Sometimes I'm just amazed by people's cluelessness

[tularetom]

I went into the hardware store this morning to buy some 2 cycle oil for my chain saw. The owner waited on me. I've known this guy for probably 30 years. His dad started the business. I never considered him a candidate for Mensa, but I've always respected his business smarts and his ability to keep his mom and pop operation viable in the face of competition from the likes of Home Depot and Lowes.

As he rings up my purchase he asks me "Are you interested in owning a hardware store? Do you know anybody who might be?"

Me: "Why? You thinking of selling?"

Him: "I'm not thinking about it. I'm getting the hell out. Leaving California"

Me: "Gee I knew business was bad but I didn't think it was that bad."

Him: "No the clientele has changed. Too many Mexicans."

Me: "Well that's too bad. We'll miss this place. By the way, where are you moving to?"

Him: "El Paso Texas."

I was fucking speechless.

[Horse with no Name]

1. This is funny

You just can't make up this shit, can you?

[tangent90]

3. It sure sounds made up to me.

As in I think it's a parable trying to make a point.
:shrug:

[Horse with no Name]

4. I didn't imply the OP made it up

My thought process was that bigots are idiots and do stupid things in spite of themselves.

[tangent90]

6. No, I know you didn't, I did.

:D
The more I think about it the more I'm sure I'm right.

[wtmusic]

11. And the point would be...

that there are racists? Illegal immigrants are putting Americans out of work?

Help me.

[tangent90]

20. Well sure there are racists...of all races. I hope you didn't imagine I thought otherwise!

However, the OP described his hardware store buddy as preparing to abandon his livlihood because he doesn't like Mexican "customers"...his words according to OP: "Him: "No the clientele has changed. Too many Mexicans."

Maybe in California, clientele means something different from customers but that would be anomalous in a putative English-speaking world and I don't believe it for a second.

Now, assuming the 'Mexicans' weren't paying with stolen credit cards or counterfeit greenbacks, it's not even close to being credible that he would shut down a seemingly profitable business because he doesn't cotton to the ethnicity of the folks with the money. I just don't buy the story.

[quickesst]

31. "Illegal immigrants are putting Americans out of work?"

No, only blue-collar workers. It's the Indians putting "Americans" out of work. I thought everyone knew that. Thanks.
quickesst

[tularetom]

13. Wish I could make up something that jaw dropping

I almost didn't make it out the door before busting out laughing. Drove home real fast and posted this before I put the oil in my saw.

An apparently intelligent American actually said this.

[tangent90]

21. Okay, I apologize for doubting you. The guy was obviously pulling your leg.

He probably figured anybody who would go to a hardware store to buy 2 cycle oil would fall for pretty much anything.
:D
:rofl:

[tularetom]

28. I don't know why I'm bothering to explain this to you

Hardware store - 13 miles from my house.

Next nearest place that sells lawn mowers, chain saws, weed eaters etc and oil -37 miles from my house.

I've bought gallons of oil from him over the years.

And as far as his true motives for selling the store I don't know - maybe the business really does suck.

But he told me he wanted to move to Texas to get away from all the Mexicans.

[tangent90]

29. Whatever you say. I believe you. I believe that happened. I really do.

...

[Lost in CT]

2. And he has been handling sharp tools in a business setting?

It's like someone moving to San Franciso to get away from the cold.

[T Wolf]

5. Moron could be thinking that in Texas, they know how to handle "those people" better

than the commies in California.

[Warpy]

7. What an idiot!

Next time, ask him if he's ever been to El Paso and if he knows it's right across the river from Juarez, Mexico.

Suggest Minnesota.

[Horse with no Name]

10. But they have brown people there too

I'm sure that wouldn't be acceptable.

[AndrewP]

15. Brown people scare me! I saw a report on Fox News about them!

Oh shit.....I'm brown.

Should I be scared of myself?

[Horse with no Name]

17. You could be like a republican and simply be self-loathing.

:)

[MindPilot]

19. And ask him if he knows WHY its name is El Paso... n/t

[rateyes]

8. Reminds me of the time I went to a steak place with a friend...

we both ordered salads, and he asked for Italian dressing...says he loves Italian dressing.

When our steaks arrived, after using it myself, I ask him, "Would you like some steak sauce?" He answers, "No, I hate anything with vinegar in it."

[tjwash]

9. Bwhahahahh! Post of the day!

:thumbsup:

[Cyrano]

12. Let me say this about this man

May he never again experience an erection.

May his wife leave him and marry a Mexican.

May he be born a Mexican in his next life (if reincarnation exists).

May his business ventures fail because of his bigotry.

May his progeny forget about his existence.

But on a more realistic note, may he come to experience the pain caused by bigotry. And after that, may he come to understand that hatred is bad for your health.

[EFerrari]

14. LOL!

That's funny.

[tammywammy]

16. ...

[NavyDavy]

18. reminds me of a life long friend of mine we went across the Ohio River to get

some wine and beer and the like, since in Cincinnati you can only get hard liqour at state run sellers, at least at that time, the lady at the store asked him what type of wine he liked and honest to God he said grape flavored, I could see the lady about to lose it but she excused herself and went to the back. He asked me what happened I said most wines are made out of grapes, he was embarrased and hurried up and got what beer and liqour he wanted and waited in the car. I got the Wine, he usually drank boones farm, Mad Dog 20/20, etc. but I taught him after that how to pick a good wine for different occassions......I just thought it was funny.

[tangent90]

22. Ohio has some of the weirdest laws about spirits in the world...but there's nothing written

in stone that says wine has to come from grapes. Actually, most people who claim to like "high class" wine are just snobs who think saying it makes them better than people who like Boone's Farm Strawberry Hill or something similar that actually tastes good. Most expensive wine tastes like dog piss and anybody who says otherwise is an elitist prick.

[Luminous Animal]

23. Woohoo!! I am an elitist prick!

The person who sold you expensive dog piss probably also made his 1st million also selling pet rocks.

[tangent90]

24. Oh, it wasn't just one person...I've had people serve me wine "you'll like THIS one"

for over 40 years and most of it really does taste like dog piss. Don't ask me how I know. :-)

[Greyskye]

25. I'm an elitist prick too!

Man, I learn something new everyday here!

[EFerrari]

26. Boone's Farm isn't wine, it's a malt.

And I'm not an elitist prick because you don't know what wine is.

[Mike 03]

27. LOL.......... OMFG. Amazing.

Tell him business will be even better in La Ciudad Juarez. With all the violence there, chainsaws, duct tape, hammers, you name it, are huge sellers.

[treestar]

30. If they are his customers, then he owes his business to having them

I mean, how dumb. He ought to be a leading advocate of amnety, because deportation would deprive him of a good part of his customer base.

And if he thinks it will be better in El Paso, he doesn't know where it is!

:rofl: