When at supermarket

[Andtototoo]

Back in the dark ages, I worked as a grocery store cashier. So long ago that you had to key in each entry manually. In those days, checking out took longer and cashiers and customers often chatted while going through the process, so you often had "your" customers who would choose to come to your line rather than anyone else's. You got to know your customers.

I had many an interesting and enlightening conversation while checking people out. I asked a lot of questions about food and learned a lot. I don't ever remember anyone being upset with my questions and since these were New Yorkers, I would have known if they were upset.

The only time I judged was either to feel sad when I saw senior citizens buying canned tuna all the time because they couldn't afford any other protein or when I repeatedly had the same Food Stamp user try and convince me that he could buy beer with his Food Stamps. Whenever I would get to the beer, I'd tell him the rules and suddenly he could no longer speak English. I finally had a Puerto Rican friend of mine tell me how to say it in Spanish. The look on the customer's face when I said in Spanish was priceless. He then switched allegiances and went to another cashier, but I warned her and gave her the sentence. He went all the way down the list of cashiers and ended up back with me. And stopped trying to buy the beer with Food Stamps.

 

[weheartdisney]

Normally I'm grocery shopping with my 3 year old. I don't have the time to check out anyone else's selections. And I could care less.

 

[suzanna1066@comcast.]

I am surprised at all the people who admit to critiquing other people's shopping carts. I never look at other carts (nor do I judge their attire). Judging people is not a habit I want my child to learn.

 

[Fintastic]

I don't pay any attention to what other people are buying or what they're wearing (unless it's really crazy like a bunny suit or something)! I'm trying to get in and out as fast as I can, usually on my way home from work. What I do pay attention to are people using a ton of coupons or not checking out fast enough to suit me.

So lets say a single mother who is a social worker (who on average makes about $40,000 here the last time I heard) does not deserve fancier food? I can guarantee they probably "deserve" fancier food more than a CEO does. And they are still working and paying their taxes so why do they NOT deserve public assistance they have paid into?

Just because they are on food stamps or government assistance means absolutely NOTHING about their skills. It's people like you who disgust me. I have skills that could get me a job making a nice living but I am planning on going into public service because helping others who can't help themselves is more important than a 6 figure salary. But apparently that is the thought amongst many people....if you aren't rich, you have no meaningful skills or talents. But I guess I just don't have enough talent to make enough money and I don't deserve "fancier" food...Maybe I should choose either the MD or PhD routes that are constantly being shoved in my face instead and make more money

Just becaue you seem them buy it ONCE does NOT mean you know their situation. They might have something to celebrate and they decide to buy it. Maybe someone in the family got a new job. Or maybe they got a job after being unemployed for over a year. You have no idea what is going on with them so I would think before I speak if I were you....

This whole post just smacks of entitlement. I'm a good person! I could make a bunch of money but I don't! I "deserve" to eat lobster every night! No, nobody "deserves" anything. You work for it, you earn it. It's not handed to you. If you want a lot of nice things, go make more money and buy them yourself. And this is coming from somebody making way less than $40,000 a year. I may "deserve" to eat lobster every night, but since I can't afford it, I'll stick to cheaper fare. It's called living within your means and off the taxpayer's dime.

 

[MsPeggySue911]

I don't pay any attention to what other people are buying or what they're wearing (unless it's really crazy like a bunny suit or something)! I'm trying to get in and out as fast as I can, usually on my way home from work. What I do pay attention to are people using a ton of coupons or not checking out fast enough to suit me.

This whole post just smacks of entitlement. I'm a good person! I could make a bunch of money but I don't! I "deserve" to eat lobster every night! No, nobody "deserves" anything. You work for it, you earn it. It's not handed to you. If you want a lot of nice things, go make more money and buy them yourself. And this is coming from somebody making way less than $40,000 a year. I may "deserve" to eat lobster every night, but since I can't afford it, I'll stick to cheaper fare. It's called living within your means and off the taxpayer's dime.

I totally agree. I don't think anybody deserves any darn thing when it comes to government assistance. If my taxes are paying for it then they don't deserve steak and lobster no more than I do. And we earn our groceries. If you want to eat luxury food, get a job and buy it.

And as for the lady who said most welfare recipients work full time jobs I say, PROVE IT. Show some proof. I live in Mississippi where 99% of our welfare recipients are career welfare ppl who teach their kids how to live off welfare and milk the system so they don't have to work. Then they move in their boyfriend and don't claim him or his job and they both drive Cadillacs. If you want to see the real face of welfare come to my state. It's not all foster moms and low income deserving families. I have a good friend who works for the welfare department right here in my town and she said most of these ppl have been on welfare for years without ever having looked for a job.

