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News & ArtsThursday, January 28, 2010
??!! / Books Today in Independent Bookstores That Should Close
Posted by Paul Constant on Thu, Jan 28, 2010 at 12:55 PM
Slog Tipper Tim wants us all to know that there is an independent bookstore in Connecticut that is douchier than any bookselling chain:
Atticus Book Store and Cafe, located in New Haven, Connecticut, has caused a controversy over a recent policy decision to require all Hispanic employees to only speak English within a customer’s earshot.The staff is allowed to speak Spanish, but only in restricted areas.
A document from the bookstore states:
Spanish is allowed in the prep area, the dishwasher area and the lower level. Let’s make our customers feel welcome and comfortable.
Oh, the irony of Atticus Book Store's owner being intolerant.
1
On one hand, it's kind on douchey especially with how the policy is written, but on the other hand, it is rude to start talking in a language the majority of people around you have only a shaky grasp of.
2
Atticus serves a delicious black bean soup that I lived on in college. Once news of this spreads in the university community, the bookstore will cave on this policy.
5
Atticus! Yeah, they're jerks. It's really mostly a cafe/restaurant, though -- there are bookshelves around and downstairs, but their selection is about as limited as your average airport Borders. Kind of sad, considering the only other two indies near campus, Book Haven (is this still around?) and Book Trader, were all about textbooks and used books, respectively.
6
And no gay lisps either. That makes customers uncomfortable. We do not buy this bullshit that you claim to have a "Ceceo lisp."
7
@1: I dunno. Why do you need to talk what I'm talking about? My mother and I talk in Cantonese on the streetcar because she's much more comfortable that way, and I respect that because she's my mom. Would you feel uncomfortable if you were sitting in front of us?
I agree it's rude if you make a point of using the language to deliberately exclude a person or if you use it to insult the person without them knowing. But seriously, any employee who does that is a douche, and an idiot, because there's a good chance that one day a customer WILL understand you and call your ass on it.
I agree it's rude if you make a point of using the language to deliberately exclude a person or if you use it to insult the person without them knowing. But seriously, any employee who does that is a douche, and an idiot, because there's a good chance that one day a customer WILL understand you and call your ass on it.
8
I wonder what the backstory is here? Maybe some customers complained that employees were speaking Spanish to one another? Maybe they thought they were being insulted behind their backs? Doesn't change the fact that this is a monumentally stupid policy, I just wonder what might cause a store to implement such a policy.
10
Some places tried that shit in Los Angeles as late as the '70s, but eventually discovered that the Latino market is not a marketing segment to insult. California is way different (historically and culturally) than Connecticut to be sure, but it's an unwise move for an American business entity anywhere to operate under the assumption that this country isn't well on ts way to bilingualism.
11
@1: You know what's rude? Expecting other people to speak in their non-native language because you don't speak their native tongue. Why do you need to know what they're saying? They're obviously not talking to you.
I'm on the receiving end of a ban like this. Obviously I speak pretty decent English (ahem), but it's still galling that I've been told not to speak Spanish with my coworkers, especially since every time we have a client who speaks Spanish my colleagues screech my name to come help.
I'm on the receiving end of a ban like this. Obviously I speak pretty decent English (ahem), but it's still galling that I've been told not to speak Spanish with my coworkers, especially since every time we have a client who speaks Spanish my colleagues screech my name to come help.
12
@1 How the hell is that rude!? If anything, I'd think it's more rude to be eavesdropping on a stranger's conversation you have no business listening to.
@7 Agreed. I had a Korean roommate who would speak Korean with her sister all the time when we'd walk to the grocery store together. I totally understand the "comfort" element and in no way do I think they were talking about me or intentionally excluding me, but it always made me feel like a third wheel. So eventually, I stopped hanging out with them (no biggie, the sister was a bitch anyway).
@7 Agreed. I had a Korean roommate who would speak Korean with her sister all the time when we'd walk to the grocery store together. I totally understand the "comfort" element and in no way do I think they were talking about me or intentionally excluding me, but it always made me feel like a third wheel. So eventually, I stopped hanging out with them (no biggie, the sister was a bitch anyway).
13
Wow! #1 FTW
If anyone questions why Americans are perceived as ignorant, arrogant, petulant and rude, look no further than #1!
"I demand to understand everything around me, and I'm not going to do anything at all about it. It's everyone else's problem that I'm ignorant & I demand they totally cater to how stupid I am. And don't you *dare* try to teach me another language, that might teach me something & then I won't be ignorant anymore & that's the bestest things in the worldest to be."
If anyone questions why Americans are perceived as ignorant, arrogant, petulant and rude, look no further than #1!
"I demand to understand everything around me, and I'm not going to do anything at all about it. It's everyone else's problem that I'm ignorant & I demand they totally cater to how stupid I am. And don't you *dare* try to teach me another language, that might teach me something & then I won't be ignorant anymore & that's the bestest things in the worldest to be."
14
The only thing I can think of that would prompt such a policy is a situation in which customers who overheard employees speaking Spanish to one another would be less likely to ask them for assistance, assuming that their English was limited. While this is a pretty big unfounded assumption on the part of the customers, I could see this causing tension.
Not that a ban on Spanish is the answer, obviously.
Not that a ban on Spanish is the answer, obviously.
18
how about if the customers are spanish speaking? Are they allowed to speak english? (yeah, I know that the only three spanish speakers in that state are the employees of the store)
I mean...if it is the comfort of the customers we are talking about here?
I mean...if it is the comfort of the customers we are talking about here?
21
The greatest part of this, to me, is that the manager is a French guy named Jean Marcel Récapet. You can read his rebuttal here: http://atticusbookstorecafe.com//index.p…
22
@12: Well, to be fair, I'd consider that pretty rude. In a social situation, it's just polite to be inclusive all around -- whether that means bringing up topics that everyone can contribute to, avoiding certain ones, or speaking in the same language.
It'd be pretty dumb, to say, show up at a Korean restaurant or the Korean Culture club and expect everyone to speak only English around you. But with your friends? They should be more considerate. If her sister's English is so bad that they can only speak in Korean *and* won't bother to translate for you, your friend just shouldn't take her or you along.
My parents generally speak only Cantonese at the table even with my monolingual Anglo boyfriend there. I know they're just not comfortable, so I translate for him, or just let them converse with each other while I start English conversations with my brothers. I probably wouldn't tolerate that from anyone less than family though.
It'd be pretty dumb, to say, show up at a Korean restaurant or the Korean Culture club and expect everyone to speak only English around you. But with your friends? They should be more considerate. If her sister's English is so bad that they can only speak in Korean *and* won't bother to translate for you, your friend just shouldn't take her or you along.
My parents generally speak only Cantonese at the table even with my monolingual Anglo boyfriend there. I know they're just not comfortable, so I translate for him, or just let them converse with each other while I start English conversations with my brothers. I probably wouldn't tolerate that from anyone less than family though.
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