“I’m Going To Report You To A Manager!”: ‘Old White Lady’ Mistakes Customer For An Employee, Gets Mocked Instead
InterviewThe customer isn’t always right. Especially when they assume someone is an employee… at a store they don’t even work at. Of course, nearly everyone has mistaken a stranger for a staff member at least once, even though nobody likes to accept it. But it’s how you handle the next moments of the conversation that truly defines the level of embarrassment you’re about to feel.
One shopper, however, showed her true colors after she approached a fellow buyer, lashed out, and just couldn’t admit her fault. This scenario comes from Redditor RainbowSprinkles4, who recently shared her encounter with an “Old White Lady” radiating powerful Karen energy at Joann fabrics and crafts store. As she detailed in a post on the ‘I Don’t Work Here Lady’ subreddit, she was browsing the shelves on Halloween when she heard someone shouting at her.
The rude lady addressed her with an accosting “you work here?”, and you already know it’s gonna be good. She started bombarding the woman with commands to get her fabric cut, but the user picked the perfect weapon to respond — humor. Read on to find out how the situation unfolded, as well as our interview with the Redditor, and be sure to share what you think of the whole exchange in the comments!
One lady had mistaken a stranger for an employee and lashed out at her in the store, refusing to accept the fact she doesn’t work there
Image credits: Kahyap Pictures (not the actual photo)
So the customer decided to have some fun and share the encounter online
Image credits: RainbowSprinkles4
Image credits: cottonbro studio (not the actual photo)
We got in touch with the author of the post who was kind enough to chat with us about the encounter. RainbowSprinkles4 explained that her boyfriend, who’s really into Reddit, inspired her to share the post online. “I texted him the story as soon as I left the store because I was basically in shock. He mentioned this subreddit, and I had been lurking on the site for a while and decided to give sharing it a shot,” the Redditor told Bored Panda.
The ‘I Don’t Work Here Lady’ online community is the perfect space for stories like this one. The forum, which is essentially a “derivative of subreddits like Tales From Retail” was created 8 years ago to offer a platform for people to share “stories about folks that go into other businesses and have irate customers mistake them for employees.”
The woman was shocked to see the story blow up on the platform to the extent it did. “For the most part, everyone has been commiserating from their own Karen experiences and getting a good laugh out of it. I love making people laugh, so those responses are my favorite. There have been a few people who thought I made it up, but honestly, who could make this up?”
We were curious to learn how the situation unfolded, and RainbowSprinkles4 was more than happy to give us an update. “Basically she kinda snarled at me, I don’t know a better word for the sound she made. Just a loud, ‘ugh!'” After this confusing exchange, the lady stormed off, “literally just left her cart in the middle of the store. It was really anticlimactic, but I’m kinda glad it didn’t escalate.”
Later on, the user joined the discussion in the comments to clarify some details
Still, the motivation behind the lady’s actions remains a mystery: “Who knows why anyone acts the way they do?” Redditor asked. “There have been a few people who have mentioned that it sounds like the effects of some kind of lapse in mental ability, and I hope it’s not that cause I would feel really bad for being so snarky.”
But the woman, who is currently working several jobs — “one as a teacher and one in food service” — has noticed a significant upswing in entitlement lately on all fronts. “I think we’re all feeling that rush and pressure, and it gets taken out on whoever causes that hiccup,” she added.
Emily Zitek, a professor at Cornell University’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations, told us in a previous interview that researchers debate whether entitlement in our society is getting more severe. “Some people think the data indicates that entitlement is going up, and others think that entitlement is staying the same.”
But why do people behave this way? In essence, “entitled individuals view themselves as unique, and they believe that they should receive rewards and benefits, such as more money, better grades, or preferential treatment, regardless of their performance or effort in comparison with others,” Zitek explained.
Psychological entitlement makes people more selfish, follow instructions less often, and make them more likely to believe that things that are unpleasant for them are unfair. And as many of us know from personal experience, dealing with such individuals is challenging. “People who have to interact with entitled people report lower well-being and burnout.” So if you ever find yourself in such a situation, you “should remember that this person’s claims are not based on merit and that if [you] reject this person’s request, the person will likely get angry or upset.”
This seems to be exactly the case here, and the author of the story shared her biggest takeaway from the whole experience. “The best answer is a witty answer. Sure, cussing someone out is cathartic, but there’s no better feeling than being devastatingly clever.”
Readers applauded the way this person handled the situation and chimed in with their own experiences
Once I mistook a customer for store employee(he was wearing same color tshirt) and asked him whether they have this(shirt or something)in M size. He started looking for it. There was a girl with him who started laughing and I realized he was shopping just like me. I apologized to him. I heard him saying to the girl that it would have been rude of him not to help me.
I made the mistake of wearing a red t-shirt into Target early in the morning when most of the people there are staff frantically restocking things.
Load More Replies...I'm tall and people in stores ask me to get stuff off of top shelves sometimes. They know I don't work there I think, But they know I can reach! I have had a few elderly ladies ask if I "work here?", I say no, can I help you though? Ha ha...like what I am going to be able to help with?? Oh yeah..the stuff on the top shelf....
Okay, okay... I've been guilty of this! I'm a shortie, so on a couple of occasions I've asked a kindly tall person to reach something on a tall shelf. On behalf of short people everywhere, we thank you for your tall stature and help! ☺️
Load More Replies...I have been threatened to have them "get/call my manager" in so many places that I had never worked in. Now, I never wear a red shirt or jacket in Target, a blue one in Walmart, a tropical one in Trader Joe's, a green polo ANYWHERE that has plants in it or a shirt with a logo on it in any store. If confronted, I act deaf and can't speak english.
