Minding one's own business - good practice

[Aikon]

It's 2:00 AM, do you know where your weiner is?! Here's the thing, I was getting hungry and it was around midnight so I decided to go grocery shopping at my local 24/7 store. Of course, I was the only one in the store with a buggy full o' goods. So when I check out no kidding a line forms behind me because get this, management decided that not everyone with a buggy full o' goods decides to shop at midnight. THEY. WERE. WRONG.

So as soon as I start unloading things a dude and his chick stroll up behind me, if I could read mind's I could only imagine what they were thinking. Then no less than a few second later another couple... then someone else... I felt bad, until some bitch says "...sure has a lot in there for this time of night".

Some people need to shut their trap more often. However, she did have the cushion of her 6' 10" Andre' the Giant lover. I may have lost a sense of my pride, but at least I get to leave with all my teeth, otherwise wouldn't that suck considering I bought all this food? But seriously, why be mean? It's one thing to have an open personality, as I do, it's another to be a complete asshole, as I am. Mind your own business is the moral of this story. Anyone got any similar stories?

[Silverdragon00]

All the time, and too many too list. The most recent was when I was at Wal-Mart. I collect Hot Wheels cars, and I had a bunch in my cart. I was still looking and coildn't help but notice that there were quite a few people giving me stares as if buying Hot Wheels at my age was unacceptable. Had one person even ask if I was going to buy them. NO DUMBASS I WAS JUST GOING TO PARADE THEM AROUND THE STORE SKIPPING AND PRANCING THE WHOLE TIME, THEN PUT THEM ALL BACK!!

[Malcolm the Bear]

My mom was shopping at Kohl's one evening, and for whatever reason, everyone (like 10 or more people) was in line at only one checkout, when there were other checkouts open with their lights lit and cashiers standing at the counters. So my mom walks up to one of the empty lanes and asks if it's open--the cashier says yes--so my mom starts checking out there. And all the other customers stare at her with dirty looks as if she broke some sort of rule. Yeah, not really about people minding their own business--but still about people being weird at stores.

[Hanazawa]

there were quite a few people giving me stares as if buying Hot Wheels at my age was unacceptable. Had one person even ask if I was going to buy them.


How do they know you weren't buying them as gifts, or donations? Party prizes? Jeez. Even if it WAS any of their business, I hate people who jump to conclusions like that.

[RedFeather]

Yeah, I can't stand it when people peer into the pile of what you are shopping for. I mean, it's out in public and all, sure. But I don't go eye-digging in other peoples purchases looking for some odd thing to snicker at.

No wonder my dad would never buy me tampons at the store if I wasn't with him. :/

[InvaderPichu]

I sometimes get weird stares when I walk into a video game store or a toy store. What, girls can't play video games or collect toys/figurines?

[Hanazawa]

I sometimes get weird stares when I walk into a video game store or a toy store. What, girls can't play video games or collect toys/figurines?


They are assuming because you are female that you must be shopping for someone else. You look too young to be shopping for a child, so you must be shopping for a boyfriend. This disturbs them, because it means that someone who is into video games and figurines has a girlfriend.

I go game shopping with my boyfriend from time to time. He gets away with making emasculating purchases because no matter what he buys, he's still better than the employees because he has a girlfriend who goes game shopping with him.

[Iveechan]

I'm way too out of it to notice people ever staring at me if I'm buying toys or something. Once when I was in eighth grade, I was in gym wearing shorts. This girl (who was sitting down) looks at my legs and goes "How much do you weigh?". Wow. Never wore shorts in school again, even in blistering heat (still don't, but I never go outside anyway).

People who but into others' business really confuse me. I guess it's because I like keeping to myself so much.

[Evol]

I like to fuck with people who ask me those kinds of questions.

I just got a new tattoo, like last Saturday. I didn't have any Aquaphor ointment, which is what I use to treat my healing tattoos. I had to wake up at 8 am on Sunday morning to go to Walgreen's and pick it up. If you're not familiar with Aquaphor, it's a diaper rash ointment, but it works wonders at healing tattoos and keeping them moisturized (and doesn't smell like baby... yay!)

Keep in mind it's 8 am. I'm in pajamas. I'm cranky. Well, I pick up a big tube of it and go to the counter. Automatically they give me weird looks. The cashier goes, "got an angry baby at home, eh?" She didn't look at my lymphing, fresh tattoo (not that everyone knows that Aquaphor is also for that.) I said, "Oh not at home, I left them on the curb outside. I plan to apply to their asses right there on the curb."

Childfree people can't go out in public anymore, heh.