Bill Clinton made the welfare to work program where it limited how long you could stay on welfare without looking for a job but that didn't last very long. All those "deserving" ppl cried foul because they had to actually work for a living. And Barack Obama has made it even easier to live off welfare. He has raised the income limits of how much you can make and still get welfare and food stamps.

So yeah, if someone is using a food stamp card, and using my tax dollars to pay for their food, I do look at what they are buying and I do judge it if it is all expensive food or a cart full of junk and they weigh 300 pounds. Like I said, WIC limits what you can buy with their assistance, so should food stamps. Food stamps should never be allowed to buy chips, cokes, Little Debbies, Twinkies, TV dinners. If the government can tell us what our kids have to eat in school, they can tell our "deserving" ppl who gets free groceries what they can and can't buy with it. WIC does, food stamps should.

 

[Cinderella94]

This whole post just smacks of entitlement. I'm a good person! I could make a bunch of money but I don't! I "deserve" to eat lobster every night! No, nobody "deserves" anything. You work for it, you earn it. It's not handed to you. If you want a lot of nice things, go make more money and buy them yourself. And this is coming from somebody making way less than $40,000 a year. I may "deserve" to eat lobster every night, but since I can't afford it, I'll stick to cheaper fare. It's called living within your means and off the taxpayer's dime.

 

[YodaGirl]

I totally agree. I don't think anybody deserves any darn thing when it comes to government assistance. If my taxes are paying for it then they don't deserve steak and lobster no more than I do. And we earn our groceries. If you want to eat luxury food, get a job and buy it.

And as for the lady who said most welfare recipients work full time jobs I say, PROVE IT. Show some proof. I live in Mississippi where 99% of our welfare recipients are career welfare ppl who teach their kids how to live off welfare and milk the system so they don't have to work. Then they move in their boyfriend and don't claim him or his job and they both drive Cadillacs. If you want to see the real face of welfare come to my state. It's not all foster moms and low income deserving families. I have a good friend who works for the welfare department right here in my town and she said most of these ppl have been on welfare for years without ever having looked for a job.

Bill Clinton made the welfare to work program where it limited how long you could stay on welfare without looking for a job but that didn't last very long. All those "deserving" ppl cried foul because they had to actually work for a living. And Barack Obama has made it even easier to live off welfare. He has raised the income limits of how much you can make and still get welfare and food stamps.

So yeah, if someone is using a food stamp card, and using my tax dollars to pay for their food, I do look at what they are buying and I do judge it if it is all expensive food or a cart full of junk and they weigh 300 pounds. Like I said, WIC limits what you can buy with their assistance, so should food stamps. Food stamps should never be allowed to buy chips, cokes, Little Debbies, Twinkies, TV dinners. If the government can tell us what our kids have to eat in school, they can tell our "deserving" ppl who gets free groceries what they can and can't buy with it. WIC does, food stamps should.

Agreed.

 

[collegejunkie]

This whole post just smacks of entitlement. I'm a good person! I could make a bunch of money but I don't! I "deserve" to eat lobster every night! No, nobody "deserves" anything. You work for it, you earn it. It's not handed to you. If you want a lot of nice things, go make more money and buy them yourself. And this is coming from somebody making way less than $40,000 a year. I may "deserve" to eat lobster every night, but since I can't afford it, I'll stick to cheaper fare. It's called living within your means and not off the taxpayer's dime.

FINALLY, some logic and reasoning

If you really, really, feel that way, why don't you go live in a country that has no social welfare, no safety nets, no help and assistance for those with less. There are plenty of them. Personally, I am GLAD we are a people who are humane enough to take care of our weakest citizens, to provide for the helpless and that we have the generosity of spirit to take care others, for whatever reason, and that we do not begrudge anyone putting a smile on their chidlren's faces every once in a while with a birthday cake.

generous spirit?! you think i pay taxes because i'm being generous? oh goodness, that's quite delusional. i sincerely doubt that anyone would pay taxes if it were not required.

Well, if you are doing it at my expense, from the money I pay into taxes, thanks but no thanks. Feel free to do it when you can afford to do it. You can accept that call later on.

exactly. making a choice that deprives you is, obviously, YOUR choice. don't expect things from other people when you are making that decision.

So lets say a single mother who is a social worker (who on average makes about $40,000 here the last time I heard) does not deserve fancier food? I can guarantee they probably "deserve" fancier food more than a CEO does. And they are still working and paying their taxes so why do they NOT deserve public assistance they have paid into?