Good story—but I could do without the “old WHITE lady” description. Who gives a f@ck what color the person is here or in any other matter?
If you read the comments, the poster explains why she described her that way, and she’s not wrong.
Load More Replies...I'm starting to not find these funny anymore and more likely to think these old ladies probably just have mild dementia or the beginnings of alzheimer's or senility. So it just makes me sad instead.
Nope. Neither of those things are an excuse to be a douche nozzle to ANYONE. I've known several people with dementia and Alzheimer's, and NONE ofthem would have been this nasty. That's a reflection of the character of the woman, not her neurological state.
Load More Replies...I'm a Black woman and this happens to me ALL THE TIME. And it is ALWAYS older white women. RainbowSprinkles4 is just callin' it as she sees it.
Load More Replies...Last time this happened to me I (f66) was putting clothes I’d tried on at Kohl’s on the return rack in the dressing room. A 30-some year old woman demanded that I find her the shirt she’d tried on in a different size. When I explained that I didn’t work there she yelled at me for having my iPad (the case for which doubles as my wallet) with me. Apparently, carrying an iPad made me indistinguishable from a sales clerk, so it was my fault that she mistook me - and why was I putting clothes on the returns rack if I was just a customer. I mean, I dunno. Maybe because they have signs up asking you to put the stuff you don’t want there? I looked after she left in a huff. Of course, her dressing room was a mess of discarded try-ons laying in heaps and piles. Because, I guess “real customers” don’t clean up after themselves.
Yes, people, 30 something. I highly doubt she had dementia.
Load More Replies...I had a similar situation, only via a mix-up with Etsy. I received a heated message from a lady about her order, but she clearly messaged me by mistake. I replied: "Hello! I'm sorry, but you've accidentally messaged the wrong person, as I'm not a seller" . Then I explained how she could contact the person she purchased from. She responded: "Well, where is my order?? Don't you know? Find it or give me a refund!". I again explained that I wasn't a seller and that she should contact the proper person, then she got *really* pissed...saying she wanted a refund immediately, why can't I just tell her where her order was, and finished with "Don't contact me again!" Yeah, dementia is no joke.
She clearly doesn’t understand how Etsy works, and thought you were another Etsy employee.
Load More Replies...If it's egregious, or they ignore the first "I don't work here" I like to go with the mirror technique - pretend you think they're an employee offering you help. "Oh, no thankyou, I don't need any fabric cut today, I'm just looking at these frosting tips. Do you know if this is the whole range you stock?" Then you start Karen-ing back at them "You should be better informed about your product range/please don't take that tone of voice with me/please get me a manager."
I look like 13 yo (I'm 15) and STILL someone mistook me. I just told her where the item was (I shopped there daily) and that was it. Needles to say I had no uniform.
I had something similar. Was wearing a work polo shirt and was browsing/drooling in an electronics shop. Some woman demanded I help her find something. I refused and said i don't work there. She said she'd report me to the manager. I said OK, let's go find one. As we were walking through the shop she was muttering that she'd have me sacked. When we found a manager she went off on one at him. He was.....I don't know this guy, he doesn't work here. Woman left the shop in a major huff. Months later I was back in the shop getting some cabling and the manager came over to the cashier and said to her, "Do you know, this guy doesn't work here" and just walked off laughing away to himself. Had to explain the background to the very confused cashier
I don't find this at all funny. It is quite obvious from the conversation that the lady involved was suffering from some sort of dementia. Having watched several relatives and friends die from this, this Karen theme is cruel in the extreme...
What makes it obvious she has dementia when this behavior/interaction could just as easily describe an a*****e? Considering the number of assholes out there--especially at retail stores, I don't think there's enough information to make that determination.
Load More Replies...My husband has had many people demand help in many retail locations. Most apologize after learning he doesn't work there but a few have escalated, accused him of lying, being lazy, his name so the customer can get him fired, one even suggested he was racist because my husband was refusing to help a black guy. Sometimes people don't want to hear "I don't work here"
'Old White Lady'. In what universe is it okay to disparage someone by race? Seriously, BP, can't you find something better to post?
It seems categorising people by race and using that as a marker for profiling is OK again. It's a shame, I thought we had come a long way, alas, racism is back in the mainstream again.
Load More Replies...It's pretty clear this old lady had bad hearing, perhaps mixed with some level of cognitive decline, but maybe not. Bad hearing creates in older people an inability to understand that goes far beyond missing a word or two. They can get used to presuming they've misheard several words per sentence. The result is that they can actually hear, "not an employee," but still process it as "not my job." Then they take that as, "screw off, you old codger; you're no longer relevant." The result is that people who used to be quite kind, decent people and who can still be very sweet and caring in certain contexts can come off as bewilderingly combative.
And more often, older people who act like this never were "sweet and caring" with anyone they didn't care about impressing.
Load More Replies..."Do you want to call my mom?" That was awesome. In my case you do not want to call my mom. She will give you a lot more c**p than I ever will. Add to that she used to sew a lot and worked in a fabric store for a few years. That conversation is not going to go well for "Karen". :-D
Can someone explain to me why Americans don't have an infamous "Chad" or "Hunter" to go with the "Karen"? Or do they? It's as if being annoying, insensitive or bad-mannered (or, yes, demented) was a female prerogative.
