Ramblings on the injustice of our times

[Dorian Gray]

I've had quite a surreal evening.

I'm looking for a part-time job to keep me going until I graduate (a few months now), so I attended a recruitment evening at my local Odeon megaplex: a monstrous shrine to popcorn cinema, and the 7th-busiest in the UK. I was applying for the position of Team Member.

About two hundred people turned up for the recruitment process. We were ushered into Screen 6 and the manager (of 21 years standing - he emphasised that a couple of times) promptly fed us a load of bullshit about how great Odeon is. Then everyone who lived north of the River Thames was invited to leave: apparently Odeon strives to be a "local employer". About ten people got up and left. After some more prompting ("we'll find out, you know"), a further dozen or so remembered that they too lived north of the Thames, and left. One didn't know where Bexleyheath was relative to the Thames. One guy declared himself homeless. After some nervous giggles from someone behind him he got a bit bothered and insisted he really was homeless. The manager told him, "That shouldn't be a problem: we like flexibility". Slow guffaws from the idiots in the room.

We were then given yellow cards with forms on both sides. Available hours, name, address, telephone number (the manager didn't seem to believe the homeless guy had no telephone - "But I'm getting a job to get a phone!" - and in the end they agreed he could phone the cinema from a payphone to check his application status).

At this point the manager deemed it prudent to remind us that Odeon employ people to work hard, not watch movies. The toilets need unblocked "a hundred times a day", the screens need cleaned between each film, you have to serve a thousand people ice-cream, etc., etc. "Slackers should proceed to the exit now", he boomed self-righteously.

Then the bombshell: the first stage of the selection process involved delivering a 30-second presentation to the audience (i.e. the rest of us). The back of our cards had a score-sheet for this, with marks for confident presentation, clarity, enthusiasm, etc. All qualities utterly irrelevant to cleaning toilets and serving ice-cream. We were given a "good" and a "bad" example of how this should be done. The "good" example went something like:

"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Odeon cinemas in Greenwich! [grinning ridiculously] I'm Jake and I'll be your usher tonight. The film you're about to watch is called The Goonies, a great film that blah blah blah [20 seconds about The Goonies]. I'd like to remind you that this is a no-smoking cinema and that mobile phones are strictly prohibited. Drinks and popcorn are served in the main foyer. In the unlikely event of an emergency, fire exits are on your left [pointing like an easyJet stewardess] and on your right. Please sit back, relax, and enjoy the movie. [more grinning]"

The "bad" example was splendidly acted by another employee, shuffling around with his hands in his pockets, um-ing and ah-ing and looking at his feet while muttering something about Shrek. "Oh, and switch off your phones in case you piss anyone off."

Then it was our turn. We were solemnly told not to laugh at each other's performance, and to clap respectfully after each person went. An unlucky guy was chosen to go first, an Asian, and he fumbled his way through his piece with astonishing incompetence (prepared in mere seconds of course). Acutely embarrassed, he staggered to the exit (where the judges took his scoring card) while the audience piled on the humiliation by clapping politely as instructed.

A shy girl went, blushing profusely and shaking like a leaf, and did surprisingly well. The audience clapped with feeling this time. More than one swaggering gansta-wannabe pulled out after his first sentence ("I can't do this shit"). A beautiful mixed-race girl who definitely had acting experience performed her piece as if she were Desdemona, smouldering at the audience and dramatically punching out her words. About fifteen people who looked like students left en masse at this point: they didn't need beer money this bad! The manager said things like "Quitting already? Can't do it?" to their backs as they left. One guy's description of the movie sounded like a professional review, even including the length in minutes. A few people mentioned art-house films and got approving comments from the manager. One by one they left the screen, and one by one the manager picked the next victim while making unnecessary attempts at humour or sarcasm ("the girl with the green scarf - the VERY green scarf").

By the time I was picked, I had already prepared my words. I just hoped I had the guts to say them. In the event, my nerves calmed as soon as I stood up.

