I, Anonymous Gross and Grocer

Steven Weissman

Dear Grocery Store Employee and Random Accomplice: I don't usually do this, because I know how much it sucks to work retail, but you really crossed the line. I heard you from nearly a block away screaming at a man who had shoplifted. I then saw you take beer from his bag and call him a piece of shit. And I saw a random stranger help you and also call the guy a piece of shit. Random guy: Do you get off on administering justice to poor people who shoplift approximately $10 worth of merch? To me, that's punching down and indicates poor character. To the employee: I realize folks shouldn't shoplift and that grocery stores have strict no stealing policies (which encourage race- and class-based profiling, BTW), but you don't need to forcibly search a man's bag and scream at him, even if he screamed back at you. Furthermore, people generally don't steal beer if their life is going great. I was too scared to confront you—many women have learned to stay far away from men who scream. You both honestly make me scared to go to the store, even though I don't steal things.

—Anonymous

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