rude comments on appearance

[erinn]

This happened a long time ago when I was working in retail at a card shop.

Anyway, I have a mild birth defect called "Hemifacial Microsoma" which means that in utero, one side of my face did not develop as the other half did. It's a very mild case, fortunately, and hardly noticeable, unless of course, you happen to be a complete SC at a card shop. The most noticeable aspect of my case is the asymmetry of my eyebrows. Because one of my eye socket is actually a tad smaller than the other, my eyebrows are uneven. There is nothing I can do about this except maybe have plastic surgery which I can't afford really.

So I was checking customers out, and this guy came up to the register. I smiled and said "Hi" *insert generic customer service greeting here* and his response was to point at my uneven eyebrow and say, "You went a little wild with that one, eh?" As if I just went a little crazy with the tweezers... as if it had nothing to do with a birth defect that I have no control over.

Ok, so I am just dumbfounded by this jerk, and trying not to hack him to death by papercuts (the sides of greeting cards can draw blood you know). I waited for an apology or an "Oh I'm sorry, I shouldn't have been such a rude and spiteful person." But no, he just stares at me, unemotional - like a robot. I just stared at him in disbelief and continued to ring him up. When it was over I just stared at him until he left.

Wow.

[Miffed]

I often get annoying middle schoolers making remarks about my skinny physique at work. One girl just wouldn't let it go. How old are you? really? I don't believe you. You look small.


One of my friends at volleyball practice wouldn't stop until I finally let him have it. "Really? you don't think I've ever noticed I'm underweight? You think you're the first person to notice? do you think your the only person to have ever pointed out my apparent lack body fat!?"

His reply, "Well sorry, I just thought no one ever told you."

"As if that justifies it!? What makes you think you need to notify me of my own body's appearance, as if I never looked in a mirror?"


Yes I'm skinny, but I'm not weak. I think he was just trying to put me down due to my being able to do the V-ball exercises relatively easy.

[Kyree]

I have the dark circles around my eyes too.

About a year ago, I had gotten the news that my grandmother had died. I didn't sleep very well that night. But the next day I went to work anyways. I'll admit, I looked like hell.

I had a customer come up and tell me "You know, you should really hold off on the smoking until you're off work. Coming to work high isn't very professional."

[chainedbarista]

ah, raieth, that was a gem!

unfortunately, i'm closer to a volcanic eruption that a well phrased insult at this point...gah; stinking stress, gotta love that little monkeywrench.

*deep breaths, deep CLEANSING breaths*

[Becks]

It's nice to know that someone else has the dark circles; I didn't realize it could be hereditary. No one ever says anything to me about it, but I notice it, and I think it shows up more with makeup. Even when I get enough sleep, they don't go away. Sometimes it looks like I got smacked in the eye and the bruise is almost gone...

That's me...EXACTLY.

I almost don't care anymore, really.

I'm pretty much resigned to it...but the guys at work say I look better with my glasses off... I think they LIKE seeing it. I work with real weird people.

[Record Store Tough Guy]

I had a black eye for a week from sparring with one of the black belts.

I was very disappointed no one said anything about it.

[BaristaTrav]

over the past few weeks, i've been receiving more and more (maybe well intended, or maybe not, i really don't care, choose something ELSE to start a conversation with me, please) comments on how 'tired' i look. this can be contributed to dark circles around my eyes (genetic, and not a damned thing i can do about it, thanks for reminding me about one of MANY things i don't like about my appearance, asshat.), which no amount of concealer hides, apparently, because it seems it's visible, and therefore, fair game for those who cannot engage their brain before their mouth activates.

i'm to the point where i'm going to stop biting my tongue and start hurting THEIR feelings over this type of rudeness. not an ideal solution, so i think after the holidays are over, i will ask for some vacation time to get away from the store and reconsider a few things, because i've had it with this type of rudeness and insensitivity from the greater population.

i almost responded to one of these 'geniuses' with the below, but managed to clamp my jaw shut in time:

'tired? no; tired of idiots, YES.'

sorry for the bitchy rant, but i've had more than enough of this type of crap.

