Bright-eyed oceanography student, trying to save our oceans, is told to give up her dreams so entitled customer can save $1.50, stands strong: 'I'll keep trying to save the oceans!'

Author image for Elna McHilderson
Elna McHilderson • Managing Editor
Jan 10, 2026 9:00 AM EST

An entitled customer decided that saving our oceans is useless and that a college student studying oceanography should quit her dreams and stay working at her family's fabric store so she could save $1.50. Though aghast, this college student stood strong and still fully intends to save our oceans. 

There is truth behind the saying that there is power in our youth, and the youth will save us. They are the future of our world and can help us face the consequences of our actions that we didn't know we were going to have to face. We applaud them! So when this bright-eyed student decided to study oceanography, it should have everyone excited for the youth to save our oceans. 

Unfortunately, not everyone has this starry-eyed view. In fact, according to this Karen, we should give up and focus on saving $1.50… 

This entitled Karen is a regular at the family fabric store of this oceanographer student. She was back for the holidays and clocked in for a bit while she was home to help out the family. During her shift, she has always given some customers a break, mostly because she doesn't want to deal with the entitlement of some, which is totally fair. However, the entitlement of this customer simply got out of hand.

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  • young woman using a laptop computer in a fabric shop
    via Unsplash+ (and Getty Images)

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • So, instead of giving this regular customer the small discount she used to give her, she decided to stop. In one encounter, this customer belittled her major, told her that the oceans were doomed, thus basically saying humanity is doomed, and threatened her mother by saying if she didn't stay to help at the story, that her mother would surely perish. 

    What in tarnation? The AUDACITY of some of these Karens is exponential. The daughter tried to explain that her parents fully support her dream to save the oceans and they have their own plan in place to take care of their own store. She wasn't abandoning her family. Clearly! She was back home helping with the shop and does that whenever she can. 

    She just wants to save the ocean and everyone should be in support of that. Even random Karens. 

  • "Entitled customer wants me to give up on my dreams so she can save a few dollars"

    \~Background\~ My family owns a fabric store, my grandfather is my boss and I work there over Christmas break to make a bit of extra money.
    via ASmallArmyOfCrabs
  • Fabric is typically sold by the .1m, which typically costs \~$1.50 Canadian. (4in and $1.10 USD).
    via ASmallArmyOfCrabs
  • Our store has a minimum cut length of .3m, but I'm usually willing to cut less if people ask.
    via ASmallArmyOfCrabs
  • I'm also studying oceanography during the school year, I usually heavily simplify what I'm doing for customers when they ask since it's something that most people haven't heard about.
    via ASmallArmyOfCrabs
  • This was from about a week ago, so no exact quotes, the customer is an old Russian lady, so she is as blunt as she sounds.
    via ASmallArmyOfCrabs
  • \~Pre-Story\~ I've known this customer for a couple years now, she makes scrunchies to sell at markets as a side hustle.
    via ASmallArmyOfCrabs
  • My boss has been dealing with her for about a year now, every time she's in, she begs and moans to be allowed to take .2m of material, but he always says no.
    via ASmallArmyOfCrabs
  • So every time he's there she spends less than $5 and complains about how expensive everything is.
    via ASmallArmyOfCrabs
  • Also she always buys the same satins every time, so there's no reason she couldn't just get .4m with him and not waste her money.
    via ASmallArmyOfCrabs
  • About two years ago, she got me, and I said yes. And suddenly she's willing to spend $60-$100 with me.
    via ASmallArmyOfCrabs
  • My boss doesn't mind that I do this, it's kind of a lame good cop; bad cop routine with her.
    via ASmallArmyOfCrabs
  • Every time she sees me she's always like "Crabs!! Oh it's so good to see you, your boss has been horrible to me, you have to stay here this time, don't leave me" and I always thought it was just some good natured appreciation.
    via ASmallArmyOfCrabs
  • \~Entitlement story\~ So I went home for Christmas this year, and as usual, she came in to visit me.
    via ASmallArmyOfCrabs
  • It was pretty dead, so we got to talking as she was checking out. She asked me what I was studying in school.
    via ASmallArmyOfCrabs
  • I explained that I was studying oceanography, which is like marine biology, but without the animals.
    via ASmallArmyOfCrabs
  • a group of oceanography students standing in the water studying the ocean
    via Unsplash+ (and Molly the Cat)

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • She then asked me "What's the point of that? Is it useful for anything?" So I explained that it was important for helping to stop climate change and reduce pollution.
    via ASmallArmyOfCrabs
  • She scoffed at me (yes actually) and said "The ocean is already polluted and dying, there's no saving it, stop wasting your time pursuing something that isn't going to work." I was pretty taken aback by that, and didn't respond.
    via ASmallArmyOfCrabs
  • "You would be much better off to stay here and look after the store and help me so I don't have to talk to your greedy boss" I kind of said "It's ok my mom's gonna look after the store next, it's not gonna close" Then she said "Oh, so you're just going to abandon your mother here all on her own.
    via ASmallArmyOfCrabs
  • She's going to get hurt because you won't look after her. I wish that I had a daughter who cared about me too.
    via ASmallArmyOfCrabs
  • You should stay here and keep working so that I can save some more money." "My mom's going to be fine, she loves sewing" I tried to say, but she started to walk away from me.
    via ASmallArmyOfCrabs
  • "All you young people do is waste your youth on silly things, and abandon your family to die while you go waste your time." \~Closing thoughts\~ I was pretty glad that the store was empty, I don't understand what it is that entitled people have against my mom, this is like the third entitled person in my life that has told me my mom was gonna die and it would be my fault.
    via ASmallArmyOfCrabs
  • I don't think I want to cut her .2m anymore, what she said was just mean and I don't really feel like doing her any favours.
    via ASmallArmyOfCrabs
  • Again, this is over $1.50, over scrunchies even. It just made me feel so defeated. If you're ever talking to somebody, don't make fun of their degree or what they want to do.
    via ASmallArmyOfCrabs
  • I had one customer, right before I left for school, tell me "wow, so you're literally going to save the world?" and I think about that before every exam.
    via ASmallArmyOfCrabs
  • Go be that person in somebody's life, not the weirdo who threaten's people's mothers. Edit: Omg everyone is being so nice and sweet here.
    via ASmallArmyOfCrabs
  • I really appreciate it. I'll keep trying to save the oceans, and you guys should take the time to protect the environment in your own life too!
    via ASmallArmyOfCrabs
  • a woman standing in front of a rack of clothes at a fabric store
    via Unsplash+ (and Kateryna Hliznitsova)

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

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uplifiting oceanography inspirational oceanographer demotivational karma karen college student entitled people
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