People are different everywhere. Mostly the same, but still different. Sometimes for the better, sometimes not. This entry takes a funny look, and sometimes sarcastic look, at the “sometimes not’s”. Being in the camping business is simple but not exactly what it seems. Yes we rent campsites… but that’s not really our business. Yes we rent cabins… but this also isn’t our business. We also sell the use of our pools, water park features and slides, as well as activities… but that too isn’t really our business. They are all a means and an element of our business… but our real business is much simpler. Our real business is hospitality. Making our guests feel welcome, appreciated, and ensure that they have a good time while being safe. It’s a people business plain and simple. There’s always going to be something that could go wrong and leave your guest with a bad experience… and it’s all in what you do to turn something bad into something good. But there’s always going to be those that can’t be satisfied, or for some reason want to complain in an effort to get something for free, or even just to complain because it’s in their nature. Not much can be done with this type of personality. Once past the initial effort… mostly everything else is useless.
Da, da, da, dum…. These are their stories. The 10% that can’t be happy with anything!
[ I want something for nothing ] I want to complain about the most insignificant thing that has ruined my entire week and want a refund. I got water splashed into my beer at the pool… I want a free one. It rained last night so I want to leave early and get a refund. The movie stopped playing and I didn’t get to see the last 15 minutes to see how it ended… what can I get for free. They parked another Rv next to mine and blocked my view… what can I get for free. I wanted to go to the craft center after it closed, and I can’t… what can I get for free. I went to the lake to fish and didn’t catch anything… what can I get for free. Well, I’m sure you get the picture… they want to complain in hopes to get something for free, and when they don’t get anything, they want to tell the world how unfairly they have been treated.
[ I want something more for my money ] The ice cream social needs to be improved and more fun for the kids. [They get 2 scoops of ice cream, chocolate & caramel syrup, nuts, strawberries, and sprinkles for only $2] It needs to be more fun by adding M&M’s, gummy bears, and more premium toppings… $2 is too much. Once I pay for my site everything else should be included… food, gifts, crafts, and drinks. Isn’t the staff really like babysitters for my kids, so I don’t have to watch them? [what world do they live in?]
[ I didn’t know it was going to be like that] We have a Wet & Wild Wagon Ride around the park and tell everyone… you will get wet… probably even soaked! They can’t understand when they really get wet on the ride. We warn them about cameras and phones on the ride. They can’t understand why they get wet and stop working… “my phone got wet, are you going to pay to replace it?” Crafts sells T-shirts for painting with fabric markers… “do you mean I have to paint the shirt myself”? The bears are scheduled to appear three times a day at specific locations… “I wasn’t at the right place at the right time… I missed the bears… what are you going to do?” Three of us (staff) are standing near the movie theater and have a clear view of the entire area… we get a radio call that a guest says that there are several families waiting to see the bears and none appeared. A bear was there, no one came while they were there, the bears left, no one is there now, so where are the guests, and what are they talking about ??? . [ again, what world do you live in?]
[ I have to follow the rules ??? ] So many people think that they are above the rules and guidelines that are there to ensure theirs, and everyone else’s safety. Why can’t my 7 year old watch my 3 year old at the pools? Why do I have to be there? Why can’t my 12 year old drive the golf cart? Why can’t my group party until 1 am ? Why do I have to put my dog on a leash? Why do I have to kick up the dog mess, the campground didn’t give me a bag. Why can’t my campfire be left unattended? Isn’t the craft center also a babysitting service? What do you mean I can’t spread out into the campsite next to me and have more space and use both picnic tables?… can’t you just have them go to another site? Why do I have to drive the golf cart responsibly… I want to zoom, zoom, zoom, around everyone walking in the road. Armbands… why do I have to wear armbands? And it goes on and on… amazing. Do you know that golf carts are like video games? The carts and the people in them are indestructible? And those plastic armbands that are almost indestructible that require good sharp scissors to remove… just keep falling of by themselves.
The 10%ers. They all have an excuse for why the rules don’t apply to them. They all have an attitude when they are asked to follow the rules. 10% of over 1,000 people gives you 100 people that you have to monitor not only for their safety but the safety of others too. The 10%ers that believe that “The campground is an all inclusive, be waited on hand and foot, some one needs to be at my beckoned call, I can do whatever I want, the rules don’t apply to me, didn’t we pay for you to serve me and cater to my every whim… Millionaires Resort! “
Once you learn to deal with the 10%ers, the job is much easier to enjoy the 90% that appreciate what you do! The first few weeks is adjusting to the 10%… after that, is all good! Guess it’s kinda like that with most things in life. Why do I use the term 10%ers… cause of don’t want to use that one word term that has it’s own connotation that perfectly and uniquely describes this kind group of individuals… as seen by the normal people of the world. ( _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ).
Now for my wish list… there needs to be a word or phrase that could convey your feelings to let someone know that… they are simply a whiner, they can’t be happy with anything, I can’t help you, I don’t want to be near you, you are bring everyone down, you need to go somewhere else and leave happy people alone, you are annoying, no one wants you here, no one likes you, go away… far, far away! “@#$@%?#%” !!! ahhh… I get a warm feeling all over just thinking about it.
Well, that’s my little bit of self therapy. Helped me… maybe it will help you too.
The Moral? Enjoy the 90%… and slough off the 10% that aren’t worth the worry or effort. Go the other way. Give them one chance NOT to be a ( _ _ _ _ _ _ _ )… then walk away. They’ll complain about that too… but that’s just part of their miserable life… they want to suck you into their misery. Walk away! They won’t get it… and they won’t get you either.
Next story… like most of my posts… the 90% that are great to be around and make life a joy to live!
