baggirl not so bright

[Charade]

 

[inaminute]

There are tons of mental disabilities that you can't see. Maybe the gas station attendant simply had a learning disability. He may be a genius when it comes to repairing cars, but counting money isn't a strong suit. You're fortunate if you have all your faculties and know no one with a mental handicap or disability of any sort. Count your blessings and please try not to judge people so harshly.

 

[goofinoff]

went to Kroger this morning

bag girl is a chatty cathy

conversation:

her
"thats a nice purse, you should use it Valentines Day"
(purse is a D&B, the black one with multi color hearts on it)

me
"thanks, but I use it year round, cost too much to just use in February"

her
"let me guess, around $50"

me
"triple that" (hey she had the balls to ask)

her
"seventy dollars?"

I have a good one, along the same line. I used to work with this girl who was, let's just say, a few fries short of a happy meal! This was back in the early 90's and Paul Simon had just married Edie Brickell. So this was the conversation at lunch:

Me: "Wow, I can't beleive Edie Brickell married someone twice her age!"
Dumb Girl: "Why, how old is she?"
Me: "She's 25 and he's 50."
Dumb Girl: "Wow, so when she's 50 he'll be 100?"

UMMMMM, yes, exactly!!

 

[Tigger&Belle]

There are tons of mental disabilities that you can't see. Maybe the gas station attendant simply had a learning disability. He may be a genius when it comes to repairing cars, but counting money isn't a strong suit. You're fortunate if you have all your faculties and know no one with a mental handicap or disability of any sort. Count your blessings and please try not to judge people so harshly.

That is something to keep in mind, even though I'm pretty sure that our baggers don't have mental disabilities (but it's true that it's hard to always know). But isn't it also true that we shouldn't say anything on discussion boards about spelling errors or someone using an incorrect word because there could be some learning disability that's causing a person to spell poorly or use the wrong word? Just something to keep in mind since those mistakes seem to bother some posters so much (not saying it bothers you ).

 

[inaminute]

But isn't it also true that we shouldn't say anything on discussion boards about spelling errors or someone using an incorrect word because there could be some learning disability that's causing a person to spell poorly or use the wrong word? Just something to keep in mind since those mistakes seem to bother some posters so much (not saying it bothers you ).

Something tells me I've missed something important--once again.

 

[goofinoff]

Something tells me I've missed something important--once again.

I know...why does everything have to end up in an argument around here! Ooops, did I spell it right? Ha Ha! Let's lighten up people!

 

[Luv'sTink]

I guess I don't get why it bothered you. YOU said it cost too much to not use year round, so, YOU brought up the cost not the bagger. As for her not knowing to think tripple maybe $50 for her is a lot and couldn't imagine ever spending $150 for a purse, after all how many hours do you think she has to work to make $150?

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Something tells me I've missed something important--once again.

You didn't miss anything really. There's another thread (as there often is) about things that bother posters and one thing that's always brought up is spelling errors of people. Or using the wrong word. Using there for their, your for you're, etc, etc. Of course sometimes the mistakes are simply typos even when a person knows the correct word. But sometimes a person might have a LD that makes spelling difficult. If we're going to be sympathetic to the baggers at the grocery store, shouldn't we extend that some courtesy to our fellow posters? And of course regarding spelling errors, Google spellbar is our friend...

I know...why does everything have to end up in an argument around here! Ooops, did I spell it right? Ha Ha! Let's lighten up people!

That's always my worry--on a spelling thread that I'll spell a word wrong...

 

[gypsydoodlebug]

I admit it. I'm math challenged. I took remedial algebra in college and SIX semesters of Spanish (for a BA) just so I didn't have to take ONE extra math class to get a for a Bachelors of science.

On the flip side, I did graduate -- and even got a master's degree in the administration of justice -- in four semesters with a double major and no summer school. I can barely do fractions. It's a wonder I can figure out how many Disney Rewards Dollars I will earn from a purchase on my Disney Visa!

I'm a professional writer -- I'm the managing editor of a national trade publication -- and I chalk it up to seeing things in words versus numericals. My editor still ribs me to this day about my lack of simple math skills, which he blatantly asked me about during my hiring interview. Of course, he did say my job would entail "light" travel -- and I'm leaving for my 9th trip of the year next week!! Quid pro quo!

Some people simply "just don't get it" when it comes to numbers...

TIGGER&BELLE: You're so right (as usual!)! As for spelling errors, even I still sometimes type "your" instead of "you're" or "it's" versus "its" in my articles. Many of my professional freelancers do as well.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

I even noticed that the tag fairy made a typo yesterday. And no, I didn't point it out--I may be dumb, but I'm not stupid! And besides that, it was my Google toolbar that really caught it.

Oh, and I've probably told you this gypsydoodlebug, but I just love that suitcase picture of your DD! So cute!

 

[gypsydoodlebug]

Oh, and I've probably told you this gypsydoodlebug, but I just love that suitcase picture of your DD! So cute!

TYVM! I wish it were better quality! It's my favorite picture ever.

 

[shortbun]

yes, nearly all the grocery store baggers around here are hired through a local social service agency which serves the disabled. The inability to do Math does not necessarily make one "not so bright."

