Is Business to Blame for Social Negative Reinforcement?

English: Don Mueang Airport domestic terminal, near Bangkok, Thailand – Thai Airways customer service counters. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

A dear friend of mine I met through SecondLife and I were sharing a conversation yesterday about our experiences in Retail. Especially those terribly “negative” experiences we have had in the retail environment. For those unfamiliar with the Retail market, it can be pretty cut-throat, unforgiving, unfair and sometimes – very unrewarding (especially sometimes with how the CUSTOMERS treat you). Course, it depends on the type of Retailer you are.

I tend to find Small Retail Businesses (Mom and Pop Stores) are better, friendlier, care about their employees (more often than not), appreciate them, believe in what they are selling and more. Course this isn’t true for EVERYONE I’m sure, but that’s been my experience.

However, during the conversation it sparked the idea for a possible Psychological aspect of Retail that goes unconsidered. Big Retailers often do specific things with their inventory (ex: Move sh*t around on you) that may annoy or irritate you, but the ploy that they are aiming for is to get you to spend more time than you’d like and tempt you to buy more than what you actually NEED. Some of you are probably going, “Well Duh!“, humor me – for those who don’t know. Thank you.

As I was saying, now while they have Psychological ploys like this to boost sales, my question is – are they thinking about some of the “Negative Reinforcement” they are helping to promote when it comes to society/their customer base?

Daily Prompt Response: The Social Network Dilemma

twitter logo map 09 (Photo credit: The Next Web)

Do you feel like you “get” social media, or do you just use it because that’s where all your friends and family are?

Hey all you readers and bloggers out there!

I know it’s been a while since my last blog. I apologize. I’ve started to get those “Pre-Convention Panic” Jitters, because FanExpo (the convention in Canada, going with my Man and his male best-friend) is this month and I need to finish my DAWN Head-Dress soon. It’s almost there. I can’t tell you how much I wish I had the proper Power Tools to do some “Subtractive” sculpting, but alas, I must work with what I got. So I’ve been focused on that, doing Readings in SL, Gardening and trying to get some errands done.

So I’ve been a very busy wee Hummingbird. :3

I had a couple new things I wanted to write about, but going to type those up at “Human hours” vs. my normal “Vampire Hours“. and NO this Vampire/Night Owl does NOT Sparkle…unless I want to. hehe So here’s a little something for fun.

When they ask do I “Get” Social media I have to wonder what they mean. Do I understand how it works? Can I see the functionality of Social Media? Do I think Social Media can be useful? Or useless? I guess the answer to nearly all of those is a resounding, “Yes”. Albeit, I do feel some of the Social Media services out there are rather redundant and unnecessary. I think Social Media is a VERY powerful tool and to that I would also like to add, “With great power comes great responsibility“. Yes; that’s right. I just used a Comic Book quote.

Fairness

English: One of William Blake’s watercolour illustrations for Robert Blair’s poem The Grave. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Today I was sitting in on a discussion in SecondLife. It was not in my original plans of the day to do this, but I saw the notification for it from one of the groups I am in and I decided to “Join In“. There were some diversity on the understanding of what “Fairness” meant to different people participating in the group. Some people equated “Fairness” with “Equality“. Of course, that’s not what it means to me at all. Before I go further into this about my thoughts on it, allow me to share what was shared with those of us at the class.

I don’t recall if this is taken specifically from someone’s website or what have you. What I am citing for you is NOT my own words but the work of someone else I’d love to give credit to if I knew who it was. There is at least 2 definite citation in this at least though for a specific passage or 2 so at least someone gets credit. If you know who it is, please leave a comment letting me know so I can give proper credit for the information I have. Thank you!

P.A.U. 16 – Mainstreet Universe Book Interview

Pool Party (Photo credit: besighyawn)

Hello and good evening everyone!

Truth be told I’ve wanted to write-up something new for the past few days. However, I’ve been very busy on, sadly, Second Life reorganizing my inventory. Something they recommend for Newbies of Second Life. Also cleaning house in my inventory which is just as important. I’ve also been busy trying to figure out how to made a “Business Card” of sorts to promote my skills and services as a Priestess and Healer.

Before I move on to what I wanted to get at with today’s update, if you are interested in tracking me down to ask me about a Reading (Tarot/Oracle/Psychic) or other services I offer (as a Priestess & Healer people, get your minds out of the gutter), my name is Lady Gwendolynn de Dannan. Feel free to IM me or drop a notecard my way. I’ll get back to you as soon as I can when I’m online. Thank you.

And if you just want to friend me and get to know me better, that’s another good reason to say hello and I won’t object.

Down to business, I know it’s a little late – but as they say, better late than never! I’m not sure if I’ve mentioned this in a previous P.A.U. before so if I haven’t, I remembered and I’m doing it this time for you benefit! Tomorrow, Tuesday,  February 5th, 2013 at 7 P.M. EST (4 P.M. PST, that’s my time by the way), Daniel Michael of Mainstreet Universe; Blogtalk Radio, will be doing a book interview with me about “Operation Charlie Bravo”.