Just because they are on food stamps or government assistance means absolutely NOTHING about their skills. It's people like you who disgust me. I have skills that could get me a job making a nice living but I am planning on going into public service because helping others who can't help themselves is more important than a 6 figure salary. But apparently that is the thought amongst many people....if you aren't rich, you have no meaningful skills or talents. But I guess I just don't have enough talent to make enough money and I don't deserve "fancier" food...Maybe I should choose either the MD or PhD routes that are constantly being shoved in my face instead and make more money

Just becaue you seem them buy it ONCE does NOT mean you know their situation. They might have something to celebrate and they decide to buy it. Maybe someone in the family got a new job. Or maybe they got a job after being unemployed for over a year. You have no idea what is going on with them so I would think before I speak if I were you....

picking to work a job that only earns you $40,000 a year because you like it is a CHOICE that YOU made. why should your choice to stick yourself with an income that won't allow you to buy fancy things punish me by eating up my tax dollars? if you are deciding that you only want to earn that much, then don't complain when you can't afford the nicer things in life. and yes, i do think that if you get a MD or PhD then you would be much better off and i would congratulate you and agree that you would deserve nicer things (simply because you can pay for them). you may think you're all high and mighty for going into public service, but i don't see what's so special about that. your choice is not right for me or many people, yet you want my assistance and tax dollars to help pay for things that you are depriving yourself of? that's ridiculous. people make different levels of income and are therefore able to buy the things they want. either you have the money to, or you don't - simple. and btw, if you could actually get into medical school, then you would be helping MANY more people by doing so and then joining doctors without borders. i doubt that you have medical school being "shoved at you".

 

[brunette8706]

I totally agree. I don't think anybody deserves any darn thing when it comes to government assistance. If my taxes are paying for it then they don't deserve steak and lobster no more than I do. And we earn our groceries. If you want to eat luxury food, get a job and buy it.

And as for the lady who said most welfare recipients work full time jobs I say, PROVE IT. Show some proof. I live in Mississippi where 99% of our welfare recipients are career welfare ppl who teach their kids how to live off welfare and milk the system so they don't have to work. Then they move in their boyfriend and don't claim him or his job and they both drive Cadillacs. If you want to see the real face of welfare come to my state. It's not all foster moms and low income deserving families. I have a good friend who works for the welfare department right here in my town and she said most of these ppl have been on welfare for years without ever having looked for a job.

Bill Clinton made the welfare to work program where it limited how long you could stay on welfare without looking for a job but that didn't last very long. All those "deserving" ppl cried foul because they had to actually work for a living. And Barack Obama has made it even easier to live off welfare. He has raised the income limits of how much you can make and still get welfare and food stamps.

So yeah, if someone is using a food stamp card, and using my tax dollars to pay for their food, I do look at what they are buying and I do judge it if it is all expensive food or a cart full of junk and they weigh 300 pounds. Like I said, WIC limits what you can buy with their assistance, so should food stamps. Food stamps should never be allowed to buy chips, cokes, Little Debbies, Twinkies, TV dinners. If the government can tell us what our kids have to eat in school, they can tell our "deserving" ppl who gets free groceries what they can and can't buy with it. WIC does, food stamps should.

*
Well said! Totally concur.

 

[snapppyd]

Wow, so now in addition to being judged for every move I make while on vacation at Disney I have to worry about being judged at the grocery store? Good to know

 

[OceanAnnie]

Wow, so now in addition to being judged for every move I make while on vacation at Disney I have to worry about being judged at the grocery store? Good to know

I'm oblivious to it all. I have a good time at Disney and I get my shopping done. Those that have the time and inclination for that sort of thing, more power to them. I'm happily oblivious doing my own thing.

The things you learn on the DIS.

 

[Lionqueen2]

No, I don't notice because I hate grocery shopping. so I pay attention to my list and get out.

Me too!

 

[Missy1961]

Wow, so now in addition to being judged for every move I make while on vacation at Disney I have to worry about being judged at the grocery store? Good to know

I've always wanted to be the subject of a thread here! I figured it would be something I did at WDW (I used to threaten to wear Heelys at the parks), but maybe instead it will be something I do at the supermarket. Hey, maybe you & I can get into a shoving match somewhere!

 

[MM27]

I can honestly say that I never pay attention to what anyone else is buying in the supermarket. My goal is to go in, get what I need and get out in the shortest amount of time. What other people buy, how they are paying and whether they choose paper or plastic has nothing to do with my shopping trip.

