This isn't going to be the article you think it is. (I don't think, anyway). And since I'm Jess of All Trades I've decided things will fall under
Categories in the title. Art. Writing. Being Human. Things like that. Fancy, eh? Today's article falls under... well, never mind. The title already said.
Since I'm on sabbatical from theatre and working retail, I'm in a unique position to
really observe people
being human. I'm from a small town in the mountains where the only diversity comes on planes for the skiing and hiking seasons. Now I'm in a military city in the South and I can tell you there's a difference. There's another article I'm going to write on retail later, but this one is about noticing my knee jerk reaction to different kinds of people.
There are a lot of different people here. (Thank you, mistress of the obvious). I don't just mean racially (yes, I'm going there). There are folks from all different parts of the country, the world, different classes and styles. As a "sales associate" I get to interact with and assist all these people. Sometimes it's immediately easier than other times.
Interestingly, race doesn't matter to my knee jerk reaction. (I'm relieved. Because you just don't know about yourself when you live in a town with zero diversity. I'm being brutally honest.) But I find I have a difficult time identifying with people of certain characteristics which I'll list below. (Note: This list is nullified the instant said person smiles or treats me with even a dollop of genuine friendliness and warmth).
People who...
- Are exceptionally well dressed & groomed. In other words, people of a much higher class than myself. It puts me off. This is not the Hamptons. Who are they trying to impress?
- Are not smiling. Come on. You're on a fun shopping day.
- Won't look me in the eye.
- Are exceptionally not well dressed and groomed. I mean, people who are shaggy, rumply, don't bathe. In other words, people who are of a much lower (economical) class than I.
- Are exceptionally overweight or unhealthy. I'm not talking about people who are fit or husky or have some glimmer of health in their life and who care. Again, I'm being brutally honest. My knee jerk reaction is primal. This person is not healthy. I should stay away. Again, that reaction disappears the second that person smiles at me. It really does.
- ...Are exceptionally loud. I consider myself mild mannered (although my friends can pick out my laugh in a theatre full of patrons...)
- Don't care. I mean, flannel PJs, dirty white t-shirts, sipping on your massive drink from Chik fil a, hair still wet from the shower.
- Are of an exceptionally lower or higher education bracket.
All right. That's the negative reactions. The knee-jerk positive reactions go to people who are...
- Generally cleaned and groomed but not overdressed.
- Smiling.
- Friendly.
- Clearly having fun, and being nice to the people they are with.
- Low maintenance and not stressing about their shopping trip.
- Generally healthy.
- Seem to have a general education and awareness of the world outside themselves.
So I have a good reaction to those kind of laid back, clean, smiling, down to earth-but-still-caring kind of people. ...
People, in other words, who I consider to be more or less
just like me.
Food for thought.
