Flip side of rude CM's - Rude guests!

[chigirl]

Since my original post (on page 1 or 2) was the one that started this side-topic, I just want to point out that the people who did this were not doing it to spread joy. It was the CM's job to say "Happy Holidays" to every guest that came through the turnstile. And every few minutes some nutjob would scream at the poor CM, "NO! IT'S MERRY CHRISTMAS!" All because FoxNews got him fired up or something. Can you IMAGINE how annoying that is to the CM to be yelled at for saying Happy Holidays? Over and over again every day for the entire month? He/she is just trying to do their job and wish Happy Holidays to all and they have to deal with these nutjobs yelling at them. It was horrendous.

The large retail company I work for, unlike what most people think, does NOT have a policy that forbids associates from saying "Merry Christmas" to customers. Last Christmas season, I did give this greeting to most customers. We have many Muslim customers, but most of our customers are some form of Christian, so I'd say it to whom applied...I didn't have a single Muslim customer who was upset that I wished them "Happy Holidays" and most non-Muslim customers seemed pleased that I said "Merry Christmas" to them. It cracked me up last year when FOX and the boys had a field day with "The War on Christmas" thing..to the point Wal-Mart added a "Merry Christmas" verbage logo to the end of the tv ads when sales seemed to be dropping last year.

But to anyone who thinks they are being ultra-Christian to tell off associates or CM's of any company when they say "Happy Holidays"...those people are just being told what to do and don't want to lose their job. They care less if you celebrate Christmas or if you make necklaces out of kitten teeth. They are making $7 an hour busting their butts and just want to do their job and go home. Save your grandstanding for calling into FOX news.

 

[KimWDW]

But to anyone who thinks they are being ultra-Christian to tell off associates or CM's of any company when they say "Happy Holidays"...those people are just being told what to do and don't want to lose their job. They care less if you celebrate Christmas or if you make necklaces out of kitten teeth. They are making $7 an hour busting their butts and just want to do their job and go home. Save your grandstanding for calling into FOX news.

**applauding**

 

[mattsdragon]

This thread has gotten completely off topic.

I get it, Christians watch a different newtwork than liberals. Check, point made.

I think it's rude to hijack threads.

 

[shellybaxter]

This thread has gotten completely off topic.

I get it, Christians watch a different newtwork than liberals. Check, point made.

I think it's rude to hijack threads.

I think it's rude to hijack threads too, but I just had to respond to your post. The terms Christians and Liberals are not mutually exclusive. I am both Christian and Liberal. And Just FYI - I watch all different networks and news shows. I enjoy Fox, CNN and MSNBC and watch all three during the course of a regular week.

Maybe what you meant is that SOME conservatives watch different news networks than SOME Liberal. I believe that would be a true statement

 

[DizGeek]

people, work ONE DAY in retail and you will experience the worst humanity has to offer: privledged, well-fed caucasian people who believe that their personal self is the axis on which the earth spins...

If this were the other way around, Jesse Jackson would be shutting this site down.

 

[DizGeek]

Phillybeth...obviously I was being sarcastic!
About the "white, well-fed" part, that is! I am an equally opportunity disliker of ALL people who think their poop=la-doop doesn't stink!!!!

Oh good...so its not just the "fat, privledged, well-fed caucasian people"...I feel better now.

 

[GoofyBaby]

I really don't understand your logic. You want to spread holiday cheer but only on your terms? That is what I am getting from your post.

I stopped saying Merry Christmas a few years ago when I worked in a mall. I realized after someone walked out of my office that maybe they weren't Christian and didn't celebrate Christmas. I don't say Happy Holidays so I don't offend someone. I say Happy Holidays so I include EVERYONE in my spreading of Holiday cheer.

That's okay, you don't have to understand my logic. And since this thread is about rude CMs, I am not going to discuss the Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays debate any further.

 

[disneycruise05]

All...

I'm completly sorry for going off topic with my original post and steering this thread in the wrong direction. I figured that since remarks were made regarding the issue, I would throw in my $.02. In retrospect, I should have held my tongue (or in this case fingers). I really don't like people that stir a pot (unless it has yummy food in it...in that case...stir away!) and feel bad for doing just that.

If we do want to continue this topic (which could be both a plus and a minus, depending on your views), maybe we should begin a new thread in the Community Forum. That seems like the appropiate thread for such a debate (No offense to those at the CF, but last time I was there I got scared by some of the discussions...).

