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To work as a waiter, besides all the rewarding experiences, might be draining and challenging at times. Dealing with difficult customers, carrying heavy trays of food and drinks, standing for long periods of time, small tips, etc. Those are just a few disadvantages that come with the job, not to mention all the little quirks every restaurant or diner faces from time to time. And this Instagram account “server_life” covers it all. Together with Twitter “@TipOrGoHome”, the page shares all the funny (or not so funny) incidents at an eating or drinking place that servers have to deal with.

"You work in the industry and feel as if nobody understands you? Well, we do,” write the moderators of “Server_Life”. Scroll down for some tearfully funny backstage moments of a waiter's life. Do any of the memes or posts feel painfully relatable to you? Let us know in the comments! For more similar content, check out our article covering servers talking and venting about their work here!

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Tams21
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Worked in convenience store across from a church. I totally agree... Church for an hour or two to justify being an a*****e for the rest of the week.

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Katie Lutesinger
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I read the Satanic Bible out of curiosity, and in the foreword LaVey talks about how in his youth he played the piano for his local church and became fascinated by how the congregation would show up, pray and sing and make big show of piety in general, only to go straight back to doing all the bad things they always did the moment they left the premises.

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Jodie daubenmire
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

All Karen's it seems wear their Live, laugh Love, whatever gear. As they are verbally taking a 16 year old apart because she wanted crushed ice, not cubed.

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Mark Melton
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not all Christians are a******s, some actual try to live as Jesus wants us to. Politics has been the death of Christianity.

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WhydoIneedaname
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It really worries me how quickly anti-hate people hate on religion. There are a lot of religious a******s, AND there are a lot of religious people who are good humans as well. My grandmother is a minister who is accepting of everyone, loving, and has devoted her entire life to making sure people have a community where they feel loved. My Christian roommate was the one who helped me get into therapy when I was in a rough place. I myself am Jewish. It's not the f*****g religion that makes people monsters.

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Deborah B
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think it's like risk compensation (eg, like how wearing a helmet increases risk-taking behaviour in cyclists). People have taken the safety precaution of attending church, so they can be selfish and mean and it's offset by the virtuous church-attendance.

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Tinkerbest
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Very true. Was a server 20 years ago and this was true. Sad it is still the same

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Fluffy mommy panda
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sadly this true. Some of worst and rudest people come out on Sundays.......

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Scout Finch
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This. Worked many years in the restaurant industry. Did ya'll forget where you've been for the past few hours? Oh, a bench warmer. I get it.

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MygrandsonscallmeNia
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

At least, here's someone that didn't blame being this way on those who go to church. Lots of people go out to eat at that time on Sunday. I used to be a waitress, and Sunday was usually family outing day.

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Tim
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think it's a great opportunity to do the "return the tip 'because you obviously need it more then me'' thing.

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NannernomminNanaPanda
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This makes me feel horrible!! I feel like I should apologize for all the awful interactions with Church Christians! We are NOT all like that and it is totally against Christ's teachings. Makes me want to whomp'em in the head with the bible!

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Kim Kermes
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You are so correct! (Even more so by using the term "self entitled") Fake christians are facing a stern talking to at the Pearly Gates and a long stint waiting tables at the Restaurant of Purgatory, catering to Hell's demons on vacation. I just made that up, thanks for the inspiration.

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Rizzo
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They are pumped up with godly energy. How dare you to criticize that?

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Michelle C
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I’m a Christian and I have no problem calling out fellow believers who do this privately in with dignity whenever I see it because that is not OK. We’re called to honor God and love our neighbors. Miss treating anyone because you think they are beneath you somehow is not Christlike in the slightest.

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Brandon Parisien
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Many people do what they want because "God will forgive me". I, an Atheist, had to explain to a Christian that he forgives if you STOP THE BEHAVIOR!

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Riley Quinn
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Worked in a bakery across the street from a cathedral, and all hell broke loose when these azzholes came through.

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Pandroid Rebellion
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Absolutely true. The worst guest I ever had was a pastor. The entire staff hated him.

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Jodie daubenmire
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Worked as a line cook in College. Family owned, amazing people worked there. Laughter was the only sound coming out of our kitchen. But..we closed on Sunday at 7pm. Gave the teenagers some time to get ready for the week, gave the adults some family time. We were open about 6 months, when one Sunday, a certain very conservative, and judgemental religious group came in at 6:55. We stopped taking orders at 6:30. Our wait staff was gone. They sat, and we rushed to tell them we were already closing and could not take orders. We were given the dirtiest looks, but left. The next week, at 6:30. Around 30 of them came in. 1 line cook, 1 grill cook and a dishwasher served all 30, and at 8:15, they left. Leaving a 5 cent tip on a 250.billThe owner heard about it, we didn't complain, a regular customer told them.They were upset, because these people were horrible.we were told not to make eye contact with them. The owners uninvited the entire church from the restaurant.

