Kids in Subway -- what to do

Well if it’s in the store then surely it’s up to staff to monitor what’s going on so I would do nothing but get on with my business.

Oh that’s funny, I get it now, the user name is Karen.

Sago

Oh that’s funny, I get it now, the user name is Karen.

Please don’t use the name Karen in the way it is popularly used these days - as an insult for assertive ladies of a certain age. It is targeted at our age group in particular as Karen was one of the most popular names for baby girls born between 1955-1975. It is not my name but I have known many girls and women called Karen over the years and it is very unpleasant for them.

Sago

Oh that’s funny, I get it now, the user name is Karen.

You are incredibly cynical!

dragonfly46

Sago

Oh that’s funny, I get it now, the user name is Karen.

You are incredibly cynical!

I am yes!

When I call out a dodgy thread (and I’m often the first to put my head above the parapet) I am usually correct.

Some places offer free refills.

It's worth emphasizing that these were bottles that mouths had been on coming into contact with dispensers. We're not in the COVID era any more, but there are plenty of other germs.

It's also worth noting that only people who are not very clever go for low-hanging fruit...like names.

I think I'd speak to the manager and suggest a thorough cleaning of the dispenser...

Not at all nice. 😕

I hate the use of the name Karen as pejorative term too, especially as there appears to be no male equivalent.

It also smacks of the 'women know your place,' and 'quiet piggy' kind of misogyny that some men and even women go in for.

Are you an American in the UK or in the USA? Anyway this could just as easily happened in Subway in the UK.

I would probably have said something to the boys and also to the staff in case they were missing what was going on.

I would have left it to the staff after bringing it to their attention.
Their business.

I do a bit of volunteering in a primary school and used to take my water bottle with me to fill at one of the water fountains dotted along the corridors. Not since I saw a Year 6 drinking with his mouth round the nozzle though. Now I’m sure they all know full well not to do that, and I did have a word. But I fill it from my own tap now before I set off!

I never have ice, ever! But now I won’t be having any juice either 😩

I'm an American in the UK. In the U.S., if there were an adult employee present, I would tell that person. The adult would throw them out. If they refused to leave or caused damage, the police would be called. At least in my area of the country, which is not California. When I told the young man behind the counter, he said he couldn't do anything about it because they were under 16.

It’s a very sad state of affairs but, sadly, these days if you were to say something you could be subjected to a spate of abuse or worse. Unfortunately it’s probably best if we hold our tongues .