Our stores do this too! Great, isn't it!!? The local Kroger has promoted some of their disabled to cashier.

 

[MushyMushy]

Do you all mind if I share a story that kind of relates to the discussion?

I used to work in a college bookstore, and when we used to send our bills to our company, we had specific forms we had to use to attach to the bill -- one form per bill. The form had in big bold letters, "USE ONE STAPLE ONLY" for whatever reason. Well, my coworker would staple the crap out of that thing because she couldn't see why we could only use one staple. Me, I'm a rule follower, so I only ever used one staple, even if the whole pile of papers was falling apart.

A few years into the job, I went to a management training seminar. During one of the meetings, someone brought up that one staple thing. The guy leading the seminar said that it's because they hire severely autistic people to remove the staples and separate the paperwork, and when people use paperclips or extra staples it really sends them into a tailspin. Oops! After I told this to my coworker, she was very careful from then on.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Mushy, your story is why I might think something, say something quietly (totally out of earshot) to someone who is with me or someone at home, or joke on a message board, but why I would never say something that could be hurtful in person and why, even on a message board, I try to be tactful. I don't know who I could be hurting, what they could be up against, or even what kind of day they could be having.

I don't think that the OP did anything wrong by relating this story. If she had of said to the bagger, "How bad are your math skills that you thought that 3 times 50 is 70?", that would have been bad. But there are often venting threads and others pointed out some possible explanations, which was helpful to me since it gave me something to think about.

 

[mattsdragon]

let me guess, she put your eggs and bread underneath a 50lb bag of dog food.

 

[J.C.&ALI'SMOM]

Guy at the gas station couldn't make change from a $5 bill. He wasn't ********, didn't have Down's, he was just plain stupid.

You are joking, right?? How do you know who is "********"? (Just FYI, people shouldn't use that word to refer to those who are mentally impaired) Just because someone looks "normal" doesn't mean that they are not mentally impaired or have a learning disability. You haven't been around many people who are cognitively challenged (or their parents) have you?

 

[msdznyduck]

Guy at the gas station couldn't make change from a $5 bill. He wasn't ********, didn't have Down's, he was just plain stupid. Even when I told him what the change should be, he looked at me like he was trying to figure out if I was putting one over on him.

I think it is because you hardly ever have to figure change anymore. The cash registers just tell you how much to count out. If something goes wrong with the register, some people are lost.
Same thing with digital watches a few years ago....DS was given one as a birthday gift when he was about 5, we returned it for one with hands, since I can see how he couldn't learn to tell time from it, and felt it could be a problem. I see nothing wrong with digital watches, just not for a child just learning how to tell time.

 

[Liberty Belle]

It's okay to have varying levels of IQ in our society. That's the way we're made. We can't do anything about it. I applaud the hard work all people are doing, no matter their IQ.

I work with kids with special needs. Except for the somewhat strange behavior of two of them (they're autistic and are just different than the average person), you'd never know just by looking at them what their learning abilities or IQ are. They dress the same as other kids, laugh and act the same as other kids, look the same as other kids, etc. Furthermore, people don't just have average to above average IQs or have mental retardation. There are many numbers in between, and we run into those people every day. They deserve to be treated with as much respect as the scientist you meet with a genius IQ level.

OP, this isn't directed toward you, necessarily. I might have made the same comment a few years ago. I just see the pain some of the kids with lower IQs go through every day and I'd hate to think I'd do anything to make them (or their parents) feel worse...even posting a message on a message board that might be read by them or their parents.

 

[Obi-Wan Pinobi]

I think it is because you hardly ever have to figure change anymore. The cash registers just tell you how much to count out. If something goes wrong with the register, some people are lost.
Same thing with digital watches a few years ago....DS was given one as a birthday gift when he was about 5, we returned it for one with hands, since I can see how he couldn't learn to tell time from it, and felt it could be a problem. I see nothing wrong with digital watches, just not for a child just learning how to tell time.

Sometimes even the fact that the registers figure out the change for you doesn't even help. DW Lauri was telling me about a college student she hired - 3rd year student. She showed the girl how to use the register, how to ring up a sale and did a mock sale with her in the training mode. The items she rang up came up to $4.55. Lauri said "okay, pretend I just gave you a $5 bill. The girl pushes in $5 cash and the screen says $.45 change and the drawer opens. She just stands there. Lauri asks her "what's wrong?" The girls says "What coins make up 45 cents?"

Sadly, thats not the only time she's had something along that line happen.

 

[kdudley3]

I have a good one, along the same line. I used to work with this girl who was, let's just say, a few fries short of a happy meal! This was back in the early 90's and Paul Simon had just married Edie Brickell. So this was the conversation at lunch:

Me: "Wow, I can't beleive Edie Brickell married someone twice her age!"
Dumb Girl: "Why, how old is she?"
Me: "She's 25 and he's 50."
Dumb Girl: "Wow, so when she's 50 he'll be 100?"

UMMMMM, yes, exactly!!

How funny are stupid people.

I knew someone who was speaking about her husband painting their house. She said "The paint is guaranteed for 25 years, if he puts on 2 coats then it will last for 50 years."

All I could do is shake my head and then later laugh!!!