Cara or C.C., whichever you prefer ([info]ms_octopus_lady) wrote in [info]bad_service,
2008-12-18 23:15:00
  • Previous
  • Memorize
  • Share
  • Next
  • Mood: annoyed

EEEWOMGVIOLENCE!!

This happened a few weeks ago, at the ONE stupid comic book store in my college town. I thought I was over it, but I guess it's still eating at me a little bit...

I read this comic book called Scud: The Disposable Assassin. It's about a robot named Scud and all these whacky adventures he gets into. It's a really, really violent comic book. The writer/artist also ended the series very abruptly, with no ending.

Well, I haven't read Scud in years, so imagine my surprise when I find out that after, like, a million year hiatus, the writer/artist actually finished the series! Awesome! So, I head over to the local comic book store to see if they have Scud: The Whole Shebang, which is a collection of every Scud comic ever written.

I walk in to the comic book store, and the employee there greets me with a smile. I ask him if they have a copy of Scud: the Whole Shebang, and he says, "Hmm, you know, I'm not too sure..." he hunts around for it for a while, and then finally finds it. What a nice employee! Everything is off to an excellent start!

Employee: (pops out from the back room, comic in hand) Ah ha! Found it!
Me: Yay! I'm so happy!
Employee: Yeah, I bet your boyfriend will be really happy you found it, too!
Me: Oh, it's not for my boyfriend.
Employee: Who's it for?
Me: Me!
Employee: ...for...you?
Me: Yes! I'm so happy you found it, I thought Rob Schrab would never finish Scud! I can't wait to read it!
Employee: ...how old are you?
Me: Oh, I'm over 18, if that's what you're worried about.
Employee: Can I see some ID?
Me: Ummm....sure. (pulls out wallet and shows ID)
Employee: (pause) You know, I'm not too comfortable selling this to you.
Me: What? Why? I'm over 18.
Employee: Yeah, but...it's very violent.
Me: ...I know.
Employee: I mean, really violent. REALLY violent.
Me: Yeah, I know. I HAVE read Scud before.
Employee: There's sex in it, too.
Me: Nothing I haven't seen before.
Employee: (shifts uncomfortably) I dunno.
Me: Dude, I'm over 18. You can sell that to me.
Employee: But it's very violent.
Me: I KNOW. Can I please just buy it?
Employee: ...Look, I just don't want this comic upset you.
Me: Why would it upset me? I've read it before!
Employee: Well, because, just...do you like other comics?
Me: ...yes...?
Employee: What else do you like?
Me: Um, the X-Men, Batman, Sin City, Bone...
Employee: Oh, we have some great Bone comics --
Me: I don't want Bone comics, I want Scud. Can I please buy it?
Employee: (chews bottom lip) Um...uh...maybe I should call the owner of the store --
Me: OK, you know what? Forget it.
Employee: Look, I'm sorry. It's just Scud is a very violent comic book and --
Me: Right, whatever. Have a nice day.

Oh, so it's all fine and dandy when I want to buy that comic book for a man, but when I want to buy it for myself, suddenly, it's off limits? Do you think that just because I have a uterus I'm going to start bawling at the sight of some guy getting his face cut off? Would you feel more comfortable if I picked up some Betty and Veronica comic books? I'm surprised you even suggested Bone, because (GASP), people DIE in that comic book! Whatever, you sexist jackass. I'll go to the comic book store I used to work in my hometown and get Scud there. Where, they, you know, don't try and censor us helpless little girls from nasty, scary violence.

  • Post a new comment

    Error

    Anonymous comments are disabled in this journal

    switch

    Your reply will be screened

    Your IP address will be recorded 

     
    Help
  • 65 comments
Previous
← Ctrl← Alt
  • 1
  • 2
Next
Ctrl →Alt →

[info]fake_wings

December 19 2008, 08:19:31 UTC 3 years ago Edited:  December 19 2008, 08:20:46 UTC

I'd have let him call the store owner. What's the chance they're both sexist morons?
Huh, on second thought, there are a sad amount out there.. -_-

[info]silentsamael

December 19 2008, 08:29:03 UTC 3 years ago

It is illegal to refuse a sale based on a customer's gender. It is discriminatory. He was fine selling it when he thought it was for your boyfriend, didn't ask to see your I'd before you corrected him.

[info]falnfenix

December 19 2008, 13:32:31 UTC 3 years ago

exactly. should have let him call the owner/manager/everyone above him.

now, after the fact? raise bloody hell.

[info]dwightsarmy

3 years ago

  • Loading...

