Mastodawn

I have survived putting gas in the car in Oregon.

Me: "hi, full it up with regular please" <oh shit, do they take fuel points here? I'd have to give him my phone number. Fuck that, no. Crap, I wanted to clean the windshield. Can I do that? Does he? Would I have to tip him? Fuck it, I can still see though it.>

WTF, Oregon, why do you hate introverts? Almost as bad as making a phone call. If I could make it through OR without filling up I would.

Casey Peel Mar 18

WAIT. Does Oregon do this weird thing for electric cars?? I don't think so!?

@datasaurus, we're going to need to buy an electric car before next winter.

Joseph A di Paolantonio Mar 18

@gairdeachas @datasaurus having charged our Ioniq 5 at an Electrify America in Oregon, I can confirm that charging is self-serve, but 8¢ more than in Washington.

__Miguel_Mar 18

@gairdeachas @datasaurus That is a... Curious reason for wanting to buy an EV.

I'm all for it, though 😝

Also, usually EV charging tends to be self-service, if for no other reason than the fact that you need to physically be at the charger to pay for it (except for Tesla chargers charging Tesla vehicles, those you only need to plug the cable in, and there are some other network/car brand c) ombos that can also do the same).

Casey Peel 6d ago

I'm just a little south of Portland grabbing lunch. Luckily I have enough gas to get over the WA border into Vancouver and don't have to deal with the nightmare that is force-all-motorists-to-interact-with-strangers Oregon /again/.

Casey Peel 6d ago

8 gallons of gas
$0.20/gal off with fuel points
1 windshield cleaned
0 stranger interactions

Hi WA! I'm back!
Headed your way, Seattle!

@gairdeachas stop edging us! [don’t stop] 🤭

@gairdeachas having been raise in that state this makes me giggle incessantly, but I feel you! Also frustrating when there aren’t enough attendants to keep up with the volume of vehicles and you’re impatient and at a pump and just WAITING for them to come around to you. I could have started this myself already!

Casey Peel 6d ago

@datasaurus is a New Jersian, New Jerseyite?, and is also unable to comprehend how utterly stressful and /weird/ this whole thing is for me. Y'all can tease me about it next time we're together 😅

Daniel Nidzgorski 6d ago

@gairdeachas @ibwatson Now that you've said more about what's stressful for you, you don't need teasing, you need coaching! Those of us who grew up with it have a script for these interactions. Whereas you don't. It sounds like getting that sort of a script would be super helpful so it's no longer a bunch of stressful questions and trying to figure it out!

Casey Peel 6d ago

@datasaurus @ibwatson but I've already found a solution: buy an EV!

@gairdeachas @datasaurus

__Miguel_6d ago

@ibwatson @gairdeachas Honestly curious on what happens if you decide to start the pumping on your own in those states... 🤔

@nanianmichaels @gairdeachas I can’t speak for New Jersey but in Oregon they just passive-aggressively stare at you and wag their fingers saying “do better” 🤭

@nanianmichaels @gairdeachas I kid of course. I’ve heard of the uninitiated getting a stern talking to by the attendant or being scolded over the intercom by the manager. But what’s weird is there are carve-outs for motorcycles, “collector’s vehicles”, and in rural counties during certain hours of the day when they can’t be expected to staff adequately in this economy. It’s a whole thing

__Miguel_6d ago

@ibwatson So... you're expected to wait around for someone and get berated if you decide you've waited enough, but sometimes maybe you won't, depending on the start alignment?

I'm very much with @gairdeachas on this, it makes zero sense to say you can do it at some times but not at others.

*insert "It's like I'm taking crazy pills" gif here* 😝

@gairdeachas
Jersey is super strange like that, too.

Third Foundation Mar 18

@gairdeachas there are self-serve pumps here in oregon now, though I'm lazy enough to not use them.

When I first came here, I asked the attendant if tipping is expected and he said, "yes". Everyone else has been pleased and surprised when I offer them a dollar.

Steve Gisselbrecht Mar 18

An additional benefit of self-serve is that when it's the two of us in the car, I can fill the tank and then do "Will there be anything else, sir? Check your fluids?" roleplay.

@gairdeachas At least back when dinosaurs roamed the earth and full service was the norm no, you don't tip the service station worker for cleaning the windshield. It was an expected part of the service.

@gairdeachas when i moved to washington several years ago, i drove through oregon to get here. i had never heard of their law about that (or any law anywhere to that effect), so i stopped at a station to fill up and was promptly scolded by someone.

they didn't really say that it was law that they had to do it, just that i wasn't allowed to. it was very confusing.

they seemed annoyed that i wasn't aware that i wasn't allowed to fuel my own car. perhaps there was a sign somewhere, but at that point i would've been several hours into a 12+ hour day of driving and just wanted to get where i was going.

Peter Oram 6d ago

@gairdeachas I know it’s not the point of your story, but you’re an introvert?! 🙂

Casey Peel 6d ago

@peterwyrm oh yes, very much so.