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Trip to the Post Office.

Roy

Had a parcel to post yesterday and had to go to a town about 5 miles away for other reasons as well. Went into the Post Office with my parcel, it’s a small Post Office with only one counter. I approached the counter with said parcel and the man behind the counter said, “ we don’t take parcels on hot afternoons.” I said sorry and started to go out the door. He then shouted out “ sorry I was joking, couldn’t you tell!” My wife was with me and surprised that I couldn’t tell it was a joke. The Post Master had even kept a straight face, I explained to my wife who was with me that I don’t get jokes and couldn’t read his face, how the hell am I supposed to navigate this strange world. It actually ruined the rest of my day. My house was supposed to go live on the on the internet yesterday with estate agents, I was told it would be 9am, 24 hours later and nothing, if someone gives a time then they should stick to it. I can’t function with events being moved. Does anyone else find dealing with any service provider exhausting?

  • To be honest, I'm more concerned about the ongoing Royal Mail Strike inhibiting the transfer of post from Britain to Northern Ireland. The only letter I got, across the Irish Sea, since June was a TV Licence renewal letter.

  • It's difficult but try not to let such an incident ruin your day. The Post Master would not have known you were autistic by looking at you and the comment was without malice.

    Many autistic people have had experiences where others have identified that they were naive or gullible and used this for there own amusement. I know this happened to me a lot in secondary school and to some extent in the workplace. I think these experiences impact the way something like this affects us.

    I get totally lost if something doesn't happen like I expect it to. I think in that situation I would have just stood there at the counter, completely mute and not knowing what to do and say next. 

    I too absolutely hate it and can't process it when dealing with service providers and they don't do what they say they will. Sometimes I feel like it's my full time job. Just as you think you've finally got them to resolve something, they'll send out another incorrect bill the next month and the whole process starts over again. My latest electricity bill has been cancelled and reissued 7 times and counting. Trying to get them to correct it is exhausting and frustrating. Then I've just received a broadbill bill this morning and that is wrong Weary

  • I suoer relate to your podt. This is the sott of thing that wouls get to me and have me obsessinh over and ovrr for days after. I find it extremeky tiring after. Be kind to your self and remenber that its ok. Safly people rareky stick to a time table ecen though that they should. It botgera me too when they dont.

  • yes. very. and when you reciprocate / copy it you get suspended, arrested or ostracised. 

  • It is the feeling stupid, for a moment you are the child in school again who had tricks played on them because the pack knew  you would fall for it. I very nearly blurted out to the Post Master that I’m autistic just to  let him know how it feels to look stupid and watch him squirm.

  • I can see why this would impact your day. Not a nice feeling. It’s the sort of thing I’d keep reliving all day. I find it helpful to remember that even though I think of these sort of events often, others probably won’t remember. 

    In terms of providers not sticking to timings, I find this infuriating. Agreed timings are really important to me, so when someone doesn’t meet their end, it feels like a betrayal of some sort. Perhaps that’s not the right word, but I’m not managing to find a better one to fit currently. People do need to stick to what they say though, otherwise there is no point saying it in the first place. Just a waste of everyone’s time.

  • This has happened to me a lot. I just can’t tell when it’s a joke. I feel daft afterwards but I try not to let it get me down. Also dealing with service providers is exhausting as you say. Keep going and all the best.

  • This sounds like just the kind of thing I would find difficult too and keep going over. It makes you feel like a fool as a grown adult!!  In the past I've told jokes with a straight face and people haven't picked up I was joking...my delivery is the problem. My partner often jokes but I don't pick up on it...(apparently). My interpretation is the problem. We just can't win! With this in mind I'm practising trying to let things go over my head a bit more now because otherwise it's too much hard work. The post person will have seen other customers that day and probably doesn't remember what happened. I too get frustrated when things aren't kept to time. I place a lot of pressure on myself to keep correct time (and more often than not, failing at this) and so I expect everyone else to do the same. But this is unrealistic.  Anyway I could really relate to your post.