I used to be a people person

It's amazing how a single job can turn you from a people person into a don't-speak-to-me-or-I'll-kill-you kind of person. In a very short time, I've managed to go from somebody who loves social interaction with strangers to someone who would much rather hide at home and only communicate with those people who have already proven they are awesome. And all because of a job where I have to interact with strangers on a daily basis, and deal with every little irritation with a smile on my face as if it doesn't bother me at all.

Many of us have jobs like this. Many of us are forced to pretend things are fine, even though really we'd rather remove each and every person who has ever annoyed us from the workplace. People who have had jobs like this, I'm sure you know what I'm talking about. (People who haven't, damn you lucky sods.) It's those people that seem like they are intent on making your day difficult, whether they are actually trying or not.

It's the people who blithely ignore any and all signs that explain something, then complain when what they're doing - which just happens to be what the signs are FOR - isn't working. More often than not, it's working fine, and a tiny bit of reading on the enormous screen right in front of them could have prevented whatever problem they're having.

It's the people who either refuse to acknowledge you, making you feel as if you're talking to a wall, or act affronted if you dare to speak to them. Apparently some people believe that if they didn't specifically say anything to you, you are not allowed to say anything to them, and to do otherwise is unexpected and shocking. It's as if they think a human-shaped computer has suddenly become sentient, and it's insulting to them. (Oh, there's an idea. Can I bring Skynet to work with me?)

It's those people who think you are out to get them, even though you are only doing your job. In some cases, you're following the law. I don't care who you are, if I have to break the law to make you happy, you can stuff it. Go make somebody else's day a nightmare, I've had enough now.

There are more, oh so many more, examples. But I'm ranting again, and I've discovered that extended ranting doesn't help any more than a single rant does in de-stressing myself. To everyone who has had to deal with people like this and more, you have my sympathy, my empathy, and my hope that neither of us will be in this position much longer. To those who have not had to work under such conditions... Any vacancies where you work?