More Writing To Please Your Ravenous Appetites
July 02, 2002
I’m going to start by posing a question. Do you think complaining is bad or does it start the process of improvement? I ask this because awhile ago, I was out with my family for some dim sum. The restaurant that my dad chose really sucked ass. I mean, it was bad. It was the sort of chinese restaurant I would expect to see back in the mid 80’s. They had that really annoying plastic table cloth that does not absorb tea and therefore when you spill tea around your area, the tea just runs along the plastic and spills all over your lap. They had the dim sum carts - I’ve noticed in the past 5 years, the carts are being phased out by the paper and pencil method (saves money and looks more professional, IMHO). Not only did the carts look like they need a tuneup, the past-middle-aged ladies pushing those things did a crummy job advertising their food too. One lady with the shrimp dumplings and sui mai didn’t bother to yell out some other dish that we wanted. My dad had to ask her if she had “X” and she said yes! So she took out X and stamped our bill paper. I’m wondering, if my dad had to ask for a dish anyway, what use do the cart ladies serve? They get paid minimum (or even less) and therefore work very unhappily, causing me to think the place is in turmoil. Oh yes, they also had those stainless steel teapots with the metal handles that heat up when boiling tea is left in the pot for a few minutes. Last thing, the waiters kept staring me down. I have no idea why. They were probably in their late twenties, early thirties and just about to exit their youth. All of them were staring me down, a la Young and Dangerous and it was pathetic. Fuck you! Just do your stupid waiter job and I’ll leave, don’t even try to pretend you’re a tough guy - even I don’t do that (I’m a wuss). The food tasted alright - that is the only redeeming quality left in this restaurant.
Now back to my question. I started complaining about the place and I do mean complaining. It was early morning and I was in my fucking asshole mode so I just shot out complaint after complaint. My dad got pissed off at me and tried to lecture me about not complaining and try not being so negative… his conclusion, “you’ll be a happier person”. I didn’t bother responding because I know I would’ve started an all out argument in the middle of this shitty restaurant, so I let his stupid comment slide.
I started thinking, if I were a person who didn’t complain, and let everything bad slide, I probably would be a happier person. Yet, I would be happy in a stupid, mental patient kind of way. By not complaining, restaurants like this one stay in business and never improve. By not complaining, people don’t see weaknesses in their life and therefore cannot improve. As much of an asshole as I am, I’m sure I’m not the only person who had a shitty time in that restaurant. If it were up to me, we would never go there anymore.
