conversation in a book store

Z

ZeSpectre

New member
The wife and I were in Barnes and Noble bookstore today and I remembered that I wanted to pick up a new copy of “More guns less crime”. Darned if I could find it so I went to the customer assistance counter where a young man of about 25 years of age asked if he could help me.

Me: “Hi, yes, I’m trying to find a book and I can’t seem to find the right section of the store.”
Him: “Sure, what’s the title?”
Me: “More guns Less crime” by John Lott
Him: “Hrmph, that’s a bit of an oxymoron isn’t it?”
Me: “Really? Why do you think so?”
Him: “Because guns cause crime.”
Me: “Guns cause crime…isn’t that like saying that cars cause drunk driving accidents or spoons cause people to be fat?”
Him: “Well they do.”
Me: “Are you SERIOUSLY telling me that you believe inanimate objects like cars or spoons cause problems and not the choices of the people who use them?”
Him: “Well guns …empower… people and that makes them do things they wouldn’t do otherwise.”
Me: “Man you watch too much TV. Guns don’t have some zen-voodoo mystic ability, they don’t “make” anyone do anything they aren’t already prone to doing. Bad guys do bad things, guns or no guns, and good guys don’t do bad things, guns or no guns.”
Him: “Well I don’t believe that, more guns never make a situation better.”
Me: “I tell you what, if you promise to give it a read I’ll buy TWO copies of the book and give one to you so you can read some studies on the topic.”
Him: “Nah, that’s okay.”
Me: “Well if you aren’t going to educate yourself on the topic then I guess this conversation is done. Would you please help me find the book now?”

He did, I bought my copy and left.
 
You did a good job trying to persuade him. Just goes to show that most antis aren't interested in using their heads to change what their hearts believe. Truth isn't a priority, how they feel is.

It bothers me that they guy felt it necessary to comment on your choice of reading material. That's unprofessional and I think I'd make the guy's manager aware of his behavior.

-Dave
 
I too have been to the book store and had some idiot clerk get pissy and confrontational with me when i asked where are the books on guns.

Why cant people mind there own business?
 
Talk to the manager about the unprofessional behavior of the clerk. What if you were buying a book on gay rights and they gave you a hard time? Nobody would stand for that and you shouldn't either.
 
Some years ago I was in a book store around Christmas looking for a weird title my ex-wife wanted.

Stores and I don't get along, especially not at Christmas.

I asked the guy behind the counter if they inventoried the book (couldn't find it on the shelves) of if I had to order it.

He launches into what probably would have been a long-winded review of why the book wasn't that good.

Let's see, Mike's been shopping most of the day, it's about 2 weeks before Christmas, and this guy's giving me a sermon.

I snapped something to the effect of "If I want a review I'll read the ()&%^()*&$%()*&#$% Washington Post. Do you have the book or not?"

I must have said it a little too loud, because a bunch of people were staring...

That's me, just filled with that Holiday Cheer!
 
I would disapprove of you asking for the manager and what not, the problem was solved you got your book, don’t worry about it.

Anyway you did handle the situation well; I would have pushed him more to read the book though.
 
Talk to the manager about the unprofessional behavior of the clerk. What if you were buying a book on gay rights and they gave you a hard time? Nobody would stand for that and you shouldn't either.
Click to expand...

They wouldn't have given him a hard time for that.........and the book would have been in stock.

ZeSpec, You did well. You can lead a moron to knowledge but you just can't make them learn.
 
I wonder which “More guns less crime” or the "gay rights" book is on the Homeland's watch list? It's getting to be a sad time in american history. What would the John "The Duke" Wayne think of that?
 
I didn't know this forum was a nanny you run back to when you visit people out in the real world that have differing and wrong opinions than you.

Me: “Hi, yes, I’m trying to find a book and I can’t seem to find the right section of the store.”
Him: “Sure, what’s the title?”
Me: “More guns Less crime” by John Lott
Him: “Hrmph, that’s a bit of an oxymoron isn’t it?”
Me: “Really? Why do you think so?”
Click to expand...

I'll stop right there as that is where you made a mistake. You are talking to someone that was more or less making a joke based on his preconceived notions. Your response should NOT have been "Really? Why do you think so?" but rather "Maybe, that's why I want to read it" or "That's not what the statistics indicate andcanyougolookupthatbook?"

IF the comment had gone "I'm looking for 'Gays getting Pregnant'" and the reply was "Hrmph, that's a bit of an oxymoron isn't it?" would you open up the discussion ASKING for his opinion?

You asked for his opinion. You got it. Who cares? It's not exactly a well thought out opinion that affects you and your life. He's a nobody and deserves exactly zero more of your energy.
 
SecDef
Who pissed in your cornflakes this morning? All I posted was a plain facts reporting of an incident that happened.

IF the comment had gone "I'm looking for 'Gays getting Pregnant'" and the reply was "Hrmph, that's a bit of an oxymoron isn't it?" would you open up the discussion ASKING for his opinion?
Click to expand...
Sure, if that were the topic in question, it's called "know your opponent".
 
"You asked for his opinion. You got it. Who cares?"

I do. I thought the OP was interesting, and I have enjoyed the discussion here as well. I am always interested in pro-vs-anti gun discussions. They help me to know what to expect and what to say when *I* get into such an argument.

Tim

Edit: Sorry, but I thought of something else I want to comment on--this statement:

"He's a nobody and deserves exactly zero more of your energy." The clerk was at least a voter, or future voter. If ZeSpectre was inclined to educate him a little bit, especially in a non-confrontational manner as he did, I say more power to him. Sounds like his words may have fallen onto deaf ears, but it was worth a shot, and, with luck, the clerk may think about the issue a little bit more.
 
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I'll bet that in a previous life, that moron was dancing around a "banned books" bonfire hosted by the nat-zees!

Seriously, the fact that anyone should question your book selection...in a book store no less...is unbeliveable. That person should fired post haste. I would have made a mighty stink.

But that's just me.
 
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ZeSpectre, and others:

When confronted with or by such an idiot, have you tried having a word with the store manager?
 
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