To wish that a Stranger would give me unsolicited advice

[Jemima232]

Having read a lot of threads this morning about HVs, retired dentists and Random Strangers giving unwanted advice about fizzy drinks, I am devastated that this has never happened to me.

Why have I been Left Out?

no moustache on my dentist jemima, although I do love the idea of a lothario dentist roaming around, giving dental tips to get women into bed.

many years ago, I was pushing my over-tired toddler in her pushchair in the shopping centre, and gave her her dummy to settle her for a few minutes while we headed to the car park to go home. And older* lady walked up to her, took the dummy out of her mouth, said "you don't need that" handed the dummy to me and walked on. By the time I gathered my wits to say some thing pithy, she'd gone.

*Yes, she was older. I'm 63 now so I'm allowed to say it. It's older people that do this sort of thing, on the whole. We stop caring about what people think.

People are only ever complimentary about DD in public. In fact, one guy overheard us talking about her birthday and rushed up after and gave me a tenner, said he’d made her day. Disclaimer though - she is either in a walking frame or a wheelchair and I think people are just surprised at how happy and chatty she is (because obvs people in wheelchairs can’t be happy 😄)

But I will counteract the boast, with a story about how when she was a baby and I was rushing her from the doctors to the car (literally two minutes) someone walking past said “that baby should have a hat on” to which I replied “Fuck off” 😄

Coming to this thread about 24 hours late as usual, I just have to dip in and say that dark green coat linked on page 1 is a seriously gorgeous colour. Sorry, I don't suppose you wanted to hear that.

@Anniegetyourgun

Ah, but a random stranger did not agree with you, and wee all know that random strangers are invariably correct.

Well I think we should all heed random strangers advice after thanking them profusely for taking time out of their busy day to tell us the error of our ways.
Then we will all live happy and fulfilled lives, content in the knowledge that random strangers have our wellbeing at heart.

Runs away quickly with a purse I found in the carrot section.

If Im in a changing room and something looks good on someone then I say so... Ive also been asked if something looks good and I do tell the truth.

Im a 'giver of advice' in supermarkets/shops if Ive tried something and like it or not liked it. Its just chit chat innit

Runs away quickly with a purse I found in the carrot section

That would be FriarTuck's. I told her not to leave it there. Honestly, some people 🙄. They just never will take advice from random strangers, will they?

Finders Keepers @SingingLily

( hides behind the baked beans in case the police come )

Which supermarket though? Then I'll know which aisle you're in.

Well Waitrose of course @SingingLily.
It is MN after all.

🤣Aisle 15, third shelf down, next to the cannellini beans. If you wait till next week, they'll be on offer.

Actually, while in a supermarket once (I don't actually spend all of my time in supermarkets, by the way. I really do have a life!) a woman rushed over to me brandishing a packet of 5% Aberdeen Angus beef mince and said, "I've never shopped in here before. Is this any good? I'm making cottage pie". I said, "Perfectly suitable, madam. You won't be disappointed. After all, it's not just any beef mince, it's M&S beef mince".

Well, I couldn't resist. 😁

Puts the beans back on @SingingLily advice.

Then rushes home to post about how a random woman offered me unsolicited advice on baked bean offers.

You can have as much unsolicited advice as you like on AIBU lately....with a side of faux-outrage and a long drink deliberate misunderstanding

twice I've been approached in the park by random people asking why there were so many people were wandering around staring at their phones, tried to explain we were catching virtual creatures with different fighting capabilities -Pokemon community day they looked like we were mad

@CreakingKnees

I believe you have my purse.

If the seven million quid in (used) bank notes isn't still in it when you return it to me I shall have to start a thread about it, hoping that I will receive useful advice.

@SingingLily

It was my unfortunate sister to whom you gave the unwanted, unwarranted and incorrect advice about the M & S tinned mince

She said it was shite.

Sorry to sound unsympathetic but it's her own fault, Jemima. No one with any sense would think you could buy M&S mince in Pets at Home. I did mention it was a pet supermarket, didn't I? 🙄

I was once told off (at a Glasgow bus stop no less) for having my baby in a sling because if I tripped near some railings I could impale him .

These days my knackered resting fuck off face discourages unsolicited comment.

Strangers don't tend to give me advice but they do tell me me their whole life stories! This happens regularly in supermarkets, high streets, national trust properties, local parks...
I did give a stranger advice recently, she was really confused and stressed about maternity pads and underwear and her husband wasn't much help (understandably) I told her what I had found useful when I had given birth a few months ago and she seemed really greatful!

Age 18, on the tube in the sundress I’d worn to school that day...an older lady leant across to me and whispered ‘you shouldn’t wear a skirt that short, dear, you know what men are like!’ And leant back looking happy. The male friend I was with managed not to laugh until we were off the tube and then we had to stop so we could both have laughing hysterics for a few minutes. Happy days.

@Jemima323

Purse? What purse? Oh er, you mean this one? I found it in the carrots. I was going to hand it in but er, I got distracted by a SingingLily in the garden section.

( Hides holiday brochures and designer handbags )

I thought this too OP. Then, lo and behold, got my unsolicited advice in a restaurant I went to with a (male) colleague. Man at the next table stopped on his way out to tell me I should talk less or my husband will leave me.

Stunned me into silence, so sort of achieved his goal I guess...

I received some unsolicited advice When ds was a toddler and had shoulder length hair, an older gentleman approached me and said I should cut it all off because he looks like a girl and people will take the piss out of him (very much did not look like a girl btw)
I gave him some unsolicited advice and told him to fuck off

I had someone stop me as I was putting anti bacterial gel on mine and my dd's hands (after leaving a shop where lady behind counter full of cold) and tell me not to use it so much as it's bad for skin. She knows because she's a nurse!!