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Description
This one was inspired by a conversation I overheard at a store largely dedicated to parts for everything from trucks to snow blowers. I chanced to be present when a salesperson and a manager were discussing how vague some of the customers' requests could get. Apparently it was a regular occurrence for customers to walk in needing, say, a trailer axle, but unable to say how wide the trailer was. Or they might be seeking a motor part but not be sure what kind of motor it was. Admittedly my own time in retail has largely been at the cash register, I generally got to/had to deflect specific requests onto other people. Even so, sometimes I felt like one of King Nebuchadnezzar's wise men when he asked them to not just tell him what his dream meant, but what he had dreamt in the first place. Granted, no customer ever called for my execution, but it's pretty surreal when you need details about someone else's property and they're like, "What are you asking me for? You're supposed to be the expert."

Now, being as inept as I am with machines, I confess I'm in kind of a glass house when I critique this. When it comes to cars, for example, I could barely tell you the model of any car I've ever owned. If you asked me the years, I'd be completely lost. At the same time, I should say that if you're going to look for something for a specific need, please, PLEASE have some kind of idea what you're going for.

Also in the spirit of laughing at one's own expense, I found it a lot of fun putting my words in a supervillain's voice.

Description
This one was inspired by a conversation I overheard at a store largely dedicated to parts for everything from trucks to snow blowers. I chanced to be present when a salesperson and a manager were discussing how vague some of the customers' requests could get. Apparently it was a regular occurrence for customers to walk in needing, say, a trailer axle, but unable to say how wide the trailer was. Or they might be seeking a motor part but not be sure what kind of motor it was. Admittedly my own time in retail has largely been at the cash register, I generally got to/had to deflect specific requests onto other people. Even so, sometimes I felt like one of King Nebuchadnezzar's wise men when he asked them to not just tell him what his dream meant, but what he had dreamt in the first place. Granted, no customer ever called for my execution, but it's pretty surreal when you need details about someone else's property and they're like, "What are you asking me for? You're supposed to be the expert."

Now, being as inept as I am with machines, I confess I'm in kind of a glass house when I critique this. When it comes to cars, for example, I could barely tell you the model of any car I've ever owned. If you asked me the years, I'd be completely lost. At the same time, I should say that if you're going to look for something for a specific need, please, PLEASE have some kind of idea what you're going for.

Also in the spirit of laughing at one's own expense, I found it a lot of fun putting my words in a supervillain's voice.