Today I went to the deli department of a supermarket that I frequent.

[MIButterfly]

I go there quite often and chat with some of the workers while I'm there. I mentioned that I had just come from my uncle's 91st birthday dinner and the woman waiting on me said "Just don't let him get the COVID shot." I was taken aback; I couldn't think of a single response so I said nothing. She said it three times. FFS, I just wanted some lunch meat and cheese so I can have sandwiches the next few days. I still don't know what to make of it. The deli counter is dispensing medical advice along with the salami now?

I know my aunt and uncle have been vaccinated (as have I) but wouldn't that be up to his doctor and not the deli lady? I can just see the ads now: "Ask at the deli counter if the COVID shot is right for you." These are some strange times we live in.

I'm not sure if this is the right forum. Let me know if it isn't.

[ret5hd]

1. "yeah, i think old people should just die...

how old are you again?”

[niyad]

2. Her remark was completely inappropriate and unprofessional.

[ratchiweenie]

63. Yes. It was completely inappropriate and unprofessional and I would have told the store manager that the person was

dispensing medical advice along with the deli meats. What she is doing is dangerous.

[vapor2]

3. Joni's comment is simply callous

Last edited Thu Jun 5, 2025, 12:14 AM - Edit history (1)

[Silent Type]

4. I think some folks perceive a day or two of feeling a bit ill is proof it's bad for us.

I’m still getting all my vaxes, but the last time I got 3 at once. For two days I could not move my arms for pain in muscles injected, and I felt like I had flu, didn’t eat for a few days.

Spacing them out next time. I did lose a couple of pounds.

[KentuckyWoman]

10. For me personally

Even one at a time makes my whole shoulder and upper arm hurt SO bad. The nurse said try doing something that uses a lot of movement after the shot. Sounded dumb to me but it actually did help some. Not all, but some.

[3auld6phart]

34. All

6 shots, no problem…. 89 h years old… bit tender where Th shot was given for about+ - hrs….about the same for all 6 shots. I have heard some people do not like them, but I really think sometimes it is mind over matter.:do

[alfredo]

114. I massage my arm right after an injection.

I use it normally after that.

[canetoad]

23. I don't know if we get the same vax

As the USA, but my friend felt quite unwell the day after a recent covid shot. She'd been warned by the nurse to expect this, so maybe it's a feature of this winter's version of the vax. It lasted a few hours, then she was right as rain btw.

[IbogaProject]

59. Only one I really felt was second origional one

That was expected as it was a repeat on top of existing fresh vaccine derived immunity.

[SheltieLover]

5. Covidiot.

[niyad]

17. Thank you for the reminder!

[flvegan]

6. I'll bet working with her for 8 hours a day in close quarters is a treat. n/t

[John1956PA]

7. For six months last year, I worked in a supermarket serving hot foods.

I liked chatting with the customers. A few of them volunteered anecdotes regarding COVID shots. I never offered my opinion on the shots.

[Tesha]

8. Oh, she needs to stfu!

about medical advice she got from FOX

Leet the manager know they need to have a conversation with this persn

[Lifeafter70]

46. I work in a grocery store

Customer always ask advice on vitamins. We are not allowed to even comment on them. It's a big no no when it comes to medical advice.

Not a doctor and I don't play one on isle 3.

[KentuckyWoman]

9. It is a crazy world.

I told a server to please ask the kitchen not to add more salt to anything. She answered by launching into a full 5 minute diatribe about how she did her research and I should have more salt not less.

Thank you Dr. Dumbass.

[MIButterfly]

11. I'm sorry but that made me laugh out loud.

She actually told you she did her research and you should have more salt and not less? How the hell would she know how much salt you need? OMG, the arrogance of some people. And "Dr. Dumbass" made me laugh too.

Is it wrong to laugh at that?

[niyad]

16. of course it is not wrong.

[KentuckyWoman]

121. To be fair

I stole Dr Dumbass from a nephew did not call her that to her face.

We did end up leaving instead of ordering. I told the manager I can't trust their food.

[Boomerproud]

50. I would have walked out.

Plenty other places to eat.

[womanofthehills]

115. Why walk out? We don't have to react to everything someone says

So say the zen masters

[Conjuay]

61. Waitress and Dietitian?

Ask if she gets two paychecks.

[misanthrope]

97. I would expect if the server's manager heard that

they would have pulled her away and admonished her. She was very unprofessional.

[subterranean]

101. "Research" -- in other words, she watched some YouTube videos

[NoRethugFriends]

12. Okay

Why wouldn't you just tell the guy that he's full of it. And that you don't want to hear his opinions and to just do his job in the deli.

[niyad]

14. First of all, it was a woman. Second, perhaps ignoring them in some cases works

best, since some of the covidiots, magats, qanon, etc., thrive on confrontation.

[MIButterfly]

19. Because I didn't know what to say. Because I'm non-confrontational.

Because I don't argue with working people, however misguided their opinions may be. I know that I can't control what other people say or do; I can only control how I react to it.

And why are you attacking me?

By the way, I said woman and she several times; why do you respond with guy and his?

[Chemical Bill]

31. I would never confront someone who may take it out on my food.

I would call the manager from home.

[MIButterfly]

33. Right you are.

I waited tables for 24 years and the stories I could tell about what can happen to your food if you make your server mad. I never did anything myself, but I sure heard a lot.

[fujiyamasan]

98. You did the right thing

Arguing with some random idiot is a waste of time.

You were smart to not try to piss off a person preparing or handling your food in any way, especially deli meats which you aren’t likely to cook anyways (at least if it’s cooked it may kill any bacteria or other contaminants).

[MIButterfly]

100. Thank you.

"Arguing with some random idiot is a waste of time" is exactly right. I wish I would have thought of that. I just didn't know what to say, so I said nothing. I certainly don't want to get into a debate at the deli counter! I just wanted my lunch meat.

[fujiyamasan]

102. Yes, you went to the store to buy some lunch meat

For yourself and your family, not to get into an argument with a moron.

Well at least hope it was good quality for having to put up with that nonsense!

[sl8]

13. It's so sad that experienced MDs now have to moonlight at the deli counter.

Seriously, though, that warrants a talk with or letter to the management.

Find out if they approve of their employees giving unasked for commentary on their customer's personal lives, especially when it happens to be dangerously ignorant medical advice.

[niyad]

15. So very sad, indeed.

[littlemissmartypants]

25. What a great retort! ...

"Isn't it sad that licensed medical doctors like yourself now have to work at the deli counter because you can't make any money practicing medicine?"

I would have been tempted to add...

"Is that why you need people to get sick with Covid to make more money?"

Then I'd walk away without waiting for a response and leave her wondering which one of the two of us was the stupidest.

[sl8]

27. Thanks. Unfortunately, I never think of these things in the moment. nt

[littlemissmartypants]

36. Next time. ❤️👍

[Chemical Bill]

30. I agree about talking to management.

I would mention that someone who doubts modern medical advancement might start doubting the reasoning behind washing their hands, or perhaps they might use the same gloves to handle your food after handling raw meat. I would especially wonder if this person would spit in the food of people with differing political opinions. I would not let this person handle my food.

[sl8]

32. Agreed.

I can easily imagine that her "research" sources (I'm looking at you, Facebook) have convinced her that germ theory is complete bunk. Heck, for all we know, she may think that she's giving her customers' immune systems a boost by providing them with a sample of her e. coli along with their lunch meat.

[3catwoman3]

109. Excellent point.

[Skittles]

18. "I take my advice from doctors, not right wing quacks"

it's not that hard

[sl8]

20. Now I'm wondering if this deli worker thinks that washing her hands is an unnecessary prophylactic measure. nt

[elleng]

21. I would have said: 'Why do you say that? Have you had experience with the covid shot?

Are you a doctor?'

[relayerbob]

22. Personally, I would've walked out

Possibly stopping to tell the manager of what happened and why I would be frequenting other supermarkets on the way out

[krkaufman]

38. Tough one

But, yeah, I’d have a tough time not asking the manager about it. I’ve had enough of this ignorance unchecked.

[videohead5]

24. They read the crap on the web

And believe it. I just don't understand how people can be so easily fooled.

[littlemissmartypants]

26. I had a boss that frequently claimed that the masses are asses. ...

I now believe that he was completely right.

