Beating at a NY McDonalds (*NSFW)

[Racket_Man]

************ WARNING the video is somewhat violent **********

if the Mods feel that this subject is too controversial or inappropreiate please delete or modify/edit as necessary.

I felt this was the place to post this about situation. there have been a few posts over at CS about this very thing happening but not the not so nice ending for both parties

apparently two female customers at a NY McDonalds did not like that the cashier was questioning their $50 bill and needed to check its validity. one woman allegedly slaps the cashier and curses at him. the other woman jumps the counter to possibly attack also. the other woman endruns around the counter trying to persue the cashier. the cashier runs to the back and grabs a metal bar of some sort and proceeds to beat on the attackers.

Frist the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=9tFvPKHABgk

the news article: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/1...n_1011580.html

while I think the cashier went too far, the two women seem to be of the EW type we encounter in our everyday work lives ie. yell and scream, get physical with an employee, invade our space (however you wish to define space whether going behind the counter or getting too close or tugging on our bodies or clothes or hair). IT would seem to me that these women were used to doing this sort of thing to get their way.

both the Franchisee and McDonalds both state:

The franchise owner Carmen Paulino released a statement, "I am extremely disturbed by the events captured on tape and am concerned for those injured. The actions of this individual are unacceptable and not characteristic of my employees. This individual no longer works for my organization. Operating safe, welcoming restaurants is my top priority. I am fully cooperating with authorities in the investigation."

McDonald's also released a statement, "The violence in this video is alarming and reprehensible. The franchisee of this restaurant has told us that the individual involved no longer works for her organization. We strive to ensure that our McDonald's restaurants are safe and welcoming for our customers. Our franchisee is fully cooperating with authorities in the investigation."

yeah right I guess in some way you BOTH would have just let these individuals abuse and injure your employee and then give them free stuff for "their trouble". Oh and by the way the cashier is SOOOO fired

[Greenday]

While legally, using a weapon against people with no weapons is wrong, I don't see the problem with defending oneself. I can't view the videos because my internet sucks too badly, but unless the attackers were lying on the ground defenseless, they got what they deserved. McDonalds is just doing stupid PR to make themselves look innocent in the whole manner.

[Gravekeeper]

Saw this earlier on the news and frankly its hard to have sympathy for anyone involved. Yes, he certainly went too far as he keeps going after they've stopped fighting ( He gives them another 2-3 whacks after they hit the ground ). But I mean if you smack someone for calling you out on slipping him a counterfeit $50, and then vault the counter to chase after him ( They chase him into the kitchen and he grabs a rod of some sort then turns around and starts swinging ), you don't have anyone else to blame when you get a beat down.

If this had been a corner store, that sort of behaviour would be liable to get you shot.

On a side note, what the Hell is up with this sort of behaviour? I keep seeing videos of this kind of shit on Youtube from places in the US. People absolutely flipping their shit in fast food joints and going after the cashier. Over everything from incorrect change to them being out of fucking coleslaw or something. They scream, yell, throw shit, shove the cash registers over, leap the counter, etc.

What the Hell, people?

[Rapscallion]

While I have to say that McD's sacking the guy was the only course they could take after seeing that video, had I been the guy with the weapon I'd have done the same. If you have to put an enemy down, make sure they stay down.

As to why, I suspect we're seeing more of it with the proliferation of cameras on phones etc. Partly it's always been happening, and we're just seeing it more, and partly the fact that others are seeing it is encouraging them.

Rapscallion

[Gravekeeper]

As to why, I suspect we're seeing more of it with the proliferation of cameras on phones etc. Partly it's always been happening, and we're just seeing it more, and partly the fact that others are seeing it is encouraging them.

Possibly. Always seems to be from the same general areas though and surprisingly, it seems to be a woman more often than not. Which is pretty weird.

I just can't comprehend trying to strangle someone over a lack of chicken Mcnuggets is all.

Edit: Should clarify that, I mean it always seems to be inner city locations in the US.

[Boozy]

On a side note, what the Hell is up with this sort of behaviour? I keep seeing videos of this kind of shit on Youtube from places in the US. People absolutely flipping their shit in fast food joints and going after the cashier.

Something's up with American fast food places in general.

You know how in Canada, you don't get the greatest customer service at McDonald's by any means, but nor do you feel that the cashier wants to murder you for having the audacity to order food?

And you know how in Canada, some customers may feel superior to and/or sorry for the fast food cashier, but they try to hide these thoughts from the cashier, because to do otherwise would be incredibly rude and insensitive?

It's... not like that in the US.

I ate at several fast food places in the US last year, and I was utterly horrified at the latent class warfare going on between customer and cashier. They hated each other. The customers ordered with the assumption that the employees would be rude and fuck up their order. The employees, sensing this, probably figured, "Hell, I may as well be rude and fuck up their order".

It was horrible. I will never go to another McDonald's in the US again.

[Rapscallion]

Interesting. I don't have much fast food experience in the US. Three weeks after 911, a chum of mine and I took planes and drove in a hired car from Chicago to Pennsylvania, stopping off at places along the way we thought we'd like. We hit many Burger Kings along the way, eating in restaurants at night.

Maybe it's because it was a decade back, but we didn't find any issue when we were there.

