to not expect a lecture at the checkout?

[WelshMaenad]

Popped into local co op last night for some beer for DH (he had been fitting new kitchen, bless him) and some Pepsi max for me.

Chap in front of me at checkout. Was buying a few items including single can of coke. It got stuck and didn't get rung through with his other shopping, so I pointed it out. Checkout lady apologised and said she thought it was mine, and I said "Oh no, I can't have sugar, it's bad for me!".

Pertinent fact - I am diabetic.

Chap in front points at my Pepsi max and starts RANTING at me that it contains aspartame, a "dangerous neurotoxin, that stuff will KILL YOU, you are stupid to think its better for you than sugar just because it has no calories, you should educate yourself, read a book once in a while!".

Er, fuck off grasshopper? I know aspartame is contentious, but really, what business is it of his??

at wherearemy I am definately one of those scary loony chatty women I irritate myself!

I was lecturered about ff v bf by girl on till in Boots when DS was a baby. She refused to sell me the formula. I had yo take it to the next till.

YANBU

If it's legal to buy it then people in the supermarket shouldn't "tell you off" for eating/drinking it.

I don't believe that aspartame is particularly harmful, but even if I did it's rude to start ranting about it when someone just wants to get their shopping and go home.

You did rather invite a discussion on the topic by starting to chat about what is "bad for you" though.

There's chatty and there's sounds like you are up for a discussion on food health.

A can of Pepsi Max is exactly as dangerous as a can of Coke when hurled full tilt at the face of irritating people ;)

He was probably pissed at you for pointing out to the cashier that he hadn't been charged for his coke

A can of Pepsi Max is crap anyway.

Coke Zero is much tastier.

Pepsi Max was invented in 1993. Coke Zero in 2006. That's 13 more years of diet-cola technology.

He reacted to you commenting on his can of coke.

Seeming as you where buying alcohol, it would seem like you were making a comment about his shopping to get at him. Unless you can buy sugar free beer, that is.

It probably seemed like a strange thing to say, to the cashier.

Why wouldn't you just say, "It's not mine."... without the rest?

Urgh, no, coke zero is awful! I can just about tolerate diet coke.

I had a 2 litre bottle of neurotoxin stew to his paltry can, so in a fight I'd have won anyway.

Probably irrelevant dripfeed but I am friendly with the cashier and SHE knows I'm diabetic, and it was her I was talking to.

Not irrelevant - makes the difference between pious "it's bad for you" and poorly-phrased "you know I have special dietary requirements".

He thought you were making a pointed remark about the coke. Some people fly off the handle before engaging their brain to see if there's any other explanation for what someone's said.

(and by that I mean him not you!)

Best Line: A can of Pepsi Max is exactly as dangerous as a can of Coke when hurled full tilt at the face of irritating people ;)

firstly - bwa ha ha ha @ 'fuck off grasshopper' (I have no idea why but it made me roar)

secondly - I am one of those people who impart nuggets of personal information apropos of virtually nothing. Stick around for more than five minutes and you are in danger of knowing my life story.
As minesapint puts it 'I irritate myself'. Luckily I live in East London and they are used to scary mad chatty women round here.

MrsDeVere, it's a line from Hot Fuzz. DH and I are stupidly addicted. Whenever I serve up spag Bol he is prone to telling "It's alright Andy, it's bolognese!!!" at volume.

Maybe we'd fit in we'll in E London

Do twiglets make you violent?

He did go a bit OTT! I think it did sound as if you were saying that sugar was "unhealthy" though. If you had said "I can't have sugar, I am diabetic" he probably wouldn't have reacted. Not that you should have to share that with others! Just saying he probably misunderstood you...well, clearly he did!

YABU.

He probably thought that you were having a go at him for drinking normal sugary coke, given that he had no way of knowing you're diabetic. So he probably got upset at you criticising his choice of drink for no apparent reason, and had a go back.