[markodochartaigh]

47. Isn't this one of the great questions of the 18th century,

whether the hoi-polloi are able to govern ourselves?
In my opinion the general population, even with aggregate intelligence accounted for, may not be intelligent enough to govern a country. But the 1% certainly are a worse option; not necessarily more intelligent, but almost always unfit due to greed.

[Traildogbob]

81. They Can't read

They listen to it on Fucks TV.
When 3,000 a day were dying and stacked 6 deep in freezer trucks they were praying for shots and cheering Nurses and Doctors. Then after trump, Fucks, and GQP got their message out, medical people had to be escorted to their cars after shifts and told never wear scrubs out in public.
My daughter included.
Let em die, no fucks left here for a single one of them. Burn em in massive open pits while we bring back the cheering. And make damn Sure their fucking red hats are in there too.
I know, I need to turn in my WOKE Liberal ID and climb up on that High Road.

[Wounded Bear]

28. "Oh, you're assuming he's as stupid as you are, then?"

[Warpy]

29. Practice your frostiest "Excuse me?"

and if a person is stupid enough to think you didn't hear them, just as them why they think this is ANY of their business.

Works for me, but I'm in no mood to be polite to ignorant ninnies with no personal boundaries who are doing the Republican Party's work of trying to kill other people so billionaires can pay lower taxes.

[H2O Man]

35. Wait!!!!!

Were you getting prescriptions filled at the deli?

One of the reasons I try to do my monthly shopping when very few people are there at night. And that is because it reduces my chances of encountering someone like that.

Recommended.

[Laha]

37. Speak to a manager

And inform them that by her comments the employee was intruding on sensitive personal medical discussions. Don't need to get specific or political. She has no right to stick her nose in there no matter what the subject.

[Grammy23]

39. A long, long time ago ...

In the late 1950s - early 1960s, my family was going on vacation to Mexico. It was an extended trip of about 3 weeks. At that time, it was recommended to anyone going there for any length of time to get a typhoid shot. So my mom took my sister and me to the local health department where we got our typhoid shots. If I rummaged through some of my late mom’s old papers, I bet I could find the yellow card documenting that I did receive the shot. And I’m 76 years old now.

How well I remember how sick my sister and I were. We ran fever, felt awful (enough to stay in bed) and the injection site was fiery red, swollen and hurt like mad. We were like that for a couple of days and then recovered. All I could think was If the shot made us feel like that, I didn’t want to find out what having real typhoid felt like! 😉

So having told that tale — Being uncomfortable for a day or two or having a sore arm and no appetite is a small price to pay to avoid getting a case of Covid that kills you or puts you out of commission for a couple of months. I had Covid about a year ago and I do not want a repeat. It was awful and took a long time to fully recover. Sign me up for the vaccine. Please.

[MIButterfly]

42. Thank you for your story.

I've had COVID twice and the first time was before any kind of vaccine was available. Trust me and believe me when I say the side effects of the vaccine and subsequent boosters were NOTHING compared to COVID itself. Round-the-clock constant hacking cough which made my chest hurt like never before (I couldn’t sleep for days); no energy; and absolutely no sense of taste. I went to the doctor and it was misdiagnosed as walking pneumonia. They gave me a z-pac which was useless. The second time was after I had been vaccinated and I just felt like I was coming down with something and had absolutely no energy. I can't even imagine how much worse it would've been without the vaccination.

[Norrrm]

40. Some grocery stores have a pharmacy that also gives shots such as Covid and flu.

Conflicting issues.

[DelMar dem]

41. Supermarket medicine

The other day as I walked past the deli counter in my local supermarket I overheard one customer telling another about his experience getting the early Covid shots. He said they went to a fire hall and there were "kids" from the National Guard giving the shots and they "just put the needle anywhere, they didn't even look for a vein."

My husband and I also had our initial shots at the same place, and of course the "kids" were NG medics. They did a great job.

It looks like deli counters may be gathering places for the spread of disinformation!

[usonian]

44. They're intramuscular.

Numbnuts abound.

[Captain Zero]

57. MagaTacoNumbNuts

drink the KoolAid

[usonian]

43. Sometimes I wish I had snappy responses to bullshit

Maybe there's a need for a wrist guide like NFL quarterbacks wear, with a cheat sheet.

All I could come up with tonight is "Well, my physician gave me a prescription for some provolone, and can you fill it?"

