Thread by @mikamckinnon

Nothing gives me quite as severe East Coast/West Coast culture shock as how vigilantly I need to turn down plastic bags.

Not even the snow or ‘chew the air’ humidity or brick buildings.

“Ah, I see you’re purchasing a single apple, have verbally requested no bags, & are holding an empty reusable bag. Clearly, I shall double-bag that fucker while you pay! You dare remove apple & Fitch bags?! RAAAAGE & pushy insistence that plastic bags are essential accessories.”

Actual verbatim conversation:
“No bags, please.”
“Are you sure? I’ll just bag it, it’s no problem.”
“No thank you, I don’t want a bag.”
“Nah, I’ll bag it just in case.”
“No, please.”
“Here you go! You’ll want the bag.”
*screams internally while unpacking bag*
“Just take the bag!”

Instead of a 5¢ bag tax, are cashiers paid a commission for every bag they use? I honestly don’t understand.

I end up unpacking every fucking bag with the biggest “I’m smiling so I don’t bite” acerbic grin.

(To be fair, the brick buildings do freak me out in a fundamental unease-in-my-soul. It doesn’t take living through many quakes to develop a deep distrust of brick, and I’m not shaking that disquiet.)