Actually, I found one occasion some years later on the US side of Niagara where Gatekeeper, Ree, and I (possibly with Technical Angel - may have already dropped her off at the airport) were in some huge mall thing - Mall of America? - and my credit and debit cards wouldn't work. Or at least the guy behind the counter said they weren't working, and no way was he accepting traveller's cheques, and it was plain he wasn't happy with this hapless Limey. I could easily put that down to ancestry, since my cards worked everywhere else. I also got the feeling that he was the manager or owner and thus wouldn't survive in business for long with that sort of attitude.

Rapscallion

[Gravekeeper]

It's... not like that in the US.

That's....pretty disturbing. I haven't been in the US since the early 90s and that was just a quick trip to Seattle. While we did stop at McDonalds, I only recall that it tasted weird and greasy because all the recipes were different for the US market. I don't recall the cashier wanting to kill us. But it was probably too close to the border. -.-

My parents have been telling me horror stories about their trips to the US for years. They normally do an annual roadtrip ( They were aiming to visit every state before they die ;p ) and have done so for over 10 years. But since 9/11, every year they went down was just a little bit scarier. Then it went full crazy when Obama took office to the point where they won't go back now. Because driving through the south with Canadian plates is uncomfortable at best and scary at worst.

People would notice their plates at a gas station and literally just walk up to them and start ranting about socialism.

[Gravekeeper]

Actually, I found one occasion some years later on the US side of Niagara where Gatekeeper, Ree, and I (possibly with Technical Angel - may have already dropped her off at the airport) were in some huge mall thing - Mall of America? - and my credit and debit cards wouldn't work.

That's right along the border though so you're not too deep in. Still, if you have an accent, who knows. Even I occassionally get weird vibes from Americans over the phone with my ( apparently ) Canadian accent these days.

We roadtripped to Disney World when I was a kid. That was when I learned the true meaning of fear. Both the Haunted House and New York, to be specific. New York was scary and covered in smog. -.-

[Rapscallion]

Still, if you have an accent, who knows.

If you've ever seen Last of the Summer Wine from UK sources, I'm from that sort of area.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ww7RP9ERqs

Second speaker is the voice of Wallace from Wallace and Grommit, Peter Sallis. Of the three I'm closest to his accent I reckon.

Of course, I'm the only person in the world without an accent. It's amusing over there, though, I've had people asking if I was Irish or Scottish.

Rapscallion

[Gravekeeper]

Of course, I'm the only person in the world without an accent. It's amusing over there, though, I've had people asking if I was Irish or Scottish.

I have no idea if I have an accent, you guys could probably tell better than I can. -.-

[Rageaholic]

Wow what bitches.

While I think the cashier went overboard hitting them while they were already down, I can't say I don't sympathize. It was probably a heat of the moment thing (good thing the coworkers were there to calm him down).

[smileyeagle1021]

They hated each other. The customers ordered with the assumption that the employees would be rude and fuck up their order. The employees, sensing this, probably figured, "Hell, I may as well be rude and fuck up their order".

that's all customer service anymore.
at least half of relay calls are to customer service people and it is appalling. I can understand how dehumanizing customer service can be in this country, but the behavior I've seen (well heard) from customer service people who will barely hide their scorn that a "cripple" would dare waste their time or will openly mock the hard of hearing person as less intelligent because of their problems with English (contrary to popular belief, English is a second language for most people who are born deaf, it is indeed a different language from ASL). which for disclosure I will admit to giving people a hard time over problems with English, but it's more along the lines of "I pressed one for English, can I please speak to someone who actually speaks English" (which since this is Fratching, I can say it without too much problem but seriously, I don't have any problem with having to do language selections, I understand that businesses are in the business of attracting customers which includes speaking their language, but I don't think it's unreasonable when I make that selection to get someone who is actually fluent in the language I chose... sorry for the tangent).
Hell, even personally, I've dealt with McDonalds employees who just assume your a stupid asshole (and with at least one I've responded in kind, when I had my reward zone mastercard decline and she asked if I had a "real" credit card and I replied "that is a real credit card, it's probably at it's limit, I'm irresponsible with money, not stupid, can you say the same"... sucky yes, but she did start it).

[bara]

I have NO sympathy for those two women.
He went to far beating them after they were down I think. But a decent lawyer should be able to get the charges drastically reduced. His previous record will work against him however.
As for using a weapon... it was two vs one. I cannot fault him for that.

[patiokitty]

I know I would have reacted the same way as the McD's worker, especially when one of the women climbed the counter to get at him. You just aren't thinking logically and it's a fight or flight reaction. And with the other woman coming around the counter to help her friend, well, I can imagine his thought processes in that he could have been thinking that it's better to beat than to be beaten.

Yes, I think he went overboard but adrenaline would play into that. He was making sure that they wouldn't get back up to come after him again. Fair enough as far as I'm concerned. In his shoes I would have probably done the same thing...probably while screaming at the top of my lungs.

That he was fired doesn't surprise me but I think the head manager should seriously think about the situation that the employee found himself in. How logical is anybody going to be after being attacked by a customer? Probably not very, and he may not have used the metal thing on the women if they had backed off - it could likely be that he grabbed it simply to get them to back off in the first place.