Okay, I may be paranoid here... (racial question)

[Robinrs]

We just returned from an absolutely wonderful time in Orlando. It was our first time there in several years and Michael and I had a BLAST.

With one small exception...

We stayed at a doctor friend of our's timeshare at the Marriott Grande Vista, an unbelievably beautiful condo! We stayed in a HUGE one bedroom lock out, which was connected to a much smaller efficiency.

Well, one day I was walking up the hall and saw my neighbors, a very nice family with two children. For a second I thought it seemed so unfair that Michael and I had the HUGE side when they probably could use the space. Just as I walked up to them preparing to be courteous the woman looks down at me and says "do you WORK here? I need some more pillows!".....



Did I LOOK like I worked there? I had on flip flops and sunglasses... WTH...

I gave her my best James Earl Jones voice, said "no" pulled out my cardkey to get into the room next door.. the BETTER room, mind you!

She sucked wind and said "I'm SORRY"....

Hmmmm.....

Needless to say this bugged the living stink out of me. I guess I shouldn't be surprised, this if FAR from the first time I've had to endure this but for some reason I just feel like just once in my life that I don't HAVE to.

I just wondered what you all felt about this? Not trying to start any debates or anything, just curious as to whether I should let this roll off my back (which after half a century on this earth you'd think I'd learn to!)

--Robinrs

 

[dcgrumpy]

I think you're making much ado about nothing. I've been asked the same question plenty of times at different places when I was a customer.

 

[In a hurry]

I'm Hispanic, and it is always assumed that I am a member of housekeeping. I'm 44 and have lived through this for years. But it still rubs. You would think that society would be past this kind of profiling, by now.

Sorry it marred your vacation. Glad it didn't ruin it!

 

[AuntieM03]

I have many times been asked if I work places that I don't. I tend not to think of it as a race issue.

 

[Chicago526]

Nah, I'd be ticked too. It doesn't sound like your wore anything remotely like a uniform, so there is only one other reason why they'd think you worked there.

At least they apologized, and maybe they even learned a lesson!

 

[NMAmy]

I think you're making a big deal out of nothing. I've found that no matter how you're dressed, if you look like you know your way around--people might think you worked there.

I've had it happen to me at different hotels--even the Dolphin in February. I was walking down through the halls purposefully (I was meeting up with the kids) and another guest asked if I worked there. I said, "No, I'm sorry." Turns out she was just trying to find out where the boats were--I told her I was heading that way and took her on down. Didn't offend me at all--sometimes I think when people are trying to find some help they'll just ask the first person they see.

 

[mickey4ver]

I can see where you are coming from....but I get asked all the time in stores if I work there........and I'm out shopping or whatever just like they are...guess I have that "I know all about this product" look...

 

[In a hurry]

I think you're making a big deal out of nothing. I've found that no matter how you're dressed, if you look like you know your way around--people might think you worked there.

I've had it happen to me at different hotels--even the Dolphin in February. I was walking down through the halls purposefully (I was meeting up with the kids) and another guest asked if I worked there. I said, "No, I'm sorry." Turns out she was just trying to find out where the boats were--I told her I was heading that way and took her on down. Didn't offend me at all--sometimes I think when people are trying to find some help they'll just ask the first person they see.

That is different than people assuming you work in housekeeping.

 

[minkydog]

Yeah, I think you need to let this go. You assume too much--a "nice" woman from the "nice family" mistakenly asked you for towels (you don't say what color--is that important ) People ask me all the time if I work at the Walmart. I guess i just look approachable and ordinary, like someone who might actually be helpful(as opposed to the usual employees.)I try to direct them to whatever department they're looking for.

Get over it. I doubt the nice lady meant anything disparaging toward you. She just wanted some extra towels and picked the wrong person to ask. it happens

 

[Buckalew11]

That is different than people assuming you work in housekeeping.

I agree. And I think Robin's feeling were probably right on and as someone else said maybe the lady learned a lesson. I have also been asked if I work somewhere (like at a store) when I don't, I'm just shopping too, but I agree this is different.

