Poll of Passive Aggressive Complaining

[trouble]

So, a coffee shop moved in to my beloved tea shop. I miss my tea shop, deeply, but I also like having a place to drink hot drinks that's air conditioned and has tables and stuff, and thus, here I am.

And I got used to being around people who though "Accessibility matters!". I'm really missing that especially right now.

Noting that I've already asked people to stop putting the table out front so it blocks the only way for a wheelchair to get into this building (both this store and the one next door) twice, and both times people have said "Oh, yeah, that's important" and then not moved it until I've said "Look, my husband will be here soon, and he'd like to get in your shop, kk?", I ask this question:

Poll #3406 Wheelchair Accessibility: Is it optional?

Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 60

View Respondents

How many times will I need to ask the coffee shop to stop putting a table in front of the accessible entrance?

View Answers

3
1 (1.7%)

4
1 (1.7%)

5
2 (3.3%)

6-10
1 (1.7%)

11-15
7 (11.7%)

You will stop going before they stop doing that
48 (80.0%)

*sigh*

Comments

[staranise]

What about sidewalk chalk? A bitch to clean, but still effective.

[trouble]

I'd run out of chalk in a week.

....

This is not actually making me think it's a bad idea.

[willow]

Is there day-glo chalk? Because then even at night there'd be some indication of something going on.

The disability version of hobo signs.

Unfriendly. Not a good place to patronize. Not good for wheelchairs. Acoustically problematic.

Hmm, what other types of signs and indicators could there be?

[trouble]

Don's talked about the coffee shop being acoustically a nightmare for him. Neither of us can figure out why because it wasn't so when it was a tea shop.

[willow]

Considering the tea-shop was all about accessibility and comfort for customers - that- might actually be the difference. Many places (especially franchises, though you've said it's not one) actually design their interiors to be subtly unfriendly to customers.

A single individual with a laptop doing work; will drink lots of coffee for oral satisfaction & because 'they're working'. A pair or more of people have each other for company, which might encourage lots of lounging, but not lots of purchasing. They might even buy one item and share it between them.

So they design the place to LOOK just inviting enough, but not be comfortable for long term sitting or conversation so people naturally decide to move on somewhere else.

[scruloose]

...and entirely coincidentally, I just came across this YouTube video of a prank by Improv Everywhere which showcases not only a clever stencil-in-the-bottom-of-a-cardboard-box design (prevents getting overspray all over your shoes), but also spray chalk! Who knew?

Of course, I wouldn't want to be accused of inciting anybody to public mischief or anything. What you do with this knowledge is entirely up to you.

[trouble]

SPRAY CHALK!