Why would someone say this at petrol station?

[Lavenderwindow]

Pulled into Esso petrol station to top up. Man in car ahead had just finished and was walking into pay. I saw him briefly glance at me through windscreen. He is about my age, maybe a bit older. I am in my early 40s, able bodied, wearing my driving specs, not much to report.

I get out and start refuelling. As the man trots back to his car he says to me "I was gonna say, do you want me to do that for you?" (ie. refuel my car)

I look at him incredulously and say "No", give him a witch glare. He gets in car and goes.

I assume he is a misogynist who thinks that women can't operate a petrol pump? Fuming. I told DP and he thought the man was trying to chat me up. That is not any chat up line I've ever heard. Why would anyone say that ?

But why did someone suggest he was being a chauvinist?

I wouldn’t necessarily assume it was a mysogyny thing, unless his tone was particularly patronising or derisive. Did he sound friendly? I have to admit my first thought was that he fancied you! Or some men just have old fashioned ideas about chivalry.

A guy filled my car up a couple of months ago, made me think of the old days when there was always an attendant - I'd been following the sign which said I had to pre-pay, but it turns out you don't and he said it was OK, he'd do it for me.

Perhaps there was a bit of misogyny there, but I chose to see that one as kind and chivalrous instead :) It was a tiny garage in the deep wilds of NI where things are a little bit back in time, so anything is possible.

In your case, I'm afraid I'd think that I was looking a bit rough and he thought I needed a hand... but he could have been chatting you up as well, both are possible.

I wasn’t being serious with my comment.

Maybe he is a big sexist, but who knows?

I wasn’t being serious with my comment.

Maybe he is a big sexist, but who knows?

Yes, I bet he is kicking himself. Some bloke did something similar when I was parking my car. I blew my top at him and he left me a note on the windscreen asking me out 🫣🫣🫣🫣🫣 I am still mortified 25 years later - cringe!!!