To the editor:

I have often observed people being rude to people who work in food service or other jobs that require them to deal with the public. Frankly, I am appalled. My gentle, sweet daughter worked briefly at a fast-food restaurant and often came home in tears. People would yell at her or throw food at her. She took the abuse as long as she could.

When I am in line at the grocery store and I hear the clerk say, “Hi. How are you?” and the customer totally ignores that person, I feel sad. The service person is treated as a nonentity. I look that person in the eye, smile, and say, “Fine, thank you. How are you?”

I try to be nice to service people in restaurants. I keep in mind that this person is someone’s son or daughter — could be mine. Could be me.

I brought my daughter up to be nice to everybody. I told her that the person to whom you are rude could someday be your boss. Or the cop who could give you a ticket. But the real point is karma. What goes around comes around. If you are a nice person, you feel better about yourself and you are rewarded.

Next time you feel like yelling at someone, think about it first. That person could be your kid — or someone like you.

Kathy Schott Gates,

Lawrence