I am finding myself with a short fuse when people are being jerks. Oddly enough, I can handle toddlers having crying fits because they don't get their way far better than I can handle grown-up adults acting entitled. Am I the asshole, though?
Today while working through my opening procedures before the library unlocks for public access, I got a phone call from a cross old man. He wanted to tell a long story about how he couldn't access some online services. At least he had the decency to have his library card number handy. Anyway, while he is launching into his grouchy rant, I can already see what happened. His library card had expired.
Before he could even recite his litany of grievances about Libby (our online e-book and audiobook service) I had already clicked the "renew" button and everything should have been ready to go. But no, he wants to hear himself talk. He complained that he had been in a few months ago because of an account issue. I have no idea what he is on about. June may as well be 20 years ago. I do not know and I do not care. I fixed the problem. We're good to go.
I may have stopped maintaining my Customer Service Voice about here, though, because I felt myself snap. Not into profanity-laced responses, but I suddenly was just done. I have shit to do. I fixed his shit. Stop spewing shit in my ear. Get on with your own shit. We're finished. I'm not your therapist, and I don't want to listen to you moan. Shit happens. Get over yourself. This was fixed before you finished your first monologue of misery. GO AWAY NOW!
I suppose it's a good thing I kept that (and worse) bottled up inside until it was time to type this, right? Am I in the wrong to expect better of people who approach me for help?
Welcome to technology. Stuff happens. We're trying our best. Don't treat us like garbage. That applies to everyone: customer service, sales, librarians, cashiers, waiters and waitresses, it shouldn't matter. Y'all told us to learn patience and give folks the benefit of the doubt. Live like you pretended you believed.
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