The woman must be the daughter of a woman that I encountered on an overnight train ride many years ago. I was sitting in the lounge area in the restroom area holding an infant when the woman came in. When she saw me she uttered "hey get me some water". I said that I'm holding my baby. The water fountain was just outside the restroom. She still insisted. My mind in those years was not always ready for situations like this. Then it dawned on me that she didnt see me. She saw a servant. I said No with no excuses. She didnt know what to say. Later I saw 2 women and mentioned it to them. They said that she was carrying on in their area. Sometimes I think that families allow their pain in the neck relatives who have all sorts of issues to travel alone. Now its planes instead of trains.
This has happened to me a few times. All with old women. I have had a women wrestle a shopping trolley away from me because she thought I was a manager of the store (no idea why). And I was waiting for someone at the entrance of a store when someone walked in and asked if they could leave their bags at the front of the store whilst they shopped - I was that surprised I just said "Yes, if you want". And so she did! The last time was with a wrong phone call - an old battle axe thought she'd called the doctors, I politely explained I wasn't but she was insistent I was (and that she hadn't made a mistake) and she demanded I did her repeat prescription - despite repeatedly saying "I'm not a doctor, you've called the wrong number" and her getting irate with me I eventually said "Fine, it'll be ready tomorrow".
When I was grocery shopping at the beginning of the pandemic lockdown I passed a pair of confused teenage boys several times in the store as they pushed a shopping cart and had a phone conversation with someone helping them find what they wanted. By the time I was in the deli they were totally frustrated, and I could hear the person on the phone saying "The one you like is white and next to the hummus. Put the phone up to the case so I can see what's there." So when I stepped up to get myself some tzatziki I was able to offer to help them. They were so polite and thankful! I know how it feels when you can't find what you're looking for (mostly because I'm so short that if the shelves aren't fronted I can't see what's in stock above my head). I've had shoppers help me before, and having a bad day is no excuse for not being polite.
There have been so many times I've been mistaken for an employee at Dollar Tree. I have no idea why. All employees must wear a green shirt (although shade doesn't matter), and I'll be in there with a purple shirt, a basket with junk on my arm, and keys in my hand, staring at the wall of junk, and someone will ask for my help. Sometimes, when I say, "I don't know," or "I think it's on aisle __," they'll say something like, "you don't work here?" And I'm like, uh, no. Wake up. Also got mistaken at walmart... like, I'm not even wearing a smock and I have a freakin' cart full of groceries. Why do I always look so much like an employee?
My work shirt used to be blue and the logo (my job) on it started with a W. I could not go in walmart after work with the shirt on. Every single time i was asked questions from other shoppers. Where is this or that. I got a thing of gatorades down for one lady. I say I don't work here and it takes them a minute to register the blue shirt with a W did not stand for walmart.
As a white-passing person of color who shops at Joann's, this story reads 100% as true. Sewing fabric -especially cotton quilting fabric- is not cheap, so a lot of their customers are well-off, usually middle-aged or older ladies, who tend to expect to be treated according to what they perceive as their class and station in life. And that means that they want their fabric to be cut Right Now.
Load More Replies...Never understood why some people get so angry at other people. Judging by some of the comments it's proof that if people would only be kind and courteous to each other people would be willing to help. You get nothing by being harsh and rude towards someone. If you would just kindly ask the worse thing that could happen is they turn you down. It's not the end of word and there's no reason to get mad.
Why is it okay to use the term "old white lady"? I get she was a jerk but I feel that is inappropriate. No, I'm not offended in any way as an older white lady lol but it seems divisive in my opinion.
I probably would had offered to go get someone for her, then limped to the front desk showing my walking difficulties just to make her feel selfish
I hadn't realize that our town had gotten rid of all, except one, the gas stations with service. I had never put my own gas (I was only 22) and I was struggling to go ahead because the man I thought worked there was busy. He was checking me so I had good reason to think he worked there. When he finished I called him over, ask him to put some gas and clean my front window. Came to give him a tip ... Oops. At the stores (grocery, etc.) I don't hesitate to ask strangers for help - I'm only 5'.
Really?? I learned to pump gas at the age of 16, when I got my license. It should be mandatory.
Load More Replies...I must look approachable and like I know what I'm doing because people always stop me and ask me questions about where things are, especially in grocery stores. I was walking in NYC in lower Manhattan and a box truck driver stopped me and asked if I knew where the loading zone was (The front of the building was locked and he was told by a passing cop to move ASAP but not told where to go). I laughed and told him I was just a tourist from Ohio. He apologized and said I looked like I knew where I was going. Nope, my mom was tagging along behind me while I looked for a not too busy place to grab lunch.
Ok so guess how shitty it is for ACTUAL staff. Now you know why NO ONE wants to work customer service jobs now.
I used to work at Dollar Tree and we wore bright green polos with a tree on it. I once was in a Walmart. Mind you that Walmart is blue with a bright yellow star as it's logo. A woman was snarky to me, "where can I find this?" I had my back to her and was shopping, I turned around with an "I'm sorry I don't work here" she was like "oh well I saw the polo and I assumed." I raised my eyebrow and replied with "My green Dollar Tree polo, and you assumed I work at Walmart, who has all their staff in blue vests?"
I was in my security clothes after work at a Walmart and I had three people ask me where stuff was once. After that I kept a sweater in my car, even if it was hot I'd throw it on to cover up my security shirt. 😆
Load More Replies...When the old lady is white there must be emphasis on the white. When she's not, it's just old lady. Glad I lived long enough for anti-white racism to be socially accepted. You love to see it.
