Commuter condescension

Okay, so today I'm on my way home from uni in a fairly pleasant mood... My goals for the day were accomplished, the weather was perfect and a heightened sense of human dignity was ripened by the polite conduct of people I was bumping into. No hostility, just happy little commuters making the trek to and fro beneath the tunneled labyrinth of Central station. "Oh shit, I only have a twenty dollar note... Looks like I'll have to stand in the teller line and get a one-way ticket from that happy looking Indian man in the booth." ...And so I stood, waiting for my ticket.

The gent in front of me (and when I say gent, I only say this colloquially), appeared to be a neat and tidy human being who seemed calm about his business. His attire was that of a Real estate agent, his strong cologne resembled that of an over-scented business 'exec' from somewhere near Martin Place. With my copy of 'Mx', I waited patiently for him to approach the polite Indian man in the ticket booth whilst I skimmed through the latest head-lines, eagerly awaiting my ticket transaction. ....And that's when it happened.

My renewed faith in the common good of human beings was stabbed in the heart by the vampirical stake of condescension and arrogance.

Exec: "One single ticket to Hornsby please."

Nice ticket man: "No problem Sir, have a nice day"

Exec: "Ummm, excuse me but you have me two five cent pieces... Give me a ten cent piece."

Nice ticket man: "I'm sorry Sir but I don't have any ten cent coins to give you"

Exec: "But they're right there, I want one of those... Fucking give me a ten cent coin!"

Nice ticket man: "I'm sorry Sir, but I need these coins. These coins are not being dispensed."

Exec: "What's your name you fucking idiot, I'm going to report you to your manager!!"

Nice ticket man: "Uhh.. I-I-I'm sorry Sir but City Rail staff are not allowed to give out their names to the public."

Exec: "Do you really want to lose your 'high and mighty' job as a ticket dispenser mate...? Give me the fucking ten cent coin, or else I'm going to personally see to it that you lose your stupid little job over this you asshole!"

Nice ticket man: "I'm sorry Sir but there is nothing further I can do... I have given you the right amount and have explained to you why I can not give you a ten cent piece"

Exec: "Ok, fine. Enjoy your crappy little job while it lasts fuckwit, I'm reporting you to management"

Nice ticket man: "...F-F-Fucking asshole."


Now, once I had scooped my jaw up off the floor, still in disbelief that a man had squandered and threatened somebodies' livelihood over not receiving a ten cent piece for a perfectly valid reason - I felt physically sick in the stomach. Did that condescending business exec. guy understand the implications of a job loss to some people? The fact that the ticket man could have been a father, or supporting a sick sibling, or just trying to get on his feet with an honest, demanding customer service job for Christs' sake...? And if he is as important as he makes out to be, why the fuck would he, let alone ANYONE in their right mind be in the throes of a quandary over a near-worthless piece of currency? Cool your jets. I honestly don't understand people at times (especially assholes), but after witnessing that charade and blatant disregard for another person's dignity I hereby declare myself officially emancipated from the scum that is the 'human race'.



Peace.