Tory Johnson: Smile, Don't Snap, Crackle, Pop

Oct. 17, 2005 -- -- My husband and I agree on most things, but there's one big issue on which we usually don't see eye-to-eye. I'm a stickler for exceptional customer service and common courtesies, but he's much more willing to let people slide.

Call me picky, Type A or overly sensitive, but I definitely have pet peeves that go way beyond loud cell phone conversations in quiet spaces. I admit to being less tolerant of things that some people would simply ignore.

Maybe it's because as an entrepreneur in a service business, I have very high standards for client relations. My staff and I are accustomed to delivering exceptional customer service, which is one of the qualities that sets us apart from other businesses in our field. So when I'm greeted with less than stellar service in a store, I wonder how a manager allows it. I think the same thing when I'm sitting in an airport or walking down the street. When I see rude manners, I wonder where the offender works and how he or she is able to get away with it.

The culprits:

Gum chewing. While I love chewing gum because of the quick burst of minty fresh breath it provides -- and I try hard to be a silent chewer -- I can't stand hearing other people's popping. Last week the guy behind me on a flight back to New York snapped and cracked the whole three hours. I was hoping the flavor would run out or he'd pause for a can of Coke. No such luck. He didn't even get up to use the lavatory.

My husband got impatient with my impatience. He didn't understand why I couldn't just tune it out and focus on something else. It could have been a perfect ad for an iPod since a little music probably would have done the trick.

But what happens in a store when earphones aren't an option? While purchasing a shirt in an upscale shop, I found myself staring at the saleswoman as she chewed on a big wad of bubble gum. Not a very attractive or appealing sight.

Pocket change janglers. Ever been in a crowded elevator where everyone's quiet except for the guy who's jingling the change in his pocket? Fortunately I don't encounter this one too often, since it's both annoying and inconsiderate.