[kitsubaka]

Well I went on a shopping spree at EBgames one time. I bought around four games and a Final Fantasy figure of cerberus. When I went to the sales clerk to check out he promptly asks "Who are you buying for?" in this cocky voice. I did'nt say a word I just gave him a death glare and left after he rang me up.
I dont go shopping at EB anymore, not just because of that incident but getting off topic a sec. I went there one time and they asked me if I came to their store yesterday, because someone had stolen a good sum of money and I apparently "fit the description".

[Ruiner]

I sometimes get weird stares when I walk into a video game store or a toy store. What, girls can't play video games or collect toys/figurines?

They are in awe, gamer-girls are rarities and a wonder to behold. Gamer chicks = Teh Hawt.

[angieness]

Dude I do all my grocery shopping at like 2 am, usually the U-scan is still open so I just use that so I don't have to deal with stupid people like that. My whole purpose of shopping that late is to avoid traffic and avoid other shoppers. I work at the mall so I avoid big groups of shoppers when I'm not working

[Malcolm the Bear]

Maybe it's just my perception, but I feel that there's been a greater increase in people butting into others' affairs lately...spawned largely by political debates on social issues like abortion, gay marriage, prayer in schools, and all that. I think the Conservatives would benefit from a slogan of sorts, to help clear up any ambiguities...something like, "The Religious Right: Telling you how to live your life since 1954!"

[Silverdragon00]

I remember when I was eight or nine I was buying art supplies and the cashier asks "So, you gonna draw with this stuff?"

1. Why the hell is it your business?
2. NO I LIKE SHOVING PENCILS UP MY NOSE,WIPING MY ASS WITH SKETCHBOOK PAPER, AND EATING THE TIPS OF MARKERS!!!

So I have dealt with a lot of nosy people AND stupid questions

[Ruiner]

"So, you gonna draw with this stuff?"

Getting asked that at a Micheal's Is awesome.

[Silverdragon00]

The intelligence level of many people today is scary.

Like a few years ago when I went with my family to a grocery store preparing for barbecue with friends and getting a lot of hamburger and buns. When we checked out the cashier asks "So, you having a barbecue?" NOPE, WE HAVE REASON TO BELIEVE A NUCLEAR WAR IS BREAKING OUT AND WE'RE STOCKING UP ON SUPPLIES IN OUR BUNKER!!

[InvaderPichu]

Keep in mind it's 8 am. I'm in pajamas. I'm cranky. Well, I pick up a big tube of it and go to the counter. Automatically they give me weird looks. The cashier goes, "got an angry baby at home, eh?" She didn't look at my lymphing, fresh tattoo (not that everyone knows that Aquaphor is also for that.) I said, "Oh not at home, I left them on the curb outside. I plan to apply to their asses right there on the curb."

Childfree people can't go out in public anymore, heh.


OMG How did they react? XD

[Aikon]

Dude I do all my grocery shopping at like 2 am, usually the U-scan is still open so I just use that so I don't have to deal with stupid people like that. My whole purpose of shopping that late is to avoid traffic and avoid other shoppers. I work at the mall so I avoid big groups of shoppers when I'm not working



Me too, usually I go at 11PM or 7 AM because more lines are open but it took me awhile to get ready. What I found odd, regarding the self-checkout lines... is none were open?? Even though it's midinght it is Saturday night :P

[Kattywampus]

I hate nosey people so much. My favorite are the rude asses that walk up to me and say "Hey, what are you?"
.. For the record, I appear racially ambiguous. I've learned over the years that for some reason, people get very uncomfortable if they can't figure out your race. It pisses me off beyond belief. But yeah, they'll just walk up and say something like, "Hey are you ______?" or "What exactly *are* you?" So when people give me a stupid question like that, I give 'em a stupid answer. Of course now, there's more than a few idiots out there that actually believe I'm from the Lost City of Atlantis. Shows how ignorant they are. I remember one time, this old guy comes up to me in a store and gets RIGHT in my FACE and stares. And I said, "Can I help you?" And he replies with, "Are you from Malaysia?" And I said, "NO!" After a slight hesitation I added, "I'm from Atlantis!" My mate at the time, who has a similar appearance was nearby and I saw him start laughing. So the guy points to him and says, "Is he from Atlantis too?" and I said, "Yeah, he's Atlantean." And the guy gets all excited, and my mate walks over about that time. So the guy is like, "So...can you tell me where exactly Atlantis is located?" and my mate says, "It's a small island off the coast of Spain." And he's like, "OHHHH ok.."
We thought it was over, but it wasn't.
"So...if it's off the coast of Spain, what language do you speak?"
"English."
"Uh..I mean besides English."
Then we pretend to get offended.
"WE SPEAK ENGLISH!! That's it!! That's our national language!"
"Oh, okay. . .hey, does the goverment land those planes there?"
"We don't know what you're talking about."
"You know.. those government planes."
"No, not that we know of."
Then the guy's party walks nearby, and he's like, "Hey! My family is here! I want to tell them about this!"
And we were like, "Okay."
So as soon as he turns around to talk to them, we RUN out the store.

