and ringed in sad, unwashed children without wireless connectivity.

I admire her spunk and daring-do to approach an obviously not pleased long red-haired barbarian at the customer service counter of Verizon.  However, this may be a case for "they all look the same" applying to white people too.  I like to think of myself as a very memorable person; experience has generally borne this out.  Even the panhandlers of downtown Berkeley don't spange me again as I pass them a second time. 

This woman, however, approached me two weeks previously in BevMo as I was purchasing precious Black Seal rum.  I told her the same thing then as I did today: "No.  You cannot do this.  This is a private business and this is illegal unless you have the owner's permission.  Get out NOW."

You see, I dealt with this crap all the time when my parents had their pet store and I learnt from my dad the fine art of the Right To Refuse Service, especially to people who aren't buying anything.  This is one more thing that I have no patience for.  It is bad enough to be shopping without additionally being spanged.  The manager of Verizon thanked me...didn't get me any deals however.

Of course, I am a Bad Man who Hates The Children now.  We'll see if she remembers me the next time