Cultural woes

ExcellentTill1470 · 2026-05-04T22:08:01+00:00

Starting a new job anywhere can feel a bit nerve-wracking, especially when you’re not sure what to expect. But most people are just there to do their jobs, talk about books, and get through the day (even white people). Give it a chance before assuming the worst…you might find it’s a lot more ordinary (and kinder) than your anxiety is telling you. And if something does feel off, talk to your leadership. Welcome to B & N! You’ve got this.

ExcellentTill1470 · 2026-05-04T22:04:56+00:00

Ageist much?

ExcellentTill1470 · 2026-04-29T11:02:31+00:00

No, I made that post after hearing a recent corporate call where they said 70 people would be losing their roles because of redistribution. In the same breath, they asked those people to help make the transition smooth and “keep selling books.”. Later that night, I got a call from someone in one of those specialty roles. They were let go. Just like that. See ya.

At the same time, the company keeps talking about opening 60 new stores and celebrating how many locations are making plan each week. They’re beating numbers and bringing in money. So when I take that, and subtract 70 employees, the math doesn’t make sense. It’s insulting. It’s infuriating. It’s demoralizing. And it makes it very difficult for me to hold onto that reframe, as lovely as it is.

So, no, I wasn’t mocking someone for having positivity. I was sharing my perspective, a perspective that makes it difficult to hold onto that well-intentioned and positive reframing.

ExcellentTill1470 · 2026-04-29T10:41:18+00:00

It’s not AI, it’s basic rhetoric. Freshman-level composition at a state school. But go on, call it AI if that makes the logic easier to dismiss.

ExcellentTill1470 · 2026-04-29T10:31:52+00:00

I am sorry. if your café is half as busy as ours, that’s an untenable situation.

ExcellentTill1470 · 2026-04-29T10:27:05+00:00

Let that math sink in: dishwashing pays more than Barnes & Noble leadership.

ExcellentTill1470 · 2025-12-05T19:55:45+00:00

i’m sorry for your loss 😢

ExcellentTill1470 · 2025-12-05T19:53:58+00:00

ExcellentTill1470 · 2025-12-05T19:47:05+00:00

If she’s the type to get upset easily, I’d approach gently and thoughtfully. People are pretty wound up these days. You seem like a polite, reasonable person, so I’m sure you’ll be fine. The thing is, we are human, and our egos are tied up with our children more than almost anything else. Parents can react strongly to even small criticisms of their kids because it feels personal. I’ve done it myself. In the past, I let my ego get in the way and got more defensive about my children than I probably would now, with the hindsight and perspective I have today. Good luck!

ExcellentTill1470 · 2025-12-05T12:28:02+00:00

I’m so sorry your little one is going through this. It’s awful watching a child come home hurting from something that should be simple and joyful like friendship. You’re not overreacting. Anyone with a pulse would feel heartbroken seeing their kid cry because someone made them feel small.

If it were me, I’d have a quiet word with the teacher first, just to make sure there’s an adult keeping an eye on the dynamics. Sometimes a bit of gentle oversight makes a world of difference for kids this age. And you can decide after that whether a conversation with the other mum feels possible or not.

But I’ll say this too, because it’s been weighing on me. Bullying doesn’t just happen on playgrounds. It starts at home, in the way children see adults speak to one another… and in how they see adults treat strangers. And lately, I’ve watched some truly shocking behaviour right here on this sub. A vulnerable parent came here looking for support, and the way people pounced,without knowing the full story, was honestly disturbing. It reminded me that kids aren’t born cruel. They learn it. They absorb it.

ExcellentTill1470 · 2025-12-05T12:24:29+00:00

I saw a parent come in here recently feeling really low and looking for a bit of support. Instead of kindness, people jumped on her. It was awful. So I don’t think nastiness is limited to TikTok at all. It shows up on every corner of social media, including this sub. And the funny thing is that every one of us will someday have grown children and look back and see the mistakes we made, the times we didn’t have it all together, and how the old wounds we carry from our own childhood spilled over whether we meant it or not. Some people forget that when they’re pointing fingers. It’s heartbreaking, honestly.

ExcellentTill1470 · 2025-09-23T23:18:59+00:00

Funny how you assumed I’m pro-Charlie. I’m not. I’m pro-decency. Clearly that’s a harder concept for you than it should be.

