I agree, have pride for what you do. Not necessarily be a uniform nazi, but be respectful.

Extra tool points for wearing white gym socks while flooding in uniform...

Way to suck up a good thread everyone. This is where funny stories go. Its the tool of the day thread, not the thread where all the tools come to define professionalism. Start a professionalism thread so i know what not to click on and get off this one.

I was getting Starbucks and the couple in front of me started chatting me up in the line. They get to the front and order and they insist on buying me whatever I want. Cool! So I take them up on it, and simply order a normal coffee worth about $3. I thank them profusely, and even ask if they happen to be on my flight so I could perhaps make sure they get taken care of. Of course they aren't, but oh well. I tried.

So here's the TOTD: I'm at the table putting cream into my coffee while a Starbucks employee is refilling napkins and such and he says to me, "You know bro. When someone does something nice for me, I usually reciprocate and do something nice for someone else. That's how society works dude." It took a second to process what he was saying. What?! I realized by his tone of voice he was basically calling me out and saying I was a big jerk. What was I suppose to do? Buy coffee for the next guy, and then he do the same? When does it end? Do the next 20 people in line have to do it now, meaning someone is going to be the jerk eventually. Am I the tool for not buying coffee now? I'll admit it didn't even cross my mind. (queue Curb Your Enthusiasm theme)

the insinuation was you didn't give him a $5 tip for doing such a great job reloading the napkin holder...

You should have asked him how his political sci degree is working out for him

The napkin guy is the tool. He should keep his mouth shut and do his job and not harass his customers. But, I have come to expect this kind of thing from Starbucks. After all, this is the place where you get dirty looks for ordering a medium coffee in English instead of a Grande Dark Roast in Starbuckian.

Seriously though, the napkin guy couldn't possibly know if the nice folks in line buying you a coffee - excuse me, a Dark Roast - was a kindness being returned to you for an earlier good deed you performed. I do good deeds all the time and never expect anything in return. Isn't that kind of the point? If you expect something in return then isn't that a favor and not a good deed? Napkin guy doesn't really sound like an expert on how society works. In full disclosure, nor am I an expert. But I do know enough not to go out of my way to call out a customer for what I believe is a perceived slight.

But, whatever! That is why Starbucks is absolutely a last resort for me. I am tired of overpaying 300-400% for a product only to be thrown dirty looks because I don't know, nor am I interested in learning, their language.

Holy stereotype. You do realize the most airport Starbucks aren't typical Starbucks franchises, right? Most employees I've interacted with in airports aren't your "typical" Seattle bike to work types. Most are minimum wage looking for any job and the airport vender is happy to hire them.

Most brick and mortar Starbucks I've been to, people are more than pleasant. The only time I run into those horrific people, as you refer to them, are in hipster areas of cities.

It's a peer-pressure pass-it-along thing. I've seen it a lot over the holidays in mcdonalds drive thru lines, of all places. Basically people show up, order their food, and at the pay window discover that the car ahead has paid for their food. The expectation is that you pay for the car behind you. The jerk behind the counter probably didn't realize that the couple wanted to by *you specifically* something.

It can be fun especially if you just loaded up with all sorts of food, but as you found out it's also a commie/socialist guilt trip in disguise.

Plus, first yr pay... I'm always buying the least I figure I can get away with and still not chew my arm off inflight, can't afford whatever it is everyone else buys, guilt-trip or not.

Yeah, but was your blazer even buttoned bro?