[info]sonicsora

December 19 2008, 08:31:49 UTC 3 years ago

Dude I would've lost my temper if someone pulled that on me. Specially since I plan on buying SkyDoll one of these days, the level of boobs an violence would probably make that guy gape at me. A girl can't possible want to read a comic with violence an bewbs.

Hopefully you can get the issue you wanted, probably come back another day to check if that employee is gone to buy it or head out to another store.

[info]fukai

December 19 2008, 08:36:58 UTC 3 years ago

Wow, that sucks. What a sexist jerk, seriously.

Not quite the same thing, but I used to get the same sort of reactions while buying anime action figures... everyone thought they were for my "little brother".

[info]necromanticize

December 19 2008, 08:42:59 UTC 3 years ago

WHAT IS THIS?

Not only have you READ violent comics, but you used to WORK in a place where they SELL them?

That means they must be EVERYWHERE!!

I can't believe that you, as a girl, were able to even get a JOB there! Weren't you just totally overwhelmed by like, all the VIOLENCE?





*smashes head into computer*

[info]killflower

December 23 2008, 08:48:53 UTC 3 years ago

Off-topic: I <3 Wonderfalls.

[info]kayla_la

December 19 2008, 09:00:00 UTC 3 years ago

Please call the owner and complain, or something. That's so insanely insulting and he really, really needs a talking to.

[info]canadian_kazz

December 19 2008, 09:24:31 UTC 3 years ago

You should go back there and try to get it again. Don't give up! I know I wouldn't put up with some ass telling me I can't buy something I really, really want just because I'm a OMG giiiiirl and a delicate, wilting flower.

[info]kabuki_callgirl

December 19 2008, 09:40:05 UTC 3 years ago

I would have gone ape enough to land me on CS. yes I am a girl...and I can read...gimme the fucking damn comic and stop trying shelter me.

[info]medjai_trowa

December 19 2008, 09:54:48 UTC 3 years ago

Describe the feelings you get going through the menstrual cycle. As with the "Always" letter that circulated the internet a while back, dwell on the "with knife skills" part.

Men get The Fear when confronted with womenly problems. Not so much gyneacologists, but I'm pretty sure the comic store nerd isn't going to be one of those...

[info]45degreeangel

December 19 2008, 15:26:09 UTC 3 years ago

Not all men, some of us can even go down to the corner shop and buy tampons and pads and make the check out women stare at us funny.

Though I don't work in the comic book sales industry.

[info]medjai_trowa

3 years ago

  • Loading...

Deleted comment

[info]aithyne

3 years ago

  • Loading...

[info]littlemissalien

3 years ago

  • Loading...

[info]andalusi

3 years ago

  • Loading...

[info]xoxriotgrrl

3 years ago

  • Loading...

[info]crushonarobot

December 19 2008, 10:36:03 UTC 3 years ago

I would never be able to walk away like that - I would have described how during the menstrual cycle some women can suffer episodes of psychoses including aggression, violence, irrationality, paranoia etc ;)

I can't believe someone actually said that to your face :|

[info]paksenarrion2

December 19 2008, 17:09:37 UTC 3 years ago

I know. It would have been great if the OP had said to the guy: You know that part where the guy's face got ripped off? I frequently feel like doing that when I am on my period. Coincidentally enough, I just started my period yesterday. Now sell me the damn comic.

[info]jantra

3 years ago

  • Loading...

[info]smeagolrox

3 years ago

  • Loading...

[info]k_i_s_me7803

December 19 2008, 11:16:06 UTC 3 years ago

OMG ... I've never gotten that with the comic stores I've been in. The guys are surprised, but they're willing to discuss the attributes of whatever comic I'm buying.

I love the Grimm Fairy Tale series by Zenescope. Equal amount of boobs & violence (and it's very violent in certain comics). No one has told me "no" to buying them. But then again, I'm 36 and look early 30's so even though I am a girl, I'm definitely old enough.

Try buying one of the new Anita Blake Vampire comics (based on the series by Laurell K. Hamilton). There's one panel showing a graphic murder up close & personal of what the victim looks like. Would the guy sell you that comic but not the Scud?

I'd definitely call the owner and complain. Then buy it at the old comic book store you used to work at. I wouldn't patronize the store as long as the idiot was still working there. Discriminating against girls is cutting off 50% of your customer base (even if all they do is buy comics for their significant others).

[info]mysticskylily

December 21 2008, 06:42:57 UTC 3 years ago

yay anita blake! LOL. I haven't seen any of the comics but would love to have them. I'm not big into comics, just Laurell K Hamilton works.

