Fight or Flight

ginga123 · Post by **ginga123** » Tue Jun 30, 2009 2:32 am

I went to the Post Office yesterday to mail a response to an job ad I saw in the Classifieds in the Sunday newspaper before heading to work my midnight shift. After all, I wanted to mail my resume and L.O.I. for consideration in my endless pursuit for a real, full-time position. I walked into the lobby and observed that there were 2 automated postal machines. One had a line of at least 4-5 persons, the other 1 person. Armed with card in hand, I made the quick, educated decision to walk up to the machine with the least amount of people.

I waited behind the man patiently as he was finishing up his transaction and printing his postage. I felt a sense of excitement as I realized that I was going to have my resume mailed before any of these women, loaded with tons of clunky packages, had a chance to use the machine they were waiting to use. Nothing major, right? Just another typical day, you would assume? Wrong.

As soon as my fingers began touching the screen of my machine, I heard the women yelling at me, "Hey, you cannot use that machine! You must wait in line just like everyone else. This is where the line begins and we have been waiting patiently for a long time holding these heavy packages to use these machines. You are being rude by not allowing us to go ahead of you and by you just walking up to use that machine."

I could feel the 'fight or flight' instinct kick in as I continued to use my machine and specify I wanted to use First Class for 1 day delivery time at $1.05. My adrenaline pumped and I could feel my heart and consciousness race as I retorted, "Excuse me, who said so? As far as I am concerned, there was only 1 person in line using this machine and I am clearly next in line. You are waiting in that line to use that machine." The women looked at me as if I had committed a mortal sin. In their eyes I was a line-jumper, a disgrace to God and all Mankind. To them, I had broken the Rules of Politeness and they were ready to make a public example of me by flogging with their words of discourteousness. They decided to declare war upon the smart, young, and witty Ginga123.

I continued to blatantly ignore them and concentrated on printing the postage necessary to mail my resume. Enraged and outraged, I could hear the women attempting a riot by threatening to remove me from my machine and call a supervisor, although I awaiting my receipt to print by this time. I could feel the fear and anger inside my my chest and throat. My mind already flew, but my body wouldn't budge. I was ready for battle and could do little to control myself at this point. My voice echoed throughout the lobby as I exclaimed, "Ladies, I do not care! There are clearly 2 machines and 2 separate lines! I am clearly next in line and I do not care!" A silence came upon the lobby as I grabbed the receipt and my postage and stepped away. They lost the War of Politeness.

I could feel a sense of frustration and relief as I walked to the other side of the lobby and filled out my envelope with mailing addresses, etc. I glanced over and saw that they continued to wait in line at the other machine. Not a single person moved over to use the machine I had used and it was available for anyone else to use.

I finished writing on my envelope and walk back toward the machines to the Mail Deposit Drop Box. I felt victorious as I saw them watching me mail my resume and peeved that they tried to belittle me. I could still hear them bicker about me. As I got closer to the door, I glanced back once more to give them the 'eye' and saw that they were heckling another brave, young woman who did the exact same thing I did. I could hear the War rage on as she also said the same thing, "I do not care. There was no one in line to use the machine I used and I was next in line. Now, if you'll excuse me, I am trying to mail this letter."

moonrabitt · Post by **moonrabitt** » Tue Jun 30, 2009 4:30 am

What a bunch of @#&#%^%^@!!!!!

A line is a line. One thing is having a line like in the middle of the 2 machines and waiting, but if they are waiting on one side, tough luck.

There are just some women that have no life, reminds me of this lady that lives a few blocks away, she yelled at us when my dog chased a cat that was on a side walk (of course I held her the whole time), that time I though, "let it go" (I mean it's a dog, they chase cats, that's what they do, but she was far away from it, like 2 yards, so I saw that no harm would come to the cat), but last Saturday she ruined my sister's friends 15th b-day party by calling the cops, mind you it was like 8pm and it was not that loud....And if she yells at me again, I know that I will stand up like you.....
freaking people....Next time you should be rude and tell them "You are not worth my time" or something like that, though what you said was nice XD

beatrush · Post by **beatrush** » Tue Jun 30, 2009 8:34 am

I see this a lot in lines in general where people get line envy because one moves faster than the other.

The lady is insane. If she was smart, she would have jumped to the other line. She was probably pissed she didn't think of it.

Good for you for standing up for yourself.

toonybabe · Post by **toonybabe** » Tue Jun 30, 2009 9:46 am

People are absolutely crazy whenever I go to the post office. Oh and at the bank and supermarket too.

You should have just said "Back off bitch." And then ignored her. (LOL, actually that would have been really rude...but funny.)

ginga123 · Post by **ginga123** » Tue Jun 30, 2009 9:55 am

HAHA! I should have said something like that!

They were infuriated-- i'm sure I wouldn't have started a fight by then. lol

I thought I'd write a short story about it instead and use my English degree to amuse someone today.

iwakuralain16 · Post by **iwakuralain16** » Tue Jun 30, 2009 12:52 pm

Wow.. I can not believe they did that... LOL My fiance always gives me shit for getting in "the slow line". With my luck in your situation, the one guy mailing ONE THING would have taken longer than the other line... It never fails with me. LOL

Good job on standing up to them... they need to get a life and just move to the other fucking line. ROFL

Penguinton · Post by **Penguinton** » Tue Jun 30, 2009 3:02 pm

Geeze that lady was crazy.

Good for you standing up for yourself.

dbzmomma · Post by **dbzmomma** » Tue Jun 30, 2009 4:09 pm

OMG - I'd've thought, "What? Is something wrong with this machine? Is this strictly for priority or something?" And then I'd've stood in the long line and waited until I got the nerve to move to the short line!!

I say, "Good for you!" It's THEIR problem if they don't have the kidneys to move to the short line.

I got glared at one day because I went in at lunch time and used the automated machine (with no people in line) while at least 8 people waited in line for a clerk.