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SirDigbyChickenCaesar
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm a server and bartender and this is absolutely true. Church crowd are the absolute worst. Bad tippers, rude, entitled, impatient, messier than tje average guest and they run their servers to death.

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CanadianaKa
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I would compare them to the Sunday samplers in Costco except it's the same group - just the ones who are too cheap to *pay* for their meals.

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Earthquake903
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When I was a Mgr at Cracker Barrel we not so lovingly referred to them as The Parade of Christians. Some of the meanest, messiest, most hateful people you'll ever have the misfortune to meet.

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Michelle Lauer
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Properly managed restaurants value their staff, i.e., do not offer brunch!

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Yargarble
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Is anybody surprised by this? The Theists of organized religion are the stupidest, most self righteous entitled kunz the world has to offer.

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Catherine Trowell
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And those same A-Holes would invade the DIY store that I worked in in TN after they plagued the restaurant community

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Jessica J.
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's always the church groups; no matter where you work, from pharmacy to hotels, they have a bad reputation.

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Kraneia The Dancing Dryad
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's like they didn't like what the preacher told them and they want to take it out on you.

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Max Fox
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We had friends who owned a little cafe. The only group which she asked to leave, and never come back, was an after church group.

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Terri Martin
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've never been a server but without a doubt, I agree. Not just at restaurants, but everywhere.

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Ozymandias73
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh my damn that is the truest statement a server can make! I swear, it's like they used up and left all their goodness back in the church and are only left with what's left...nasty, vile, worst parts of the soul!

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Amber Miller
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So in the opening picture the number listed is only 10%. Tipping for ~good~ service should be 15% or higher Imo. 20% would be over $9.00. WTH. ❤ your servers

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A. Jones
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Which is why I don't go out to eat on Sundays, unless I want to watch some drama.

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Cassi Lyris
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yup. It's not even close. Even Thanksgiving and Christmas are better.

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Alicia M
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Back in the 90s I waitressed at a breakfast diner. This is absolutely true. They come in, run you to death, stay forever, then leave almost nothing. I had some customers think $0.25 USD was a good tip. I made $2.13/hour. 😑

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Mike Butcher
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Same way at the grocery store I work in,they praise the Lord and then un leash their inner demon, entitled selves on us....

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E.g. Hoffman
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We used to live next to a church - stayed clear of the parking lot exits at the end of services - h-e-double toothpicks on wheels.

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Demosthenes
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That distinction belongs to the Luddites: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luddite ChatGPT is gonna take my job away folks make sure you read the part about the use of military force, execution and penal transportation

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Brenda Cugino
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They’re just doing unto others as they’d like done unto them….

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Brenda Cugino
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They’re just doing unto others as they would like done unto them….

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Mike Beck
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Very much so. Although I might argue that certain Wednesday night groups are worse. But that's another story...

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Alethia Nyx
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And the worst groups are the post first communion or confirmation parties.

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Chris Hooley
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Hey BP! How do I upvote this more than once? Like, maybe eleventy-thousand times?

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BatPhace
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Their souls are already saved, why should they bother being polite or making themselves better? God loves THEM (and only them) they way they are /hardsarcasm

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"Server_Life" entered the vast waters of Twitter in 2013 and has 661k followers with its Instagram account combined. Since then, the page has grown to the point where it now has its own The Server Life Podcast on Spotify, talking about stereotypes about servers, celebrities at restaurants, kitchen horror stories, and more! It is truly worth checking out!

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Rizzo
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Could be me. My wife prefers to go 'shopping' (which is imo more endless looking rather than real shopping) with some girlfriend(s) but with me (how come?) and I often meet her afterwards in a Café. When I arrive at her table I sometimes say: "Excuse me, but you caught my eye the moment I walked in here." which causes a sudden silence and lots of turning heads. ;)

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Servers are considered to be the face of a restaurant, being the first ones to greet a customer and making sure they have a pleasant experience. They’re also the connecting link between the kitchen and clients, taking orders and relating them to the cooks while ensuring that food and drinks reach every table in an adequate time. It's a challenging and demanding job that requires not only patience and concentration but also interpersonal savvy. Especially when it comes to dealing with difficult customers and challenging situations that can arise due to a broken coffee machine, for example. 

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Having a place to vent and read about similar experiences might be a good way to let all the steam out. That’s the goal of “Server Life”, a place where all the servers can get all the consolation they rightfully deserve!

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Memes are a common type of internet comedy that frequently depict relatable or exaggerated scenarios. Given that so many people have either worked in or eaten at restaurants, waiters and the restaurant industry often appear in these humorous images, videos, or pieces of text widely shared and replicated online.

To learn more about memes in digital culture, we reached out to Bradley E. Wiggins, Ph.D., an Associate Professor and Department Head of Media Communications at Webster Vienna Private University who has published a book, The Discursive Power of Memes in Digital Culture. Scroll down to read the whole interview!

