"Unsafe New York" Part Two: shopping in the stores

Today's expedition is to the stores.
And how about shopping in the stores? A nightmare. You are going in with an idea to spend your hard earned dollars on some strawberry yogurt and plantain chips, savoring the prospect of a good breakfast complete with a strong cup of coffee, where suddenly, out of nowhere, jumps out the seller and "friendly" inquires as to what it is you want. The yogurt stand is facing you, the plantain chips are hanging right next to the register, and yet, although he catches you glance towards them, he, with a smile that allows no contradiction, stares at you without blinking to imply - tell me, tell me! When you, startled, lift your half asleep eyes to look upon his stretched out in a menacing grim -"smile" your brain goes blank... You try to mumble something in your defense, but to no avail.. The guy stiffens and starts looking at you point blank. A sensitive soul that a woman and an artist, plus a sleepy one is, she is startled, displeased and scared. But seriously, it is impossible to turn these guys down and tell them you know what you want. The other option from annihelating you with his eyes, look and sudden gestures meant to scare you, is a guilt trip. Sulking in a corner, he makes a sad face, conducts a hectic activity, throws a menacing look, showing his resentful eyes with no pupils, like wild dog's - any and all and sometimes all at the same time! How about that for a peaceful morning? It seems that you do not go shopping into a store, but enter the sanctum of someone's home. You are afraid to make a mistep, you are afraid to take things out of the fridge, you are afraid to say no, as one would never to a pimp to whom one owes-not-made-that-night-money.
Terrible!
And if you ignore the server?
Forget about it! You will get revenge. A wrong change, coins from another country, a misdirection if you are supid enough to ask for directions, an attitude, a whisper, a curse, and definitely a wish for your to break something upon exiting, prefferably outside of liability zone. And what if I actually have a life, and a level of development at which I am not interested in talking about things that a vendor may be interested in? Must I be all things to all people? Like a whore - whoever pays money is entitled? But the case is reversed here: I am the one to pay the money, and yet they are somehow entitled. It is not I apparently who support their business, but they support my heart attack, frustration, and a ruined morning. Must I turn an entry to a friggin' store into a conversation or an adventure? If I am open and the opportunity is invited - why not. But what if I am not open, don't want it and do not wish to engage? Apparently, even in the democracy, I don't have a choice: I MUST ENGAGE WITH THE VENDOR, even it spells ruined concetration, frustrated mind, and a level down. WHY? I support human rights and do my share of work. But when I go to the store, I HAVE A RIGHT TO REMAIN UNHARRASSED BY THE PERSON LIABLE TO PROVIDE ME WITH SERVICE UNDER CONDITIONS ENUMERATED, AND SO LONG AS HIS STORE IS A STORE AND I COMPLY WITH REGULATIONS. It is a business arrangement, and that is how I like it. I must not do anything besides choosing a product if I like it, and if I do decide to purchase it - pay for it. I must not even buy it if I look at it. But nowadays these local stores, especially, from my experience in the minority neighborhoods, have been turned into fiefdoms, with a gang hanging around in the store and around it, and the vendor being at liberty to harass women and men if he so desires. This is not United States of America, this is maybe Latin America or elsewhere. Well, my parents and I did not come to Latin America, we came to North America, United States, a country regulated by the Constitution and not a local mafia. If I wanted to live among Middle Ages consciousness, I would have chosen the country in accordance. There are business regulations and specifically non-harrassment regulations. I am entitled to vendors observing the regulations as long as they wish to continue to remain vendors.
Nobody forced them to open a business in the first place.
And the business is not a platform for a rackeetering, and promotion of one's perception of reality.
Because there are channels and avenues for that. The store, a place for us to go and purchase and not be engaged in anything else really, shall remain safe, neutral ground as it is designed to be.
Till soon.