2 posts tagged “starbucks”
This little sign inside the Kirby Starbucks got me thinking about all the Red team's political speechifying and how it refers to people by only their first name and their day job title as presumed last name. What are we now? A legion of the "guy you call when your toilet backs up" and nothing else? I find it manipulative, condescending, and idiotic. I do not know about where you live, but here in El Paso we call each other the normal way, like Jose, Rosie, Chuy, Maria, Susan, Mark, and Rita.
People in their daily lives do not refer to one another as Jose the Barista, Rosie the nurse, Chuy the CPA, Maria the teacher, Susan the lawyer, Mark the restaurateur, and Rita the piano teacher. It would take forever to have a simple conversation. People! It is not normal. It is condescending. And while I know it's just political speak, those people need to understand that our identities are not exclusively tied to how we make money--It is only the portion that allows us to do what we really like--painting, writing, Freestyle and croquet playing, and even talking to our friends.
If the Republican Party can only see us as moneymaking robots, concerned with only coin, then they do not see us as individuals with souls, families, lovers, children, and interests outside the act of earning a buck. Instead, they see us as easily frightened rabbits—afraid of change, ready to follow orders, ready for them to make our decisions for us. Moreover, if we as a country elect someone who thinks of us in this manner, then I guess we will get what we deserve. To but monetize us, see nothing but dollar bills standing at the ready to pay for their past recklessness, hubris, and failed domestic and foreign policies, is perhaps the saddest thing that I will take from this election season. And it was done before. It was called U.S.S.R.
I am glad all the speeches begging and scaring us for votes ends tomorrow. Because I want and need change, which I hope we get soon. Like tomorrow night.
I love coffee. I always have since I was about 7, and I was allowed to sip the last dregs of my Aunt Gwen's sweetened black brew. And I like Starbucks. No matter what people say about "support local," or is that loco (and I do), I find I still need room to spread my books, listen to music, and watch people in between chapters by Feenberg
What I hope is that the memo referred to in this article in the New York Times is real, and not "leaked" for PR purposes. As a follow up, I also read and left a comment on the starbucksgossip blog also.
We have so much to worry about these days. We worry about children learning to read and work their sums. We worry we will have work tomorrow. I worry I will totally understand Feenberg and provide a good response for my graduate Computers and Writing course. But what I shouldn't have to worry about is whether or not Starbucks makes a buck. What is it Google prides itself on? Don't be evil? But how can you not be evil when you have to try and expand while making money at the same time? Maybe you can't. Maybe potential labor is never seen as potential customer satisfaction--until it rears its head like this misleading dinosaur. Remember that? The "thunder lizard's" head was misapplied, and now it is termed apatosaurus.
What is critical mass for a Starbucks or a Google? Are they about to reach the tipping point, the black hole of commerce? Only time will tell.
Back here in El Paso, Texas, the newest Starbucks (Mesa and I-10) is a terrific disappointment for me. The staff is excellent as always, but the feel of the store, the interior size, the choice of tables/chairs is so cold and uninviting. Indeed, when I stopped by last week, which is the only time I have been there, I had to read outside because the interior was so bland and uninspired.
It seems as if the only reason this location exists it to service those driving into work, and not those who utilize Starbucks in order to conduct business, meet with friends, or study/read/knit. Or even play the kalimba (thumb piano) for 2 1/2 hours, which is what I witnessed/heard at the Mesa/Sunland Starbucks a couple of weeks ago. How much more locally loco at a coffee shop can you get?
Please, let the memo be true, and fix your known problems before you become the next Krispy Kreme debacle.
