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An explanation of The Joy Division Litmus Test
Although it may now be lost in the mysts of thyme, the poll below is still relevant to this blog. In the winter of 2008, Mele and I went to live in Queensland. In order to survive, I bluffed my way into a job at a Coffee Club.
It was quite a reasonable place to work: the hours were regular, the staff were quite nice, it wasn't particularly taxing on my brain.
There were a few downsides: In the six weeks or so that I worked there, there was about a 90% staff turnover (contributed to by my leaving). This wasn't seen as a result of the low pay, the laughability of staff prices or the practice of not distributing tips to staff, rather it was blamed on the lack of work ethic among Bribie Island's youth.
However, one of the stranger aspects of the cultural isolation that touched our lives during our time "up there" was the fact that nobody at my work had heard of the band Joy Division.
The full explanation is available here.
But please, interact a little further and vote in my ongoing poll. The results are slowly mounting up, proving one thing: people read this blog are more well-informed about Joy Division than anyone who works at the Coffee Club on Bribie Island.
It was quite a reasonable place to work: the hours were regular, the staff were quite nice, it wasn't particularly taxing on my brain.
There were a few downsides: In the six weeks or so that I worked there, there was about a 90% staff turnover (contributed to by my leaving). This wasn't seen as a result of the low pay, the laughability of staff prices or the practice of not distributing tips to staff, rather it was blamed on the lack of work ethic among Bribie Island's youth.
However, one of the stranger aspects of the cultural isolation that touched our lives during our time "up there" was the fact that nobody at my work had heard of the band Joy Division.
The full explanation is available here.
But please, interact a little further and vote in my ongoing poll. The results are slowly mounting up, proving one thing: people read this blog are more well-informed about Joy Division than anyone who works at the Coffee Club on Bribie Island.
So everywhere you go, you're hearing, 'G'day Sam' even when you're not at the Coffee Club but at the chemist, looking for Anusol instead?
ReplyDeleteGod that sounds like my sort of place. I wish everyone would wear name tags
ReplyDeleteKath - Especially when I forget to take off my name tag after work. What's Anusol?
ReplyDeleteSquib - Actually, if everyone wore name tags it wouldn't be a problem. But when you're part of the service industry and people use your personal name as though there were more of a connection than just you not spitting in their coffee, I find it unconscionably rude.
"Good morning, Sam!"
"Good morning, Fatso!"
Kath (again) - Just kidding. I get it.
I was going to say simply allocate them a name based on a negative feature of their appearance, odour or demeanour, but 'fatso' seems to cover that nicely.
ReplyDeleteMy Dad would agree with you Franzy. As a youngish teacher in the seventies, his hair had unfortunately pretty well disappeared. A teacher 'mate' kept calling him Kojak during their pool games. Dad endured this for a while because, what else can he do without appearing like a humorless git but did kind of resent the fact that he could reply back with, "Nice shot, shortarsed fatso."
ReplyDeleteOoops. "Could NOT reply back with..." Kind of ruins the effect a bit.
ReplyDeleteThe thing is that I call pretty much everyone I know "fatso" - especially the girls. I think it actually challenges you to reconsider what might actually be a pretty serious case of body dismorphia. Hopefully by going "Hey! I am not fat!" in your head, it will actually stop you from really thinking that you are at a later date.
ReplyDeleteUnless you are actually overweight and unfit and just need to exercise. Then I lay right off.
You're off to a good start with your Single Sentences. Looking forward to the rest of the month.
ReplyDeleteI hate wearing a name tag. Every single day perfect strangers use my name as though we're bosom buddies. I prefer to be this friendly only with people that I've come to know and like.
Plus for girls there's the extra indignity of giving everyone a(nother) semi-legitimate excuse to give The Twins a good ol' once over.
ReplyDelete"Gooooooooooooooood morning, River. Just the milk thanks!"
Eugh.
I've come up with a novel, non-insulting solution though:
"Good morning, Sam!"
"Good morning, Regular Customer!"
*awkward silence*
I like it!! I'm going to use it.
ReplyDeleteFranzy - I tend to find "You're welcome kind sir" tends to send shivers up a few peoples spines - let alone getting weird looks from others. Although I must say bar tenders prefer to ignore you when you ask for your next pint of coopers.
ReplyDelete