[info]clafount

December 19 2008, 12:37:05 UTC 3 years ago

You need to call the store owner and complain. That is fucking ridiculous.

[info]spartanwerewolf

December 19 2008, 12:50:28 UTC 3 years ago

It's not just women -_-' I got flack for buying a copy of the Watchmen graphic novel.

Granted, I probably shouldn't have turned to my eleven year old sister to tell her how awesome Rorschach is again, even though he's her favorite character XD, but I digress. I had to explain to a (female and awesome) manager that the sister already read 300 and Sin City and God knows what else before they let me purchase it. My fifteen year old brother and I never had any issues when we bought our copies.

[info]clynne

December 22 2008, 02:37:27 UTC 3 years ago

Oh, jiminy christmas.

My sister teaches high school English at a Catholic girls' high school and she assigned Watchmen as an "optional reading" book this semester. While she did send home permission slips (to cover her butt), it's hardly inappropriate for either women or older teens.

[info]foofish

December 19 2008, 13:52:12 UTC 3 years ago

This comic shop must be the only one on earth doing such amazing business that they can afford to alienate an entire gender.
Call the owner.

[info]noelleleithe

December 19 2008, 14:21:20 UTC 3 years ago

Let him call the owner. PLEASE let him call the owner. Only if the owner also tried to deny the sale would I have left without the comic. Asshole needs a lesson slammed into his head. Violently.

[info]tinyfishie

December 19 2008, 14:45:07 UTC 3 years ago

I don't know why he's worried; I mean, you SAID the comic was for you, but you must have been joking, right? Everyone knows girls can't read! Probably your boyfriend told you to say it was for you as a joke, so that he could be entertained when you told him the story - after you got home, gave him the book, took off your shoes, and got safely back into the kitchen, of course.

Sheesh.

[info]shadowchild

December 19 2008, 15:00:59 UTC 3 years ago

Hoooly shit. Seriously, complain like mad. That's such bull. Shoulda told him "I like the violence. Gives me ideas. *crazy leer*"

[info]45degreeangel

December 19 2008, 15:30:56 UTC 3 years ago

Someone once told my sister that she was buying a mans car and she should buy a girls car instead. She took her sale elsewhere and the used car man lost a very valuable sale.

[info]sedesla

December 19 2008, 15:34:48 UTC 3 years ago

Please call the store owner and complain. That employee should not be allowed to continue treating women so poorly just because he's three decades behind the times. He's contributing to a serious problem.

[info]incredible_ink

December 19 2008, 16:44:31 UTC 3 years ago

Too bad the guy wasn't there to "protect" me from watching SAW I-IV. Although IV was a total waste of money because it sucked =/

[info]sonneillon_v

December 19 2008, 17:06:52 UTC 3 years ago

I second those who said you should have let him call the owner. I would have said "Yes, call the owner RIGHT NOW, because I have a few things to say about your behavior."

But that's me... you still have the option of calling the store and getting a chance to talk to the owner/manager and reporting the employee's behavior.

[info]imnotbob

December 19 2008, 18:33:27 UTC 3 years ago

This happened a few weeks ago, at the ONE stupid comic book store in my college town

This happened in SC?
If it is the shop I am thinking of (the one down town) definitely talk to the owner. He is a pretty cool guy.

[info]managoddess

December 19 2008, 18:47:21 UTC 3 years ago

I would've said "Well, if you're not going to sell it to me, I'm just going to have to read it right here." And then I would've read it right there in front of him.

Unless it was sealed, I suppose.

What a waste of jizz.

[info]hinata19

December 19 2008, 20:11:26 UTC 3 years ago

Even if it was sealed, I might've been vindictive enough to open it, plop down within sight of the counter, and start reading. "Oh dear, it's open now, I guess you just HAVE to sell it to me now..."

[info]mariamousie1

December 19 2008, 19:00:41 UTC 3 years ago

Don't you know? Girls are delicate flowers who fall apart at the first sign of something that isn't a happy rainbow dance. I would definitely report that. It's totally stupid.

[info]daundelyon

December 20 2008, 12:51:10 UTC 3 years ago

*considers some of the stuff I had to deal with last night* Nope, not a delicate flower. A sturdy weed maybe, but not a delicate flower.

[info]jessica_leah

December 19 2008, 19:10:55 UTC 3 years ago

You should have started crying. "Why are you so meeeaaannn? *sob*"

I mean, isn't that what girls do?
Previous
← Ctrl← Alt
  • 1
  • 2
Next
Ctrl →Alt →
Create an Account
Forgot your login or password?
Facebook Twitter More login options
English • Español • Deutsch • Русский…