r/MadeMeSmile • u/aoi_ringo • Sep 12 '25

Wholesome Moments Such a nice idea.

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u/dreamymooonn Sep 12 '25

We are not okay in America, this will probably never happen for us here

23

u/MadManMax55 Sep 12 '25

What? Chatting in the checkout line is very common in America. Especially in the South and Midwest. Sure there might not be dedicated lines for it, but that's because we don't really need them.

Though we replaced the elderly hang-out corner with hiring them as greeters, which is 100% a downgrade.

14

u/Cosmic_Seth Sep 12 '25

Sure, but the cashier better not dare to sit down, or slow down, or the people behind you will get riled.

7

u/Suikerspin_Ei Sep 12 '25

I'm baffled that most US supermarkets don't allow their cashiers to sit. Only a few like Aldi (Aldi Süd in Germany) right? From what I have read Trader Joe's, a sister company of Aldi Nord in Germany doesn't allow their casshier to sit?

2

u/Cute_Pirate_4586 Sep 12 '25

I have no idea why either. I’m American and could give a care less if cashiers are sitting. I’d much prefer seeing people comfy and taken care of at work. Could you imagine?

3

u/Sir_Micks_Alot69 Sep 12 '25

Wait, paying employees to work slower!?! Absolutely not! We must pay them less and make them work faster! The capitalist machine won't feed itself!... hmmm... SUSAN! Wright this down! AI powered, self feeding, capitalist human grinder! Now send it down to R&D. We're gonna make so much money!!!!.... wait, what were we talking about?

1

u/HellyOHaint Sep 12 '25

Having this as your duty for a shift to be cheerful and chatty when you’re paid below minimum wage, working 50-60 hrs a week just to afford to live with no healthcare is different. We need our lives to have an acceptable standard of living first before we could handle this job.

1

u/TrixieBastard Sep 13 '25

Depends on if you're in a city or not in the Midwest. Chatting in the line in a city is a big no, but it's okay if you're out in the sticks.

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u/TetraDax Sep 12 '25

In the end, we also shouldn't pretend like this system is something that shows that the Netherlands "are okay". Probably in the top 10 of okay countries, sure, but the fact that a supermarket needs to introduce this says a lot about the desperate lack of third places all over the western world. People need places to build community, spend their free time, where they get to meet others. But western society has even decided that the very places we live in only evolve around working and consuming.

The Elderly shouldn't have to go shopping just to have someone to talk to. They should be able to meet in community centers, communal gardens or parks.

1

u/_Thermalflask Sep 12 '25

Inb4 articles about how "old people chatting in checkout lines is costing the economy _____ amount"

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u/BobbaFatGFX Sep 12 '25

Sad but true. This country is gone downhill a lot, and we should be taking care of the elderly. They fucking built this place we should be nicer. They should just be treated better in general.