Well if it's an issue with a description then she shouldn't had said "old" or "lady" I'm sick of people complaining about descriptions. Do you realize that the government has brainwashed people into being racist by making it all about complaining about descriptions. Have you ever read a book? Most stories will describe a person so you can picture them. I can't imagine how y'all would react if it was a black old lady. Omg God forbid anyone describe a person. If race should be removed from a description then I guess sex and age should too. Gotta love our future polices reports. A human robbed the store. What does he look like? Well, I saw the person and I know what this person looks like but I'm not allowed to describe the looks of these person, but if you can help me locate this random person with no description, thanks. Smh y'all are so fixated on the most ridiculous ignorance. FYI I am white and a majority of my friend are not white, not black, not Hispanic, not Asian, not, Middle
Load More Replies...I am not normally mistaken for an employee at the big box stores but I do get asked questions while in the baking aisle when wearing my company jacket; I'm a chocolatier. Since most are pretty odd things that most staff won't know, I try to answer what I can. They've never been rude and are always thankful for the help. Hoping I never run into people like this.
I usually have a little extra time, so when this happens I cause a little scene. Last time I threw myself to my knees and started crying loudly "oh! Why you leave us mama! PLEASE come back! Daddy's drinking and his belt stings something fierce! Ya gotsta come back, mama!" After that, I stood up and walked away like nothing happened. The same person has never bothered me twice. Though, I make sure to never actually touch them, even for dramatic effect. Hands on floor, bro. Hands on floor.
Im always in the same 4-5 stores so if people asked me where things are at I have no problem of telling them. But to ask me to cut some fabric I can't that's not allowed. It's a liability if she would have said I I'm sorry do you see anyone around that can help me I would not have mind getting someone I'm pretty sure that young lady in the story wouldn't have mind neither.
I think this story wouldn't have been received so well if the title given to the lady was "Old Black Lady" or "Old Indian Lady" for example. I don't see what being white or being old had to do with the story. Since these descriptors are not pertinent to the story, they are being used to stereotype. This is ageism and racism. To prove my point, this story would stand alone with the same outcome and entertainment value had these descriptors been omitted. ALL RACISM PERPETUATES ALL RACISM.
This kind of c**p, i would just have told her to mind her own business and do wherever she feels she has to, but in somewhat less polite words... Having said that, i have no problems whatsoever lending others a helping hand, tell people where to find stuff if i know where it is, offer to reach for something high up if I see someone struggling, or help a hand lifting something. But Ken's and Karens? I can go to lengths just to make their little brittle lifes that little bit extra frustrating... Just be kind, ask, and i'll help you, no bother, just as I occasionally ask some other customer - excuse me, but you wouldn't happen to know where X is? with a thank you either way...
Someone said they start meowing at the person doing/saying objectionable things. I'm going to try that next time.
I’ve done that where I’ve mistakenly miss took a customer for an employee, I always say sorry, people have thought I was an employee, when I tell them I’m Not, they take it well. What cracked me up was when that cranky old lady ask what was she doing there? Maybe she had dementia? Hope I’m not like that when I get older?
I can relate. Same store, Joann Fabrics. with plastic flowers in hand and browsing, two white ladies approached me and asked if I worked there, I said no. One lady response was, “ it looked like you are holding a duster plus you are wearing black”. I was mad at myself for not offering to bake them a pie. Hopefully you have seen The Help LOL.
😂😂 this is too funny! I had something like this happen to me at Michaels 2x!!! Little old ladies asking me if I knew where something was. Even when I said no they kept asking 😂 I paid no mind I laughed it up and walked away.
Back in March, I was on my way home from a comic con in Glasgow. I'm in Star Trek cosplay, and carrying a teddy bear wearing a Star Trek uniform (his name's Radcliffe BTW, he's my con buddy), and some poor deluded woman *still* thought I was a member of ScotRail staff.
She should have charged at the old lady and started to chomp her teeth like a dog.
I would've told her to tell my Father God since he's watching how you're acting 😇
Imagine if the poster referred to someone as an "old black lady". Does her race really even matter to this story? Just call her "old lady" or "crazy lady" would be perfectly sufficient. Anyway, had the same thing happen to me at Walmart because I was wearing a blue shirt, minus the threat of going to a manager. But apparently blue shirts and blue smocks are one in the same.
It's a good when people can give responses to an annoying situation without batting an eye. I guess the trick is to find some situations amusing.
I mistook a customer for an employee a couple of times. I apologized, shared a laugh and we each went about our day. The end.
This is relatively funny until you realize the old lady is likely suffering from dementia. Still, that means she should definitely not be out on her own. Oof.
But but but what if she had dementia??? Well I suppose you could excuse any bad behavior that way, couldn't you. And I guarantee you, if someone was acting like TA when they have dementia, they were also TA well beforehand.
Hypocrisy at its finest. In our society now older white woman are being targeted for violence, just look at the news. This type article evokes bitter, hateful feelings towards older white woman. It is never ok to allow hypocrisy, because then we allow anyone to determine the rules and who's worthy of hate speech snd who's not. The term Karen is another term solely used for white woman and it also evokes hate. To the author, do me a favor and repost this article writing the term old black woman in place of old white woman. Then we will see how it makes people feel.
I made an account so I can comment to the stupid white woman who wrote it. I mean since we are handing out labels here, right? I will delete my account, stop following Bored Panda because its obvious allowing anyone to determine who is worthy of being protected by hate speech is the way you operate.
Load More Replies...This might be an unpopular opinion but.. What relevance does her skin color have to this? My wife and I have this conversation everytime my mother or her parents are over. Every story they tell begins with "this white guy" "this black guy" "this gay guy" or whatever version. 99% of the time it has ZERO relevance to the story. I feel like we're creating stereotypes still by making our protected categories front and center of every story when it literally doesn't change anything. If this was an old black lady, Hispanic lady, white guy.. Would it change the story? It's just an old person demanding things as they often do. I get this is all covered in the comments from reddit.. But still.. Race is relevant until it's not. You can't have it both ways. Just my two cents of a father that just wants my young daughters to stop asking me about why X skin color people do certain things. We're all just people who do things.
