For some reason, human beings seem inclined to level criticism by the shovelful while apportioning praise and plaudits by the thimbleful. We seem genetically predisposed to put more stock into negativity than we are to believe the best of others. We consider compliments to be based on insincerity or ulterior motives.
Even our television viewing preferences gravitate toward gratuitous depictions of misbehavior and depravity.
We consider unwatchable any movie or television show portraying kindness and humanity. That grim indictment of humanity is, by virtue of its own unflattering characterization, itself an example of misanthropic pathos.
In the spirit of John , I will cast the first stone at myself. For years, I heard about a humble little sandwich shop in which customer service was said to be more than a slogan; it was a way of doing business. Instead of embracing this supposed people-pleasing panacea, my first inclination was skepticism and a willingness to lump the Oak Tree Cafe with any number of other eateries which provide good service, albeit with transparent insincerity. Though typically not unpleasant, this type of service is still rather impersonal and unmemorable.
Unfortunately, as feedback to this blog will attest, for some restaurants, harmless would be a vast improvement. This type of service is characterized by a haughty disregard for the axiom that the customer is always right. It really is too easy to be cynical about a restaurant which has made its reputation not only because of its great sandwiches, but because of its genuinely warm, personable and attentive service.