I'll work on the card unless one already exists. I'll look that up tomorrow.

[Tarzanrock]

45. My experience in supermarket deli counters is that ...

when the counter person asks if they can "help" you -- you then order whatever deli meats you desire and you give them explict, detailed instructions as to how to slice the meats such as 1/8th inch thick or 3/32nds inch thick (or you can do it in millimeters to really confuse them) and if you order any deli salads you specifically instruct them to tightly secure the lids on each container with adhesive taping so that the contents don't spill out while in transit. Being told exactly what to do with specific instructions usually keeps their little minds on their jobs and they don't annoy you with inane bullshit.

[LuckyCharms]

54. Not all deli workers have "little minds"

and most do not need to be "specifically instructed", or purposely "confused".

[niyad]

73. How freakin' insulting. The deli employees at my store, some of whom I have

known for years (as I do a number of other employees in the store) are unfailingly courteous and helpful and professional. I would never dream of, nor would I ever have need of, speaking to any of them the way your post indicates that you do (that mm thing is not funny). I am very glad, and you should be as well, that you are not a patron in my store.

[Niagara]

79. You purposely give service workers a difficult time and refer to them as having "little minds"?

That's seriously fucked up. No one should be belittled like that. They're not there to annoy you, they're there to provide you a service. In return they're receiving a minimalist paycheck so that they can provide for themselves and families.


P.S. For those who provide public service and have to deal with this type of customer, I'm so sorry.

[Tarzanrock]

82. Maybe you are happy "turning the other cheek" to utter incompetence? I'm not.

The deli workers in the supermarkets in the Ralph's/Food 4 Less grocery chain; the Von's/Safeway/Albertson's grocery chain where I shop at in Los Angeles never get the orders correct unless they are specifically instructed as to how to go about preparing and packaging the orders. Most are, at best,
high school graduates, others can barely speak English. Almost all of them are negligent and careless and pretty much don't give a shit about what they are doing. You don't know what you are talking about -- they don't receive "minimalist" paychecks. They are Unionized employees. In April 2022, a new contract for unionized grocery workers in Los Angeles, including at Ralphs, Albertsons, Vons, and Pavilions, resulted in significant wage increases for most workers, ranging from 19% to 31% above previous pay levels. The highest-paid, long-term employees received a raise of $4.25 per hour, bringing their hourly wage to $26.75, while lower-paid deli workers and shelf stockers saw a $5.25 per hour increase to a wage of $22.27. Bagger and clerk's helpers also received a 95-cent raise, bringing their hourly wage to $16.34. Additionally, part-time employees were guaranteed a minimum of 28 hours per week.

[Niagara]

86. That's a long winded way of saying you're justified in treating people like shit

That is still a minimalist paycheck considering the cost of living in one of the most expensive cities.


You just came off as a MAGA to me. Most likely everyone else reading this too.


Have a nice day.

[Tarzanrock]

88. Another wrongheaded opinion about something which you know nothing about.

You should quit proffering them while you are behind. $26.75 an hour is not a "minimalist" wage in any state in the country and it is far,
far above the Federal minimum wage rate. In 2025, the federal minimum wage remains at $7.25 per hour. In case you haven't quite yet groked this: you are paying their wages through that $12+ per pound purchase price for the deli meats which you are purchasing from that supermarket deli. "Expect less, get less" -- maybe that should be your thing instead of your unfounded MAGA gripe.

[LuckyCharms]

90. Easy now...

Don't want to be accused of using MAGA talking points? Then don't fucking use them.

Simple.

[LuckyCharms]

89. Holy shit...

"Most are, at best, high school graduates"

"Others can barely speak English"

You seem to have lost your way...are you sure you are on the right website?

My father had a 4th grade education, and had to learn English. He was the son of parents off the boat from Italy.

He did very well for himself and his family.

What is it that you do for a living that justifies you bashing others? How competent are you? One skill you don't seem to have developed is "reading a room".

You're lost. Maybe another website would suit you better?

Jesus Fucking Christ.