"Hello. I'm Dorian and I'm your toilet cleaner tonight. However it seems I'm also expected to wax eloquent about the French New Wave. Unfortunately for me, I don't really do ritual humiliation. Luckily for you, that leaves one less competitor for the job. So I'll just make my way out the emergency exit on your left and wish you good evening and good luck."

The rising laughter was cut in two by the manager: "Okay, smart alec. Have it your way." He was seated half-way up the aisle, I was standing in front of the huge cinema screen. I asked him whether this whole ridiculous production was necessary for a simple cleaning job. He said the position of Team Member was much more than just a cleaning job. I said it looked like he thought he was managing a plutonium enrichment plant rather than a crap cinema. Laughter filled the room (perhaps at me as much as with me! :)), while I walked to the exit and handed my card to the stunned judges who didn't know whether to laugh or look suitably stern. And as I left everyone clapped my performance, exactly as the manager had instructed them to do at the beginning. :lol:

As I lit a cigarette in the cool night air and waited for my bus I felt quite pleased that I had had the courage to speak my mind (I'm not a natural public speaker). I was absolutely horrified and disgusted that Odeon choose their cleaners according to their public speaking ability. Those who most need a job are least likely to get one, and if they can't get a cleaning job, what job can they get? It was interesting to compare the performances of people to their fashion sense. The more classy the clothes, the better the performance. The more chav or hip-hop, the worse the composure and confidence, even though these are the very sort of people who throw their weight around in the streets. Evidently one's socio-economic background has a huge effect on one's confidence and social skills. Odeon are assholes for giving cleaning jobs to those who least need them, and I'll not be visiting an Odeon cinema in the future.

[pscates2.0]

Welcome to The World, (aka Real Life). I was starting to wonder...

:p

It's a real bite, ain't it? That elusive combo of street and book smarts seems to be the best way to navigate through with your hide intact, far as I can tell. Too much of one or the other and you're basically useless.

If it makes you feel any better, I believe your Odeon rejects take a ship over here to the States to become our Carmike, Regal and Edwards employees.

I've encountered quite a few weirdo, pain-in-the-ass movie theater employees in my time, sure enough. From the geekiest of role-playing types who masturbate to X-Men trailers (and discuss spoilers to movies showing as they're pouring your Coke) to the "I'm so goth it hurts" chicks who can't be bothered to even mumble a "thank you" (because it may further deaden their black, yearning soul. Or something).

[Dorian Gray]

pscates2.0, my point is not only that there are lots of low-lifes in the "real world". (I live in the same world you do, we just view it a bit differently sometimes.) My point is that Odeon shouldn't be recruiting cleaners based on their public speaking skills. What has public speaking ability got to do with cleaning toilets or serving popcorn? Nothing. It's like recruiting programmers based on their social skills. As such the people who most need the cleaning jobs - those who don't have the public presentation skills to get other jobs - don't get them. What job are they supposed to get then?

Most well-paid jobs require good social skills, and a very particular set of middle-class social skills. If you don't have a stable and supportive upbringing with middle-class values, you're fucked no matter how good an education you manage to secure. You would need to learn how to dress, present yourself, walk, talk, sit, eat, yawn; you need to learn appropriate humour and standards of interaction, you need to learn social mores that don't come naturally to you. You need to modulate your accent and fix your grammar. All this is a very tall order for anyone. Hence the lack of true social mobility, even when members of the lower classes luck out and get a decent education.

Incidentally, programming seems to be one of the best ways out of a rough upbringing if you've got the smarts. A few years of dedicated study, even self-study, and you can get a secure and well-paid job, working for people who don't care about the middle-class social aptitude that is almost impossible to acquire by any way other than inheritance.

[pscates2.0]

You should be telling this to the Odeon (that location, or the corporate level...I assume it's a chain). You can write and express yourself as well as anyone...make your case because you've got a valid point.

