To be so intolerant to this

[itsjess]

Okay so firstly, I do not think I abu. However, I am angry and need a rant!
So I was outside a shop with my dog and he started to bark. An older man stopped, smirked at me and said ‘I thought that was you making all that noise’.
I gave him the withering go-fuck-yourself look and he then said ‘oh cheer up love’
Wtaf is wrong with people?! Rant over

how rude!

To the people who think this was a joke, can you explain how calling a woman you don't know, a dog, is funny?

He didn't call her a dog and he obviously didn't really think it was her barking, he was being ironic.
If he'd said it to me he'd have received a polite laugh and (if I was on the ball enough) a cheeky retort, and we'd have both gone on our way a little happier

He sounds like he's trying to make conversation with strangers. Probably lonely. I recently find myself oversharing with kind shop assistants, so I'll probably end up like him.

He wasn’t calling anyone a dog, he was just being silly to try and raise a smile. Maybe not very funny, but surely not intended to offend or upset.

Cannot believe the minimizing going on. It was a nasty comment from a jerk, why should you have to accept that and smile about it? He wasn’t trying to be friendly or start a conversation, he was having a go at someone he thought wouldn’t pop back. Doubt he’d have said that if you’d had a man with you.

Why a "withering go fuck yourself" look? You sound charming. Not.
Sounds like he was just trying to crack a joke even if it wasn't a particularly funny one
I'd probably have just laughed or said "no my bark's louder"

UserX, Angels and Spring thank you.
It’s interesting how many people jump on the he must be lonely/ unwell/need a friend/ only joking bus. I said he was older (not old) - but is age really an excuse?
I often chat to people when they seem open to conversations about the weather, my dog, the train times etc. I’m a polite and friendly person. However, I’m not going to smile and giggle at rude comments and ‘jokes’ to avoid offending strangers.
Whether it’s shouted ‘compliments’ from a car window, or a comment like this morning why is it acceptable for a random man to comment on my body/ smile/ whatever? I just want to walk my dog in peace.

Cannot believe the minimizing going on. It was a nasty comment from a jerk

How is it minimising? I didn't read it as an insult, just a clumsy attempt at a joke.

Are you reading into that he was calling you a dog or something? I suppose it's how you take things and how you feel about yourself confidence wise, as I'd have took it as meaning the noise, not automatically jump to he's calling me a dog.

Why do people always bring up dementia?
The man was rude. The majority of posts where dementia is brought up are about people being rude. Just because someone is old and rude or diasgreable does not mean they have dementia!

I don't even think he was rude.
It sounds to me as if you easily take offence against imagined slights, or don't get out much so are not used to everyday exchanges with strangers.

My DDad makes "jokes" like this since becoming old (70s)... I am so ashamed when I am with him and he does it, and try to tell him that it is rude but he is convinced it is not and I am too serious.
He is a really nice person otherwise, always helping random people out etc. so I am sure he truly believes people think he is funny.

For ex saying to someone with a piercing "is that acne on your nose?" Really. He couldn't understand why I thought it was rude and embarassing.
Anyway.

"Kill, Mitzi!" (In my head obvs. In my head I'm Sansa Stark with a big fuck off direwolf)

Really interesting to read the comments here. I have been thinking about this type of situation since being in it twice this week and why this particular brand of "joke" feels different to friendly banter (I am generally a jolly chit chatter honest!). This morning on the train I put my head against the window and closed my eyes for 10 minutes. When I woke up the man sitting next to me (who wasn't lonely he was talking to his colleague at the table) had a "joke" about me snoring, complete with impression. It was obvious he was "joking" and trying to get me to laugh, so when I said deadpan sorry I had an early start he was all oh no you weren't really I was just joking. Earlier in the week I was at the supermarket looking at a shelf next to another older man, went to pick my item and he "jokingly" made a song and dance that I'd taken his item. Again, deadpan oh im sorry elicits an oh I'm just joking love, ok then walk away from me. In the scheme of things these are really tiny things and certainly not things I would get worked up about, but these types of situations happen ALL THE TIME. They follow the same pattern of an older man purposefully saying something to make you feel a little bit uncomfortable. In younger days I would play up to it and laugh and give the reaction they want to stop the uncomfortable situation but I don't do that now. I suppose this is how it becomes learnt and accepted, make a young woman feel a bit uncomfortable, she will laugh to get out of it, they get their ego boost. Maybe that's a bit cynical and these are just people that genuinely think they are HILARIOUS, but I suspect not. No one does this to my husband, no other demographic than older men does it to me. I know when someone's being friendly and wants to engage in conversation and I am the first to have friendly chats with strangers. This is different, you know it when you feel it and I just don't feel I should have to do it any more. So I agree OP, I recommend practicing a deadpan, slightly confused face and an "oh, ok then". Works for me!