[Tarzanrock]

91. I've been shopping at this same store since it was Safeway before Von's acquired Safeway ...

since 1978. I don't know about you but I expect grocery store employees who work in the deli department to be able to effectively operate the meat slicing machinery and to be able to operate the scales to measure correctly. That almost never happens today unless those employees are specifically instructed on what to do. Maybe, bad service by incompetent people is something which you have come to expect and relish in? I'm old enough to remember when the "customer is always right." I expect that when I order 3/4 pound of potato salad at a grocery store deli that I don't get charged for a full pound of potato salad just because some incompetent idiot who works there doesn't know how to read and properly use a measuring scale and could care less about the job. Maybe such service is "acceptable" to you? It is not acceptable to me.

[LuckyCharms]

93. I'm old enough to remember that the correct statement is

the customer is always right in matters of taste.

If you are going to use a quote, please try to be competent and use it correctly.

[Tarzanrock]

94. The customer is always right certainly applies to measurements and specifications ...

if it applies to anything at all. Try thinking with your head -- this is not that difficult.

[LuckyCharms]

96. Did you ever smoke a joint and watch a poodle fuck a football for 45 minutes?

[Niagara]

95. Exactly and thank you, Lucky

It's MAGA talking point after MAGA talking point with this poster.

I'm done with them as I've already seen their true colors and it's definitely not blue.

I'm sitting here thinking the same thing that you are about how they're on the wrong website.

[W_HAMILTON]

48. The personality of a cultist is their cult.

It's all they talk about because it's all they know because it's all they are.

[Timeflyer]

51. Watched my dad die of COVID--remarks like that one set me off like a grenade, and I feel no shame. But these

ignorant, insensitive idiots don't care, or care to learn actual science. Call them out, they're callous, casual murderers.

[MIButterfly]

103. Dear Timeflyer, I am so sorry about the loss of your father.

What a horrible thing to have experienced. My heart goes out to you and I extend to you my deepest sympathy.
Love,
MIButterfly

[Timeflyer]

117. Thank you so much.

[Emile]

52. I would have asked her if she shoves horse dewormer capsules up her ass.

[bucolic_frolic]

53. I would have asked her which YouTube video gave her that advice

Dr. Hamancheez or Dr. M. T. Basket?

[MIButterfly]

104. LOL!

[travelingthrulife]

55. Just remind her that these antivax people predicted the billion or so people who took this vax would

be dead in 5 years.

We are mostly still here and still healthy.

[doc03]

56. That is just one person's opinion, everyone has one. Just ignore it they have a different set of facts

you can't reason with them.

[flying_wahini]

58. During the worst days of Covid my grocery cashier also bragged about taking Ivermectin. (Big MAGA). Well-

She was on dialysis for a week and almost died from it. Off work for months.

[dem4decades]

60. Next time tell her you want your uncle to get the shot so you can keep track of him.

Might as well have fun with the idiots, they refuse to learn anything.

[justaprogressive]

62. It's enough to simply contradict them

they are truly, and only, victims of the last 20 years of incessant RW propaganda.

Possible Response " I'm sure he'll get it, the vaccine will help protect him from Covid, just

as effectively as my going to another store will help protect me from you!"

[NNadir]

64. From the Orange Criminal to RFK to, apparently the Deli Lady, Repukes love to announce their ignorance. The good...

...news is that often their ignorance leads to their deaths. I'm not Joni Ernst; I'm not here to applaud death, but when people who cause death die themselves, well, who's going to complain?

[bif]

65. I'd tell her to mind her own business.

And keep her whacky, conspiracy theory shit to herself.

[WhiteTara]

66. That's practicing medicine without a license

Tell her you will report her to the authorities

[Vinca]

67. Next time you go for the sliced salami, ask her where she got her medical degree.

Thanks to worm boy, lots of people are going to die needlessly. Maybe we should consider it thinning the herd of the dimmer among us.

[mdbl]

68. I was hoping that had occurred enough last time

but look where we are again.

[k_buddy762]

69. Not sure a deli employee and representative

of a grocery store or deli should be advising on medical issues.....

That said I haven't had a vaccine since 7th and 8th grade. Been many decades. Bad, bad, bad reactions to some sort of additive.

[Rebl2]

70. Hey

Lady I came for deli meat and cheese and not your unsolicited medical advice. Oh and never mind, I will now go to another deli/store and by the way, I will tell the manager of YOUR store that you were giving me unsolicited medical advice.