Maybe they're just trying to get a certain type of person. May be silly and backwards and has no bearing on "cleaning toilets", but they're allowed - as a private company - to have dipshit, pinheaded procedures and protocols.

They'll suffer for it in time, and they'll probably come around to "uh, we're going about this wrong".

But you could do worse than making your thoughts known to the offending company. You never know...maybe someone there is open to hearing it.

Reading the rest of your post has me thinking that the class system (is that what it would be called) is more dug in and concrete there than here. Here, it seems if you've got qualifications and can rein in your worst shithead impulses you can do okay. Things can be clique-y and class-based everywhere, but I honestly haven't encountered too many people or places that look to that as much.

Again, maybe it's more that way over there. I don't know.

[Ashka]

Odeon type managers obviously haven't changed much since I left the UK 40 years ago. Thanks for the memories.
Not much point trying to change them though, it's inbred :)
Emigration is always an option ........
Best.

[drewprops]

First off, good on you for pointing out that the Emperor of Odeon had no clothes; the Simon Cowell of "Odeon Idol" was toting a load of old cobblers.

Yet, I suspect that the cleaning toilets warning (while horribly, horribly true) was a scare tactic used to help shuffle off the hoodlums faster. It seems that for some people, even for you, the public speaking test was a good, affirmative experience (for various reasons).

Yes, things are a bit more muxed over here but don't you go thinking we ain't got no class system. It's just a tad different.

I've been waaaay out of my depth on more occasions than I can remember. You think you're doing pretty well until you look back and realize a point at which you didn't know some detail of social etiquette. Privately embarrasing, but funny.

You mightn't be subjected to public embarrassment over here... you'll just be privately judged, which is something that each of us do at any level.

The amount of Hollywood and Celebrity in our culture is a spoiler, a wildcard, that keeps our class system off-kilter and evens the playing field for those not born with silver spoons.

I'd say that as you approach the top of the bell curve, in the USA, things just get plain wiggy.

[Doxxic]

Could be that I still haven't landed in the real world, but why would you blame the whole company, English society or even the times we live in?
Wouldn't it be more reasonable to attribute all this to that 21 year old kid, who probably was a self-centered, power-hungry sophomoron who brought into practice his just learned teambuilding theories, instead of applying some fair & adequate selection criteria?
If they hear about this at Odeon, they might as well just fire him...

[bassplayinMacFiend]

Wow, you guys have actual people telling you to not smoke, turn off your cellphones, etc? Here, they have some silly animated clip that runs before the previews, telling you all that crap.

I hope Odeon had more than one job for the people who showed up for the interview.

[Bryson]

I'm conflicted over this:

On one hand, I can see that given that there are a lot of people who want the job, they have the right to choose the best possible person for it. Even if they are hugely overqualified. I also think you're being unfair describing it as a "cleaning job". There are elements of cleaning, but also a lot of other stuff. Hell, there are aspects of cleaning to my job, but I'd hardly describe myself as a cleaner.

On the other hand, I violently hate it when companies try and do strange humiliating Job interviews because they're "trendy".


However, at the end of it all, I think this actually comes down to safety. I've worked in Theatres all my life, and the same goes for Cinemas. To effectively evacuate an auditorium full of people, you must be an effective public speaker. My job doesn't require me to stand up and speak to the audience until we need it to evacuate - but when we do, they I must be able to hold their attention and be clear. I would expect any of our ushers to be able to do the same. If you're shy, you cannot do the most important (if most infrequent) part of the job.

That doesn't excuse the manager being an ass, but I can see the policy at work here.

[Fahrenheit]

Man, I don't want to walk into an odean toilet and be told by the cleaner in a confident manner that I had a nice penis.

I want them to stand there, clean my mess and fuck off. Thats why they are paid £5.00 an hour. JD, sounds like you are destined for bigger things mate.

