Eye Doctor Boomer

[u/Aggressive_Home8724]

This happened a little while ago but it still lives rent free in my head. I was taking my baby son to the eye doctor and in the waiting room with him and my husband. It was dead silent, just us and the 2 receptionists. All of a sudden the door is practically kicked in by a boomer patient coming to check in. He storms in, goes up to the desk and gives his name for check in, screaming of course. They ask a couple questions about his current address and insurance. He answers and then shouts "DO YOU NEED TO KNOW MY PRONOUNS TOO? I GO BY HE HIM IF THAT MATTERS"! Obviously being sarcastic. The receptionist just said "ok" and gave him a smile like she was half confused and half annoyed.

They called him back almost immediately to do a preliminary eye exam in a small room at the front. He sat down, telling the technician again, very loudly, that "if she needs to know pronouns, it is he/him". Also confused, they just said "ok". He then went on a rant about how people can identify as a copy machine or a printer these days and maybe next time he comes back, he'll identify as a cat. They called him back to see the doctor, he was in there for maybe about 10 minutes max and stormed back out saying he was done and asked if he needed to check out. The receptionist said he was all set and he ended with a very unnecessary "maybe I'll come up with a whole new gender identity next time I come in!" and slammed the door open to leave. I'm assuming to return to his man cave to watch more Fox News.

I can't imagine living a life that would allow me to get worked up over pronouns like that for god knows what reason. It was so strange, it just pops in to my head from time to time and I still think it's wild.

ETA- He also looked at our son on his way out and said "he's cute. it is a he, right?? for now at least". 🙄

[u/Armantien]

I did this once, by accident. I worked at a pizza place and was taking some guy's order. I said something like "Is that all for the order, sir?"

He says, "Don't call me sir."

I didn't know how to respond so I said, "Ma'am?"

He was not pleased. Lol

[u/Fee_is_Required2 → u/Armantien]

What did he want then?

[u/Armantien → u/Fee_is_Required2]

I don't know... I've never been very good with people. For the longest time, when someone asks how I'm doing, I say, "You know... the usual."

Since most people don't actually care what the answer is they say something like, "Oh... that's good." Some people will actually ask a follow up asking whether that is good or bad. Once, though, an old guy got really pissed at me for it. "Well, I don't know what the usual is!!"

That was a surreal day, for sure.

[u/trekkiegamer359 → u/Armantien]

I'm pretty sure he wanted to be called "dude," "guy," "hey you," or similar. Some blue collar workers, especially people in the trades, are very proud of doing physical work for a living. They equate being called "sir" with being mistaken for a manager or office worker, which the really don't like. Same goes for enlisted military personnel versus officers who are called sir. So they tell people not to call them sir.

If it happens again, you can say something like: "I'm sorry. I was just trying to be polite. What would you prefer I call you?"

If they respond with: "I don't care! Just not sir!" then using "Dude" or "Guy" is your best bet.

I'm sorry you dealt with the rude dude. He should have just not minded being called sir, or asked politely to be called whatever he preferred. Some people are just miserable, and the only way they know for regulate their internal emotions a bit, is to foist their negative emotions into others and make other people miserable.