I took a gas station shop in a somewhat questionable part of town because the pay is higher than I have ever seen in my area. I figured on a Monday morning at 8:30 it should be ok. Well, now I know why it hasn't been taken before. Just drove by it a while ago- at least a dozen people loitering out front. Sorry, but it just doesn't feel safe to me. (Yes, I'm a female by myself.)
What do I do? Go back later and see if it's cleared out? Cancel? If I cancel how bad will I get dinged by Cori?
Help please.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/07/2013 01:28PM by 129hutch.

Safety is always first. Why not relay your concerns to the MSC?

Hutch, you shouldn't risk your safety to do this station. Is it possible there's a bus stop on that corner and these people were waiting for a bus to go to work? I've seen that before at stations, people waiting under the canopy for shelter or having coffee until the bus shows up. If you go back by there, it may be cleared out.

What does being white have to with anything? You could have omited that detail.

My past experience with CORI and a potentially dangerous situation was positive. In my case it was a quick mystery shop, but the pump did not give me a receipt and the inside portion had already been completed. I had been treated rudely inside the station by other customers and in the minute or so of pumping gas was being approached by panhandlers. After explaining the situation they accepted the report and paid me in full.

Audrialyn- truly sorry to have offended you. It was absolutely not my intention to sound prejudice. Was just trying to relay the situation. I've edited the post.

Mike and Mdavis- thanks for the quick replies. I will go back later to see if it has cleared out and then decide.

Thanks again.

Never mind your safety, you must be politically correct at all times.

@ Michael C. No one was questioning or making light of her saftey. All I was saying was that detail was not necessary. @ hutch Thank ypu.

Hutch;

I don't feel you were being insensitive at all. I have had similar situations, as well.

What situation did you have high order? Please explain. I am interested in hearing this.

Update- it all worked out- and I sure had a good learning lesson.

Like MDavis suggested, I went back about 2 hours later and it was all cleared out. Now I know not to plan to go to any of those shops at a "busy" morning time. Just wouldn't be prudent to be snapping all those pictures with an audience

Thanks again for the advice. Off to bed now- that was a long "shopping" day.

What about folks loitering is dangerous. Many times I see folks congregating at various places like it's the local watering hole. I see folks come in and out and no one is being bothered. Do you observe customers being bothered? Once you go inside to make the required purchase the store staff are aware that you are there. I'm not trying to be insensitive but maybe in that area of town that is part of the culture. That alone to me does not make it dangerous. I've also seen day laborers waiting at gas stations for their ride. They aren't there to bother anyone. Seems the employees would take action and call the police if mass loitering was presenting danger? At least I hope they would.

audrialyn30 Wrote:
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> What does being white have to with anything? You
> could have omited that detail.


Because when you are deep in the hood its kind of hard to blend in and not stick out when you are the only white person in sight. You become a target its as simple as that.

@ Freelance reporter. You are incorrect as usual. What makes you think all black people live in the hood? I assure you with the current economic state, A LOT of ethinicites are living in " THE HOOD" as you call it. Why don't you stop trying to irritate the heck out of everybody with your abrasive attitude and lack of manners.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/08/2013 05:03PM by audrialyn30.

Meh, "the hood" gets a bad rap. I've hung out in South Central LA on a Friday night and had no problems. And that's supposed to be one of the worst neighborhoods in the country.

I wonder if I shoppers of color stick out when doing shops in predominantly white parts of town? Perception colors your reality.

The OP stated her situation and in so doing included sufficient facts to paint a picture of the environment; it was her prerogative to include race. IF, in my opinion, anyone found her details offensive they are too damned sensitive.

@ Well that's your opinion, and I don't agree with you. In my opinion, it was not necessary!! Who are you to judge how something come across to someone else?

Audria,

I agree with the first and second sentences of your reply. For the third, though, you're confusing the terms "judge" and "opinion." I'm not judging anyone; I'm stating my opinion.

