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Only Human
Though we have record unemployment, record departure from the work place, we have yet to see a down turn in the market, and still fuel prices go up. If one of the things driving people from work is the idea they feel under appreciated, and they find more value in connecting with family and friends- then consumerism might go down. More than one song has pointed out money can’t buy you love, and things won’t make you happy. On a death bed, no says I wished I worked that extra shift.
But also, we like connection. Interestingly, even though we want connection- we neither extend greetings, nor or aware of when it’s available in our presence. Take McDonalds. This is not a bash on fast food or corporations. McDonals will survive, where mom and pop, Cheers-everyone knows your name kind of place is closed, or will be soon. McDonald’s success was initially built on a smile, not quality of food. Food was okay, but the smile kept people coming.
Now, whether you are inside or going through the car lane, you are met with a person who is taking your payment while multitasking with the next customer. Maybe most patron just want their food, no human contact. Well, that will happen soon enough rolls out completely automated stores. Meanwhile, the employee is less human and more just a cog in a mechanism. So is the…