I went into a BP station in Wales this weekend...

[Sarah_Jayne]

and when the woman behind the counter heard my accent she called two of her co-workers around and they made a huge deal of apologizing. It was a very strange moment and I told them that on behalf of most American people I didn't hold the three of them personally responsible.

[Hentaikid]

Hilarious.

It's always the modest people who are more responsible and contrite while the psychopaths in higher echelons just keep on truckin' without a concern in the world

[Raf1]

I think that's just weird. Not responsible or anything like that. I guess they're supervisors gave them those directives. What have they got to do with the spill? lol

[CruelMedia]

great story.. there is still hope.. too bad the fuckers upstairs don't give a shit..

[$5 submissions]

That's definitely one palpable reminder that we all carry around several identities at the same time. There's our personal identity--our personality, background, peculiarities, experiences, etc. There's our ascribed identity--what identity others impose or "layer on" top of of us. This could be racial, ethnic, religious, class, etc.

One common thread of ascribed identities is that a member must have similarities to, if not affinities, to a perceived COMMON IDENTITY.

Nothing to do with racism/ethnocentrism (although it can be taken to that extreme), people just think that way. No malice needed. Group identit, group identity ascription, and thinking in such terms probably conferred a cultural evolutionary advantage during our collective evolution, that's why it's fairly common throughout the world.

[Sarah_Jayne]

Originally Posted by Raf1

I think that's just weird. Not responsible or anything like that. I guess they're supervisors gave them those directives. What have they got to do with the spill? lol

According to the one, they have been getting crap from random people that come into the place. I guess they thought as I was American I might do the same thing but that was never going to happen.

[stonehammer]

i guess BP front line employees are the ones actually getting the most crap from the public cause the higher ups are all inaccessable

[Spudman]

where in wales were you?

[Phoenix]

should have asked for a discount

i wonder if they have been instructed to say such things...or it is indeed just them feeling bad

[Agent 488]

why the fuck would you give those monsters your money?

[Sarah_Jayne]

Originally Posted by Agent 488

why the fuck would you give those monsters your money?

We needed fuel on the motorway...they were the only option.

[Sarah_Jayne]

Originally Posted by Spudman

where in wales were you?

We were on our way to visit friends outside Cardiff.

[ArsewithClass]

Originally Posted by Agent 488

why the fuck would you give those monsters your money?

I do not think the garages are monsters if the petrol users are not. However, I have been checking up on where Sainsburys & tescos petrol comes from due to not really wanting to use BP if I can avoid it.

[rogueteens]

The Welsh are a strange bunch

[CamJack]

tell that to this poor guy:

[Sarah_Jayne]

Originally Posted by rogueteens

The Welsh are a strange bunch

Even though a large portion of my ancestry is Welsh (or perhaps because), I can't really argue with that statement.

[Sarah_Jayne]

Originally Posted by geoGUERILLA

tell that to this poor guy:

Which is horrible but not that fault of three middle aged women working at a petrol station in Wales.

[fatfoo]

Originally Posted by geoGUERILLA

tell that to this poor guy:

That is unfortunate. The bird will not survive long covered in oil, probably.

[riddler]

Originally Posted by Sarah_MaxCash

We were on our way to visit friends outside Cardiff.

better watch out for the time rift that runs through cardiff!

[Fletch XXX]

Originally Posted by Sarah_MaxCash

I told them that on behalf of most American people I didn't hold the three of them personally responsible.

no offense but dont speak for us. Speak for yourself, but not "most" Americans. Maybe americans who live across the sea, but you definitely dont speak for us. You are buying and supporting BP, meanwhile Americans here are boycotting it.

[Scott McD]

Originally Posted by Fletch XXX

no offense but dont speak for us. Speak for yourself, but not "most" Americans. Maybe americans who live across the sea, but you definitely dont speak for us. You are buying and supporting BP, meanwhile Americans here are boycotting it.

And can you speak for EVERY American?? I bet not all are boycotting it. Probably even more than you think...

[Fletch XXX]

Originally Posted by Scott McD

And can you speak for EVERY American??

I didnt say I did, but the OP said "on behalf of most Americans." As I said in my post, "speak for yourself."

[Dcat]

Threats to BP chief's family

WASHINGTON
June 9, 2010

THE family of British BP chief Tony Hayward is under police protection because of hate mail and threatening telephone calls.

Mr Hayward's wife Maureen said the mail and calls had made her and her two children feel ''rather uncomfortable'' at their home in Kent.

There has been growing hostility to the company in America in response to the spill, which has so far leaked about 1 million barrels of oil into the Gulf of Mexico.

http://www.theage.com.au/world/threa...0608-xtlm.html

[Scott McD]

Originally Posted by Fletch XXX

I didnt say I did, but the OP said "on behalf of most Americans." As I said in my post, "speak for yourself."

