When did people become so apathetic?


Saturday lunch time, day off work, what to do? Go for lunch with the hubby. Why not? After all when you have worked all week, you deserve a treat, right?

Vouchers in hand that I won at a charity event last year, we decide to give a well known BBQ and Grill house another try, having two failed meals there recently.

Let me back track... the first 'failure' was our 1st visit there in a while, and the last time I had ordered steak it was really tasty.. much nicer than the one I had ordered at another steak house establishment in town, and a lot more reasonably priced. I ordered it to be cooked medium, and it came overdone and very tough. Not the usual standard that I had previous times. When asked how it was, I commented on this, and was bought another one, after having first trying to blame a blunt knife. The second steak was better, but still not in my mind a AAA steak.

Giving the benefit of the doubt, we went back and I tried again with the steak.I checked with the server on how I wanted it cooked, discussing the last experience. This 2nd visit I again had to send my 'medium' steak back as it was cremated and tough, and still not AAA standard which I, as a paying customer pointed out. The replacement steak finally arrived and the server waited and watched as I attempted to cut into it. Despite the fact that it was so rare I am surprised it was not mooing, it was really hard to cut.

When asked how it was I commented to the server that is was still not what I had ordered, and so she offered to take it away again to have it cooked some more, which I refused as by this time hubby had finished all of his meal.  It was here that we were told that it was the 'cooks' first time closing on his own (not quite sure how that prevents him from being able to cook a steak but anyhow...)

So on today's visit I asked the server if they had a cook working who knew how to cook a steak. Her reply was basically to throw the blame back at me for not liking the quality of their steaks. Perhaps if they had someone who knew how to cook them correctly, the quality of the steak would be better represented? Anyway, between her and I we decided that perhaps ordering a steak at a steak house was not such a good idea, so I went for a chicken burger, and hubby ordered a rib taster plate. Safe options we felt.

After about an eternity our food arrived. Mine was a step up from a spicy chicken combo at Wendy's.. Hubby's 4 ribs and about 25 fries was today's let down. Smothered in sauce on top, cremated underneath, and dry....


(I often wonder how a server can bring out food like this. I mean, surely they must know that the customer is going to send it back right? They come along to ask how everything is, so what are they expecting?)

I have to say that the person who checked in with us (not the one who advised me against ordering a steak) was really good after her initial reaction of looking at it and then saying "well I really don't know what happened!" She went off and came back in under 4 minutes, fresh plate in hand with a much nicer looking plate of ribs, accompanied by a proper sized portion of fries. It was almost like she knew that the first plate was not acceptable and had pre-ordered another one already!! 

My point is, why does this happen in the first place, and why are we the customer, made to feel like the villain for expecting better? Is it because people have become to apathetic? Maybe they cannot be bothered to wait for the food to come back out as their company would have finished eating by the time their meal returns? When did it become acceptable to charge a fortune for sub-standard food? I have been visiting this restaurant for many years, and have seen the difference in the quality of steak drop. Perhaps it is a cost issue. In order to keep prices 'reasonable' a different supplier is sourced. The standard of the steak is sacrificed at the cost of the customer experience. 

It is not just at this restaurant either, and the apathy is not just visible when it comes to eating out, but all aspects of life generally. People seem reluctant to complain or stand up for themselves. Are they all to busy 'chasing the dream'? Trying to keep up with  working to get the new house, the new car, all the latest toys, because it is what they have been brainwashed into believing they 'deserve'? 

You work hard throughout the week, slogging away for the big boss. Setting off two or more hours ahead of time to get to the job in the city that you probably hate, to pay for the new house (that you basically just sleep in) in the new car (that you end up living in) and the toys that you only get to enjoy on weekends if you are not too knackered from chasing your arse. 

Once a month you are rewarded with an extra day off, to spend at the cottage that you are told you need/deserve to have to 'relax' in, but really do you relax? Because first you have to spend even more time in the car driving there, then you have to open it, maintain it, and work harder to get more toys to 'play with' when you are there, and then at the end of the very short season, you have to close it. Bet you feel invigorated eh?  But it is what you do right? It is what the corporations tell you (for tell you- read brainwash) you into believing you deserve. 

Maybe change is what people are scared of? Any time I have ever questioned why something is done a certain way, I have been answered with "Well it's how it has always been done". I recall the shock when we arrived in Canada only to find out that cell phone companies charged not only for outgoing calls, but also incoming!!! I think that is called double dipping elsewhere!  How can it be that the competition bureau is run by a company who's best interest is to keep out competition? Moreover, how do they get away with it?  Does anyone else see the conflict of interest here? 

Recently there was an article online about internet service providers increasing their charges, and whilst there were a few comments in the thread complaining about it, I highly doubt that anything will be done about the price gouging and antics that these providers get up to. Their smoke and mirrors excuse for the increase in charges? They reckon they need to generate funds to upgrade their network and to help them 'keep up with the growing demand'. This despite a 10.2 increase in revenue in 2016, bringing in $10.2 billion. I think I smell bullshit here. Perhaps I am to cynical for my own good, but I for one feel that these companies are seeing the trend for consumers getting pissed of with being ripped off for their crappy TV service, which boasts God-knows how many channels, half of which are showing the same repeat program, maybe at a slightly different time, and  hence 'cut the cord' and switch to internet TV options. 

Heaven forbid that customers be able to chose how they watch programs; and forget this bull shit of providing the best options for your customers. Let's get one thing perfectly clear. The only thing that these companies care about are their shareholders. They will look after them first and foremost, at the cost of the consumer. They know damn well that the customer is reliant on them, and will not rock the boat too much , if at all. Sure there will be the handful that will comment on a thread somewhere, but the majority will just go along with it and keep paying over the odds for a broad band internet service that has now been deemed a 'basic service' according to CRTC. 

So perhaps, at the end of the day, the the blame comes down to THE CORPORATION. We are all screwed, as they have taken over North America, and we, the little people have little to no power over them. We could of course, boycott them, but has the apathy set in too deep? Maybe we need to rely on the next generation to grow some balls and stand up to them?   

I, for one, am going to keep speaking my mind when I feel something is wrong. This has in the past, had me labelled as a shit disturber, and I was also once referred to as  'non-malleable'. I can handle that. I only hope that more and more people begin to stand up for themselves and stop looking through those rose tinted glasses. The grass might be greener, but it is still covered in the same bull crap.



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