Crappy Weather or Crappy Attitudes; Which Will It Be?
Guy at the Dry Cleaners: Here's your dress. I worked really hard and was actually able to get the stains out. It will be 8 dollars.
Me: Oh..I think I paid when I dropped the dress off. Shuffles through purse looking for receipt only to find an empty wallet.
Guy: Well, I don't usually make people pay until they pick up their clothes, but go ahead. It's ok if you are sure you paid.
Me: You know what? I didn't pay. You're right. I only have four dollars in cash. Do you take credit?
Guy: I'm so sorry but we don't. I actually just opened last week so we haven't had time to set up the credit card machine. It's ok. I'll just take the 4 dollars and we'll call it even.
Me: Of course not! Let me drive home and get the rest of the money. I'll be right back. Heads out the door.
Guy: Miss...You forgot your dress.
Me: I'll pay for it when I get back with the money.
Guy: Well o.k. but I trust you if you want to take it now.
So the reason I typed this dialogue verbatim, is to illustrate something that has changed in me that I don't like, and to divulge a possible reason as to why. When I left the store sans dress to get the money that I owed the nice dry cleaning man, my first thought was: "How in the hell will this guy's business ever survive if he continues to 'trust everyone' all of the time?" I found this to be a very frustrating reaction to this particular scenario because I think that it shows that coloradoan life in the suburbs is rubbing off on me a bit. Instead of recognizing this as a nice encounter with another person cut from the same piece of clothe as myself (which is the reaction I would prefer), I retreated home with cynicism and critique (which I don't like).
I lived for six years in Stillwater, Oklahoma; population about 60,000 (when school is in session). I would have never thought this to be an unusual interaction and I definitely would have never been cynical when a conversation like this occurred. It would have just been another day in either 104 degree heat with 90 percent humidity, or 30 degree freeze with -20 degree wind chill (those are your two options in that state). Trust, in Oklahoma, even the urban centers like Tulsa and OKC, is still a common value and practice in personal relationship and in business. I have countless stories of how refreshing it was to live among people that still trusted eachother and how frustrating it can be to live in Colorado where people do not. I hope to still trust and not let too much of Colorado rub off on me. Though I wont leave my car running when I would run into a convenience store or the bank like I did back in Stillwater, I still want to maintain an attitude reflective of the experiences I had during those six years, and not one of cynicism and critique which I find all too common in this state. I miss Oklahoma.
Me: Oh..I think I paid when I dropped the dress off. Shuffles through purse looking for receipt only to find an empty wallet.
Guy: Well, I don't usually make people pay until they pick up their clothes, but go ahead. It's ok if you are sure you paid.
Me: You know what? I didn't pay. You're right. I only have four dollars in cash. Do you take credit?
Guy: I'm so sorry but we don't. I actually just opened last week so we haven't had time to set up the credit card machine. It's ok. I'll just take the 4 dollars and we'll call it even.
Me: Of course not! Let me drive home and get the rest of the money. I'll be right back. Heads out the door.
Guy: Miss...You forgot your dress.
Me: I'll pay for it when I get back with the money.
Guy: Well o.k. but I trust you if you want to take it now.
So the reason I typed this dialogue verbatim, is to illustrate something that has changed in me that I don't like, and to divulge a possible reason as to why. When I left the store sans dress to get the money that I owed the nice dry cleaning man, my first thought was: "How in the hell will this guy's business ever survive if he continues to 'trust everyone' all of the time?" I found this to be a very frustrating reaction to this particular scenario because I think that it shows that coloradoan life in the suburbs is rubbing off on me a bit. Instead of recognizing this as a nice encounter with another person cut from the same piece of clothe as myself (which is the reaction I would prefer), I retreated home with cynicism and critique (which I don't like).
I lived for six years in Stillwater, Oklahoma; population about 60,000 (when school is in session). I would have never thought this to be an unusual interaction and I definitely would have never been cynical when a conversation like this occurred. It would have just been another day in either 104 degree heat with 90 percent humidity, or 30 degree freeze with -20 degree wind chill (those are your two options in that state). Trust, in Oklahoma, even the urban centers like Tulsa and OKC, is still a common value and practice in personal relationship and in business. I have countless stories of how refreshing it was to live among people that still trusted eachother and how frustrating it can be to live in Colorado where people do not. I hope to still trust and not let too much of Colorado rub off on me. Though I wont leave my car running when I would run into a convenience store or the bank like I did back in Stillwater, I still want to maintain an attitude reflective of the experiences I had during those six years, and not one of cynicism and critique which I find all too common in this state. I miss Oklahoma.
posted by carlymarie | 10:15 PM
7 Comments:
The appearance of a lack of trust in Colorado is probably due to the large amount of tourists (aka non-Colorado natives) in the state. Oklahoma doesn't have that I assume, since the Californians, Texans, and Wisconsinites have all moved here. For my part, I don't feel untrusting here. I usually don't lock my door at night and leave my truck unlocked all the time when I stop at a trail for a run. But, sshhh, don't tell the untrustworthy out-of-staters that. ;)
one of my dearest friends (you know who you are) has a theory of social accountability that I think may come into play when debating the differece in ethical business interactions between Oklahoma and CO. In Oklahoma, if you do bad business with someone (like if you're a car mechanic and you overcharge for labor or tell someone they need to have a part replaced which they really dont), there's a really good chance that the person you did the bad business with is your sister's best friend's neighbor's uncle and the word of your shaddy dealings will circle around a community and come back to haunt you in the form of an overall loss in business and social acceptabilty within the community. In colorado chances of a negative business interaction will rarely go more than one or two people deep and there's a good chance there will be no ripple effect (negatively or positively) on the overall business that you provide. Many times I want to explain this to angry Starbucks customers who storm out the door claiming they'll never come back because we've discontinued the eggnog latte for the season. I want to tell them that I don't really care that they're pissed and that my store will continue to make tens of thousands of dollars per day dispite losing their $3.75. But that would be awefully Coloradoan of me wouldn't it?
I prefer to abide to the theory that people in Oklahoma are just nicer, or at least more community oriented overall. You really have to live there to see what I mean.
In Russia, if you do bad business with someone (like if you're a car mechanic and you overcharge for labor or tell someone they need to have a part replaced which they really dont), there's a really good chance that the person you did the bad business with has mafia and/or government connections and will have you killed or thrown in a Siberian prison.
More seriously though, don't you think that what you are arguing has more to do with what size community you are talking about rather than the inhabitants of a particular state? Travel out to Keenesburg, Colorado and you'll find some great hospitality and friendliness.
I'm a little suprised that nobody has pointed out the distinct possibility that the dry cleaning man was extra nice to you because of how attractive you are. I'm not saying that to flirt... well, not JUST to flirt. I'm only pointing out that if I find myself really fond of a girl in my line I've been known to fudge some of the rules for her.
Ah... very good point. Carly, where is this dry cleaning place? We could do a little social experiment... send in Nick and I dressed as unshaven women and see if we get the same treatment.
So you're willing to dress as a woman Mike? So quick to volunteer ;)
Sure, why not. Then I could get free drinks and have people hold doors open for me. ;)
Post a Comment
<< Home