I can't seem to stand up for myself? It's frustrating by 'shy'?

Well I guess it is down to each individual. You cant just assume that ALL the employees there don't say it back for every customer, because you are not every customer. Not everyone understands basic human interaction.

There are people I come across in my day, who if I hold a door open won't say thank you. It is down to how you were taught things as a child. Also, how you take the things you were taught forward with you as an adult.

Sometimes if you say excuse me to somebody if you are trying to get past them, they will say sorry and let you through or they will get mad and ignore you. It is all down to individual choices. But I think you are looking too far into it, the cashier probably feels underpayed and overskilled for that job, but s most times a job is better than no job.

Next time maybe, don't say thankyou first and they might say it to you. Its not going to ruin your day, im sure.

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.