Im annoyed. Today, I found myself within the shopping district of the city carrying a handful of magazines I had just brought from my local WHSmiths under one arm, a Costa Coffee cup in the same hand and various other bags full of food on the other arm.
It was a desparate situation - my bag from WHSmiths' had just broken (I paid 5p for that!!!) and I was having trouble juggling not only my shopping, but my ever-slipping jeans as they started to inch down my waist - to say it was a scramble with each step would not be an under-statement.
I needed a new bag. And to ditch my (now cold) hot-chocolate... but where!? And that is when I decided to walk into the local Stationary shop and try a charm offensive to see if I could score one measely plastic bag!
BIG MISTAKE - it ruined my entire day.
You see, behind the counter of said stationary shop was a young girl (I wont use the word woman, she was NOT mature enough) who looked at me and instantly - I swear, instantly - I knew she hated me.
I dont know if other people get this too, it happens to me when I make eye-contact and I can instantly tell if that person is going to be approachable or not. Does this happen to others? Let me know!
Anyway, I decided to use my gay-charm tactic to woo a flimsy-looking plastic bag out of her. I mean the girl was covered in make-up and was wearing some incredibly tight-looking jeans so... clearly, should would adore gay guys.
Wrong.
Me: Sorry to bug you my dear but i was wondering if I could get a plastic bag. Ive been shopping and, well, look at me! My hands are full and my last bag broke.
Her: No.
Me: ... eh? May I ask why?
Her: You need to buy something first. (Keep in mind she is now REFUSING to keep eye-contact with me)
Me: ... but is a plastic--
Her: (interrupting) store policy. Buy something of leave.
Me: (picking up first object on the counter) Fine. How much for this?!
Her: (looking away) ... 99p
Me: How can you tell, you need to look at it first. I just dont want to be ripped off or anything, y'know?
Her: (taking a frustrated sigh) Yes! 99p.
Me: (VERY SARCASTICLY) greaaaaat... give me a plastic bag with that please.
She did. I waited there for her to pick the object up and put it in the plastic bag - all the while staring at her. I am not amused and I am trying (as silly as this may sound) to telepathicly make her understand how unamused I am and how much of a bitch I think she is.
I stand there waiting, huffing and puffing for my change and then to make a point of how annoyed I am, I stand there and wait for her to hand me the bag: she will have to make eye-contact when she does that!
And she did, so I said to her before I turned to leave, our eyes fixed:
"You only work in a shop you know. You can drop the higher-than-thou attitude."
I then turned and walked out to a score of applause. So I guess in a way, it was a victory for the every day man against the common nazi-esque assumptionist women we meet on the street.
Truth be told, im still kinda pissed!
I would never do that. I would never conciously make an assumption on somebody based on a first glance - and even if (IF) I conciously did, I would never-ever let it effect the way I was approached or interacting with this person.
My gut tells me this was less of a social-standing issue and more of a "I-Dont-Find-You-Attractive-therefore-You-Are-less-Than-me!" issue: which is less insulting but more personally annoying.
I dont claim to be the sexiest guy ever. Im also not torn by my looks nor do I depend on them to get me through the day. I dont work a fashionista style and then im not a prude when it comes to every-day fashion. I like friendship bangles, rustic looking shirts and jeans... 90's cowboy-chic almost - but without the boots and the hat. That is me. Clothes that have a meaning to me, that I feel comfortable in - sense-memory if you will.
It is annoying to think people can live like that. It is more annoying to think that they think living like that is acceptable.
Ok, so im really annoyed about nothing! But im annoyed about it. It is an exchange that shouldnt have happened. Everybody should be approachable by everybody else - and just because people are not, it should not be acceptable! It should not be encouraged! And it should be challenged whenever it happens!
There, rant over!
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