Mom Mocks Dirty Man At Store In Front Of Her Daughter, So He Reveals His True Identity
Greta J. BoredPanda staff
Stopping at the grocery store on the way home from a long day at work is an everyday occurrence for many of us. For those who do physically demanding, outdoor work, that might mean rocking up to the supermarket looking a bit worn and shabby, and that’s understandable isn’t it?
One mom didn’t think so. Andy Ross of Vancouver, Washington, noticed a little girl staring at him at the store. The former special operations medic, who now works in the construction industry, was on his way home from a day at the site and had a bit of dirt on his face. He thought nothing of the little girl looking curiously at him, until her mother pointed in his direction and he overheard her say: “That is why you need to stay in school.”
Judgmental much? Needless to say, Andy wasn’t too impressed with the mom’s attitude, teaching her little girl to write somebody off based on nothing but outside appearances. He took the opportunity to introduce himself, and teach her a lesson she would do well to heed. “I spoke up because I didn’t feel it was right for a child to believe that because you’re dirty means you’re uneducated,” Andy told Bored Panda. “I know a lot of very dirty men and women and they are highly intelligent and educated.”
“It was just a spur of the moment kind of thing. The reaction is much more than I ever would have expected, I’ve heard many amazing stories of people who have been in similar scenarios. Very humbling to see how many people appreciate it and have shared it!”
Scroll down below to see how it unfolded for yourself, and let us know what you think in the comments. Was Andy right to say what he said? Would you have done the same? Join the conversation!
This man with a dirty face is Andy Ross from Vancouver, Washington
A mom he met in a store assumed he was uneducated based on his appearance, so he decided to teach her a lesson
This is what he looks like with his face ‘clean’
People offered support for Andy’s response, and some related to him with their similar stories
Popular on Bored Panda
What do you think ?
I'm going to get a million down-votes for this, but I can't resist as I've been in a similar situation.... I think that he's over-compensating a little bit too much. It's fine to quietly say something like "actually, I have a PhD" and - if you really want to mess with their heads - "also, I am a multimillionaire", but leave the detailed resume for a job application. All that this extended ramble does is risk stirring antagonism to people who achieve, and it embarrasses a parent in front of a child, which is a serious thing to do for petty self-agrandisment... (Acknowledgement - I come from Australia where one of our largest companies had the byline "The Quiet Achiever", so perhaps this is an Aussie thing...Apologies to all the people that I'll probably offend.)
No downvote from me. My feeling was also that this read more than a justification, and it had a bit too much pride in it. A single, clever punchline might have done a better job. Probably addressing the little girl like this: "Yes, listen to your mother! See, I found a company and after having a college degree I can work as whatever I like, even if I want to get as dirty as today. Isn't that fantastic?"
Great suggestion! To be honest I am a bit sceptical that anyone would stand still to listen to him for that long. I can't be certain, never having been in this situation, but I'm fairly certain that I'd have scarpered!
I really like your suggested answer Hans, that would have said more with far less words IMO.
Hans - that is a great suggestion. It is hard to think of just the right thing to say on the fly, but I will try to remember that for when this happens to me. (Honestly, I rarely go anywhere with dirt on my face, but it has happened.)
I have doubts that a stranger would stand there and be happy to listen to him waffle on about how great he is for the twenty minutes it would take to finish saying that novel.
Ah! Just saw your response after finishing mine and we had the same thought. I think he may be exaggerating a teeny, weeny bit.
Totally agree. That said, I highly doubt he had time to recount his entire autobio while merely leaving a supermarket. When you leave a supermarket, you only have 3 seconds to say something out of the blue to a complete stranger. Anything longer than that usually leads to a fight. Basic psychology.
Alternate title: woman makes tasteless, thoughtless throw away comment.....and gets over the top vilified by the internet for it.
EXACTLY! Great comment!
Dude never pass up the opportunity to berate a complete stranger and their child about your "many medical certifications".
I agree with you. He seems a full of himself
Agree. Uber self serving post.
Point three is a bit shaky too. He says 'blue collar jobs are the best'. Well, that's maybe just his opinion. Some people may prefer a desk job, so to them, they are the best. Couple of grammar errors too, but I can let that slide as I make a lot of typos myself.
I totally agree Dian so no downvote from me. You have a really valid point with your comment...well more than one point. Basically in my humble opinion... Nobody likes a smart arse!