No but Sarah was talking about the 3 workers in the gas station being personally responsible.

I still think she was correct in saying "most americans" as surely nobody holds 3 workers in a gas station responsible for anything? If they do, then what does that say about them ??

[Helix]

FletchXXX, you live there....Is the CNN Gulf spill news being sanitized for public consumption?
I suspect the lasting damage is much worse than they admit.

You NO. residents need to get James Carville in charge of the cleanup....he is a pitbull and has a vested interest in seeing the cleanup being done properly. He won't let anybody push him around.

[Agent 488]

little old ladies at gas bars piss me off sorry.

[sortie]

Irony is that we actually need to keep buying from BP so they will have the money
to clean up the spill.

[_Richard_]

social conditioning at its best

[J. Falcon]

That had to be an awkward moment.

[Amputate Your Head]

Originally Posted by $5 submissions

That's definitely one palpable reminder that we all carry around several identities at the same time. There's our personal identity--our personality, background, peculiarities, experiences, etc. There's our ascribed identity--what identity others impose or "layer on" top of of us. This could be racial, ethnic, religious, class, etc.

One common thread of ascribed identities is that a member must have similarities to, if not affinities, to a perceived COMMON IDENTITY.

Nothing to do with racism/ethnocentrism (although it can be taken to that extreme), people just think that way. No malice needed. Group identit, group identity ascription, and thinking in such terms probably conferred a cultural evolutionary advantage during our collective evolution, that's why it's fairly common throughout the world.

Interesting observation.

[Fletch XXX]

Originally Posted by Scott McD

No but Sarah was talking about the 3 workers in the gas station being personally responsible.

I still think she was correct in saying "most americans" as surely nobody holds 3 workers in a gas station responsible for anything? If they do, they what does that say about them ??

First off this is a dumb argument, no one holds these 3 idiot gas station workers "personally responsible"

Secondly, I am not going to argue about this, As someone who's family is very affected by this, we are boycotting BP. When you cross the picketline you get shouted at.

[roly]

Originally Posted by Fletch XXX

no offense but dont speak for us. Speak for yourself, but not "most" Americans. Maybe americans who live across the sea, but you definitely dont speak for us. You are buying and supporting BP, meanwhile Americans here are boycotting it.

and if your boycot brings down bp, you can all pay the compensation and cleanup costs from your tax revenue. bp also employs 22,000 people in the US. bp is no worse that any other oil company.

[Fletch XXX]

Originally Posted by roly

and if your boycot brings down bp, you can all pay the compensation and cleanup costs from your tax revenue. bp also employs 22,000 people in the US. bp is no worse that any other oil company.

Oh dont think I dont realize a boycott wont really harm them, but at some point we must stand by our own opinions. BP chose to not install safety valves that wouldve stopped this from occuring, Shell voluntarily installs them on all rigs. To say they are all the same is a bit on naive side. Over 24 people in my family are out of work at this time with no work coming, their indutry shut down, their businesses completely stopped because of BP negligence, I think I side with them and not buy gas from BP tyvm. When you guys are affected like we are, come talk to me.

Anyhow, as I said, not here to argue, just saw a thread about someone actually going inside a BP and thought it needed a bit of Louisianas opinion in it.

Come ask Louisianans how they feel about BP, LOL

[Scott McD]

Originally Posted by Fletch XXX

Secondly, I am not going to argue about this, As someone who's family is very affected by this, we are boycotting BP.

For the record, so am i...

[leedsfan]

Originally Posted by Fletch XXX

no one holds these 3 idiot gas station workers "personally responsible"

except you apparently, or you wouldn't be calling them idiots. They are just doing their job like you do yours hombre.

And yes I am boycotting BP too.

[Sarah_Jayne]

Originally Posted by Fletch XXX

no offense but dont speak for us. Speak for yourself, but not "most" Americans. Maybe americans who live across the sea, but you definitely dont speak for us. You are buying and supporting BP, meanwhile Americans here are boycotting it.

I said most and yeah fine I understand your view. Especially with how close you are to it but you honestly think those three workers had anything to do with what is going on? No more so than anybody that works for a company that has been involved in anything that has damaged the planet. Are they suppose to quit their jobs in a less then well off part of the country because of something their bosses are responsible for having done?

Whilst BP ownership isn't very British these days, it is a bit difficult on the motorway to fill up anywhere other than a BP station here. So, yeah, we had to use them this one time.

[Sarah_Jayne]

Originally Posted by riddler

better watch out for the time rift that runs through cardiff!

I have been outside of the building numerous times. They just announced Torchwood is coming back but it will be in global locations not just Cardiff. Apparently, the USA is going to be used often.

[Tom_PM]

I think it was nice of them to put a personal face on it and feel it personally. It helps restore faith that people are inherently good in nature.

