While Jenny was at the checkout of our local Tesco supermarket, waiting to have her shopping totted up, she overheard a woman ahead of her voicing her opinions on immigration.
The woman was being very anti-immigrant, so Jenny was prompted to voice a more pro-immigrant opinion.
At this, the cashier refused to deal with Jenny's shopping and said she would have to be attended to by another cashier - which she was.
But what are things coming to if a supermarket cashier can refuse to deal with you because she doesn't like your opinions?
I've never seen that before, and I wonder if Tesco staff are actually allowed to refuse service to a customer, or whether the cashier was acting improperly.
Jenny has emailed Tesco's chief executive, Ken Murphy, to complain. His reply will be interesting.
Please keep us updated as to whether you get a reply. That cashier was bang out of order.
ReplyDeleteAnd well done, Jenny!
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Ms Scarlet: I will certainly provide an update if Tesco bothers to respond.
DeleteHello Nick,
ReplyDeleteThat is indeed a strange situation and we very much admire Jenny for standing her ground.
You touch upon here something that we have considered for a while and that is the lack of proper debate these days. It should be possible, we argue, that adults can hold a perfectly civilised conversation whilst maintaining very different viewpoints. It should not break down into insults or walking off, merely debate and the opportunity to hear out an alternative but still valid argument. Perhaps social media which selects for us those images and posts which resonate with our own preferences has something to do with this?
Jane and Lance: I absolutely agree. Why do so many disagreements nowadays turn into bitter slanging matches - or even threats of violence - rather than a good-tempered exchange of views? I think social media is very much to blame with its tendency to reinforce a particular opinion rather than challenging it.
DeleteI will venture a guess that Tesco does not condone what the cashier did. Good on Jenny.
ReplyDeleteSandra: My assumption as well. We'll see what transpires.
DeleteThat is outrageous! Unfortunately, the world is no longer a safe place for open dialogue or debate.
ReplyDeleteBijoux: I think you're right that open dialogue and debate are getting increasingly difficult.
DeleteI suppose the idea has been spreading of valuing comfort over carrying out one's job. Maybe this value is trickling out from the university where students feel it's OK to shout someone down rather than face discomfort... I will be glad when the pendulum swings back to having courage to politely face one's discomfort.
ReplyDeleteI guess Jenny could speak up because she had built up her courage over the years. Not like some.
Sean: Yes, it seems that a lot of this censoriousness emanates from universities, where the academic staff don't defend free speech vigorously enough.
ReplyDeleteJenny has always challenged people she seriously disagrees with. She has been a local councillor and a university lecturer so she's used to confronting people.
How very unprofessional of the cashier.
ReplyDelete