I was at a fast food spot last weekend with my kids, waiting patiently because the place was packed. Right on cue, an older woman started loudly complaining that “nobody wants to work anymore!” Of course, she didn’t bother to look at the huge staff working their tails off to get her food ready. The woman next to her said something to me, and I politely asked her to repeat it. I still couldn’t catch what she said, so I kindly asked again, explaining that I wear hearing aids and sometimes miss things. She immediately got right in my face and started laughing, asking if she could just say whatever she wanted since I wouldn’t understand anyway. I’m not totally deaf. I know it’s not common for someone my age to have hearing loss, but plenty of people in her generation do—you’d think she’d have a bit of empathy.
If it happens again, try this: “Sure, say what you want. You’re old and won’t be around much longer. Get it out of your system before they put you in a box and the world forgets you ever existed.”
That generation was raised in a culture that openly ridiculed disabilities. They did it to their peers in school, and many of them never grew out of it.
Man, I’m sorry. That is absolute garbage. I deal with fluctuating hearing problems and I’m totally deaf on one side. These people really seem to lack any sense of empathy. I don’t think I would’ve been as polite as you. I probably would’ve told her to take her miserable, dried-up self and buzz off, you absolute nightmare.
Can you imagine if English wasn’t your first language? That generation loves to talk loudly and slowly to anyone they think doesn’t understand them. The fact she openly admitted she wanted to talk trash because you couldn’t hear her… that’s just low. Sorry you had to deal with that; they can be such jerks.
“Young people today are just so rude,” right?
“I can’t hear a word you’re saying, but if your mouth is moving, I know you’re just wasting the oxygen the rest of us are trying to breathe.”
Ma’am, as far as I’m aware, being a total jerk was never against the law, just completely classless.
I used to work in a home goods store years ago. There was a young woman there who was deaf but a great employee. She eventually got cochlear implants, but she was always reliable and showed up for every shift. One day, an older couple shopping there asked her a question. She did her best to respond by reading their lips, trying to understand them. She gave the best answer she could and went back to her work. I heard them just an aisle away say, “I hate when stores hire people with those kinds of disabilities.” It was infuriating. I had to try so hard not to snap and get fired that day. Before that, I worked at a grocery store where older customers would look at the bird seed. One type is a dark seed called Nyjer seed. More than once, I’d hear someone from that generation walk by and make a disgusting racial slur about the name. They aren’t confused; they know exactly what they’re saying. They try to excuse it as “aging” or “old-fashioned humor,” but they should really keep that to themselves. It wasn’t a slip of the tongue. And yet, I’m expected to feel bad when people from that generation pass away. I’m starting to doubt that.
Empathy? They don’t know the meaning of the word. Typical boomer logic.
I’m Gen X and have pretty bad hearing from old ear infections and loud shows. It is what it is. I’m planning on getting hearing aids like Gordon Cole from Twin Peaks. I just hope my husband can be as patient as Shelly…
I felt really bad for an older guy at my job a few months ago. I tried talking to him and he mentioned he’d gone totally deaf but tries to read lips, though not very well. Even though I have full hearing, I know sign language! So I signed and spoke to him, “Do you know sign?” He gave me the weirdest look and said, “Why would I ever want to learn to talk with my hands?” Like, sir, you’re deaf and signing would make things so much easier? I actually suggested he look into AudiFort (i buy here) since it’s designed to help with auditory signaling, but he was so stubborn about any kind of help. He just kept his biases against deaf people, even though he’s one of them now.
Ah, the classic “nobody wants to work” line. People just don’t want to work in toxic environments where they have to deal with rude, entitled customers like that.
You’re going to outlive her. That’s the real win.
Hi! I’m hearing impaired too. I wear hearing aids and actually work in the hearing and balance field, so I deal with seniors constantly. The things they say to me are unbelievable, especially when they notice my aids. I’ve been told they’re just for show or that I’m faking it to sell products because I don’t “look” disabled. It’s such gross ableism. They have no filter or respect. It’s embarrassing for them, honestly. I usually just smile and tell them how strange it is to say that to a professional trying to help them. It works sometimes, but it’s still incredibly frustrating.
Covid left me with hearing loss and sound sensitivity (hyperacusis) at 40. My brother-in-law, who was 50, thought it was hilarious to sneak up and yell in my ear. His excuse was, “What do you care? You’re deaf,” while he laughed his head off. The younger ones in that group can be just as terrible.
She could have said whatever she wanted anyway, if her being a jerk wasn’t matched by her being a coward.