My Life 23 Apr 2004 08:14 am
The Sentence Never Ends
According to the radio commercials of a large american conglomerate, “the conversation never ends with &”. McDonald’s should license this to make it a part of the Hamburger University curriculum: “The sentence never ends with and”.
I went to a local restaurant the other morning and ordered two breakfast burritos (formerly part of the dollar menu) and two hash browns. Just before getting my food I asked for 5 packets of mild sauce and two packets of ketchup. The worker hands me four packets of mild sauce and then walks away, returning later to ask if I need soemthing else. Before I can answer they realize why five does not equal four and hand me an additional packet of mild sauce, relegating my request to a land of forgotten dreams.
Fed up with this, I asked for two packets of ketchup and some more napkins. (When having hashbrowns I use a total of five napkins…the first four are used to soak the grease off of them.) I had two packets of ketchup dropped in my hand and then the clerk turned away again. Now some may berate me for changing the requested items in the middle, but I firmly believe that my sentences were being stopped with the word and which means it doesn’t really make a difference.
When the clerk returned again I repeated the request for the napkins and it was granted. At least this is better than the usual answer to my request for more napkins: “They’re in the bag.” Yes, I realize there are napkins in the bag, that is why I asked for more, not what I already had.
I contrast this usual experience to the one of this morning: I asked for two packets of ketchup and some more napkins, they were dropped in the bag before being handed to me and the attendant said “Have a Nice Day”. Same McDonald’s. Same time of day. Same approximate order. There was only one major difference. This guy spoke English…and spoke it well. (More on that later.)
on 23 Apr 2004 at 4:04 pm 1.Christy said …
The sentence shouldn’t end with “but” either! A recent experience at the same restaurant: “Would you like some ketchup?” “No, but-” Clerk walks away. rolls eyes
Public service announcement: Just say NO to the new Fiesta Salad. shudders
on 27 Apr 2004 at 3:27 pm 2.jennifer c. said …
There is a Wendy’s in my area where the drive-thru is simply atrocious. While giving your ordre, you musn’t pause, or else the cashier will tell you your total and command you to pull around. Then, if you say “Wait, I’m not done yet”, they scoff and say “What else do you want?” rather rudely.
Pretty wild stuff. Politeness is not a necessity in the fast food business. Definitely makes me want to go buy slow food! Let’s all ban fast food forever!