[naughtylaura]

Originally Posted by rogueteens

The Welsh are a strange bunch

HEY!! I'm Welsh... I'm not THAT strange lol xx

[rogueteens]

what a load of crap, most americans would not be able to even point out Wales on a map.

How many of you have boycotted other oil companies when their well's spring leaks in other countries?

FFS you even voted in someone who went to war for oil.

[leedsfan]

Originally Posted by Jesus H Christ

See it here the kicker about that. The BP employees have no problem apologizing for what happened and if it were me I'd fill up there as often as I could because they're working to support they're families and straight up about the matter.

What gets me is it took weeks for the CEO of BP to apologize and that is after the company tried to blame everyone else first. Meaning, their last option was to apologize and it fell on deaf ears because they then reveal the true amount of the oil leak that was 80% more.

They say American people have no culture and in truth, it is the exact opposite. If you tell us the truth we are the first to roll-up our sleeves and get busy solving the problem with you even if it was an oil spill somewhere in the UK.

I agree with you that they took a stupidly long time to apologize. For that the CEO should have been fired weeks ago. That his family has received death threats is stupid. It's not his family's fault, just the CEO. But I guess cowards act like that don't they, and target the weak?

By the way culture and morale courage are two different things. I agree 100% that most average Americans would man up and go anywhere to clean up their mess. However the Exxon Valdez (read: US corporation based out of Irving, Texas) spilled its shit everywhere and how many Americans volunteered to clean it the mess? I'm not pointing fingers because it's not average citizens faults on either side. It's the fucking corporation which no longer answers to any government because they are more powerful than any government these days. It's that simple.

Oil companies have no moral compass. They exist to exploit natural resources, and make massive profits whatever the environmental impact. They only reason they have done anything to improve their safety and lessen their environmental impact is because people are not letting them get away with what they used to.

Fuck big oil and do what you can to fuck with their business. That means walk when you can, ride your bike when you can, don't buy water in bottles (plastic) but use a filter, use mass transit when travelling longer distances, car pool, take reusable bags to do your groceries, eat in don't take out (lots of plastic waste).

Here is something worth reading

[ErectMedia]

as soon as they started apologizing I would have grabbed a slurpee and a bag a chips and said "now were even bitches" and ran out

[leedsfan]

Originally Posted by ErectMedia

as soon as they started apologizing I would have grabbed a slurpee and a bag a chips and said "now were even bitches" and ran out

that would be funny if it wasn't retarded

[ArsewithClass]

Originally Posted by rogueteens

what a load of crap, most americans would not be able to even point out Wales on a map.

How many of you have boycotted other oil companies when their well's spring leaks in other countries?

FFS you even voted in someone who went to war for oil.

OMG Rogue, your quite right. Both the UK & the USA went to war over oil. We have lost many humans of which there is millions of gallons by the USA already.

This is quite disgusting of us all. Kind of kalma to mankind. Look at the damage we are doing & what we have done.

[$5 submissions]

Originally Posted by Amputate Your Head

Interesting observation.

Yep. One common example of ascribed identities is when people think that a supposed member (because he/she has physical/behavioral characteristics ascribed to the group) of a group is thought of as an "ambassador" for that group. As if everyone from the group gets some sort of collective memo as to what to say or think about a particular issue Again, this happens everywhere. I've been to the Americas, Europe, and Asia and almost all people, regardless of country, think this way. I think it's rooted in humanity's cultural evolution and also serves a 'practical' purpose since it reduces transaction costs when making decisions. The disadvantage is it might deny the individuality of personal identity.

[Scott McD]

Originally Posted by rogueteens

FFS you even voted in someone who went to war for oil.

That's actually a very good point sir!

what a load of crap, most americans would not be able to even point out Wales on a map.

Or Spain, or Italy, or France, or Turkey, or China..........

[Sarah_Jayne]

Originally Posted by ErectMedia

as soon as they started apologizing I would have grabbed a slurpee and a bag a chips and said "now were even bitches" and ran out

First flaw in that plan is the lack of Slurpees available in the UK.

[Waiter]

Originally Posted by naughtylaura

HEY!! I'm Welsh... I'm not THAT strange lol xx

yeah ... your avatar explains everything

[rogueteens]

Originally Posted by Sarah_MaxCash

I have been outside of the building numerous times. They just announced Torchwood is coming back but it will be in global locations not just Cardiff. Apparently, the USA is going to be used often.

FUCK! FUCK! FUCK! I just looked it up and you are right, not only are they going to be globe-trotting, Its going to be partly made with a US company. Great, another top series gone. Its going to be dumbed down and sterile now.

[Sarah_Jayne]

I'll give it a chance because the last mini-series they did totally raised the bar of the show. It is moved to being 'global' mostly because Russell T. Davies is in the States now, I think.