Self-deprecation is worth its weight in smoldering phoenix-ashes and baby unicorn tears.
or; can't work with these nails painted!
Published on July 26, 2006 By SanChonino In Work
As I mentioned in my last article, last Friday I had the opportunity to be a clown in a parade. I went for the “punk rock” clown look – consequently, my little sister had painted my fingernails black.

When I returned home, I was unable to find nail polish remover, so I decided to wear the polish to work the next day as a joke.

Now, here's the deal – at my job, I'm respected, I'm trusted, and I'm responsible. I know my stuff – I know a lot about flowers, trees, and shrubs, I'm able to help people put together pleasing designs for their yards, I'm very skilled at driving the tractors and getting the people's trucks filled well with their mulches, etc.

On any given day, I'm treated with respect. Customers come in, ask me questions, I answer their questions, we're all happy. I give them a hand, and they're peachy keen. But last Saturday, with the nail polish on my fingers, things were . . . different.

It all started about nine in the morning. They'd called back a scoop of gravel on the radio, and I headed back there to fill the truck up as they pulled around. I walked up to the open window of the vehicle, and the look on the driver's face was one of . . . revulsion. I asked them to pull to a certain spot so I could fill them up, and the older gentleman driving the truck said, “Are you sure you can do this, young'un?”

I turned around, flabbergasted. This was the first time that I'd ever been questioned in my abilities in driving my tractor. I'm the best there is – nobody questions me and my beautiful tractors. (They've all been named, but that's a story for another day.) I brushed it off, saying, “Of course, sir! No problems,” not realizing the reason behind it. I scooped him and went about my business.

About fifteen minutes later, I approached an older lady in the flowering shrubs section and asked, “Hello, m'am. May I help you out with anything?” I crossed my arms across my chest, and again I got the look of revulsion. She said, “That's okay, I'm fine.” I walked away. Thirty seconds later, another coworker, Jack, went over and asked the lady if she needed help. For the next fifteen minutes, he was answering questions for her and helping her get a whole cartful of shrubbery.

Finally, I started to think something was wrong. I ran into the bathroom, to see if there was something wrong with my face. Looking at myself in the mirror, it occurred to me – the nails. I hadn't given them a second thought the entire hour I'd been at work. Suddenly I realized what had caused that look of revulsion and the reticence to have my help – they thought I was a punk kid.

I decided to take advantage of this opportunity and turn it into a social experiment. I started to take notice of the way I was treated by all of the customers coming through the store.

Throughout the entire day, I was treated the exact same way by almost every customer who I attempted to help. There was the occasional exception – in particular, I helped a woman and her children design her entire front bed, and some of the people who I scooped mulch for were appreciative without complaint . . . but more often than not, people didn't want to talk to me. They AVOIDED me.

One person in particular, a man in his seventies (whose truck I had filled with soil three or four times) would not let me fill his vehicle with soil. He refused, said that he would wait until someone “more qualified” (his words) were available to fill his truck. This was a person who had loved the way I had taken care of him many times before, and now he would not allow me to help him. Ugh.

What a telling experiment. I've now realized that we are all too quick to judge. I've never had problems like this before, and now here I was, being ostracized simply because I had black nails. Other than that, I looked the same way I always look – green J & L shirt, Levi jeans, and work boots. But the simple fact that I had black painted fingernails changed me from accepted and respected to shunned and untrusted. Huh.

Moral of the experiment: Maybe we should all be a little less quick to judge . . . because sometimes it's just a veneer, hiding the real person behind.

Comments (Page 1)
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on Jul 26, 2006
Or next time - wear gloves.
on Jul 26, 2006
There's a reason companies require a certain dress and grooming code for employees who deal with the public. In an ideal world people wouldn't made judgements based upon looks, but they do.
on Jul 26, 2006
Great job of people watching, Chonino! I'm glad you noticed (and took) the opportunity to learn a thing or two about human nature.

I agree wiht Mason here... in the cases you cite, the difference meant little more than the customer wanting someone "more qualified" to help them. However, it also could have cost your store customers, as they may have decided to seek out a store that was "more qualified".

