Reacting to negative comments...

[dhchitown1984]

I work a side-job in retail in downtown Chicago. When I was working tonight, a customer (a homeless man who I think was drugged out of his mind) approached and was trying to pay for his purchase. He didn't understand how to use the pinpad for his payment card, and instead of asking for help, he said "Tell me how to use this, unless you're going to be gay and a faggot about it?"

I said "Excuse me?" And he said "You heard me faggot." I simply told him to leave the store and his business wasn't wanted. I didn't react negatively, I just didn't know if it woul be appropriate to respond.

Now, I'm just coming out now, so I kind of feel like I'm on a soap-box right now about it as I'm talking about it. Before I came out, I clearly would've brushed it off because 'i wasn't gay' but I really fet for the first time that someone was truly attacking me for who I was.

Has anyone else noticed that after coming out, the words hurt more? I kind of think that as I embrace who I am and am open about, I'll take the words a little different. How have you reacted to similar situations? Just curious since I know it won't be the last time!

 

[igamenir]

If he actually knew you are gay, than it's understandable that it can hurt more because it offends what you have accepted. But you have to get over it - not everyone is smart enough to know it's ok.

But if he didn't know, I wouldn't care. It was just the same as if he would call you motherf... or asshole or whatever.

Anyway, you reacted great - you don't have to serve everyone. You have right to show him the door if he's unpolite, drunk and/or drugged. I'm sure your boss would understand that.

 

[kemistry]

Rude customer deserves to get booted. So good job on that.

It sure does hurt more, in my case. Though, I think I'm being a bit (or a lot?) sensitive. And you are right, it wont be the last.
Guess we're all just need to develop a thicker skin, but that still sucks.

 

[ronnie_h]

For me it's quite the contrary. Since I've sorted out myself and know what I am and what I want, it doesn't bother me at all.

In general I don't care much about what people who don't know me are saying about me. People can say what they want, it doesn't mean anything to me and they can't hurt me.

 

[HornyHenry]

I put up with more than my share of verbal and other abuse in junior and senior high school(I didnt come out til after my first year of college although I knew during my senior year of high school that I'd be gay) so I'm glad you told the filthy heterosexist doper to get lost. His kind can go sleep in the dumpster or the gutter with the rest of the trash.

 

[IllgetyouHackman]

I wouldn't even think about letting a dirt bag bring you down, just ignore it and look at it as a drug up moron.

 

[rareboy]

I would have just said 'What's it to you hobo?'

Wanna blow this?

 

[KaraBulut]

If a customer is making rude comments toward an employee or toward another customer, they deserve to get the boot and to be told to take their business elsewhere.

The only thing strange or unusual about your story is a homeless person using a credit card and having trouble with the PIN pad. Makes me wonder whose credit card he was using...