Im joking of course, but in a job like that, if you turn up and find that you aren't being considered for toilet cleaning, its depressing and a real bash on your confidence. Shame on Odean.

[Fahrenheit]

Wow, you guys have actual people telling you to not smoke, turn off your cellphones, etc? Here, they have some silly animated clip that runs before the previews, telling you all that crap.

I hope Odeon had more than one job for the people who showed up for the interview.

They don't though, thats the thing. Im pretty sure that no UK cinemas have guys with torches, or anything like that. Its all movie reels for that.

[turbulentfurball]

I disagree with you for the most part Dorian. Although you state repeatedly that it's a 'cleaning job', for the majority of the time it sounds like you'd be selling, be it tickets or refreshments. Selling of any kind requires you to be outgoing, friendly and open. By performing the task that was set in the interview, applicants should be able to show that they are not afraid to speak positively and convincingly to people they've never met, since the job will require this every day. From 6 years experience in the service industry, It must be assumed that the cinema market like most others in the service industry today strive to reach higher and higher levels of customer service; therefore the expectations for staff are rising higher and higher. By speaking convincingly to an audience, the applicant should show that management that he or she exceeds the requirements for selling to therefore achieve better customer service.

I sure as hell would rather be served by someone who smiled at me and made eye contact rather than someone who really didn't seem to give a dam. That particular interview; it seems to me anyway, would not only weed out those would wouldn't interact well with customers, it would in fact highlight those who would be excellent in their dealings with customers.

In my current job, I've ran assessment centres for new staff and very similar tasks are tackled; applicants are given an item at random, and are asked to stand in front of the other applicants in order to successfully promote and sell the item to the other applicants by emphasising the product's qualities and features. Of course, actual selling techniques aren't important; it's positive attitude and willingness to succeed that's conveyed in their actions that ultimately decides whether or not the application is successful.

All in all, I think if a company decides to be so demanding of their applicants, it can only lead to a higher quality of employee, which can only be good for the business.

[digitalprimate]

That's true turbulent, but then it should also be reflected in the salary. If you're main job is cleaning, then cleaning it is, but if they demand more assets, then they also should reward it.

I can imagine that the manager was so rude, because the future employees would also have to be able to withstand rudeness. However, I don't think it was a really nice recruitment process (generally speaking). Also, letting people come and then walk off just because they live not close enough, it's not decent, really.
It's also a sign of how future employees will be treated by their management. More as workcattle than anything else by the look of it. Certainly not respectful.

So, I see your points and I agree, but if it wasn't clearly advertised what exactly they were looking for, then I think Dorian has a right to feel indignant.

[Windswept]

It was interesting to compare the performances of people to their fashion sense. The more classy the clothes, the better the performance. The more chav or hip-hop, the worse the composure and confidence, even though these are the very sort of people who throw their weight around in the streets.

Evidently one's socio-economic background has a huge effect on one's confidence and social skills. Odeon are assholes for giving cleaning jobs to those who least need them, and I'll not be visiting an Odeon cinema in the future.

Also, letting people come and then walk off just because they live not close enough, it's not decent, really.
It's also a sign of how future employees will be treated by their management. More as workcattle than anything else by the look of it. Certainly not respectful.

So, I see your points and I agree, but if it wasn't clearly advertised what exactly they were looking for, then I think Dorian has a right to feel indignant.
I do very much agree that it is appalling and disrespectful to waste the time of so many people by 'not' advertising geographical requirements.

Perhaps they failed to advertise those to make sure they had plenty of applicants - that is, had enough people NOT shown up, they might *not* have mentioned anything about 'which side of the Thames'. But since plenty showed up, they felt free to be dismissive of a huge portion of the applicants. Pretty ruthless and abusive, really. Tsk.

