Strangers commenting on my appearance

[SparklesandFlowers]

Went for a walk with some friends and our children in buggies. There was a man we we chatting to before we set off, I don't know him, I think he was a stranger to everyone. After the walk I saw him again and he pointed at me and said "You caught the sun". I was red but because I was hot. I certainly haven't caught the sun as I know I burn easily so I wore a hat and carried a parasol the whole time. I tried to be assertive and told him I'm naturally red and that I get red when I'm hot, angry, embarrassed, drink red wine and other things.

I'm just upset he felt it necessary to comment on my appearance. I wish I'd said "Do you mean to be so rude?" but I'm never assertive enough. Why do people feel the need to comment on others' appearance? I know I'm red, I don't need it pointing out.

I'm just upset he felt it necessary to comment on my appearance. I wish I'd said "Do you mean to be so rude?

You know when something happens to you, and then minutes / hours / days after the event, you think of the perfect, withering come-back...?

Yeah, that wasn't it.

Eh?! Massive over reaction. Perfectly normal thing to say.

You must all be lucky and not have people comment on what you look like as you go about your lives

Nope, I've had comments like you describe- it would not occur to me to be offended.

Being fat and ugly I have also had my share of mean or overly familiar comments- they are very different.

I understand how you feel. I have rosea and my face is often red. It's really embarrassing and I try and always have it covered by makeup. The slightest blink of sunshine and everyone feels like that can comment on how red I am and give me a lecture on staying out of the sun.

He pointed in your face? You didn’t originally say that. If he did that then that’s pretty rude to be fair

Wow you’re very over sensitive about a total non event. He just thought you caught the sun that’s it. If he’d shouted LOOK HOW RED YOU ARE!! and pointed and laughed then yes you’d have a point but seriously you need to chill.

You know sometimes these threads make me worried about making small talk with people and the various ways I may inadvertently upset/piss them off!

Oh so now he was pointing in your face? Right ok.

you are over reacting.

Some people exist in a state of being permanently offended.
Especially MN posters.

I'm with you on this OP. I have rosacea (and from what you said so might you) and it's astonishing how many middle aged men - and it's always middle aged men - feel the need to tell me i'm sunburnt. I'm not.

It's surprisingly irritating.

Ffs

I don't think I could get wound up about this.

I'm always dubious about not-assertive-enough people. They tend to be plenty assertive enough I find!

Sorry op I'm another one who thinks you're overreacting.

I once got told I looked sweaty and disgusting after a short walk on a very hot day. Similar situation to yours.
That was rude.
Not ‘you’ve Caught the sun’ - to me that’s a friendly remark/conversation starter, to someone who is clearly a different colour to when they seen them an hour or whatever previously.

At least he'll know not to bother trying to be friendly to you next time he sees you, red faced or not

I thought this post must have been a massive drip-feed so read the thread and wish I hadn't wasted those 5 minutes of my life... OP I think you've got heat stroke or something...

Why were you so defensive? You could have just replied with “Yeah, this bloody heatwave” or something similar rather than giving him your whole life story.

Jeeze! Seems like the sun really is getting to everyone today.

Jeez. Total overreaction. You'd have looked like a total arse using the rude question

I love that now he’s suddenly pointing in your face 😂 Will he be shouting in your next update? Maybe dropping in a swear word?

Crikey overreaction OP

Oh FFS don't be so precious

Good grief. What a prickly person you are.