Also, "disrespectful tone" is not an objective fact but a judgment - and a criticism. No matter how "true" it may be, it will likely be heard as such,
More importantly, why would we ever want to say anything remotely critical and leave when somebody is throwing a tantrum and hurtling insults?
Shouldn't we reserve our criticism for folks who are behaving well and who have healthy boundaries?
Oh... the irony is getting thick.
OK, allow me another story.
I'm in the "Express" line at my local supermarket (not the one I normally shop at, but the big "W-D" one), which, according to the sign, is for "10 items or less." And the woman in front of me has at LEAST 25 items -- probably more. Think she paid with a check, too. I'm sighing, and rolling my eyes, waiting for my turn. The woman leaves, and the cashier asks me "And how are you today?" and I say "I'm fine, but you know, you really shouldn't have an express line if you're not going to enforce it. That was ridiculous."
"Oh, we're told that we're not allowed to say anything, sir," she says, very nicely.
"Why not?" I ask.
"Because we're trained that it will only upset the customer."
"So let me get this straight," I persist, in my best John Becker/Larry David mode. "Do as not to 'upset' the customers who DON'T follow the rules, you piss off all of the customers behind them in line, who DO follow them?"
"Yes, that's right," she says. "That's what we're trained to do."