 

[mickeyfan2]

I would just let it go. She did apologize. Why were you approaching her?

 

[Blondie]

One August while we were staying at the Dolphin the pool was closed because there was lightening activity in the area. They posted an easel type of sign notifying guests of such as you exit the hotel by the gym, the exit most people use to get to the pool.

I was standing in back of the sign waiting for my DH and sons to come in from the pool and not one, or two, but three people asked me questions regarding the pool closing! I had on typical vacation attire. Evidently, I looked like I should've been working there? I had to tell them I was waiting for my family, that I didn't work there! It was followed by "oh, I'm sorry, I thought you worked here." I'm still trying to figure out what gave them that impression!!

 

[mickeyfan2]

I think you're making a big deal out of nothing. I've found that no matter how you're dressed, if you look like you know your way around--people might think you worked there.

This happens to me all the time when I am shopping. I guess I still have that look from when I was a teenager working at t discount store!!!

 

[NMAmy]

That is different than people assuming you work in housekeeping.

Since the only people in the hallways by the rooms were from housekeeping, I kind of figured she assumed I was with housekeeping--although I was wearing jeans not a housekeeping uniform.

 

[Marseeya]

I must have that look too, although I'm white.

I think you're overreacting.

 

[Buckalew11]

One August while we were staying at the Dolphin the pool was closed because there was lightening activity in the area. They posted an easel type of sign notifying guests of such as you exit the hotel by the gym, the exit most people use to get to the pool.

I was standing in back of the sign waiting for my DH and sons to come in from the pool and not one, or two, but three people asked me questions regarding the pool closing! I had on typical vacation attire. Evidently, I looked like I should've been working there? I had to tell them I was waiting for my family, that I didn't work there! It was followed by "oh, I'm sorry, I thought you worked here." I'm still trying to figure out what gave them that impression!!

I've had this happen several times at WDW. One day I was at Epcot and wearing my GoH nametag and I had a chld ask me for my autograph!! I suppose I was looking like quite a princess, huh?!!

 

[Robinrs]

That is different than people assuming you work in housekeeping.

I've been asked more than a MILLION times about directions or etc in different places.... this is not the point at all. It's the fact that she assumed that I was a housekeeper. NOT that there's anything WRONG with that...

I was not approaching her, I was going to my room and passing her in the hallway.

 

[Marseeya]

I've been asked more than a MILLION times about directions or etc in different places.... this is not the point at all. It's the fact that she assumed that I was a housekeeper. NOT that there's anything WRONG with that...

I was not approaching her, I was going to my room and passing her in the hallway.

There obviously is something wrong with it if it bothers you so much.

 

[diznygirl]

I'm white as can be - and I get asked a lot, "Do you work here?" I don't think it has to do with race - I just think sometimes people are so desperate for help, they grasp at straws.

The best of course is when I was working at a store, and I'd be stocking shelves wearing my oh-so-fashionable bright blue smock, and someone would ask, "Do you work here?"

I'm sorry this bothered your stay, but it happens to all of us. Try to concentrate on the good - like that wonderful huge room!

 

[grlpwrd]

I would be offended and I think people's answers here would depend because people just don't know how it is to live like a person of a different race. Has anyone seen the show Black.White? Even the African American guy that was made up to look Caucasian admitted that was the first time anyone serviced him for golf shoes.

Robin even states

this if FAR from the first time I've had to endure this

I'm not discounting the experience of others, but she was dressed in vacation wear, not standing near a sign near the pool and not wearing similar housekeeper clothes or looking like an employee of a store. She looked like she was on vacation and the person assumed she was a housekeeper.

I get people knocking on our door at home asking me if I am the housekeeper.

Robin wasn't asked if she works there - the person assumed she was a housekeeper. I guess most folks want to be politically correct here and tell us that it doesn't exist and to not make anything out of blatant racism, huh?