I don’t even believe that he really delivered that full spiel to them - they definitely would have walked away quickly as soon as he started talking as people don’t like being publicly embarrassed! He even said she made the comment to her daughter on their way out the store, so I don’t believe they stopped and came back over to listen to him! Also that he wouldn’t have been quite so eloquent given that he was probably a bit pissed off by what she said. Chances are he either did say something like ‘actually I’m medically qualified’ and that was it, or he said nothing, felt angry and wrote down on Facebook later what he wished he’d said
I thought that too
Thumbs UP!!!
agree with you -
None from me either. I have trouble parsing the sentence "they can pay great and don't always come with a price tag". Never mind the adjective being used instead of an adverb, but when do jobs come with a price tag?I have no idea what he's trying to say. I would have led with "don't be an a-hole parent and reach your kid to be one too" and left it at that.
Great Diana. My words!
Beautifully stated, my Aussie friend.
I agree completely. Seems like he was just as judgmental about her, made equally bad assumptions all in his own insecurity over his appearance. And then his "Lessons" are completely inappropriate, calling this lady an asshole and raising an asshole kid? Seriously? What a tool. The fact of the matter is EVERYONE judges everyone. It's why we aren't friends with everyone. Why don't you like Andy? Because he's a tool. I bet not all goths are jerks, but I still don't befriend them. As far as stares go, people get off on getting stared at so they can pronounce how inferior everyone else is for staring at them, despite that being their goal, consciously or not.
Unless you have been in a similar situation you have no clue what you would say. I am not offended as much as amused. I too have a degree, 2 actually, and a job few realize how much education is needed for it. Also I get dirty at times. But I chose a profession that I could wear shorts, t-shirts, tennis shoes, no makeup and a ponytail and still be well paid upper management. But so many assume that a messy job means uneducated....................
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you sound like a butthurt mother,he was not rude,he actually teached something to the little girl the mother will probably never teach her,never judge a cover by its book
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I love the fact he embarresed the child in front of her mother...good for him! She needed to be taken down a few notches from the high horse shes riding on...gaurentee shes doesnt work, and has a very rich husband...because ONLY a snobby bitch would say something like that. He doesnt need to be told what he should of said...what he said was the perfect answer....good for him.
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I think making the lady look like the judgemental bitch tha she is, right in front of her kid, it's part of the educational chat. Same for the detailed explanation, sometimes humiliation is well due
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sorry double post, no idea what happened
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I am getting my Ph.D. I was in the Marines, I teach geology, and I have had to go to stores many times looking like I just went through the mud pit. This scene is all to relevant to people who work for a living and don't sit behind a desk all the time. Judgement is swift and often times very sharp but never allowed to be explained. I think this guy did just fine. Its not that he went up to the woman and her child and laid it out for them. He went onto twitter and explained how he felt. and why he was happy with who he was. What the hell is wrong with that? You people are really finicky in whom you support. White guy who is looked down on because of how he looks and you don't want to support him, black guy who is looked down on because of how he looks and suddenly you want to praise him. How about just praise the guy who is able to stand on his own two feet, make a living for himself and his family, regardless of how he looks? You people make me sick and are what is wrong.
"People who work for a living and don't sit behind a desk all the time." That sounds pretty damn judgemental. You're not better than others because you don't work behind a desk, have a PhD, or served in the military.
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Jealous, much? He CHOSE his life, he enjoys what he does, and he has earned everything he has. He has a right to be proud.
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Because people are judgmental jerks and when they get snotty about total strangers they deserve to get smacked for it. He did it politely but firmly and while the mother will probably continue to be a jerk, the daughter might have learned something.
Why do people share all of this on the internet? I taught someone a lesson and now everyone needs to know! She's judge but it seems like nobody can do anything without giving an essay about it
God, no shit. So tedious. Look how special I am and how fragile my ego is that I was mistaken for a construction worker!! (Oh dear!!!!) And I get to flaunt my weekend warrior status!! Boring.
what an asshole response not a weekend warrior a field medic in active combat show respect
I mean I've done shit like this before, but don't feel the need to tweet it out. Because... nobody cares!
We care about you, Caithlyn. :)
haha thanks Hans appreciate it!
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It's actually face book
They share it because this never happened. It's fake, created to get upvotes, stroke own ego, you name it. yeah they was just standing there listening to his pages long rant. BS.
My favourite part is where he uses his hat as an excuse to start going on about how amazing he is for being a hunter and gun owner. Relevance to anything, mate?
I follow a lot of pages that post ridiculous stories and the caption will say 'today in shit that never happened land'. Cracks me up
And then he talks about how big his work boots are...
