It's just a cup.
It's just a cup.
I don't know how much clearer I can make myself.
As many of you know, Starbucks has gotten a lot of backlash in the past month for many issues surrounding their cups. Now, while the controversy over green cups has mostly blown over (while it still feels silly to even call it controversial), another problem has taken it's place - the Name Game.That's right. I'll say it. While it totally helps us baristas when it comes to figuring out which drink belongs to who, I think a few people have gotten a little drunk on the power.
Recently, a Twitter user by the name of Baked Alaska challenged his followers to go to Starbucks and demand that the name "Trump" be written on their cups. This was in response to a video that showed one man in particular who's barista would not write Trump on his cup, and then proceeded to call the cops on this man. Apparently, as Baked Alaska said in a Periscope video, the point of #TrumpCup is to, "trigger SJW" employees and reminding people of the winner of the 2016 election. "SJW" is short for "social justice warrior," which has recently been used as a way to describe feminists and progressives.
Okay. There are just... so many things wrong with this story. On both sides. First, I'm talking to you, Barista Man. Okay, so the man wanted Trump on his cup? Big deal. What is that gonna harm? He's the one who has to walk around with the name "Trump" on his Starbucks cup. As he pointed out in the video, he contacted corporate and they assured him that he could have any drink with any name on it. So why are you fighting this? You might not agree with him and his views, but who's it gonna help by blowing the situation out of proportion?
I mean, come on.
And to all the "Trumps" coming into my work and smirking at me as you require me to write our Presidential-elect's name on your vent Cotton Candy Frappuccino with extra caramel and whip cream? Okay. That's fine. Whatever, dude, it's your cup. But just think about this for a minute. Unlike that one barista from the video and maybe a handful of others, do you really think I care what name I have to put on your cup? Do you think I'm taking the time to let myself care about that? On any given day, I have a line out the door, 30 drinks to make, and I'm already falling asleep on my feet because I've been awake since 2:45 am. Do you really think you are anything more than a blimp on my radar during my eight hour long shift?
You think this is a protest? What are you protesting? If they haven't already, I am sure Starbucks will release a statement in the next few days, apologizing for the behavior of the barista from the video. I agree, it wasn't professional and the situation was blown out of proportion; that barista let their personal feelings affect their job performance and that's not okay.
But why are you taking it out on me?
Why does any of this ever get taken out on me?
I'm not invited to the corporate meetings every holiday season to decide what the cups are going to look like. I don't decide if your drink prices get raised 10 cents during the holidays. I'm sorry you can't smoke right outside the door to my store, but that's just policy. I can't control any of this, so why are you taking it out on me?
It's just a cup. Put whatever name you want on it. But really, does it matter? Cause you're not protesting anything worth fighting over. Starbucks is not some evil organization that's out to get you. I don't care, so stop trying to make it seem like I do and taking it out on me.
Besides - I get paid either way.
