Page 66 - The Religion Of The Ignorant

THE RELIGION OF THE IGNORANT

2- When a wealthy person arrives, people's movements are
quick and careful. Everyone is at great pains to ensure that every-
thing is as that person would wish, to fulfill his every desire, and
make sure that nothing untoward happens. When a poor person ar-
rives, nobody generally bothers at all. Everyone behaves calmly,
slowly and disinterestedly. When a wealthy person enters, every-
one stands up, dusts himself off and pays attention to how he sits
back down. Nobody stands for poor people, however, nor even
glances in their direction, and nobody alters the position they're sit-
ting in.
3- Unlike poor people, the wealthy are generally addressed in
very polite, formal language. A rich person entering a shop will be
asked "How may I be of service?" in a very respectful manner, how-
ever a poor person will be addressed in a humiliating tone and will
be asked "What do you want?"
4- Wealthy people are paid the most careful respect. Even if
quite young, they will still be treated with the respect normally due
someone much older. People even give their seats up to very young
individuals, and kiss their hands if they are in a country where such
a custom applies. However, even if a poor person is quite elderly, he
will still be treated like a child, and be addressed with expressions
more appropriate to children, such as "And how are we today?",
"you tell me now, what do you want?"
The way this discrimination is reflected in people's behavior
can be clearly observed even when entering shops. As soon as
wealthy regular customers enter a boutique, all the staff will head
towards them. They'll be greeted with smiles, and be asked what
they'd like. Whatever they ask for will quickly be placed before
them. More will be brought out for inspection before the first have
even been examined. The staff will have permanent smiles on their

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