However, I have to agree about the possible merits of the public-speaking aspect of the interview process. The thing is, many companies want to get the best possible applicants for every job at their company. Many employees start off doing the worst jobs, like mopping floors and cleaning toilets; but if they prove to be reliable, in that they have good attitudes and show up for work on time, then they'll likely be moved to working the concession stand, which does involve the primary contact that moviegoers have with theater staff.

The company wants people who are pleasant, attractive, courteous, and who can be trusted to have access to the cash drawer. These people 'will' be speaking to the public, as will those in the box office. The thing is, a movie theater probably doesn't actually employ 'any' highly-educated white-collar workers. I doubt if the manager needs a college degree. Why would he?

Anyway, I think such a company would want to hire even the lowliest employees with an eye on each employee moving up into all other jobs at the theater. This can be helpful when staff absences occur, and almost all the other employees are able to fill in for anyone missing.

Some companies purposely rotate people through all the jobs, to keep people from getting complacent and bored. I think I remember reading that Southwest Airlines does that; and Southwest is *owned* by its employees, so they all work for the good of the company, iirc.

[murbot]

Bullshit. I was always a very good employee when I was in my teens. I ended up being a manager at most places I had part time jobs because I had leadership qualities and didn't fuck around like most of the other people.

But if I had to do a public speaking interview back then, I would have never been hired by anybody.

Lame. Your speech was a cool idea man, it just needed a little more "oomph". Something about the guy's mother maybe.

:lol:

[Zodiac]

Has nothing to do with the rest of the topic really, but this whole world injustice theme reminds me of this little piece I scrawled down quite a while back.

Kind of about me at the point of writing, kind of about injustice, kind of about naive people etc etc. Lots of angst, one draft I didn't edit it etc etc. WARNING, WARNING, WARNING!:lol:

Protagonist/Antagonist


"That's the thing about this world. The good guy almost always loses, his antagonist enemies don't give a damn about nothin' but themselves and will go at any length to make you look like a pile of crap. They get all the credit, the wealth, the fame, the power, everything." Said the protagonist of this story. The usual kind of dark, gravelly tone launching into the airwaves.

The protagonist here (this is what we will call him) is basically what society likes to call a "loser". Has all the talent, brains, and personality in the world yet he is left to be the subject of degredation, false accusations, hatred even. Basically he just gets a lot of ill will and bad vibes pitched in his direction. It's pretty easy to just say "Screw it." and not give a rats ass about the outside forces trying to mold you into a product of their perspectives, so he doesn't. The present world isn't a suitable place for the Protagonist anyways, so an entire imaginary world is being formed in his head and ever expanding. People sometimes wonder what runs through this freak or nature's head but usually sum it up to "he's probably stoned" and derogatory assumptions as such.

"I spend a hell of a lot more time inside myself then even attempting to make a connection with "reality". My thoughts are definitely coming from the right side of the rain. Creativity.. music, art, writing are all right up my alley. To hell with facts and logic. I can hold my own logically, but I've come to realize that there's a lot more to the cycle of existence then anyone can possibly comprehend. So I leave my mind fairly open to new ideas. Anyone who thinks that they know it all or even know anything (for a fact) more complex then 2+2 in this world is kidding themselves. They're mindless drones crafted by society; brainwashed so harshly they'll never be able to realize it! They're loopy!" Pessimest Protagonist yes....

"But then again I'm sure that I've been delved into, produced and hacked out in many ways myself. You cant escape it, manipulation is infectious like the influenza virus. As soon as you figure out how to get around one version of it; it mutates into something else trying to mess with your system. It's maddening!"

Protagonists "buddy" who he actually considers quite antagonizing cuts him off.

"Why are you all like, bitter and angry anyway dude? You're not the only one who has problems you know! Whatever man! I have a pile of homework AND a volleyball practice today! There's no time to get it all done!" The Antagonist of this story looks humourosly distressed as he explains all this.