I see your point, I find it a bit exaggerated too, but it teaches people to not let anyone throw shit their way, to stand up for yourself, especially if someone judges you wrong and makes you look bad in front of someone else. And it's a good lesson to the kid, however way it happened really. I am 30 and I still need to read stuff like this to get it through my complexed head that I should actually stand up for myself if someone does something like that to me.
You should stand up for yourself of course, but you don't need stranger on the internet to tell exaggerated stories about it. People don't need to tell the world every time they stand up for themselves. If it's important to you, you'll do it. You don't need someone else's approval
agree with both. He should have stood up for himself, just in a shorter way🤔
Wait... why is this downvoted?
You should have taken the idea from this story. Just to repeat what he said : never judge a book by its cover. If you don't feel comfortable to read it, then don't do it. Simple as that!
Yeah, that happened. /s
I'm going to get a million down-votes for this, but I can't resist as I've been in a similar situation.... I think that he's over-compensating a little bit too much. It's fine to quietly say something like "actually, I have a PhD" and - if you really want to mess with their heads - "also, I am a multimillionaire", but leave the detailed resume for a job application. All that this extended ramble does is risk stirring antagonism to people who achieve, and it embarrasses a parent in front of a child, which is a serious thing to do for petty self-agrandisment... (Acknowledgement - I come from Australia where one of our largest companies had the byline "The Quiet Achiever", so perhaps this is an Aussie thing...Apologies to all the people that I'll probably offend.)
No downvote from me. My feeling was also that this read more than a justification, and it had a bit too much pride in it. A single, clever punchline might have done a better job. Probably addressing the little girl like this: "Yes, listen to your mother! See, I found a company and after having a college degree I can work as whatever I like, even if I want to get as dirty as today. Isn't that fantastic?"
Great suggestion! To be honest I am a bit sceptical that anyone would stand still to listen to him for that long. I can't be certain, never having been in this situation, but I'm fairly certain that I'd have scarpered!
I really like your suggested answer Hans, that would have said more with far less words IMO.
Hans - that is a great suggestion. It is hard to think of just the right thing to say on the fly, but I will try to remember that for when this happens to me. (Honestly, I rarely go anywhere with dirt on my face, but it has happened.)
I have doubts that a stranger would stand there and be happy to listen to him waffle on about how great he is for the twenty minutes it would take to finish saying that novel.
Ah! Just saw your response after finishing mine and we had the same thought. I think he may be exaggerating a teeny, weeny bit.
Totally agree. That said, I highly doubt he had time to recount his entire autobio while merely leaving a supermarket. When you leave a supermarket, you only have 3 seconds to say something out of the blue to a complete stranger. Anything longer than that usually leads to a fight. Basic psychology.
Alternate title: woman makes tasteless, thoughtless throw away comment.....and gets over the top vilified by the internet for it.
EXACTLY! Great comment!
Dude never pass up the opportunity to berate a complete stranger and their child about your "many medical certifications".
I agree with you. He seems a full of himself
Agree. Uber self serving post.
Point three is a bit shaky too. He says 'blue collar jobs are the best'. Well, that's maybe just his opinion. Some people may prefer a desk job, so to them, they are the best. Couple of grammar errors too, but I can let that slide as I make a lot of typos myself.
I totally agree Dian so no downvote from me. You have a really valid point with your comment...well more than one point. Basically in my humble opinion... Nobody likes a smart arse!
I don’t even believe that he really delivered that full spiel to them - they definitely would have walked away quickly as soon as he started talking as people don’t like being publicly embarrassed! He even said she made the comment to her daughter on their way out the store, so I don’t believe they stopped and came back over to listen to him! Also that he wouldn’t have been quite so eloquent given that he was probably a bit pissed off by what she said. Chances are he either did say something like ‘actually I’m medically qualified’ and that was it, or he said nothing, felt angry and wrote down on Facebook later what he wished he’d said
I thought that too
Thumbs UP!!!
agree with you -
None from me either. I have trouble parsing the sentence "they can pay great and don't always come with a price tag". Never mind the adjective being used instead of an adverb, but when do jobs come with a price tag?I have no idea what he's trying to say. I would have led with "don't be an a-hole parent and reach your kid to be one too" and left it at that.
Great Diana. My words!
Beautifully stated, my Aussie friend.