Racism is still so prevalent exactly because of the attitude that "skin color doesn't matter," and youneed to explain to your young daughter that people with different racial features may do thinfs differently because they're treated differently by society as a whole, and that it's not wrong or "weird" to act differently from the way she would unless it's actually harmful behavior. Yeah, we're all "people who do things," and some of us do horrible nasty things based on people's perceived race, and sone of us do things that are disproportionately harmful to people of certain racial groups without even understanding that's what we're doing. Yes, in fact, it WOULD change the story if it was an old black lady, Hispanic lady, white guy... because it would change how the behavior was perceived by the reader. Denying that fact doesn't make it less a FACT.
Load More Replies...Or serious entitlement. I've had it happen with people i their 20s and 30s, too; you gonna claim it's dementia in ALL of them?
Load More Replies...It really annoys me that they have to point out old "white" lady. I'm going to guess that the person that shared this story is black. They truly are obsessed with skin colour. No white person says things like "my white a*s", but with black people it's always "my black a*s", "my black this, my black that". We never feel the need to point out our own skin colour when we say things. And before anyone calls me racist, black is a perfectly acceptable term, and there's nothing racist about a correct observation. If you're offended by my comment, well, that's on you. Again, there's nothing racist about a correct observation. One thing that I will apologise for is if I'm wrong about the skin colour of the person that shared this story. That's all. My observation still stands. It also really annoys me that when you post a comment on here it removes your paragraphs.
Does her being white make a difference or is this just another bash white people post?
A young, black, lady was parked in a handicap spot without a handicap ID/marker and she was throwing trash in the parking lot, last week. That's who I see doing that disgusting behavior 9 times out of 10. I'm agist sexist, and racist for saying that, right? It's cool though. If you can do it, then I will. Thank you for normalizing hatred, again.
Old white lady?. F**k off. Anti white trash. I am going to block bored panda from showing up on my phone.
Actually Republicans fought for the rights for all races. Maybe read your History books
Load More Replies...Now if the article said "old black lady" then that would be racist right?
Once I mistook a customer for store employee(he was wearing same color tshirt) and asked him whether they have this(shirt or something)in M size. He started looking for it. There was a girl with him who started laughing and I realized he was shopping just like me. I apologized to him. I heard him saying to the girl that it would have been rude of him not to help me.
I made the mistake of wearing a red t-shirt into Target early in the morning when most of the people there are staff frantically restocking things.
Load More Replies...I'm tall and people in stores ask me to get stuff off of top shelves sometimes. They know I don't work there I think, But they know I can reach! I have had a few elderly ladies ask if I "work here?", I say no, can I help you though? Ha ha...like what I am going to be able to help with?? Oh yeah..the stuff on the top shelf....
Okay, okay... I've been guilty of this! I'm a shortie, so on a couple of occasions I've asked a kindly tall person to reach something on a tall shelf. On behalf of short people everywhere, we thank you for your tall stature and help! ☺️
Load More Replies...I have been threatened to have them "get/call my manager" in so many places that I had never worked in. Now, I never wear a red shirt or jacket in Target, a blue one in Walmart, a tropical one in Trader Joe's, a green polo ANYWHERE that has plants in it or a shirt with a logo on it in any store. If confronted, I act deaf and can't speak english.
Good story—but I could do without the “old WHITE lady” description. Who gives a f@ck what color the person is here or in any other matter?
If you read the comments, the poster explains why she described her that way, and she’s not wrong.
Load More Replies...I'm starting to not find these funny anymore and more likely to think these old ladies probably just have mild dementia or the beginnings of alzheimer's or senility. So it just makes me sad instead.
Nope. Neither of those things are an excuse to be a douche nozzle to ANYONE. I've known several people with dementia and Alzheimer's, and NONE ofthem would have been this nasty. That's a reflection of the character of the woman, not her neurological state.
Load More Replies...I'm a Black woman and this happens to me ALL THE TIME. And it is ALWAYS older white women. RainbowSprinkles4 is just callin' it as she sees it.
Load More Replies...Last time this happened to me I (f66) was putting clothes I’d tried on at Kohl’s on the return rack in the dressing room. A 30-some year old woman demanded that I find her the shirt she’d tried on in a different size. When I explained that I didn’t work there she yelled at me for having my iPad (the case for which doubles as my wallet) with me. Apparently, carrying an iPad made me indistinguishable from a sales clerk, so it was my fault that she mistook me - and why was I putting clothes on the returns rack if I was just a customer. I mean, I dunno. Maybe because they have signs up asking you to put the stuff you don’t want there? I looked after she left in a huff. Of course, her dressing room was a mess of discarded try-ons laying in heaps and piles. Because, I guess “real customers” don’t clean up after themselves.
Yes, people, 30 something. I highly doubt she had dementia.
Load More Replies...I had a similar situation, only via a mix-up with Etsy. I received a heated message from a lady about her order, but she clearly messaged me by mistake. I replied: "Hello! I'm sorry, but you've accidentally messaged the wrong person, as I'm not a seller" . Then I explained how she could contact the person she purchased from. She responded: "Well, where is my order?? Don't you know? Find it or give me a refund!". I again explained that I wasn't a seller and that she should contact the proper person, then she got *really* pissed...saying she wanted a refund immediately, why can't I just tell her where her order was, and finished with "Don't contact me again!" Yeah, dementia is no joke.
She clearly doesn’t understand how Etsy works, and thought you were another Etsy employee.