 

[laura.anne]

I guess I'm just a little confused about the whole "getting upset over people buying lobster/crab legs/filet mignon with food stamps" thing. You only get a certain amount of money every month on your EBT card. If you have $300 on your EBT card and you spend $30 of it on crab legs, you're only going to have $270 left for the month. I guess I just don't get upset about it because it's not like you could buy crab legs or luxury foods every day with food stamps, and once that money's gone, it's gone for the month.
I'm a cashier at a grocery store and the only time I get frustrated with customers using food stamps is when it's a) the beginning of the month and the customer piles their buggy high with all sorts of stuff without paying attention to how much it costs, and then we have to put a WHOLE bunch of stuff back because they didn't have enough money, or b) the end of the month and they do the same thing, only with 3 or 4 items and we have to have a 10 minute powwow about what they want to keep or want to put back... all the while we are judged on how fast we ring things up, so it's making my scanning score look awful... anyway. Sorry, got off on a tangent lol

 

[snapppyd]

I've always wanted to be the subject of a thread here! I figured it would be something I did at WDW (I used to threaten to wear Heelys at the parks), but maybe instead it will be something I do at the supermarket. Hey, maybe you & I can get into a shoving match somewhere!

In the summer when we are in NJ a lot of people stop at the grocery store on the way home from the beach. It took me a while to get used to it, being from NYC.

One day I was wearing pink flip flops, an orange beach coverup and my hair had been in the ocean - I guess I was quite a sight - but this older woman kept staring me up and down like I was naked or something. I felt like saying, "hey, look around, I'm not the only one!".

 

[babyrich]

In the summer when we are in NJ a lot of people stop at the grocery store on the way home from the beach. It took me a while to get used to it, being from NYC.

One day I was wearing pink flip flops, an orange beach coverup and my hair had been in the ocean - I guess I was quite a sight - but this older woman kept staring me up and down like I was naked or something. I felt like saying, "hey, look around, I'm not the only one!".

Similar story... I had to go to the supermarket to grab lunch for the next day. I had just done a run and because it rained the night before my legs were a little mud splattered. An older woman at the deli counter kept staring at my legs. Finally I locked eyes with her and she said, what the heck happened to you?? With that the employee behind the counter said, why dont you mind your business and leave her alone???? The woman said, I just want to know why she is so dirty!!!! The employee, its no business of yours!!!! I ordered my stuff and left the two of them to fight it out.

 

[hereyago]

I just wanted to repost on this thread: So today, I am at my local grocery store and I have Pepto bismal and bananas.

This lady behind me says' Oh that's an odd combination. I said," well my mom is elderly, has diarehha and I have to nip it in the bud and pepto is still help stop it as well as the bananas-plus the bananas help with potassium levels that can be depleted do to the diarehha. I gave this poor woman more info then she needed, but if you want to open your mouth and comment then that's what you get.

 

[AntePrincess]

Inspired by this thread, I got judgmental at the supermarket today!

Ok, it was really just because I was surprised. I've mentioned before that I mostly shop at a Korean grocery store and I mostly shop early in the morning, so it's usually just my family and a lot of Asian housewives. Not to stereotype, but we're typically surrounded by thin women, quiet children, the occasional older coupled, and altogether people that have taught me to change how I shop by having grocery carts that seem filled to the brim with produce.

This morning, as I'm wondering whether to try cassava or batatta, a very large, very Asian housewife rounds the bend and I couldn't resist peeking in her cart to see if there was anything different in there. Maybe you could guess it, but it was ALL frozen prepared foods and soup noodles. Piles of ice cream mochi boxes, bags of shrimp and crab flavored chips, buns, dumplings, mini "yogurt" drinks, candies...

Of course, I love all those things, and her cart was still about average for our old grocery store, but it was a neat moment for me where I saw some cultural crossover. (I then went and bought a ton of broccoli and leafy greens more than I'd intended. )

 

[snapppyd]

Inspired by this thread, I got judgmental at the supermarket today!

Ok, it was really just because I was surprised. I've mentioned before that I mostly shop at a Korean grocery store and I mostly shop early in the morning, so it's usually just my family and a lot of Asian housewives. Not to stereotype, but we're typically surrounded by thin women, quiet children, the occasional older coupled, and altogether people that have taught me to change how I shop by having grocery carts that seem filled to the brim with produce.

This morning, as I'm wondering whether to try cassava or batatta, a very large, very Asian housewife rounds the bend and I couldn't resist peeking in her cart to see if there was anything different in there. Maybe you could guess it, but it was ALL frozen prepared foods and soup noodles. Piles of ice cream mochi boxes, bags of shrimp and crab flavored chips, buns, dumplings, mini "yogurt" drinks, candies...

Of course, I love all those things, and her cart was still about average for our old grocery store, but it was a neat moment for me where I saw some cultural crossover. (I then went and bought a ton of broccoli and leafy greens more than I'd intended. )

Where oh where is the tag fairy????????????