Consider the other person before firing off a complaint

I have been traveling a lot lately, either for suits in some distant part of the state or for business development. The trip have provided an opportunity to watch the service economy at close range. Our culture is pushing down more work on more people who are laboring at absurdly low wages. Examples are all over; as I thumb this out, I'm sitting in a cool restaurant. A friend who applied for work says the cooks make $9 an hour. Yet we lawyers, as the privileged class, expect the best, grow upset if we don't get it and toss off letters of complaint. I was in the Atlanta airport a few weeks ago and got miffed at a young woman behind the counter of a fried chicken place over some imagined -- or perhaps real -- slight. I got my food and walked away in a silly huff. And it occurred to me, "This is the best she is ever going to do for a job. Ever." Hollywood feeds the archetype of poor-kid-makes-good, à la "Slumdog Millionaire." But Hollywood lies. Think about that the next time you have an urge to complain or write a "Dear Company" letter. I am not saying you should allow others to run over you. Just take a moment to reflect on the other person's experience.