Load More Replies...If it's egregious, or they ignore the first "I don't work here" I like to go with the mirror technique - pretend you think they're an employee offering you help. "Oh, no thankyou, I don't need any fabric cut today, I'm just looking at these frosting tips. Do you know if this is the whole range you stock?" Then you start Karen-ing back at them "You should be better informed about your product range/please don't take that tone of voice with me/please get me a manager."
I look like 13 yo (I'm 15) and STILL someone mistook me. I just told her where the item was (I shopped there daily) and that was it. Needles to say I had no uniform.
I had something similar. Was wearing a work polo shirt and was browsing/drooling in an electronics shop. Some woman demanded I help her find something. I refused and said i don't work there. She said she'd report me to the manager. I said OK, let's go find one. As we were walking through the shop she was muttering that she'd have me sacked. When we found a manager she went off on one at him. He was.....I don't know this guy, he doesn't work here. Woman left the shop in a major huff. Months later I was back in the shop getting some cabling and the manager came over to the cashier and said to her, "Do you know, this guy doesn't work here" and just walked off laughing away to himself. Had to explain the background to the very confused cashier
I don't find this at all funny. It is quite obvious from the conversation that the lady involved was suffering from some sort of dementia. Having watched several relatives and friends die from this, this Karen theme is cruel in the extreme...
What makes it obvious she has dementia when this behavior/interaction could just as easily describe an a*****e? Considering the number of assholes out there--especially at retail stores, I don't think there's enough information to make that determination.
Load More Replies...My husband has had many people demand help in many retail locations. Most apologize after learning he doesn't work there but a few have escalated, accused him of lying, being lazy, his name so the customer can get him fired, one even suggested he was racist because my husband was refusing to help a black guy. Sometimes people don't want to hear "I don't work here"
'Old White Lady'. In what universe is it okay to disparage someone by race? Seriously, BP, can't you find something better to post?
It seems categorising people by race and using that as a marker for profiling is OK again. It's a shame, I thought we had come a long way, alas, racism is back in the mainstream again.
Load More Replies...It's pretty clear this old lady had bad hearing, perhaps mixed with some level of cognitive decline, but maybe not. Bad hearing creates in older people an inability to understand that goes far beyond missing a word or two. They can get used to presuming they've misheard several words per sentence. The result is that they can actually hear, "not an employee," but still process it as "not my job." Then they take that as, "screw off, you old codger; you're no longer relevant." The result is that people who used to be quite kind, decent people and who can still be very sweet and caring in certain contexts can come off as bewilderingly combative.
And more often, older people who act like this never were "sweet and caring" with anyone they didn't care about impressing.
Load More Replies..."Do you want to call my mom?" That was awesome. In my case you do not want to call my mom. She will give you a lot more c**p than I ever will. Add to that she used to sew a lot and worked in a fabric store for a few years. That conversation is not going to go well for "Karen". :-D
Can someone explain to me why Americans don't have an infamous "Chad" or "Hunter" to go with the "Karen"? Or do they? It's as if being annoying, insensitive or bad-mannered (or, yes, demented) was a female prerogative.
The woman must be the daughter of a woman that I encountered on an overnight train ride many years ago. I was sitting in the lounge area in the restroom area holding an infant when the woman came in. When she saw me she uttered "hey get me some water". I said that I'm holding my baby. The water fountain was just outside the restroom. She still insisted. My mind in those years was not always ready for situations like this. Then it dawned on me that she didnt see me. She saw a servant. I said No with no excuses. She didnt know what to say. Later I saw 2 women and mentioned it to them. They said that she was carrying on in their area. Sometimes I think that families allow their pain in the neck relatives who have all sorts of issues to travel alone. Now its planes instead of trains.
This has happened to me a few times. All with old women. I have had a women wrestle a shopping trolley away from me because she thought I was a manager of the store (no idea why). And I was waiting for someone at the entrance of a store when someone walked in and asked if they could leave their bags at the front of the store whilst they shopped - I was that surprised I just said "Yes, if you want". And so she did! The last time was with a wrong phone call - an old battle axe thought she'd called the doctors, I politely explained I wasn't but she was insistent I was (and that she hadn't made a mistake) and she demanded I did her repeat prescription - despite repeatedly saying "I'm not a doctor, you've called the wrong number" and her getting irate with me I eventually said "Fine, it'll be ready tomorrow".
When I was grocery shopping at the beginning of the pandemic lockdown I passed a pair of confused teenage boys several times in the store as they pushed a shopping cart and had a phone conversation with someone helping them find what they wanted. By the time I was in the deli they were totally frustrated, and I could hear the person on the phone saying "The one you like is white and next to the hummus. Put the phone up to the case so I can see what's there." So when I stepped up to get myself some tzatziki I was able to offer to help them. They were so polite and thankful! I know how it feels when you can't find what you're looking for (mostly because I'm so short that if the shelves aren't fronted I can't see what's in stock above my head). I've had shoppers help me before, and having a bad day is no excuse for not being polite.
There have been so many times I've been mistaken for an employee at Dollar Tree. I have no idea why. All employees must wear a green shirt (although shade doesn't matter), and I'll be in there with a purple shirt, a basket with junk on my arm, and keys in my hand, staring at the wall of junk, and someone will ask for my help. Sometimes, when I say, "I don't know," or "I think it's on aisle __," they'll say something like, "you don't work here?" And I'm like, uh, no. Wake up. Also got mistaken at walmart... like, I'm not even wearing a smock and I have a freakin' cart full of groceries. Why do I always look so much like an employee?