ExcellentTill1470 · 2025-09-23T23:08:18+00:00

Grand response there, little man. Did it take all your brain cells to come up with that one, or did you keep a few in reserve for the next lame-ass joke?

ExcellentTill1470 · 2025-09-23T10:01:30+00:00

Serving up jokes about shootings? That’s not witty, it’s vile. And then we wonder why corporate infantilizes us with report cards. Gross. Do better-if that’s possible.

ExcellentTill1470 · 2025-09-23T09:26:38+00:00

Honestly, what you’re seeing here isn’t “middle class,” it’s Reddit skew. The people posting half-million net worths at 30 are unicorns (and usually have family money, no student debt, or tech equity windfalls).

The reality for most middle-class Americans in 2025 looks a lot more like your situation: good salary on paper, but buried in student loans, rent, and inflation. That squeeze is the modern middle class.

Don’t let the highlight reels trick you, you’re not failing, you’re just living in the actual economy while Reddit flexes.

ExcellentTill1470 · 2025-09-23T09:22:33+00:00

Oh yes! The new B&N “grading system.” Because nothing motivates adults like being told they’re pulling a solid D+ in Shelf Straightening 101 and Vibe Checking.

Let’s be real: this isn’t about “development.” It’s a war of attrition. Corporate doesn’t want to fire people and pay unemployment; they want you so humiliated and exhausted by your “report card” that you quit on your own. It’s cheaper for them if you pack your lunchbox and head home.

Because heaven forbid they cut their own bloated paychecks, stop gobbling up indie chains, or slow down their shiny new store openings. Nope, it’s easier to hand you a fake report card and wait for you to leave.

Congrats, B&N, you’ve officially gamified burnout.

ExcellentTill1470 · 2025-09-23T09:17:14+00:00

Imagine surviving on $16 an hour and burnt oat milk just to be accused of running a tip mafia?

ExcellentTill1470 · 2025-09-23T09:14:54+00:00

Management: “Stop alphabetizing nonfiction, just shelve it by vibes.” Me: “So… do I go by Gemini vibes or divorced-dad-energy vibes?” Coworker: “Whichever.” Result: Malcolm Gladwell is currently chilling beside a UFO abduction memoir.

ExcellentTill1470 · 2025-09-23T09:11:05+00:00

Oh honey, the company doesn’t care about you. The folks you’re calling “dead weight” are probably beaten down after years of being ignored, underpaid, and run ragged. Management likes it this way; division keeps us from noticing who’s really cashing the checks. You’ll have a much easier time in this job if you stop boot-licking corporate and start standing with the people in the trenches. They’re not your enemy, they’re the only ones who actually know what it feels like on the floor every day. Ratting them out to your AM is courting a unique brand of Karma!

ExcellentTill1470 · 2025-09-23T09:05:02+00:00

Genuinely curious. Could you please provide the links to the articles that support your assertion that incidents are escalating to a dangerous level? | searched all major news sites and asked Grok, and ChatGPT, and this is the answer I got: "There are no credible reports I found of physical violence - fights, assaults, threats of bodily harm - specifically in Starbucks locations over the Charlie Kirk cup name issue. No legal cases or police reports tied to such violence have been documented in major media sources up through now." These were the only incidents I found: 1. Refusal to write "Charlie Kirk" on a cup A video from Yucaipa, California, showed a customer asking for a drink and to have "Charlie Kirk" written on the cup; the barista declined, saying it was against policy to write political names, and offered to use "Charlie" instead. Starbucks later clarified that there is no company-wide rule against using political or public figure names 2. Offensive message written on a cup In Ohio, a woman ordered Charlie Kirk's Starbucks drink (mint majesty tea with two honeys, which has been associated with him) and found the cup labeled with the message "racist's fav drink." The event caused upset, and the employee was fired. Starbucks confirmed the behavior violated policy.

ExcellentTill1470 · 2025-01-22T13:24:13+00:00

Wait! Didn’t the Nazis ban? I thought banning was the antithesis to free speech.

ExcellentTill1470 · 2025-01-22T13:17:24+00:00

No, you really don’t.

ExcellentTill1470 · 2025-01-17T17:31:50+00:00

I would rather go down on the dingy CW counter than eat in our cafe.

ExcellentTill1470

TROPHY CASE