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Zobi123
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Also, you can complain nicely. Like, sometimes things do go wrong and the restaurant should fix. But just don't be a jerk about it.

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Memes have become an essential component of online culture. They often go viral and spread quickly across social media platforms. But what makes them so impactful and shareable? According to Bradley E. Wiggins, memes are often bite-sized content, simple to distribute and their inclusion of humor typically guarantees some degree of resonance with the topic presented in the meme. “Now, when memes use a critical topic, such as something about politics, for example, humor may still be present, but one can also begin to see aspects of an ideology at work. Memes that reflect or reject certain ideological aspects become part of the larger online experience and can serve to reinforce one’s preconceived notions about a particular issue.”

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CJ the Ghost
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The dad shouldn't pressure his daughter into drinking either way though...

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Memes have become a ubiquitous part of online culture, and they are constantly evolving in response to trends and current events. Memes have also become more widely used as a form of communication as a result of the popularity of social media platforms. Bradley E. Wiggins shared that memes are a genre of communication. That means that “the types of communication made possible by memes is limited only by its own form and modality. In other words, as certain meme-like content becomes more dynamic, such as content on TikTok, the user experience is inundated with additional information, the meta-data often accompanying a given post. Another point is that memes truncate, or shorten, complex perspectives into easily consumable chunks of information. This is quite similar to the journalistic practice of using a ‘soundbite’ to capture the essence of a sophisticated or otherwise abstract amount of information, such as policy announcements or new legislation.”

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Tams21
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Maybe the restaurant should pay a decent wage instead of making witty signs.

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Some people argue that memes are trivial and frequently spread false information that can be harmful. Bradley E. Wiggins claims that memes are both trivial and sublime, silly and profound. “As to the perpetuation of negative stereotypes, the form a meme takes is going to impose limits on what can be included in the message alongside some reasonable expectation for a laugh. It may be better to view this criticism as positioned about the topic and not the form; the topic can change, the form of the memes can also change, but is largely limited to image, video and GIFs.”

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Lastly, we asked Bradley E. Wiggins if he has noticed any trends in the types of memes that are most popular or widely shared on social media platforms. He shared that spy balloons (because of recent reports about them), for example, attracted meme versions of the alleged surveillance balloons across social media. “One reason for this is producing this kind of repetitive content gives a sense of control over the topic to online users who are not getting what they may perceive to be the full story, all the details, etc. about the balloons. It may also lead to conspiracy theorizing too, which also lends itself well to the meme format.”

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Chris Hooley
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

😂 In Aus, the drinking age is the same as the driving age (18.) Once had bar security watch me drive up and park, then card me when I wanted a drink.🤦‍♂️

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Jeremy James
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

One time, we were in the weeds and this customer was complaining that her chicken was taking "foreveeeer!" Then, after it was served, she complained that it was undercooked. Well, do you want it "right now!" or do you want it cooked, Becky?

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#28

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LibrarianJanet
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I actually witnessed something similar at our local McDonald's. Place was slammed and there was a newbie on the only working register. Customer ahead of me was patiently (but loudly) telling the cashier how things worked. Manager snaps "Fine, stand on this side of the counter and say that!" Turns out the customer worked at the McD's in a nearby town. LoL

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censorshipsucks
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

edit the dates on the photos. Step 1. Take your computer offline. Step 2. Set the date to a year later (ie this year, but +1 day). Step 3. Open an image editor eg. GIMP. Step 4. Open offending image. Step 5. Select all, copy. Step 6. Back to GIMP. Step 7. New file. Step 8. Paste. Repeat with all his images from tinder. Step 9. Go back online and let your computer reset its clock. Step 10. Send to owner of restaurant with modifcation and creation date of files circled. Result: owner of restaurant sees new manager harassing staff one day after being hired.

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Katya Davidson
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In addition to being at work, you also have to emotionally validate all your customers or they will instantly focus their entite being on making their lousy personalities your problem

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Jeremy James
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

As a server, I sincerely LOVE when large parties ask for separate checks. It's not a hassle at all, because I'm awesome and I keep track of everything and everyone. Most importantly, it means that I don't have to "roll the dice" on whether the one person picking up the check also knows how to tip.

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Jeremy James
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1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

One time, while working at a cafe, I helped a boy break into his own car in the parking lot after he had locked himself out. The next day, he ran into the shop, threw something at me over the counter, and ran back out. It was a teddy bear. He had placed a cigarette in its paws and written his phone number on the side. We dated for several months. That was the ONLY TIME I ever enjoyed getting hit on at work.

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jmdirks
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ya. Once worked with a line cook that would leave crumbs and stuff on his line when he closed it and then accuse people of using his line and leaving it messy after he left. Manager took a picture of his line directly after he walked out the door and then showed it to him his next shift. He still denied leaving his line messy.

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