My work shirt used to be blue and the logo (my job) on it started with a W. I could not go in walmart after work with the shirt on. Every single time i was asked questions from other shoppers. Where is this or that. I got a thing of gatorades down for one lady. I say I don't work here and it takes them a minute to register the blue shirt with a W did not stand for walmart.
As a white-passing person of color who shops at Joann's, this story reads 100% as true. Sewing fabric -especially cotton quilting fabric- is not cheap, so a lot of their customers are well-off, usually middle-aged or older ladies, who tend to expect to be treated according to what they perceive as their class and station in life. And that means that they want their fabric to be cut Right Now.
Load More Replies...Never understood why some people get so angry at other people. Judging by some of the comments it's proof that if people would only be kind and courteous to each other people would be willing to help. You get nothing by being harsh and rude towards someone. If you would just kindly ask the worse thing that could happen is they turn you down. It's not the end of word and there's no reason to get mad.
Why is it okay to use the term "old white lady"? I get she was a jerk but I feel that is inappropriate. No, I'm not offended in any way as an older white lady lol but it seems divisive in my opinion.
I probably would had offered to go get someone for her, then limped to the front desk showing my walking difficulties just to make her feel selfish
I hadn't realize that our town had gotten rid of all, except one, the gas stations with service. I had never put my own gas (I was only 22) and I was struggling to go ahead because the man I thought worked there was busy. He was checking me so I had good reason to think he worked there. When he finished I called him over, ask him to put some gas and clean my front window. Came to give him a tip ... Oops. At the stores (grocery, etc.) I don't hesitate to ask strangers for help - I'm only 5'.
Really?? I learned to pump gas at the age of 16, when I got my license. It should be mandatory.
Load More Replies...I must look approachable and like I know what I'm doing because people always stop me and ask me questions about where things are, especially in grocery stores. I was walking in NYC in lower Manhattan and a box truck driver stopped me and asked if I knew where the loading zone was (The front of the building was locked and he was told by a passing cop to move ASAP but not told where to go). I laughed and told him I was just a tourist from Ohio. He apologized and said I looked like I knew where I was going. Nope, my mom was tagging along behind me while I looked for a not too busy place to grab lunch.
Ok so guess how shitty it is for ACTUAL staff. Now you know why NO ONE wants to work customer service jobs now.
I used to work at Dollar Tree and we wore bright green polos with a tree on it. I once was in a Walmart. Mind you that Walmart is blue with a bright yellow star as it's logo. A woman was snarky to me, "where can I find this?" I had my back to her and was shopping, I turned around with an "I'm sorry I don't work here" she was like "oh well I saw the polo and I assumed." I raised my eyebrow and replied with "My green Dollar Tree polo, and you assumed I work at Walmart, who has all their staff in blue vests?"
I was in my security clothes after work at a Walmart and I had three people ask me where stuff was once. After that I kept a sweater in my car, even if it was hot I'd throw it on to cover up my security shirt. 😆
Load More Replies...When the old lady is white there must be emphasis on the white. When she's not, it's just old lady. Glad I lived long enough for anti-white racism to be socially accepted. You love to see it.
Well if it's an issue with a description then she shouldn't had said "old" or "lady" I'm sick of people complaining about descriptions. Do you realize that the government has brainwashed people into being racist by making it all about complaining about descriptions. Have you ever read a book? Most stories will describe a person so you can picture them. I can't imagine how y'all would react if it was a black old lady. Omg God forbid anyone describe a person. If race should be removed from a description then I guess sex and age should too. Gotta love our future polices reports. A human robbed the store. What does he look like? Well, I saw the person and I know what this person looks like but I'm not allowed to describe the looks of these person, but if you can help me locate this random person with no description, thanks. Smh y'all are so fixated on the most ridiculous ignorance. FYI I am white and a majority of my friend are not white, not black, not Hispanic, not Asian, not, Middle
Load More Replies...I am not normally mistaken for an employee at the big box stores but I do get asked questions while in the baking aisle when wearing my company jacket; I'm a chocolatier. Since most are pretty odd things that most staff won't know, I try to answer what I can. They've never been rude and are always thankful for the help. Hoping I never run into people like this.
I usually have a little extra time, so when this happens I cause a little scene. Last time I threw myself to my knees and started crying loudly "oh! Why you leave us mama! PLEASE come back! Daddy's drinking and his belt stings something fierce! Ya gotsta come back, mama!" After that, I stood up and walked away like nothing happened. The same person has never bothered me twice. Though, I make sure to never actually touch them, even for dramatic effect. Hands on floor, bro. Hands on floor.
Im always in the same 4-5 stores so if people asked me where things are at I have no problem of telling them. But to ask me to cut some fabric I can't that's not allowed. It's a liability if she would have said I I'm sorry do you see anyone around that can help me I would not have mind getting someone I'm pretty sure that young lady in the story wouldn't have mind neither.
I think this story wouldn't have been received so well if the title given to the lady was "Old Black Lady" or "Old Indian Lady" for example. I don't see what being white or being old had to do with the story. Since these descriptors are not pertinent to the story, they are being used to stereotype. This is ageism and racism. To prove my point, this story would stand alone with the same outcome and entertainment value had these descriptors been omitted. ALL RACISM PERPETUATES ALL RACISM.
This kind of c**p, i would just have told her to mind her own business and do wherever she feels she has to, but in somewhat less polite words... Having said that, i have no problems whatsoever lending others a helping hand, tell people where to find stuff if i know where it is, offer to reach for something high up if I see someone struggling, or help a hand lifting something. But Ken's and Karens? I can go to lengths just to make their little brittle lifes that little bit extra frustrating... Just be kind, ask, and i'll help you, no bother, just as I occasionally ask some other customer - excuse me, but you wouldn't happen to know where X is? with a thank you either way...
