Why do people treat fast food workers like crap?

[Anonymous]

Or any other service sector workers for that matter?

I worked at a McDonalds for several years and I still cannot believe the treatment some people have given me. The abuse I had to deal with on a daily basis was incredible, I don't know why people think it is okay to disrespect another human being who is merely just trying to survive by working there. I was making an honest living, despite having to deal with psychological abuse. And for minimum wage too, I just don't understand why people do those things?

Can anyone offer any insight?

Updates

+1 y

I have heard of people physically assaulting fast food workers as well, over a hamburger or some nuggets. Is the cost of those items really worth assaulting another human being?

[HadleyHolly]

I have problems with anxiety and depression and the only job I can hold is at a Dairy Queen. I am thirty years old..I guess this makes me a 'good for nothing loser' with minimum skills. I'll let you know though I work my butt off when I am there and while most of the time customers are pleasant..there are a few doozies every now and then. There is this one guy who seems to think that he deserves stuff for free and tells me I am not a nice person because of I don't give him free stuff. I've had a person tell me their sauerkraut dog wasn't good any more because it sat in the pass-through for a minute while they were finishing ordering. Some people do think that they are special and they like to let people like us know that we should cater to their every need. Some people are just ignorant jerks...nothing to do about it really.

[aly-marie]

I ask myself the same thing everyday. I've worked in retail the last 3 years and people can be so incredibly rude, and they don't even stop to think how their words affect you. I think a lot of it has to do with the knowledge that we're not allowed to retaliate in any way. People will take your politeness and service for granted and feel like they just deserve it even when they act horrible.

I think how you treat service workers really shows your character. And it's sad to see how rude someone will be to someone who's just trying to do their job. I figure all you can really do is learn from your experiences, however bad/annoying they may be. I hate when customers go off on me for whatever reason, but most of the time I can learn something that I can change for next time.

[studmuffin-perfect10]

they are testing your job lol

[yagurlnira768]

Maybe Some feel superior and feel more dominant to the fast food workers because they earn less money...and most of them are teenagers...and the older ones are usually good for nothing losers...but I am not saying this about everyone..though...but people need to stop being assholes. But they won't treat corperate workers or doctors or even sh*tty celebrities that way lol.

[studmuffin-perfect10]

you are a extremist because the loser maybe you at 50

[studmuffin-perfect10]

be happy that those loser who work, fast-food are not saling crack to your children or robing people.

just try to keep legs closed and you want end uo working fast food all your life.

[yagurlnira768]

What did I say to offend you why so rude?...

[Anonymous]

I know exactly how you feel. I worked at dunkin donuts and it eventually got so bad I quit and went worked a crappy construction job instead. The manager always yelled at me and no matter how hard I worked nothing was ever good enough or done fast enough. And I was there by myself one day taking charge of the front counter and the drive through window and one guy who had been waiting a while started screaming at hollering at me over the headset cause I was taking too long and only one oven was working and the coolata machine was broke. Working there made me hate humanity on a daily basis. My guess is because you make minimum wage I guess they figure they can treat you like cattle. Or they assume your all high school dropouts or idiots.

[sugarwookie]

i've often wondered the same thing. Its a tough job. Some people are just complete assholes. And it sucks cuase a lot of people I work with have a family to support, and a few are there cuase they lost their other jobs (older folk, like in their 40's and 50's). I've had to call the cops on a homeless guy that pissed all over the stalls, clean up sh*t in a sink, had garbage thrown at me, and deal with people that flip sh*t for a $1 burger. But hey, you should at least be thankful you have a job :)

[SnackG]

Any form of customer service people are treated like crap. Customers think they're better than them, but don't realize they're not any different. A job is a damn job. For your update, those are just insane people.

[ihatework]

this

[Snacks]

Because they're f***ing assholes. I can't think of any other explanation.

[oxidizer235]

b/c it's one of the few things people actually have some kind of (feeling of) control/empowerment over...

[San_Diego_Rick]

I am always nice. It must suck to work in a sh*tty place and make minimum wage. But I see assholes in there all the time.

[MikeK]

It infuriates me. Thank god I never worked in fast food, but I can appreciate how trying it can be.

It's like bullying - people only pick on those who they think are weaker than they are.

[Anonymous]

I'm not a guy, but I can sympathize. I worked at Taco Bell for a year. I'd never been more happy to leave a place of employment. And it wasn't just treatment I got from customers, it was my co-workers, managers, and the owner's bratty daughter. I think as far as customers, it's the fact that they think you're their servants. Since they know you can't say anything back, they pick on you.

[studmuffin-perfect10]

because they sale crappy food that will kill you lol