That's the problem with opinions: everybody's got one.....and, fortunately or unfortunately, everybody is entitled to express it.

A shopper bob. I am not going with this. I have already stated my opinion. In my opinion, it is obvious you have missed the boat on this. I would rather be too sensitive as you stated than clueless any day.

Glad it worked out for you. If I did not feel safe I would not do the job - don't really care about the $ if my safety is concerned. However I do not feel threatened by panhandlers. I feel empathy.

There's nothing wrong with talking about race. If a person feels threatened at a station where they don't feel they fit in, that's personal and is no reflection on the people at the station. I've shopped successfully in mostly white, mostly black, and mostly brown areas. Sometimes I won't go back, but it's not because of race. It's because of a sense of danger or insecurity. That said, if I want to talk about shopping at a location with mostly black clientele and staff, then I should be free to do that. It shouldn't be a reflection on me or label me as prejudiced or bigoted because I recognize or acknowledge race.

Being politically correct can be taken way too far. I used to manage high volume convenience stores and my staff would be almost totally white when I took over the store but as time went by it turned into about half white/ half black because I didn't take black/white into consideration when hiring. I did take such things as appearance, grooming, references, and criminal background checks into consideration. If I had to choose whether to go all white or all black on my staff, I'd go all black every time because they were better workers and more honest. Mexican women were good workers but after I learned their husbands told them when they could come to work I quit hiring them because I kind of liked for staff to show up. Call me racist, I quit hiring Mexican women.

Just to clarify my personal status, I am a green eyed light skinned white woman with some American Indian and Black in my bloodline, and I have a half brother who is half Mexican. I'm not against any color, but I don't see a problem with being practical about any given situation.

Audria,

You have your opinion and I have mine; it's obvious they are 180 degrees out-of-phase. Isn't America wonderful?

Although the day may come when I disagree with Mary; this isn't such an occasion.

The problem was not talking about race. The problem is that by saying she's white, you could infer that the OP felt uncomfortable simply because the loiterers were not.

Edit to add, you could also infer, by saying she's white, that the OP felt only non-white people live in questionable areas.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/08/2013 09:47PM by bgriffin.

If I'm white and everybody else is black and I'm uncomfortable, that's personal. I'm uncomfortable because I feel singled out and out of place and that's not racist. Here's racist: White people are thugs. White people are creepy. White people are dishonest. White people are out to get you. All those white people are crazy and on drugs. Those white people should be in jail where they belong. Those white people should all go back where they came from. Now that's racist.

It may be personal, but it's also racist. But no worries, not like it's the first thing we have a different opinion on.

You may be right, maybe I'm racist. If I liked my black staff members best, maybe that means I'm racist. If I think my Mexican brother is AOK then that must mean I don't think whites are superior. If I consider the most special part of my blood line to be Comanche and Black, maybe I'm racist. If I look in the mirror and I'm disappointed when a fair, green eyed white woman looks back, maybe I'm racist. You want to hear racist, you ought to hear a southern Black cut down on Honkies. You got me, I'm hopeless, I can't figure it out.

Hutch, if you are worried about safety, don't go alone. Why not bring Starsky?

bgriffin Wrote:
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> It may be personal, but it's also racist. But no
> worries, not like it's the first thing we have a
> different opinion on.


Can I lighten the mood here?

I like my coffee black, "like" my men Okay, just kidding!

Okay, If I say as a woman, that I am not attracted to black men, does that make me racist?

If a man is only attracted to large breasts or blondes, what does that make him?

If I said: "Some Asian men are not that good with a certain (oral) skills... So, if I choose not to date an Asian man, based on my past experience with their oral skills, what does that make me?

Some white men are only attracted to Asian women. Some black men are only attracted to white women.

But, you like what you like. Why all the labels?

If I fear going in a run down, crack infested neighborhood (according to the news and not my own assumptions) and there are 6 black + or Hispanic+ or Philipino men on the corner, one with an A-K resting on his leg and I don't want to go inside the store, what does that make me?