I agree completely. Seems like he was just as judgmental about her, made equally bad assumptions all in his own insecurity over his appearance. And then his "Lessons" are completely inappropriate, calling this lady an asshole and raising an asshole kid? Seriously? What a tool. The fact of the matter is EVERYONE judges everyone. It's why we aren't friends with everyone. Why don't you like Andy? Because he's a tool. I bet not all goths are jerks, but I still don't befriend them. As far as stares go, people get off on getting stared at so they can pronounce how inferior everyone else is for staring at them, despite that being their goal, consciously or not.
Unless you have been in a similar situation you have no clue what you would say. I am not offended as much as amused. I too have a degree, 2 actually, and a job few realize how much education is needed for it. Also I get dirty at times. But I chose a profession that I could wear shorts, t-shirts, tennis shoes, no makeup and a ponytail and still be well paid upper management. But so many assume that a messy job means uneducated....................
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you sound like a butthurt mother,he was not rude,he actually teached something to the little girl the mother will probably never teach her,never judge a cover by its book
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
I love the fact he embarresed the child in front of her mother...good for him! She needed to be taken down a few notches from the high horse shes riding on...gaurentee shes doesnt work, and has a very rich husband...because ONLY a snobby bitch would say something like that. He doesnt need to be told what he should of said...what he said was the perfect answer....good for him.
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
I think making the lady look like the judgemental bitch tha she is, right in front of her kid, it's part of the educational chat. Same for the detailed explanation, sometimes humiliation is well due
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
sorry double post, no idea what happened
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
I am getting my Ph.D. I was in the Marines, I teach geology, and I have had to go to stores many times looking like I just went through the mud pit. This scene is all to relevant to people who work for a living and don't sit behind a desk all the time. Judgement is swift and often times very sharp but never allowed to be explained. I think this guy did just fine. Its not that he went up to the woman and her child and laid it out for them. He went onto twitter and explained how he felt. and why he was happy with who he was. What the hell is wrong with that? You people are really finicky in whom you support. White guy who is looked down on because of how he looks and you don't want to support him, black guy who is looked down on because of how he looks and suddenly you want to praise him. How about just praise the guy who is able to stand on his own two feet, make a living for himself and his family, regardless of how he looks? You people make me sick and are what is wrong.
"People who work for a living and don't sit behind a desk all the time." That sounds pretty damn judgemental. You're not better than others because you don't work behind a desk, have a PhD, or served in the military.
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
Jealous, much? He CHOSE his life, he enjoys what he does, and he has earned everything he has. He has a right to be proud.
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
Because people are judgmental jerks and when they get snotty about total strangers they deserve to get smacked for it. He did it politely but firmly and while the mother will probably continue to be a jerk, the daughter might have learned something.
Why do people share all of this on the internet? I taught someone a lesson and now everyone needs to know! She's judge but it seems like nobody can do anything without giving an essay about it
God, no shit. So tedious. Look how special I am and how fragile my ego is that I was mistaken for a construction worker!! (Oh dear!!!!) And I get to flaunt my weekend warrior status!! Boring.
what an asshole response not a weekend warrior a field medic in active combat show respect
I mean I've done shit like this before, but don't feel the need to tweet it out. Because... nobody cares!
We care about you, Caithlyn. :)
haha thanks Hans appreciate it!
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
It's actually face book
They share it because this never happened. It's fake, created to get upvotes, stroke own ego, you name it. yeah they was just standing there listening to his pages long rant. BS.
My favourite part is where he uses his hat as an excuse to start going on about how amazing he is for being a hunter and gun owner. Relevance to anything, mate?
I follow a lot of pages that post ridiculous stories and the caption will say 'today in shit that never happened land'. Cracks me up
And then he talks about how big his work boots are...
I see your point, I find it a bit exaggerated too, but it teaches people to not let anyone throw shit their way, to stand up for yourself, especially if someone judges you wrong and makes you look bad in front of someone else. And it's a good lesson to the kid, however way it happened really. I am 30 and I still need to read stuff like this to get it through my complexed head that I should actually stand up for myself if someone does something like that to me.
You should stand up for yourself of course, but you don't need stranger on the internet to tell exaggerated stories about it. People don't need to tell the world every time they stand up for themselves. If it's important to you, you'll do it. You don't need someone else's approval
agree with both. He should have stood up for himself, just in a shorter way🤔
Wait... why is this downvoted?
You should have taken the idea from this story. Just to repeat what he said : never judge a book by its cover. If you don't feel comfortable to read it, then don't do it. Simple as that!
Yeah, that happened. /s