Someone said they start meowing at the person doing/saying objectionable things. I'm going to try that next time.
I’ve done that where I’ve mistakenly miss took a customer for an employee, I always say sorry, people have thought I was an employee, when I tell them I’m Not, they take it well. What cracked me up was when that cranky old lady ask what was she doing there? Maybe she had dementia? Hope I’m not like that when I get older?
I can relate. Same store, Joann Fabrics. with plastic flowers in hand and browsing, two white ladies approached me and asked if I worked there, I said no. One lady response was, “ it looked like you are holding a duster plus you are wearing black”. I was mad at myself for not offering to bake them a pie. Hopefully you have seen The Help LOL.
😂😂 this is too funny! I had something like this happen to me at Michaels 2x!!! Little old ladies asking me if I knew where something was. Even when I said no they kept asking 😂 I paid no mind I laughed it up and walked away.
Back in March, I was on my way home from a comic con in Glasgow. I'm in Star Trek cosplay, and carrying a teddy bear wearing a Star Trek uniform (his name's Radcliffe BTW, he's my con buddy), and some poor deluded woman *still* thought I was a member of ScotRail staff.
She should have charged at the old lady and started to chomp her teeth like a dog.
I would've told her to tell my Father God since he's watching how you're acting 😇
Imagine if the poster referred to someone as an "old black lady". Does her race really even matter to this story? Just call her "old lady" or "crazy lady" would be perfectly sufficient. Anyway, had the same thing happen to me at Walmart because I was wearing a blue shirt, minus the threat of going to a manager. But apparently blue shirts and blue smocks are one in the same.
It's a good when people can give responses to an annoying situation without batting an eye. I guess the trick is to find some situations amusing.
I mistook a customer for an employee a couple of times. I apologized, shared a laugh and we each went about our day. The end.
This is relatively funny until you realize the old lady is likely suffering from dementia. Still, that means she should definitely not be out on her own. Oof.
But but but what if she had dementia??? Well I suppose you could excuse any bad behavior that way, couldn't you. And I guarantee you, if someone was acting like TA when they have dementia, they were also TA well beforehand.
Hypocrisy at its finest. In our society now older white woman are being targeted for violence, just look at the news. This type article evokes bitter, hateful feelings towards older white woman. It is never ok to allow hypocrisy, because then we allow anyone to determine the rules and who's worthy of hate speech snd who's not. The term Karen is another term solely used for white woman and it also evokes hate. To the author, do me a favor and repost this article writing the term old black woman in place of old white woman. Then we will see how it makes people feel.
I made an account so I can comment to the stupid white woman who wrote it. I mean since we are handing out labels here, right? I will delete my account, stop following Bored Panda because its obvious allowing anyone to determine who is worthy of being protected by hate speech is the way you operate.
Load More Replies...This might be an unpopular opinion but.. What relevance does her skin color have to this? My wife and I have this conversation everytime my mother or her parents are over. Every story they tell begins with "this white guy" "this black guy" "this gay guy" or whatever version. 99% of the time it has ZERO relevance to the story. I feel like we're creating stereotypes still by making our protected categories front and center of every story when it literally doesn't change anything. If this was an old black lady, Hispanic lady, white guy.. Would it change the story? It's just an old person demanding things as they often do. I get this is all covered in the comments from reddit.. But still.. Race is relevant until it's not. You can't have it both ways. Just my two cents of a father that just wants my young daughters to stop asking me about why X skin color people do certain things. We're all just people who do things.
Racism is still so prevalent exactly because of the attitude that "skin color doesn't matter," and youneed to explain to your young daughter that people with different racial features may do thinfs differently because they're treated differently by society as a whole, and that it's not wrong or "weird" to act differently from the way she would unless it's actually harmful behavior. Yeah, we're all "people who do things," and some of us do horrible nasty things based on people's perceived race, and sone of us do things that are disproportionately harmful to people of certain racial groups without even understanding that's what we're doing. Yes, in fact, it WOULD change the story if it was an old black lady, Hispanic lady, white guy... because it would change how the behavior was perceived by the reader. Denying that fact doesn't make it less a FACT.
Load More Replies...Or serious entitlement. I've had it happen with people i their 20s and 30s, too; you gonna claim it's dementia in ALL of them?
Load More Replies...It really annoys me that they have to point out old "white" lady. I'm going to guess that the person that shared this story is black. They truly are obsessed with skin colour. No white person says things like "my white a*s", but with black people it's always "my black a*s", "my black this, my black that". We never feel the need to point out our own skin colour when we say things. And before anyone calls me racist, black is a perfectly acceptable term, and there's nothing racist about a correct observation. If you're offended by my comment, well, that's on you. Again, there's nothing racist about a correct observation. One thing that I will apologise for is if I'm wrong about the skin colour of the person that shared this story. That's all. My observation still stands. It also really annoys me that when you post a comment on here it removes your paragraphs.
Does her being white make a difference or is this just another bash white people post?
A young, black, lady was parked in a handicap spot without a handicap ID/marker and she was throwing trash in the parking lot, last week. That's who I see doing that disgusting behavior 9 times out of 10. I'm agist sexist, and racist for saying that, right? It's cool though. If you can do it, then I will. Thank you for normalizing hatred, again.
Old white lady?. F**k off. Anti white trash. I am going to block bored panda from showing up on my phone.
Actually Republicans fought for the rights for all races. Maybe read your History books
Load More Replies...Now if the article said "old black lady" then that would be racist right?
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