I also have the dark circles, regardless of whether I'm actually tired or not. I always get the: " You work here, how can you be tired!!??" line. Like, yea, just becuase I work here automatically means I drink 8 or 9 cups of coffee during my shift.

[Fawn]

Ever since I've worn glasses I've had dark circles under my eyes. I figure its strain thing related to the eye and the glasses. One positive of wearing glasses is that you don't notice the dark circles to much (until you take them off).

I'd definitely be mad if someone ever said those kind of things to me.

[protege]

I replied with "Well then as a bit of advice you're due for another shot of botox, you may want to rethink the belt you're wearing and maybe you shouldn't comment on things that people are probably sensitive about."

Pwned!

I too have the dark eye circles. No matter how much sleep I get, they're still around (pun intended, hehe). And yes, I look tired most of the time--that's not helped by 9 hours of work followed by maybe 1.5 hours at the gym, and weekends helping my grandmother. Even with 8 hours of sleep, i still look tired.

...and if one more person tells me to "hit the gym" I'm going to hit them. Yes really. I know I have a "spare tire" and yes, I don't like it. However, sitting around 9 hours a day at work doesn't help things.

While I'm at it, I should mention the idiots who tell me to "lay off the booze" since I sometimes walk with a limp when it's cold. I don't drink much, and if I do, I don't go anywhere. I limp because I wrecked my knees in an auto accident (the same one that damaged my jaw)...the colder weather sometimes causes pain or the joints to seize.

[Zeeko]

I get a few comments on my appearance although most I enjoy making the most of.

For example I get a lot of "Happy Days"-like "Aaaayyyss" with the thumbs up. My general reply is "Hey Mr. C!" on the account of my long side burns. Usually a good ice breaker.

Me and my co-worker get this often "Hey are you guys brothers?" Due to his brilliant idea of copying my facial hair. We usually have two replies: 1. Nope, we're sisters. or 2. Na my coworker is just my younger cloned version I use for spare parts.

[RecoveringKinkoid]

Ouch, Raieth, nicely done!

Something I've noticed that if you call people out on their inappropriateness, they seldom try to retaliate. I think either they realize they were out of line and are embarassed, or they dont' want to have to admit that they acted badly enough to provoke that kind of chewing out. If they ratted on you, it would come out that they'd provoked you.

[Raieth]

I also have dark circles and only recently has my zit problem cleared up. I finally lost it one day when a woman said I should wash my face and get more sleep. I asked her "What made you think that was an appropriate comment?" And I wouldn't let her leave until I got an answer. When she said "well I said nothing wrong it was just a bit of advice" I replied with "Well then as a bit of advice you're due for another shot of botox, you may want to rethink the belt you're wearing and maybe you shouldn't comment on things that people are probably sensitive about."

Granted this woman had been a nose in the air bitch the whole transaction. I seriously thought I'd get in trouble for saying that but she never told management.

[RecoveringKinkoid]

An icy, pointed "No, I'm not tired at all, but thank you for noticing." usually gets the point across. And nobody can say you were rude, either. Same for that old chestnut "I beg your pardon?" That's a line that usually snaps people back into reality.

And by the way, I've used an equally steely "Yes, thank you, I'm well aware of that." in regards to zits, dark circles, etc. Seems to embarass the rude person into better behaviour most of the time.

[Marxfan]

Oh, I know what it's like to have unprovoked remarks on my appearance. I even posted a thread here on Customers Suck about how a lady told me I was too pale and needed a tan. People just need to get over their little self esteem issues and leave everyone else alone.

[XCashier]

Do you play basketball?

One of the best T-shirts I ever saw, worn by a woman about 6 feet tall: "No, I don't play basketball. Do you play miniature golf?"