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Letter: Slower Burnaby service no excuse for being 'aggressive'

Editor: A disturbing trend is starting to emerge. Maybe it's a poor coping mechanism people are using to deal with the pandemic.
Open for Business, stock photo

Editor:

A disturbing trend is starting to emerge. Maybe it's a poor coping mechanism people are using to deal with the pandemic. I'm talking about physical aggressiveness towards other people, be they employees of a business or other members of the public.

I have witnessed this at a coffee shop I frequent where a customer was verbally aggressive towards staff and physically aggressive towards myself, who just happened to be the next in line. 

I have seen customers get aggressive towards staff by hitting the glass barriers between customers and staff. Some people will stand in the doorway of a business until someone acknowledges them; this is intimidating to some customers who are trying to exit/enter the building. 

If a business places a limit on the number of people in their store, they might be assisting a customer and can't get to the door right away to let you in. Be observant and have patience, there is probably someone else being served or the employee is otherwise occupied. 

Unless a business only has one employee, surely it is less stressful to find someone else to assist you?

These days, yes, service is slower at some businesses, but crowding other customers and being aggressive in any form to anyone is not the way to deal with the stress in your life.

Lisa Finnigan