Over the past 35 years, I've experienced the "counter-culture" from both sides, as a customer and as a cashier. It's a situation that can be touch and go from either perspective. The customer may always be right, but it still doesn't detract from the fact that he or she can be a big, fat jerk.

Yes, I've had my share of run-ins trying to please Joe Public, but I have also been the victim of rude and surly employees out to ruin my day. Your viewpoint is largely determined by your vantage point. Let me illustrate.

Recently I stopped into a local grocery store for a pizza or something and was waited on by a young girl more interested in the giant wad of gum she was chewing than attending to her job.

Sure, she rang up my few items without much of a problem, but she did not once make eye contact with me, did not say, "Hello," or, "Hi," or even, "Go away." Basically she made me feel like I was not worthy to be in the store.

Maybe I'm just getting old, but when I waited on customers, no matter how poorly dressed or badly behaved they were, I smiled and was pleasant. The idea was to get repeat business.

I don't blame the inept cashier as much as the management. You see, the parents should be responsible when the kids misbehave. This isn't the first time the employees of this store have demonstrated their lack of manners.

On another occasion, I was waited on as the bagger and cashier gabbed openly about their love lives. I was glad they were dating, but again, I was generally ignored. I should have just walked out.

I've had slack service in drive-throughs as well. I know it's not the best job in the world, but if you applied for it and accepted the position, don't take it out on the general public.

Again, I was thrust my purchase without much ado. I turned to the young girl once and said, "Smile." I think I shocked her into recognition. She perked up mostly because I think she suspected me of being a secret shopper.

This is what it has come to, hiring people to shop so we can keep employees on their toes.

The other side of the equation has its own arguments. The pay is not that great for work much more strenuous emotionally and physically than higher paying positions. Management often takes advantage of the situation by hiding out in the office. Shoppers can be very demanding and unbending as they make their way towards the checkout line. At the end of the day, you usually feel like quitting.

It's a tough way to make a living, that's true. People tend to assume if you are working a cash register, you must have some sort of defect in your personality or no other abilities. They forget how many college grads out there and other schooled individuals have yet to find their niche. There are only so many primo positions in the world and somebody has to give change