I'm not smiling because teasing someone you don't know isn't funny.

[Food Lady]

Background: I have spine issues and have a lifting restriction of 10 lbs. The boxes of bags we have at the front lanes are over that. I occasionally can handle one, but today that was unwise, as my problem nerve is really irritated. Also, workspaces are too small, so I need the back half of my counter clear behind me.[/background]. I was taken off my lane because my sup mistakenly thought I was going home. Nope, it was Coworker, so ai took over his lane.

He'd had a box of bags there, and it was in my way. Finally, I decided to move it. It was difficult, so I kind of lost my grip and it landed on the vehicle I moved it to with a bang. Of course my next customer had to make a comment, even though it had nothing to do with him. He was saying something like don't mess with her and the box bent the shelf when I threw it. OK, no, I didn't throw it, and the shelves are permanently bent. I said that, that the shelf was already bent. He responded with the I'm-just-teasing spiel, and that I should smile, etc..So I told him I DO, when I have reason, which is logical. I HATE that ordering me to smile junk. They aren't funny, then get offended I don't think they are.

[Lore]

Really, it WAS none of his business. Also, I know that people expect a reasonable level of service, but that means politeness, which doesn't include laughing uproariously at stupid jokes. Correcting him was, really, the polite thing to do. >

Hope your back is feeling a bit better now!

[Pixilated]

I'm guessing he was just making light chit-chat, but if he saw you struggling with the box, that should've been Clue #1 that maybe this called for some empathy (if he felt he HAD to say something) and not a smart crack.

[cono1717]

I'm guessing he was just making light chit-chat, but if he saw you struggling with the box, that should've been Clue #1 that maybe this called for some empathy (if he felt he HAD to say something) and not a smart crack.

Or heavens forbid he actually says "need any help?"

No, us retail folk are forced to dance and struggle with a smile all the time!

[Jester]

There is also the possibility that the customer didn't know you had a disability, and actually thought you DID throw the box on to the shelves.

Just a thought.

[Grendus]

Yea, my first thought was that maybe he thought the box was extremely heavy. Thus, you weren't struggling with a light box, you were (wo)man-handling a box heavy enough to dent the shelf when you lost your grip. Kind of annoying maybe, but not really rude.

[Flying Grype]

I dunno, naysayers, I think the bent shelf and the smile thing go right together. Women should be pretty and pleasing, never scary. I know exactly what he meant.

[Jester]

Women should be pretty and pleasing, never scary.

After I watched my female coworker, a former professional bodybuilder, bear hug and lift a FULL KEG OF BEER on to a shelf about chest high by herself, I just looked at her in awe and said, "With all due respect, you are one BADASS BITCH!"

She took it as the compliment it was intended.

[Flying Grype]

When I was fourteen the kid in the feed store (who miiiiiight have been twenty) asked if I wanted him to carry the giant bag of cat food out to the car, and I said no thanks and swung it up onto my shoulder... how long had he been selling heavy items to farm people? Not long enough, judging by the look on his face. My thought: "I can scare boys!? Cool!"

[BrenDAnn]

If women are supposed to always be pretty and pleasing and never scary, then my mother taught me wrong. See, she was always one to do things herself. Of course, she had to, being that my dad is a truck driver, and was, up until 2007, gone every day of the week doing said driving. Mom also had her scary moments. I always figured, if one of her grandkids ever got hurt by some idiotic abusive fuck, she'd get to said abusive fuck before anyone else, and make them pay. Yes, my mom was that tough, at least in my eyes.

[Food Lady]

Yea, my first thought was that maybe he thought the box was extremely heavy. Thus, you weren't struggling with a light box, you were (wo)man-handling a box heavy enough to dent the shelf when you lost your grip. Kind of annoying maybe, but not really rude.

I was annoying and not rude, or the customer was annoying and not rude? Sorry, I'm not understanding your post. My brain is fried.

Jester, I'm sure he did think that. I just didn't appreciate his needing to comment on it and make me feel bad, especially since it happened before I even interacted with him. No one else even gave attention to it. He apparently likes to stick his nose where it doesn't belong.

[Jester]

But if he did think that, he may well have not realized that his comment made you feel bad. I say this because, honestly, that is the type of comment I might make in the same situation. Not because I would be trying to be mean or cruel, but because it is in my nature to be funny and make jokes.

[HotelMinion]

I hate those smart asses who think they're so cute. I'm not your spouse, and if I were I'd be kicking myself.

[AyreBiskits]

making some smartass comment they think is funny and expecting you to smile about it?? that's rude

and if you're being asked to smile, that person might think your smile isn't sincere enough for his needs and would just go complain anyway. i've had that happen to myself many times. i can't help it, my angry face and my happy face are the same and when i do smile, people think i'm just forcing way too much and come off as insincere.

[DGoddessChardonnay]

I hate those smart asses who think they're so cute. I'm not your spouse, and if I were I'd be kicking myself.

If I were their spouse, I'd be kicking them - out of the house and calling a divorce attorney so fast it'd make their head spin.

Maybe I'm a bit harsh, but I have no tolerance for jerks. Better to be single than with someone who's going to embarrass you in public.