Collegiate Times

"Make me a pie, woman."

That?s no way to talk to anyone, whether she?s your mother, your girlfriend or the nice woman behind the bakery counter at West End. Sometimes I wonder if we college students have completely forgotten about a certain thing called common courtesy. Believe me, I would know. I recently became one of those beret-wearers behind the counter at Deet?s Place, and you probably wouldn?t believe how impolite some people can be.

When you picture Deet?s, you probably just think of a harmless little on-campus coffee shop where people go to "study" ? socialize with their friends ?who also came there to "study." Or maybe it was your freshman year hangout spot where you?d go to get a milkshake at 11:30 p.m. with your hallmates ? something that would ultimately end up being a huge mistake and only contribute to those fifteen pounds you gained. You might not believe some of the things I am about to tell you, about the people I have encountered and the tales I have to tell, but they are all true. And most of them come from people just like you and I, students here at Tech.

So, I?ll be the first to admit it ? we can all be rude sometimes. We forget to say "thank you," we demand things of people and we are extremely picky. I didn?t even realize this until I started serving people and had to deal with all kinds of customers who had bad attitudes.

What always seems to really get me is how people go about ordering their food. Just a few examples: "I?m going to need a blueberry muffin" or "Give me a latte." Do you really need that muffin? Is it a life-or-death latte? Very seldom do I hear the words "thank you" or even a compliment like "that beret really brings out your eyes." Is that too much to ask?

When I think of the ideal dining hall employee, I realize how much they put people like me to shame. We have all seen them, those extremely friendly people who work all over campus. Of course there?s the vibrant Au Bon Pain cashiers who never let you go without informing you fully of the cost and discounts of your meal. Then there?s the singing-taco man at Owens. If you?ve never had the pleasure of seeing him, I recommend you do. Anyone who can make the words "refried bean burrito" sound beautiful is a winner in my book. And I can?t help but ask ? how do the women who swipe the cards at D2 always know to say "have a nice day, Susan," without even looking at my Hokie Passport? These people are exceptional ? they probably deal with rude people every day, but they don?t let it get to them. Somehow they have found a way to go about their job day by day with a smile on their face despite the sass we all give them.

So how are we supposed to fix this? First of all, think before you order. Some of the most memorable orders I have gotten include "a chocolate malt milkshake ? twice as malty," and "hot chocolate ? but don?t make it hot."

OK, let me start by saying that I?m pretty sure "malty" isn?t even a word, and by "a cold hot chocolate" did you just mean you want chocolate milk? I can deal with the weird orders, but there was one order that will haunt me for years.

It was nine o?clock in the morning, the sun was shining and people were coming in to get their morning brew, and then there was her ? the girl who decided to get up that morning, stagger over to Deet?s and order a waffle cone sundae. It was as if she had woken up that morning and suddenly had an epiphany that she was at college and if she wanted to eat ice cream for breakfast no one was going to stop her. Don?t get me wrong ? I like my job and I?m convinced it is preparing me to be a great wife someday, but some people are just ridiculous.

So you?re probably thinking you could never be classified as one of those rude people at the dining halls, but the truth is that all of us have been guilty of it one time or another. Every time we forget to say thank you, or roll our eyes at the person making the milkshake, it?s disrespectful. Just because someone makes your food for you, it doesn?t mean you can treat them as if they are your mother. So next time you order some food from the dining hall, whether it be a Fantastic Frank or a taco serenade, drop the attitude and give some gratitude.