What I don't get is reactions like
My boyfriend and I are really big animal people, and we also enjoy going to the zoo. Last week we decided why not go out and get a full on zoo membership so we can support them better. So we got one and were happily enjoying our zooishness, until we got to the souvenir shop to look for a map.
First, we walk in and look for the maps. There aren't any, so I figure that we can look around before going to guest services. Sometimes zoo shops have cute (overpriced) stuff. So I'm looking at some nifty binocular/flashlight/compass thing when these two employees who have not asked me if I needed help, but only talked amongst themselves start looking at me in HORROR or something.
Then they whisper amongst themselves some and the questioning starts.
Girl 1: *pained look on face, points to septum piercing* DID THAT HURTED? (yes, she really said hurted)
Girl 2: IS THAT REAL?
Me: *politely, but quickly* No, it didn't, yes it is
Girl 1: "giggle giggle *points to ears* Are those real? Did it hurt? What is that?"
Girl 2: *mumbles something about a tribe and giggles*
Me: "No, it didn't hurt" *starts looking at stuff that is obviously more interesting than questions I've been asked 100 times*
Girl 1: "Cuz this guy came in before and his were bigger and metal and he said it hurt"
Me: *wondering why they feel the need to ask someone these questions if they've already seen these piercings before* "Well, if it hurt, he was doing it wrong."
At this point, my boyfriend is trying to lure me away. I'm sure that he saw I was turning bright red, and he knows that I get anxiety talking to people I don't know outside of a familiar work environment. I go to look at some mock African instruments they have made, and I can still hear the girls discussing my piercings for a good 10 minutes after I walk away.
Once again, I never got asked if I needed help finding anything, and the girls did ask other people if they wanted help. I was only treated as a spectacle.
I know some people think that when one modifies their body, they are "asking for it", but I do expect some common decency and to be treated as a paying customer too, you know? I could have spent a good amount of money there, my boyfriend too. I considered complaining, but in the end I was too flustered and nervous due to the questioning.
from people who are supposed to be giving ME service. First, we walk in and look for the maps. There aren't any, so I figure that we can look around before going to guest services. Sometimes zoo shops have cute (overpriced) stuff. So I'm looking at some nifty binocular/flashlight/compass thing when these two employees who have not asked me if I needed help, but only talked amongst themselves start looking at me in HORROR or something.
Then they whisper amongst themselves some and the questioning starts.
Girl 1: *pained look on face, points to septum piercing* DID THAT HURTED? (yes, she really said hurted)
Girl 2: IS THAT REAL?
Me: *politely, but quickly* No, it didn't, yes it is
Girl 1: "giggle giggle *points to ears* Are those real? Did it hurt? What is that?"
Girl 2: *mumbles something about a tribe and giggles*
Me: "No, it didn't hurt" *starts looking at stuff that is obviously more interesting than questions I've been asked 100 times*
Girl 1: "Cuz this guy came in before and his were bigger and metal and he said it hurt"
Me: *wondering why they feel the need to ask someone these questions if they've already seen these piercings before* "Well, if it hurt, he was doing it wrong."
At this point, my boyfriend is trying to lure me away. I'm sure that he saw I was turning bright red, and he knows that I get anxiety talking to people I don't know outside of a familiar work environment. I go to look at some mock African instruments they have made, and I can still hear the girls discussing my piercings for a good 10 minutes after I walk away.
Once again, I never got asked if I needed help finding anything, and the girls did ask other people if they wanted help. I was only treated as a spectacle.
I know some people think that when one modifies their body, they are "asking for it", but I do expect some common decency and to be treated as a paying customer too, you know? I could have spent a good amount of money there, my boyfriend too. I considered complaining, but in the end I was too flustered and nervous due to the questioning.