Market Research It Was Not...

On my lunch breaks, I walk into the local town to buy food (and makeup, most days!).  One day last week on my way back, I had something quite odd happen to me.

I'd stopped, walking and was stood on the side of the pavement, out of people's way and I was on Twitter on my iPhone.  

I re-iterate.  I was NOT in anyone's way.  I was on the side of the pavement.

An old lady, and when I say old I guess late 70's, stops me and says with that air of scorn and derision that older people seem to think its okay to direct at those younger:

"What would you do without mobile phones?"

A number of answers went through my brain, as did a number of questions, the first being:

"Who the hell do you think you are?  I wasn't in your way?  I'm not asking what you'd do without your shopping trolley.  They didn't have them in the old days and people had to manage.  It's no different."

Shortly followed by:

"Why the fuck do I get all the nutters directing their questions at me?"

This was followed by a statement.

"My Grannie would never have been so nosey."  Because she wasn't.  She was a live and let live sorta lady.

I begin to contemplate possible answers.  Most were littered with expletives and cutting sarcasm as is my trademark:

"Well, if it wasn't for the phone I'd be so bored that I'd probably turn to crime.  Mugging old ladies, etc.  Hey, what's in the trolley?"

The most apt, although I didn't use it was

"I'd be unemployed if you must know.  I work in the industry."  Which is true.  I do.

I ended up using, and imagine this in a slightly confused tone:

"Erm, I'd probably just use the landline more often."

She half laughed and walked away.  

I told a colleague when I got back to the office whose immediate response was "Just because they're old, doesn't mean they're nice".  Valid point.

I'm just amazed that she had the gall to do it. I could have been all kinds of crazy.  Granted I was wearing a suit, but even so, crazy people have jobs at some point.

It's fascinating that someone felt so compelled to make a judgement out loud.  Sure, I judge all the time, but in my head, not crowbarring my way into someone's day and a shoving my opinions down their throat.

I'd wanted to use one of the rude answers but reminded myself that she was someone's Grannie too and that I wouldn't want someone to be nasty to mine. Of course, mine wouldn't have ever done that and was actually pretty tech savvy - she had a mobile phone, a laptop, she emailed.  

My Grannie rocked.  I miss her.

Comments

[Dena]

"Well, if it wasn't for the phone I'd be so bored that I'd probably turn to crime. Mugging old ladies, etc. Hey, what's in the trolley?

*snort* You're hilarious...(I liked this line the best)

[Daniel Hoffmann-Gill]

Not all old people are cool.

[Beth]

@Dena Thanks! Shame I didn't quite have the balls to say it.

@DHG Amen sir. She was not cool.

[ellie]

When my granddad was dying, we went to the hospice to visit him. The hospice was full of old geezers and their feminine counterparts. My brother at that time had very long hair. As we walked the hall to my grandfather's room, and old lady from one of the rooms we passed yelled out, "Getchya outta here ya long haired cocksucker!"

Not all old people are nice. But some are very funny in their not so niceness!

[Beth]

@ellie Wow, cocksucker is a little harsh! It is funny though, in a slightly shocking way. And to think, they say that the youth have no manners.

[Roses]

Grumpy old bag.

Those kind of encounters are always escalator moments for me. All the things I could have said...

The rudest people I have encountered on the buses, generally are the elderly. Logically, it's because it's been so long ago since they were taught manners, they've forgotten most of them.

[Beth]

@Roses I'd never thought of it that way, but you're right. I just wouldn't dream of butting in to someone elses life like that.

[Nazli]

it was just her way of "twittering", Beth :-)