[milestogo]

71. "medical advice and salami- 5 cents"

[wolfie001]

72. "You shouldn't be giving out medical advice" would've been a proper comeback

Was she built like Marjorie Taylor Grunt? Let these f6ckers have it. You're not "on the clock"

[ToxMarz]

74. No one needs Meat Market Medical advice

Just worry about the ground beef, thank you.

[orangecrush]

75. Not vaccinated

And handling food.

What could go wrong?

[leftyladyfrommo]

76. Those people really and truly believe that

those shots will kill you.

[Duncanpup]

77. F.F.S. Butterfly.

These people are insufferable.

[Traildogbob]

78. Should have asked her

If she just finished swimming in the shit pond like her TV “Dictor” suggests, then Say “Sorry I need to get my mask back on, the sewage and rotting brain is a It much”.
My response to Mask insults, “Rotting brains make me vomit, and attract worms”.

[brush]

80. Probably a trumper maga. She's just regurgitatingg rethug talking points.

That's the trouble with trump 2.0...no Dr. Fauci to dispute RFK jr. anti-vaxx lies.

[Crunchy Frog]

83. Contact the employer and file a complaint. That sort of thing is absolutely inappropriate.

[Nigrum Cattus]

84. You can't fix stupid !

[Aristus]

85. People who have nothing to say like to say it as often as possible.

n/t

[58Sunliner]

87. "The deli counter is dispensing medical advice along with the salami now?"

I would mention her to management. Inappropriate!

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

92. Well, you know where to go if you want baloney.

Yes, we got baloney.

[rambler_american]

105. She mosunderstood

She thought you asked for balony/

[yorkster]

106. Right after the election we were in the grocery store,

both of us wearing masks. Guy walks by, says loudly to me, not my husband, "the pandemic is over!". I turned to face him as he beat feet up-aisle and said, "Mind your own business", also loudly. The pharmacist heard it all. Said I should have coughed for good measure.

The arrogance in thinking that every stranger agrees with them. Aarggh.

[OMGWTF]

107. I may have gotten an old lady clerk at my Safeway fired for saying sh!t like your deli clerk

Four + years ago, I was getting groceries, and the checkout clerk was going on and on about the Covid vaccine and how no one should get it (even though her store was selling the shots). I told her that I wanted to see my grandchildren grow up, so I was happy to get the vaccine. She continued on with her screed to the person behind me. Recall, back then we were using coffee filters for TP and refrigerator trucks for morgues. I wrote a letter to the store manager complaining about her behavior and suggesting that she also avoid discussing religion or politics and to just stick to the fking weather. The next time I went to the store she was gone and hasn't been back. Buh-bye biotch!

[dlk]

108. That's when you ask, "Was that a medical opinion"?

Then you can say, “I’m here to buy ham (or whatever).” They should get the hint.

[Mosby]

110. People who think they have "critical thinking skills", but don't

Are being unduly influenced by social media.

A good recent example:

Link to tweet

Many people don't care about or understand statistics. There have been a total of 14 self reports in VAERS database about normal pressure hydrocephalus. It proves nothing.

[Noodleboy13]

111. They can put as a price tag on your sliced meat. You are not required to buy it.

So order a lb of high grade thinly sliced Prosciutto. " oh I'm sorry , I didn't appreciate your unasked for advice about vaccinations. I think I've changed my mind. Have a nice day!"

But I'm evil.
Peace,
Noodleboy

[Evolve Dammit]

112. I would have said something a bit harsh I'm afraid. Like what stupid crap have you been listening to? Mind your own damn

business". Tim Walz. Or worse. No more tolerance for these asshole knuckle draggers.

[appleannie1]

113. I have found that if you totally relax all your muscles before they give you a shot and then exercise the arm afterward,

there is a lot less soreness and for some shots absolutely none.

[XCSki]

116. At 91

A vaccine is not going to kill you but getting a Covid variant certainly might.

[D_Master81]

118. It amazes me

How confident so many people on the right are about everything and most of they they know little about. Like to give out medical advice to a random stranger as a worker at a supermarket deli😂 Wild. Proper response would be “and what research have you conducted to reach this conclusion? And what medical school did you attend to become an expert in this field?”

[GP6971]

120. Hi Sunshine!!! Did you ever read the often overlooked

fable "The Little Engine that Couldn't"?