I don't know that I can decide whether the younger generation is getting increasingly stupid or I am just becoming a grumpy old man (or a combination of both).
My place of work has no dedicated lunch room so I like to wander down to the airport terminal on my lunch break (1 hour) and get an espresso to slurp while I read a book or magazine. I have branded thermal cup from my favourite outlet so get 15% off making my coffee $3.60 which is pretty cheap by local standards. That's about where the joy ends lately though.
My 'pet' barrista gals have all left and now noobs abound. One lass gets my change wrong every time. She gets absolutely flumoxed at the idea of the cup size and discount amount and needs to be bailed out each time; I avoid her kiosk. it's just easier.
Today yet another new face greets me. Lovely looking girl and cheerful which is nice. It must be a thankless job really. Hurried travelers mostly who are tired or grumpy or both. She takes my reusable cup and looks me in the eye and asks "do you want your coffee in this or a takeaway cup?". For a period that seemed like 10 seconds I stood dumb struck trying desperately to comprehend what had been said at which time she said it again. All the time my tiny lil brain is ticking over asking why I would bring my own cup and expect a paper one with the beverage in. Anyways, the penny dropped (for me a least) and I said camly and without a hint of sarcasm (not easy given the sitaution and my demeanour) "in my cup thank you".
End result was the correct change and my coffee so all was well but it begs the question - are they getting dumber or am I getting grumpier?
End.