Despite me being very high on openness and being nice, some people look bitter and frustrated and will sometimes give you the once over with odd or dismissive stares.
I'm too old to put up with their lack of manners and I have disdainful looks to fit the occasion. Being a shrinking flower is not an option on this planet and I will glare back or pretend they don't exist depending on my mood.
The odd time I will be walking down the street and someone standing there will look straight at you as you approach them (I don't care the reason). My dismissive glance makes them look away every time without fail.
It speaks volumes.
Because their lack of manners is not my problem.
A couple of decades ago, I had a side gig filling the racks for a local weekly newspaper. I did this between midnight and 4:00 AM, and it was unusual to experience an encounter with anyone. Although I usually used this time as a somewhat "safe" opportunity to express my feminine-self outside, I remember one early-morning while, presenting in "drab", I encountered a trans girl (I say girl, as she was probably in her early twenties, about 30 years younger than I was). She was kitty-corner across the intersection from me at an ATM, and I couldn't help but notice her. I was looking at her, but I don't think I was staring. Apparently, though, she let me know that she didn't like it, and she gave me the double middle finger. I've often wondered how the encounter would have gone, had I been presenting in my usual way. I'm pretty sure that my thoughts were much more to do with envy than any judgment on my part. We really don't know what's going on in the minds of others, which is why, since then, I have chosen to simply smile in return. I can get dismissive in a hurry, though, if I don't get an immediate smile in return.
ReplyDeleteYou are a nicer person than I Connie and this is what I do the vast majority of the time. It's not even about being read or not but just about creepy or weird looks people give you which when I was younger would send me into a tailspin of confidence loss. Now I feel the upper hand becsuse I don't care what anyone thinks but also feel entitled sometimes to show people why good manners should be kept. Don't gawk or stare no matter the reason:)
DeleteIn case I wasn't clear, the vast majority of the time I don't care. It's only when the person is being obvious about it 😉
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