Moving

In the real world, not on this blog, I put a lot of store in empathy.  I try to respect other people's troubles, including those of strangers, who occasionally feel a strong need to share because I've said something friendly at a cash register or in a queue.

But when I'm dealing with a business owner who's sold me a contract to come move my goods, and calls me late the night before to complain about how his company has booked more moves today than he's comfortable managing, and wants to grill me on how much stuff I want moved ... well, that's just stress I don't need.  However, since I worked my summers during university moving furniture and taking occasional moving jobs, I have a very good sense of how to pack and how long it takes to move me.  Plus I have a lot of respect for movers, and their troubles, having many times shown up at a job to find that nothing is packed, nothing whatsoever.  I understand the owner's concerns.  And it is the last day of the month, after all.

Yet, and I haven't said this to the man — his business troubles are not my business troubles.  His time concerns and ability to keep his commitments are also not my problem.  I'm only concerned with his commitment to ME ... and I don't have a lot of appreciation for anyone in business who doesn't understand this.

Of late, almost dating from the origin of Covid, I've noticed an increase in business-persons moving towards this odd stance where my having the money and their getting it doesn't seem to register.  This came up quite a bit while trying to locate new living space, with landlords making frankly illegal stipulations and requests regarding my proposed contributions to their coffers.  One suggested that I should give them a screenshot of my online bank account page, to "prove" I had the money to pay rent.  I think most of us can see exactly why that's a criminal request — and why someone would have to be a fucking idiot to comply.

But ... as I take a moment to rest from packing, on this day when four hours from now the movers better be here to get me into my nicer place, I've chosen to write this.  I'm actually fairly calm ... given that I have roofers just eight feet over my head re-tarring the roof as I write this.  I am guessing my erstwhile landlord decided better us — who are on our way out — than the new tenants, if he has them (no one has been around to see this apartment).  Who knows.  I'm just glad to be going.

To remind the gentle reader:  I'm off line until Friday, except for my phone.  It's too difficult to write this many words on my phone, however, and like a treant, it's not worth saying something unless I can take a long time to say it.  I'll be able to confirm comments and write short ones, however, so rest assured I'll still hear anyone who speaks.

Oh, I should probably add, vis a vis people who want something they're not entitled to receive: if you're a DM and a player goes on quite a bit about their troubles dealing with the rules ... remember that the rules are there to make it difficult; it's not our responsibility to make things easier for players who find "difficult" an insurpassable obstacle.

Just makes me cry.