But yeah, the moral of the story is, don't just run up on someone and ask what their race is, especially if you can't say hi.

[Silverdragon00]

That is just scary that someone would believe you if you said you came from Atlantis

I remember another time at Wal-Mart when I was checking out and was buying a couple model car kits when the cashier asks "so, you like building cars?" WELLL GEE I DON'T, I WAS GONNA SPEND $40 ON THEM AND MELT THEM INTO PUDDLES OF PLASTIC, DIPSTICK!!

[blackdragoon]

well i don't have anything near as funny as all that yet. i know i do but i can't remember any of them. the one thing everyone knows about but hasn't been said yet is the all time classic: "hey! you gonna eat that?" i hate it when i get something to eat and just as i sit down someone asks me that question.

[uncia2000]

So the guy is like, "So...can you tell me where exactly Atlantis is located?" and my mate says, "It's a small island off the coast of Spain." And he's like, "OHHHH ok.."
We thought it was over, but it wasn't.
"So...if it's off the coast of Spain, what language do you speak?"
"English."
"Uh..I mean besides English."


*chuckles*. Some people...

Just so long as you remember not to claim to be from the United Kingdom of Atlantis, off the coast of Australia, should you get stopped by the cops for some reason. The US gov is still looking for those people...
=> http://www.angelfire.com/nv/micronations/warning.html

Could be a bit embarrassing having to explain that you only made that up on the spur of the moment.

[Malcolm the Bear]

I remember another time at Wal-Mart when I was checking out and was buying a couple model car kits when the cashier asks "so, you like building cars?" WELLL GEE I DON'T, I WAS GONNA SPEND $40 ON THEM AND MELT THEM INTO PUDDLES OF PLASTIC, DIPSTICK!!


Dang...I wanna get back into building model cars. I haven't worked on one in years.

[Hyenaworks]

Nothing is weirder than having all eyes on you when you're the only white guy in line at the store in Inglewood and you're wearing a hawaiian shirt and sandals...

[Wyrwulf]

Oh Christ...

I'm 6' 6" tall; slender as a beanstalk, but still tall. This is apparently past some magic and unknowable threshold such that people are seized by a sudden burning NEED to know precisely how tall I am when they see me. Someday I'll conduct a series of experiments to determine a numerical value for this threshold, and then have slices of my legs surgically removed. Because i am sick and fucking tired of getting asked that question. I always answer, because I'm like that, but I have secret fantasies involving a brick in a sock.

Almost as detested is "Do you play basketball?" YES, NOW BEND OVER SO KOBE AND I CAN TAKE TURNS F@%&ING YOUR MANGINA YOU NOSEY PRICK. Some day I will print up business cards with all the answers (including "Yes, the weather IS fine up here) and learn to throw them like shuriken.

[blackdragoon]

yup us tall guys to get alot of stares from people. i get people asking me all the time. ofcourse you are 3 inches taller than me and just as skinny too so i can imagine what it must be like. people need to quit being so darn nosey all the dang time.

[Bokracroc]

The intelligence level of many people today is scary.

Like a few years ago when I went with my family to a grocery store preparing for barbecue with friends and getting a lot of hamburger and buns. When we checked out the cashier asks "So, you having a barbecue?" NOPE, WE HAVE REASON TO BELIEVE A NUCLEAR WAR IS BREAKING OUT AND WE'RE STOCKING UP ON SUPPLIES IN OUR BUNKER!!

Damn! Take a freakin' chillpill.
Have you ever thought then might just be trying to strike up a conversation? Maybe they're just trying to 'reach' to you or whatever but get this:
Most of them probably aren't asking questions to be smart-arses, they're just trying to strike interaction.
The easiest to start a conversation is to ask a question.

Seriously, get out of your little paranoia-box and realize these people just want to talk to you.
I'd really hate to serve you in a store or something when I'm just trying to be friendly.

[angieness]

Yeah that's usually it. I worked at a movie store in the mall for 2 years before it closed and would occasionally ask people about the movie they're buying if it was something I enjoyed or was interested in seeing. I love anime so I usually asked "is this series any good?" or "what's this series like?" if they were buying a series I hadn't seen but wanted to know about. Yeah yeah why would they buy a series if it wasn't any good, I would usually ask the former question to people buying a first volume and the latter if it was a later volume.

I never did it to be stupid or nosey, was just trying to be nice and connect with the customer. A lot of people did appreciate how I treated them in the movie store so I got requested by name quite a lot when I wasn't working and a few customers even wanted to know my work schedule so they could come into the store when I was there.