Old ladies and myself, all rude

[NecessaryCatharsis]

Go to coffee shop today at lunch some guys on my crew come too, two old ladies sitting at the window so they obviously see me get out of the work truck, in my work clothes, with the guys I work with. When I get in line it`s quite long and winding past the tables so I get to stand there and listen to them going on about me

`She should be at home looking after babies, in my day women didn`t to work like that, it`s not very lady-like, she should be taking care of her family`blah blah blah
I also have some tattoos including one on my wrist that is visible even with winter clothes on
`and she has a tattoo, these young ladies getting tattoos, it's one of those trend things, people used to get tattoos to mark very special accomplishments, now they just get tattoos willy nilly`blah blah blah

so I snapped, turned to them and loudly said

'I USED to be lucky enough to be able to stay and look after my baby until his father died and I had to go back to work to support my family, but at least I got a great tattoo to commemorate his life so I can always be reminded of what a great husband and father he was, and in MY DAY we were taught not to judge a book by it`s cover, and treat others as we would like to be treated!`

And stormed out to the truck in a most unlady-like fashion. I don`t know why I thought making them feel like jerks would make me feel better (it didn`t) or why I thought I could take out my crappy day on them, because that`s no better than what they were doing, but at least everybody who witnessed my little outburst got to see the name of the company I work for plastered all over the truck I got into

One of the guys bought me a coffee though, so that was nice.

[blas]

Oh, fuck those old bats.

There are some really awful newer trends of recent years, but women working and tattoos are not two of them. At all.

Now, those flat billed hat wearing kids with shaggy hair screaming "Yolo!".....they need to be ashamed of themselves.

[Monterey Jack]

`She should be at home looking after babies, in my day women didn`t to work like that, it`s not very lady-like, she should be taking care of her family`blah blah blah

I would have turned to them and said, "It's not 1954 anymore, you know."

[LillFilly]

I'm glad you gave them what they deserved and I'm sure everyone within earshot thought the same! Go you!!!

[Seshat]

And to think that their parents included Rosie the Riveter and her real-world counterparts.

[mathnerd]

Unless you were screaming at the top of your lungs, cursing every second word, or throwing things, I don't see how you could even be accused of being impolite. It's perfectly okay to defend yourself and not be a doormat.

[XCashier]

Huzzah! I think I like you - that sort of stuff needs to be said to old judgmental biddies who think nothing of belittling you like that.

It's perfectly okay to defend yourself and not be a doormat.

What they both said. The judgmental old hags were the ones being rude, not you. What gave them the right to gossip about a total stranger? One who had done nothing at all to them?! I say good for you for putting them in their place and giving them the attitude adjustment they desperately needed.

[EricKei]

...I don't see how you could even be accused of being impolite.

If being on this site has taught me one thing, it's that the more rude and foul a customer is, the higher the likelihood that they will see themselves as the calm/collected sane ones, and anyone who deals with them politely as the rude ones. A warped version of transference, I suppose.

[raudf]

They've been fortunate that their lives were so charmed that they never had to consider a job to make ends meet. Pity them, for they have had nothing to flavor their lives, so they must gossip about others to give them the drama and scope of emotions that they will never experience first hand.

That doesn't mean you have to take their crap though. It's wrong and should be called out,

[thatcrazyredhead]

Good for you for standing up for yourself! Their behavior was out of line, but I see nothing wrong with yours.

[NecessaryCatharsis]

Well I'm pretty sure they thought I was being rude, even if no one else did. Have you ever seen a young kid trying dill pickles for the first time? They looked just like that, only purpler. I don't think they called the company on me though, nobody said anything this morning, so unless boss asked one of the guys I was with what happened and decided he didn't care, I should have heard about it.

I wasn't yelling, cursing or throwing things, but was definitely projecting my voice well, hopefully no one else at the shop thought it was too rude.

[otakuneko]

I think it was a necessary moment of catharsis.

[mathnerd]

Polite =/= doormat. You can be firm and passionate and still be polite. You were definitely not rude, regardless of what anybody else might think.

[freespirit114]

You did nothing wrong at all. Besides that they are so wrong on many levels. You may not even have had children. What if you were one of those who longs for them but could not have them? The old bats comments would have cut right to your core even more. What right did they have to assume such things? Besides, back in "their day" things like marital rape and beating your wife were basically ok. So, sure, by all means, let them live back then. I think I'll stay here thanks.

[iradney]

Wait, wait, hang on. You were working, yes? Earning money, yes? Money used to pay bills, rent, buy food and clothes yes?

Then you're taking care of your family. Those old bats were obviously so sad and unsatisfied with their lives that they had to try tear a complete stranger down to feel better about themselves. And I'm glad you stood up to them.