Protagonist looks across at Antagonist feeling pretty irritated and nearly dumbfounded. The shed they are splitting a few beers in has suddenly become a cubicle filled with intense frustration and conflict between its co-workers inside. Kind of like time-release medications; it's shell protects all passers-by of the active ingredients. You'd have to digest through that to see and feel the effects of what's inside. Planet Earth remains ignorant to the stupidity that ensues (in Protagonist's mind) in the garden shed with two plastic chairs facing eachother over a plastic table.

Quite a long, antagonizing moment (go figure) before Antagonist finally continues.

"After these beers, my day is gonna be hell!"

Protagonist launches into another speech.

"Oh really? Oh no! I'm sorry! Homework AND volleyball practice?! I don't know what to say... DO YOU NEED A HUG? Jeez son, lets just work those traumas out!" Flaring sarcasm, explosive almost.

Antagonist knows that his friend here is having a crappy day and decides not to say anything.... yet. He lights up a cigarette in the meantime, his stress levels are rising pretty quickly, reactive to Protagonist's outbreak.

"You're blind you know that? You've led a simple life and don't know jack all about real problems. You have a home? Guaranteed nutritious meals every day? Yeah, you do.. but don't take it for granted! Have you ever thought about what you would do if it all fell apart?! You better, although me and 10, 000 others can easily assume that type of thing isn't about to happen to you. You just coast along, conform and carry on as a healthy, functioning member of society. I almost envy that you can do that! Look away from reality, but at the same time it's atrocious! Unaware and assumptuous that what you see is what there is! There's a lot of messed up people in this world, so many different kinds of them too that I can't even fully get into that subject! For example, those hardcore computer nerds who don't even appear to be aware of anything other then the chips running their towers and the pixels being pumped out onto their monitors! Killing themselves over petty things like losing the big race on the 'net or being outwitted on a message board! Pathetic! Like those "competition-free, everybody wins" games set up for kids these days and their parents who sue eachother (and the schoolboards) into oblivion because their child "fell down and cried" in a game of Tag! But you know they're just looking for some instant self-gratification and getting it by punking one anothers hard-earned dollars! Don't truly care about anyone but themselves. And right now I'm not viewing you much differently then these people. You're a representative of of our patch-eyed, "don't give a damn about you", freeloading and hoarding, rather antagonizing society as it exists today! Pirates! Me, I try not to care about wealth or materialism. I've "been around the block" so to speak and have had some crucial experiences that have formed my perception of the world as it is today! I try not to be selfish and actually have some compassion for everyone else in the room. I know I'm coming off as a dick here, but I'm really trying to to help you out! Open your eyes man! Shift your focus onto the bigger picture!"

Another random thought spoken aloud by Protagonist. " Think I'm starting to get a little tipsy, haha."

"Uh... I uh... I'm sorry." Antagonist starts.

"Just relax man! I think you're being too negative about everything! Like, chill out!"

"It's hard to do that. I have absolutely no faith in society right now, and really there isn't much positive about it once you get thinking. I wanna make a difference somehow but it seems that opposing this whole grand system set out for us would be my downfall. A me vs. The World type of thing you know? Still won't stop me from trying however..." Our protagonist finally goes silent.

Our antagonist is right pissed off by now, but a little bit understanding. "Yeah, whatever man. I'm out. Peace. I'll see you again tomorrow.. If you aren't bent over backwards trying to flip off as much of the world as you can in a day." And with that, Protagonist's "antagonist" left the shed.

Protagonists stream of consciousness after:

Bet he's gonna go tell everyone who screwed in the head I am... or something. I don't care though. but what is it that makes the majority so sheepish? Ignorant, following the guidelines... whatever. Maybe this is how things are meant to be. Hah, I'm probably just another messed up kid lording my "insane" ideas over the rest of 'em. Could be that IM the antagonist here trying to show others an alternative view. I'm the antagonist! Ha!

Maybe I should just accept things for what they are, even if I heavily disagree with it?