Again, my deepest apologies for exploiting such a touchy topic here on the Attractions and Strategies Forum. On to more discussions of rude guests!!!

~William

 

[resol37]

Being pretty opinionated myself, I had all sorts of responses ready after having just read the entire thread, but seeing as where we've ended up...

Ahem...

I was sitting in Who Wants to be a Millionaire...Play It! (so sad that it's closing!) one day all by my lonesome. There were two late 20s/early 30s guys sitting next to me and in front of them was a mid to late 30s women with two twin sons - probably around two years old. The one son was sitting there just fine, but the other was screaming his head off! This poor kid was wailing with tears streamin down his face. The show was starting and, while I felt for the kid - whatever was wrong, the screaming was really distracting. One of the guys next to me decided to take matters into his own hand and tapped the woman on the shoulder to tell her that it was hard to pay attention with her son screaming. She whipped around (with the kid in her arms, I'm surprised she didn't hit his head on the chair) and loudly said that she paid her admission and that her kids deserved to see the show just like everyone else. The other guy next to me pointed out that the rest of the people there had also paid their admission and weren't getting to see the show. Luckily it didn't escalate much further as the woman rolled her eyes at that and turned around. The kid never did quiet down and she left a few minutes later, but all I could think was, "It didn't seem like he was really enjoying the show and how much of Millionaire would a kid that small really be able to understand?"

Luckily, I haven't seen too many other examples of rude guests. Some not the brightest (teens smoking pot in the bathrooms during spring break - to which my manager quickly added that some of the CMs could use - spring break is a hectic time), but not too many rude ones.

 

[bicker]

It seems to me that when you're wishing someone a "Merry" or "Happy" whatever, you're telling them that you hope they enjoy celebrating THEIR holiday. Not your holiday.

Bingo. It's like going around on your birthday telling everyone you meet, "Happy Birthday!"

The whole idea of the greeting is not to announce which holiday YOU'LL be celebrating, but to genuinely wish the other person well during the holiday season. No matter what they celebrate.

BTW, folks, if you don't like Happy Holidays, then I believe the appropriate greeting for our holiday is actually, "[size=-1]Happy Winter Solistice!" Happy New Year would be appropriate, as well, and always safe from appearances of self-centeredness.
[/size]

 

[starlionblue]

If I were a cm, I'd hate to work at the Fastpass Return line. We saw a lot of people arguing with the Fastpass cms because they wanted to ride earlier than their ticket timeframe.

GOD is that STUPID!! Did such morons ever stop to read about FP? FP does not speed time up or let them cut in line and yet, I know there were a few who wanted it to. Worse, I've seen people cutting in the FP line. I wished I knew where to find security to throw them out of the park, I see nothing wrong with such punishment. I think that when DW is crowded, the average IQ of Florida plummets 20%!

 

[bicker]

What the FastPass says doesn't matter to them -- they just care about what they want.

 

[Kellyscrapbooks]

Amen Brother/Sister!

Me too. Merry Christmas Merry Christmas MERRY CHRISTMAS!

I agree that I will most likely always reply Merry Christmas back, because that's what I celebrate. Actually, what I usually say is "Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!" because I want EVERYONE to enjoy their holiday. I have never gotten offended when someone tells me Happy Holidays because they are wishing me happiness. How can you get mad at someone for wishing you happiness of any kind? They are wishing you have a Happy Christmas! and they are wishing that someone who is Jewish has a Happy Hanukkah. these are celebrated at about the same time, the holiday season. Thinking that because I celebrate Christmas it is the only holiday worth celebrating is as rude as thinking that I should get to go on Space Mountain first because I paid___________ dollars to come. Just my mini soap box.

 

[jjarman]

I don't mind when people wish me Merry Christmas even though I'm Jewish. I love Christmas...Santa Claus and Reindeer have nothing to do with religion. HOWEVER, your line of thinking doesn't make sense. Just because it's a Christmas party, why should everyone be expected to normally be celebrating Christmas? Just because it's not a Hanukkah or Kwanzaa party, doesn't mean you shouldn't say Happy Holidays to cover everyone's holiday. Especially if it's during the week of Hanukkah or Kwanzaa!!

Now I wish it were December.

