while the idea of initiating a conversation on race relations in america is one that should not be discouraged or avoided, perhaps the program recently introduced and now apparently over (they say as scheduled) was not the best idea. received with much negativity from all sides, looking at it as something to be left in the hands of busy baristi (or if you wish to appear less pretentious, baristas) dealing with sometimes hostile and almost always people in a hurry to get wherever they need to be was something that should have been taken into consideration.
since most starbucks seem to be located in business areas where the primary concern is getting to work on time or wondering if the secretary in the next office will wear that rather sheer blouse that let you see the outline of her.....or on college campuses where students have limited time between classes for their caffeine fixes, and always where people are more connected to their iphones than on actually connecting with a real human being in a conversation on any topic.
from the point of view of the one taking and making the orders. they've got more on their minds than trying solve such a controversial social issue while remembering who gets the double shot half-caf mocha latte with a half shot of hazelnut, double shot of chocolate and hoping they spelled the customer's name right because, you know how important that is to some people in the scheme of things, and they're not in the mood for another 7 a.m. bitch-session. all of this being done amid dozens of other voices shouting dozens of other orders and not actually knowing if they're talking to you or someone on the other end of the line on that 'important' call they they simply can't put on hold for 30 seconds.
so, now they can say they made a step forward in getting people to openly discuss something kind of uncomfortable, but a hint for next time? just have the cups printed up that way in the first place. so you spend a couple extra cents per cup, you're doing it for a good reason. and maybe put some inspirational quote on the cup. if it's there, do you know how many people read their cups when they're stuck on a boring call they can't get out of? it's like reading a cereal box when the newspaper's not on time. and don't expect the conversation to begin right then and there. you won't have your workers stressing out and losing sleep, wondering if they should have re-read the lincoln-douglas debates or watched 'roots', again, you know, just in case.
i realize it's difficult, but if you can simply get people thinking about something other than the last episode of 'scandal', which beverly hills housewife is the bigger bitch or why the kardashians are such a blight on western civilization (although figuring out how to get rid of them would be bested only by finding a cure for cancer. kim!!! we know you've got big boobs and an ass that could feed a starving third-world country but ENOUGH SELFIES!!!!)
so don't give up. this time it didn't work out as you'd hoped, what with the mocking and negative comments and stuff, but you can't say you didn't try. just maybe, next time think it through. maybe a focus group? i know. i hate focus groups,too. you always get the ones who only come for the free donuts or insist on getting paid. i heard there was once one.....but that's really not relevant here so never mind. but it was funny. it had to do with breath mints, birth control pills and a duck.
but like i said, you tried.
WATCH THIS SPACE!
expected soon. ted cruz is going to make a BIG ANNOUNCEMENT. it's either going to be he's going to run for president or he's just been cast to play grampa in the new munsters' remake, something he's always dreamed of because he has a thing for capes. i really hope it's the munsters.
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