The actual story starts at "This is what happened on Tuesday" if you wanna skip to that part. Well just like the title says. I've been working my ass off during this whole pandemic, don't get me wrong, I would be working my ass off regardless. I live in WA and the minimum wage here is 13.50/hr which to me is pretty good bc where I come from I used to get 8.90/hr; I am worth soooo much more. I also forgot to mention I am working at a gas station atm and they're paying $2/hr extra for as "covid pay" because we serve hundreds of people a day. So I'm making pretty good money rn but the shit that I've been having to put up with is unacceptable. customers treat us- essential workers- in such a disrespectful manner bc they don't care to educate themselves and refuse to maintain an open mind. I can't imagine how much worse this pandemic would be if our government had not mandated that we all wear masks. I was overseas during the start of the spread and europe was SHUT DOWNNNN. I think the scariest part was watching what was happening to Italy. their health care system was completely overwhelmed; it was like watching a cartoon version of the rona open a can of whoop ass on an entire country. This is all leading up to me moving to the US, working at a gas station, and having people come into the store refusing to wear a mask. And here's the thing. Wearing a mask is 100% your choice. But by not wearing one, you'd better keep your ass home and 6ft away from other humans at all times. It's not about you individually; you have the opportunity to prevent a potentially deadly virus from spreading to people whose bodies aren't able to fight it. And this is all coming from a person who wears a mask for 8+hrs a day. If you have trouble breathing, there are special masks available to you. Some of the work I do makes breathing in the mask a bit difficult and I can understand the complaint. But it is absolutely unacceptable to enter our store and expect to get service when there's a red sign on outside of the door IN BOLDED LETTERS clearly stating "NO MASK = NO SERVICE" with "PER GOV. INSLEE'S ORDERS" under it. I deal with this every few days. A customer comes in and refuses to wear a mask. This is how it goes:ME: "Excuse me, we need you to please wear a mask while you're inside the store."THEM: "I don't have one"1- "I have a mask for you right here, here you go." The situation could end here if they take the mask.THEM: "I don't want/need to wear one."2- The next course of action is to ask: "Do you have a medical condition that prevents you from wearing the mask?"*Now I could understand how this might be rude to some people. But I'm only asking because I have to. It would be better to catch the customer at the door than to let them waste time in the store. Besides, and I know this might sound wrong but... if they say yes, they won't be bothered about it further. Even if they don't have a medical condition that prevents them from wearing it (duh). This is basically an easy out for those people who have no problem lying and taking advantage of others. Not to mention, THIS IS A YES OR NO QUESTION. Note that I would never ask a customer about their condition or ask them to provide details. I'm just doing my job.THEM: "Yes." No questions asked. Let them be.THEM : "No." I must ask them to leave the store. I'm not playing around. ------------------------THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED TUESDAY. -------------------------------I was working the register and a customer walks in. He is not wearing a mask. He's walking pretty fast so I quickly say, "Sir, do you have a mask on you?"To which he replies, "Nope." He zooms past me and keeps walking.Now I wasn't going to chase after him so I just patiently waited until he came back to the front of the store.I wasn't going to start ringing anything up until we had a little talk."Do you have a mask with you, sir?""No.""Do you need one?""Not particularly."I have given him enough chances already. "Sir, you need to wear a mask in the store.""I don't want to."*Internal sigh"Do you have a medical condition that prevents you from wearing the mask?"Now this is where the fun starts. I guess this was the wrong question to ask that particular guy on that particular day. But it's my job, I have to ask.He goes, "Now let me stop you right there. Did you ever think that people with a disability are tired of hearing that all day. Every time they go into a goddamn store. People like that are tired of being berated and having to explain themselves. I know I am. What makes you think you can ask me that."And in my brain I'm like <fuck oof fuck this is fucking terrible help. but he still didn't give me a straight answer> It wasn't what he said that bothered me it was the way he said it. He spoke very sharply and abruptly which made the little people from Inside Out in ma brain hit the fight or flight button."I'm just trying to keep everyone safe, sir." Weak response. Flight. My brain chose flight. "And that makes a lot of sense but I'm sick of being asked that question."<fuck idk what to do. he's looking at me like that because he knows he's going to get his way. of course he is, he just yelled at me and i didn't stand up for myself.>I ended up going through with the transaction to get him out of my store and before he left he says, "You're the first person to ask me that since I've been in here, so thank you." As if he knew what he said had stung and he wanted to take the edge off a little. Fuck him. After he left I just stood there and tried not to cry. <Why tf are you crying you wimp. He spoke to you aggressively and raised his voice a little. Why is this bothering you so much.> And then I realized that he reminded me of my dad. The way this dude spoke to me reminded me of how my dad would take me out into public to berate me while speaking very loudly to embarrass, shame, and humiliate me. My knees were weak and I wanted to go home and cry. I never thought a complete stranger could be so rude and angry and aggressive to another complete stranger. In that moment I just hated myself and the experiences that all the men in my life have put me through. There has never not been something. Some of you may not know what I'm talking about but I'm sure this all makes sense to the right person. I wish I could've articulated everything I've talked about in this freaking college thesis paper to that angry customer. I thought all adults had an understanding; we're all just trying to get through the day and our lives without too much hardship. I just wonder if he stopped to think about what he did. I guess that's what I get for doing my job, right?So yeah. That's what happened on Tuesday night.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Here are some videos if you're curious about the masks.Effectiveness of masks:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Tp0zB904McMask bracket (make breathing easier):https://www.health.com/condition/infectious-diseases/coronavirus/face-bracket-for-mask