Well, it is a Christmas party, not a Hanukkah party or a Kwanzaa party. Maybe they should rename it MVMHP (holiday party). We don't say Happy Passover when it is Easter even though those two holidays are very close every year. If it is my birthday, we don't say Happy Birthday to Everyone since someone might share my birthday or have one within a week or two of it. My point is that it is a "Christmas Party". That is all. If you don't like the idea that it is a Christmas party then petition Disney to have a Hanukkah or Kwanzaa party for Mickey to make money off of or change the name.

 

[KimWDW]

And if you don't like the fact that CM's say Happy Holidays, don't be rude to them about it--petition Disney yourself.

It's not the CM's decision what to say. And there was no excuse for all those people to be rude to CM's for saying Happy Holidays instead of Merry Christmas. NO. EXCUSE.

 

[JRawkSteady]

Who said I have a problem with it being a Christmas Party. I've gone to many Christmas parties at work functions or just through friends. It was the logistics that didn't make any sense.

People should not say "Happy Holidays," they should only say "Merry Christmas" at MVMCP... that's a very narrow way of thinking.

I wouldn't petition Disney. I don't think THEY'RE doing anything wrong.

 

[Earstou]

Back to rude guests.................on our last trip, we happened to be walking by just as the candy lady (Miyuki) in Japan came out. Since I knew some people wait a long time to be up front so their kids can get candy, I told my son to wait until the kids already there had a chance. When the other kids already had candy, and adults started asking, I told my son to go ahead and raise his hand. He was picked next, and got a dragon. Miyuki did one more after him and then quit.
As we turned to leave, this woman started screaming at the candy lady. She claimed her kids had been waiting for a long time for her to come out, and that they WERE going to get candy! She insisted Miyuki stay and make something for her kids, shoving them until they almost ran into Miyuki.
Miyuki handled it very calmly, with this woman still yelling in her face. She just kept repeating that they had to wait until the next show. The woman was still yelling as we left the area .

 

[Linzybrooke]

We had almost the same experience at Peter Pan in 2002. There was a wait of like 45 minutes and we had fastpass. We returned at the appointted time and when the CM opened the chain for us the guy who would have been next freaked out. Started cussing out the Cm and me. I turned to him waved and said Have A Magical Day sir. The CM started cracking up. It was great.

Hmmm...I wonder if it wasn't the same man and 4 years later he still hasn't learned to use FastPass? hehehe

 

[Yookeroo]

Slightly OT (kinda, maybe, just a little bit)...but...I really didn't want to get into this with the first post, but...(as I put on my flame suit) if you tell me "Merry Christmas," I'm going to immediatly respond with "Happy Hanukkah (or Chanukah, your choice)." Being Jewish, I don't appreciate it when people assume my religion is the same as their's.

I'm not Christian, but I'm not bothered by a sincere "Merry Christmas". But now it's turning into a political bludgeon. People are now acting offended by "Happy Holidays". Think about it, wishing someone happiness during the holiday season has become offensive to some people.

As others have stated, by saying "Happy Holidays," the CM's are ensuring that they don't leave anyone out of place. It's not like we all carry signs saying "Christian," "Muslim," "Jewish," etc. so the CM can custom create a holiday greeting for each guest. If the CM's all said "Merry Christmas" to everyone, I can assure you that there would be a large group of people that would not be OK with that.

So, in conclusion, by saying "Happy Holidays," the CM's are protecting both themselves from singling out certain groups (and looking prejudice) AND people of other religions (myself included) from feeling singled out (and therefore loosing some of the magic that we all go to WDW for) by not fitting in with "the norm."

OK...that's my rant. Flame as you see fit!

You're absolutely right. It's just good business.

I agreed with you completely. I don't like the Happy Holidays thing only because it is said only to keep from offending someone however remotely that may be.

You don't like it because it's used in order not to offend? Seriously? Trying not to be offensive is a bad thing to you?

I think it's used more to be as inclusive as possible as opposed avoiding offending someone. At least now it is. In the past, it was just used to wish people happy holidays.

 

[blueangel]

Can we please let the Christmas debate die? People who stumble onto this thread didn't ask to read through pages of this to find what they were after...

I'm sure we all have opinions, and all got offended at various times during this argument since I can't think of a single sub-group that wasn't brought up, but this isn't the place.

Bring on the rude guests!