Contemplations of mankind.

Curiosity. Inquisitiveness.

These words are often bandied about as virtues of humanity. Were it not for our innate curiosity, we would not have the use of our technology. Were it not for inquisitiveness, would we know as much about our planet and universe as we do? And yet it is also presented as a burden. Virtually anyone can spout chapter and verse the sins of needing to know, understand, understand, to experience, but it always carries the subtext of cleverness. Someone knows too much. Someone is thinking more than they should. And thus is a back-handed curse. I may have read the eldritch tome, speaking the profane passages, thereby ripping the fabric of reality asunder and dooming everyone to a nightmarish apocalypse BUT no one can refute that I am a bloody fucking genius. Any clod can scoop up a rock and stave in the brains of some odd lifeform attempting to make first contact thereby plunging the planet into a war it has no chance of surviving. It takes true cunning and talent to solve a puzzle box that unlocks hell. Takes some of the sting out, it's not a total loss.

Of course, the unspoken moral is that people are better off not being too intelligent. A distrust of those who have too firm a grasp of a wide variety of topics. A nervousness of someone who engages in discovering just how many threads hold the nuts and bolts of matter together. Who knows, perhaps that person's next action is to see just how many of those nuts their new wrench will fit. Curiosity is only appropriate in limited circumstances, under the proper supervision. It is a lesson taken enthusiastically to heart in my observation, every generation aiming lower and lower so as not to stand out from the rest.

Fascinating.

So what in the name of Persephone's Pulpy Pomegranate is my point?

Because customers invariably seem to think that asking me questions makes them sound intelligent. Doesn't matter what the question is, nine times out of ten, their features will contort into what they seem to feel is as aspect of profound cogitation as soon as their question is uttered. Granted, some of these mouth-breathers are just looking to somehow embarrass or mock me with their questions. Some people have other agendas. These that I speak of are not people looking for a particular product. These are not people attempting to refine their understanding about some aspect of our merchandise; they want to feel superior to something/someone.

For example, the store keeps a wall affixed with photos of people who are not allowed upon the premises. It is not positioned where it is easily observed by customers while at the same time, being near at hand for the staff to refer to. One would think the purpose of the posted pictures would be readily apparent. Since I've yet to have anyone ask about them without including the concept in the same question, I am inclined to say it truly is. Of course, they never stop with getting their meaningless validation of their lackluster powers of observation. Why yes, those would be people not allowed in the store. You're so clever. What?! You want a tummy rub or something?! Shut the fuck up and don't piddle on the floor. Nope, their question was only their subtle way of broaching the topic.

They want to know what these people did to get banned.

It doesn't take any imagination at all to know that they did things that were not allowed in the store. Why does it matter? Trying to determine what you can get away with? There is no reason at all to ask unless they're just fishing for some lurid stories of misbehavior. Reality TV lite. It's also not unusual for these people to ask if they can get a closer look at the pictures.

I take a dim view of this. I have better things to do than recite the litany of what every single person photographed did to be kicked out. I certainly don't need patrons slipping behind the counter to goggle at the faces captured. This is just the newest incarnation of the crowds that used to gather to watch a hanging or beheading. Such things just aren't done anymore in this society, so they slow down to peer at accidents, huddle around the TV to watch high drama reality, and apparently point and laugh at those so aberrant as to get thrown out of a porn store.

How churlish I am to refuse their hunger for details. They're "only curious" after all. How dare I prick their bubble of superiority. What cheek that my terse replies cast their own phlegmatic mental processes into the spotlight. Damn me, can't I see it's rude to demonstrate how pedantically stupid their inquiries are?!

It's amazing how quickly their vocabulary acquires "them really big words" like mushrooms sprouting around a middens on their way out of the store.

Way to go guys. You sure put me in my place.