Scene from a bookstore, few days ago:

A young fella, about 25 years old, is buying some books.

Employee: "Thank you sir. Would you like to hear about our new club?"

Customer: "how long will it take?"

Employee: "just a couple of minutes"

Customer: "well ok then, guess I wouldn't mind watching your beautiful face for a few more minutes"

Employee: "you know what, nevermind, forget about it. Have a nice day"

Customer: "Jesus! it was only a compliment!"

Employee: "yeah well thanx, but this isn't a bar or pub, and you should keep such comments to yourself."

Customer: "don't be so heavy, c'mon tell me what's this club is all about?"

Employee: "someone else will explain it to you, I don't feel comfortable talking to someone who's staring at my face. Have a nice day"

Then she left the stand, and the other employee started to explain, but the guy said "nevermind, I'm outta here, this is ridiculous" and then he left.

I was there when it happened, but I didn't buy anything. Before the scene took place, I asked the girl about a couple of books, and she was nice and helpful, but that was it. I noticed that she was indeed extremely pretty but I didn't say anything about that, it's not in my character.

I mean if I'm taking a girl out on a date, I'll probably tell her if she looks amazing. Or at a wedding I might tell the bride she's very pretty. But telling girls I just met is not something I'm used to. But I also don't think it's the most horrible thing in the world.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the girl did exaggerate. Yes, some guys like to make such comments, and some think it's actually nice of them to say it...I think the girl should just ignore it if she doesn't like this compliment. No need for a scene in this case.

What do you guys think?

And what do you ladies think? if someone you don't really know told you just how pretty you are - would it bother you?

Does the reasoning or relevance change if the dialogue goes:

"Would you like to hear about our new club?"
"I would if you weren't so ugly."

?

It's somewhat cheesy to try to hit on someone at their job but then again, no guts, no glory. If that lady did indeed have a boyfriend, at SOME point he had to take a chance and make a move.

I don't think she should have made a scene but I'm given to understand that reasonably attractive women , to say nothing of really pretty ones get this sort of thing ALL the time and can get tired of it. Men don't live in that world...

Pizzaboy: "Then I guess a blowjob's out of the question."

Ba-dum-bum.

Vito Spatafore: Not necessarily...

Giving one or getting one?

I think the chick made a mountain out of a mole hill. She should've accepted the compliment and been done with it.

But isn't the clear implication that he's only listening about the club because he finds her physically attractive?

Which is fine, but by drawing her attention to it with an announcement, it's gonna affect her ability to do her job without the social spotlight on her.

If there's a clear chemistry between the two prior to him saying it, perhaps the stakes change...

Either way, it's a douchebag line.

Putting aside the fact that the tone and manner of how it was said might make a difference; if I were the young girl, I'd likely in my mind roll my eyes (for such a corny line) but I wouldn't be offended by it. To me it seems she really over-reacted. I mean does any woman really mind being told they are pretty??


TIS

I agree that she may have overly reacted to a gentleman's seemingly innocent compliment. However, in this "No means 'yes' and yes means anal" type of world young ladies live in, she may have just heard one too many "compliments" that day. I have an attractive wife and a beautiful daughter who hear a lot worse than this stuff every day. At times I think the world is just so hyper sensitive that we can't decifer the kooks from the compliments. This is a tough call...definitely one for the ladies to chime in on.

The tip off that he was hitting on her and not just complimenting her was the B.S. line about "the club."

The views at the water cooler are:

Depends on the age difference.

You call him a young fella of about 25. Yet we don't know if the clerk is around the same age?
or the term "girl" is that she only a young 17 school kid .

What if the clerk was an older women?
What if it a sweet little 76 year old man said it to her would she still be offended?

Most agree that in any case that she is over reacting.
several used the term "a bitch".
Some people even wondered right away " if she just doesn't like men...."

All agree that it wasn't very wise of the young man to say and that she should have said a simple "thank you" and did her job, and not made a further comment.

She overreacted and on top of that was rude to a paying customer. He may not have joined this 'club' ( a subject which SHE introduced probably as part of her job), but as long as he was willing to listen there was that potential. If she had any charm which obviously she does not, she may have been able to use recruit the guy into whatever book club they have going.

If the manager had been within earshot she should've been fired or at the very least reprimanded.

He didn't say anything offensive, wasn't hitting on her. Just mentioned she had a pretty face. Age difference doesn't even matter. There was a time when that was taken as a compliment.

She is a moron and so is anyone who defends her.

Regards,
One of the Ladies

The old man says:


Gee, guys just can't seem to win....

it took guys centuries to stop looking at a womens chest when they talk to them !

It's very hard to comment, because we weren't there. Sometimes there are men who give off that "creepy vibe". Most women know it when they feel it. Also, you gave the guy's age, but not the girl's. If he was 25 and she was 16, then it was wrong on so many levels. If he was 25 and so was she, then she may have reacted a bit harshly.

However, would I consider her a bitch who deserves to be fired? No.

My daughter, who happens to be quite pretty, works in retail. Customers hit on her all the time. She has learned to be polite and ignore it, and most men get the hint and move on.

BOTH of your daughters are quite pretty.

There are two things that should be considered:

1. SB is correct that we weren't there, so as accurate as Fame's account probably is, we only have the verbal, not the tone or demeanor of EITHER party (although the girl's attitude after the 'beautiful face' statement is pretty obvious).

2. Taking into account not the male/female aspect but the 'employee/customer' dialogue, the fact that this guy was a patron of the store, she initiated the conversation by offering information about their 'club', something she was probably required to do...and he replied simply by stating he was willing to listen so he could continue to look at her beautiful face...it doesn't sound like he was 'hitting' on her at all. Had she not mentioned the club he may have paid for his books and been on his way without saying anything to her or anybody else.

No, she's not a bitch at all. But...she was still rude to a customer,she's still a moron, and if a manager DID fire her for that, he/she would have every right to do so.

Poor fellow...he probably went home with a real complex.

Interesting responses. Thanks for sharing the conversatin, Fame!

I agree Apple.

Then we all agree then:

Fame has to go back and get us a picture of this beauty queen, so we can judge for ourselves.
after all we are not perverts, but grown men, (holds out his arms)let there be peace among us!

What happens if "Don Nerdleone's" power grows?

(SB) It's very hard to comment, because we weren't there. Sometimes there are men who give off that "creepy vibe". Most women know it when they feel it.

I see what you mean!

I guess we would have to put him down...we can't let anything that looks like him get into the wood pile!

fatherson, can't you let him off the hook? You know, for old time's sake!

It's the way pop wanted it.

Sure, get in the car and we will drive down to the meat packaging plant and talk about it!

Over some sausage and wine!

Don Nerdleone: "It ain't the way I wanted it!!! Look at me - I'm smaht!!! Not dumb like everybody thinks!!!"

Babe, this is almost exactly what Mrs. Mark said about this subject. She also added that the "creepy man vibe" is something most women can sniff out in a second and it makes their skin crawl.

I've worked retail at a big women clothing store. We had our share of people come in that gave me the creeps male and female. We had a man come in once a week and touch and smell the ladies panties. He freaked me out but I had to help him out.