United We Stand, Divided We Fall

This image was selected as a picture of the week on the Malay Wikipedia for the 1st week, 2010. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I know one of my readers (you know who you are) reported to me that 2012 has been one of the most profitable years despite the obvious Depression the United States and quite possibly the World has been under. I know there are still people out there desperate for jobs, food, a helpful and hopeful answer to the many questions that they may have regarding their fears, doubts and worries in these economic times. Those of you who remember your American History, if you remember anything about “The Great Depression“, probably remember sitting through movies or Documentaries depicting folks during “The Great Depression” in hovels (“Hoovervilles“), maybe in boarding home situations or other living conditions.

The American people, many of them, banded together to help one another out. Even if they didn’t like their living conditions or want things to be that way, they did what was necessary and humanely just for their fellow-man and it helped them to survive and get by. They shared their meals and what little they had with one another. Granted, there may have still been some crime during this time but I don’t remember hearing much about it. No; instead I heard stories of camaraderie and how the people demonstrated their distaste with President Herbert Hoover for not keeping to his word after making so many promises to the American People.

Kindness – Not Just for the Pious

Image via Wikipedia

The ‘Muse‘ isn’t entirely with me today – so bear with me as I try to tell this story the best that I can. A month ago a mutual friend of mine came home from work one evening absolutely angry & frustrated! She works in a call center where her company IS a legit business honestly trying to help people “save” some money on their day-to-day expenses.  She was especially angry some of the older folk she called would either chew her out or slam the phone down before she could even say a WORD about who she was and what company she was with.

Now granted – I don’t like telemarketing calls (especially the recorded message ones) BUT – in light of all the things I have learned in my life when I DO answer them – I try to be nice to the representative calling. Why you might ask? Because – they have to handle 100s of calls on a DAILY basis and many of those calls are angry people offended someone would disturb them in the sanctity of their home (if it’s dinner time or during your favorite show – wouldn’t kill you to just ignore the phone either). NO ONE – I don’t care WHO you are – likes being YELLED at daily and being chewed out in harsh words (unless you are into that thing – but kinks are another BEAST altogether people). It accomplishes nothing, especially in this case. It does more harm than good – psychologically and emotionally. In all honesty, I believe many of these folks would prefer NOT having to call people – but it’s a job and it’s NOT a very glamorous one considering it is pretty much one STEP above ‘Janitorial‘ duties and I KNOW not everyone WANTS to do that kind of work.

Accountability – A Trash-Can and a Good Neighbor

Image by selva via Flickr

Yesterday, I was sitting and watching some T.V. (cartoons as usual, such an addict I am) and my mother’s neighbor on the right side of us comes over to speak with my mother. Turns out his girlfriend felt that she might have hit my mother’s Trash-Can and they felt that if that was true, they wanted to replace it. I thought to myself, “Wow! Someone’s taking accountability for their actions! Or trying to at least.” I felt it rather admirable of them despite I was pretty sure I had seen a crack in my mother’s Trash-Can a few days earlier, so I’m not certain they meant “THAT DAY” or if they meant a different day of the week.

Now, I really haven’t seen very many people taking “Responsibility” or “Accountability” for their actions within the last couple years or so, especially even now. The attitudes I’ve often seen as of late displayed by others is, “Oh too bad, so sad, cry me a river then build a bridge and get over it.” Or no one speaks up at all and merely go silent. People shouldn’t HAVE to feel afraid to speak their TRUTH, but it seems that they do, especially for taking “Responsibility”. I can’t say I blame them, but if you don’t speak your truth, stand up for what you believe and feel is right, then when you really require it most – do you think others will feel so inclined to be truthful and “accountable” as well? Or do you feel they would desire to crawl up into a “little ball of silence” and pretend they don’t exist as well? Not to mention if you DON’T stand up for what you believe in, then you may be forced to live under the control, thoughts, and feelings of others who may be telling you to “Conform” even when you feel it will be “Bad” for you. “The road to hell is paved with good intentions” and sometimes people truly do have our best interests at heart. At the end of the day however, it is US who decide truly what is best, what is right, what is our truth, and more importantly WHO we are. We should NEVER allow anyone else to define US.

Now while I know this is not political in any space of the imagination, there is a quote from V for Vendetta, I’d like to state because I feel there is much power within it and it emphasis so well how – if we let others rule us we willingly surrender that power, but if we choose to take that power back, they have no power over us. So here it is, “People should not be afraid of their Government. Government should be afraid of their people”.

Image via Wikipedia

 

Thank you.

~May you be blessed on your path in all your ways, Namaste~

Stupid Things that Happen at Wal-Mart that DRIVE YOU CRAZY

Image by kalavinka via Flickr

Note: This is a list for everyone whether you’ve worked at a Wal-Mart or no, whether you witnessed a fellow customer doing this or not and it STILL annoyed you regardless. I’d like to add-on to this list so if you know a story that hasn’t yet been added to the list feel free to post it in your comment or whatever. This is intended to make you laugh or put a smile on your face. So have fun with this to some degree.

1. Witnessed a customer pulling through a parking spot, while you were driving down said lane, with two other cars behind you, only to wind up going down a ”ONE WAY” parking lane and you are going the correct direction while they are not.

2. Witnessed a customer throw a rug in Domestics on the floor, step upon it with their shoes, then proceed to leave without picking it up. Continued to…