No way.
_____________________________________

If I had wrote this now I'd have changed the ending to where the "protagonist" does just conform a little. Give a little/Get a little or w/e.;)

[Dorian Gray]

Reading the rest of your post has me thinking that the class system (is that what it would be called) is more dug in and concrete there than here.
Yes, I'm pretty sure that's the case, notwithstanding drewprops' assertion that the US does have a class system too. There must be additional reasons for income inequality in the US though, because social mobility is roughly similar in the two countries (i.e. not very good).

Emigration is always an option
And one I'll be looking into in depth as soon as I get my degree. I hope the anti-immigration backlash that's creeping across Europe hasn't effectively trapped me in the UK by then! There are things I love about the UK, but the almost total lack of respect - especially by the privileged towards the poor - really depresses me. It's not sane. I want to live in a society where people care about each other just a little bit. Germans are proud to say they work on a car factory floor, the Swiss are happy to admit they work as a chocolatier, the French have no problem with a career in the public service agencies. The British who work in any of those jobs are treated like excrement by arrogant public-school managers, get paid peanuts, and are practically spat on by the rest of society. Hmm, I wonder why we have huge social problems?

You think you're doing pretty well until you look back and realize a point at which you didn't know some detail of social etiquette. Privately embarrasing, but funny.
Don't remind me!!! I dread to think of the things I'm doing now which will embarrass me in the future.

The amount of Hollywood and Celebrity in our culture is a spoiler, a wildcard, that keeps our class system off-kilter and evens the playing field for those not born with silver spoons.
I was listening to a radio programme today about the relationship between the workers at American ultra-luxury hotels and their clients: apparently the workers hate the new money crowd (dot-commers included) while, surprisingly, bearing no particular resentment towards the rest of the super-rich. Very strange (and interesting). But the US seems to have a much more developed customer service culture than the UK.

Wouldn't it be more reasonable to attribute all this to that 21 year old kid
He was a manager for 21 years, not 21-years-old. At least 45-years-old, maybe 50. And a complete ass.

bassplayinMacFiend, what Rob Dobbs said. It was just a test to see how we could speak to a crowd of people, but way more nerve-racking than speaking to a real cinema crowd, of course. The vast majority of people made a fool of themselves, frankly. Speaking to 200 people, knowing a job depends on it, is quite hard, to put it mildly!

Bryson and Windswept, interesting points about safety and customer service. I still think it's a bit much to expect every cinema worker to be able to confidently speak to a filled auditorium.

Selling of any kind requires you to be outgoing, friendly and open.
Certainly, but I think there's a big difference between being outgoing and friendly and being a good public speaker. I love interacting with people and even kind of like the thrill of speaking to my seminar classes at uni (10-20 people). Standing in front of a massive hall of rising seats full of people is another thing altogether, and not comparable to selling popcorn to a queue of individual customers. People waiting their turn were nearly all displaying signs of extreme stress. Nervous ticks, strange mannerisms, all sorts of weirdness. And that was before they stood in front of that massive screen.

Your speech was a cool idea man, it just needed a little more "oomph". Something about the guy's mother maybe.
She must have been a complete bitch. Next time I'll get you to write it! :lol:

[Doxxic]

He was a manager for 21 years, not 21-years-old. At least 45-years-old, maybe 50. And a complete ass.
:o Wow, need to work on my English...

I still think it's unreasonable though to draw conclusions about our times, or English society, or the Odeon company. Anyone can always find evidence that a certain period in time sucks, or a certain society, or even a certain company.

It's a shame if you let discussion about stereotypes and commonplaces distract from the nice observations and details in your story.
It simply was a very good story! I empathized with your anger and nerves and was very curious about what you would do when it was your turn. And your reaction was very cool.

Maybe your speech made a little difference. Otherwise, if you really insist to change the way this goes in Odeon :p , I suppose you could write them a letter about this man and his methods and just hope they care enough to do something about it?