It may not be fair of us to judge like that, but we go where we are comfortable, and if even something as petty as nails are what make us feel uncomfortable in one store, there are usually plenty of other, more comfortable places to go.
on Jul 26, 2006
A very insightful article San.

I'll add that this is the kind of thing that I've experienced, as an older adult.

It never feels good either, whether it's ageism, our looks, ect. I hope you get a ton of readers on this article, because hopefully it'll be an eye opener.
on Jul 26, 2006
It may not be fair of us to judge like that, but we go where we are comfortable, and if even something as petty as nails are what make us feel uncomfortable in one store, there are usually plenty of other, more comfortable places to go.


You're exactly right . . . and if it hadn't been the slow season at work, I probably would've gotten grief from the boss for this. (Plus, I am Saturday is my last day, after all . . . )

I wasn't offended, really - I know what these people are thinking, but if anything, it was an eye-opener to me. I won't be judging people on looks quite as quickly, at any rate . . .

Thanks for the comments, all.
on Jul 26, 2006
I conduct my own little experiment from time to time. Try visiting a store dressed in a nice suit and well groomed and notice the differences in how the people there react to you and treat you. It can be very enlightening.

I once spent 6 months wearing a suit and tie while trucking. The reactions I got were very interesting.
on Jul 26, 2006
I once spent 6 months wearing a suit and tie while trucking. The reactions I got were very interesting.


That would be interesting . . . I bet people treated you quite differently than they would have otherwise . . .
on Jul 26, 2006
The first thing I do when I get off work is get out of my uniform! People like to stare- some smile and treat you with respect and some do not and just show contempt.
on Jul 26, 2006
The first thing I do when I get off work is get out of my uniform!


What do you do for a living, Shovel?
on Jul 26, 2006
What do you do for a living, Shovel?


zookeeper.
on Jul 27, 2006
What an interesting social experiment, mate. I really like hearing about these sorts of exercises. What is intriguing is the reaction you get not from strangers, but from people you’ve helped out before. It does indeed show how shallow and judgemental people can be without even realising it.

Didn’t you know black painted fingernails = demon spawn (or certainly someone not smart enough to operate heavy machinery, anyway).


Reply By: Shovelheat Posted: Wednesday, July 26, 2006

zookeeper



on Jul 27, 2006
Shovel:

zookeeper.


I'd get the hell out of that too, the moment I walked in the door.

Maso:

What is intriguing is the reaction you get not from strangers, but from people you’ve helped out before. It does indeed show how shallow and judgemental people can be without even realising it.


That was the thing that was the most interesting to me . . . I don't know why people are like that, but I suppose it happens.

And yes, black nails are th symbol of devil spawn . . . didn't KISS used to paint their nails black, after all? they are the Knights In Satan's Service, no?
on Jul 27, 2006
It's sad that people judge on opinions so much, but unfortunately I think we are all guilty of it to an extent.  We come across so many people in one day that we can't possibley take the time to get to know each and everyone of them, so we revert to the stereotypes we know about certain things to make judgements on first impressions.  Those people that did dismiss you, and were rude, well that my friend is their loss.  You're a sweetie, regardless if you have nail varnish on or not, and if they can't see that then you're not the one missing out
on Jul 27, 2006
I usually go the other way and get help from someone that does not conform to the social norm. Since we put so much stock on dressing in a certain way I found that when there is someone that is different and falls outside those lines they seems to know thier stuff better then the more "normal" people working there. That's probably why the management also doesn't hassle them as much about conforming since they can't afford to lose them.
on Jul 27, 2006
You're a sweetie, regardless if you have nail varnish on or not, and if they can't see that then you're not the one missing out


Thanks babes, I appreciate it. XXOO

That's probably why the management also doesn't hassle them as much about conforming since they can't afford to lose them.


Heh, probably not how my bosses are feeling, seeing as how Saturday is my last day. Oh well! Party time at the new job. (Which I would get sent home from if I showed up with my nails looking like that.)
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