AIBU to feel awkward at this type of joke?

[Gullible2021]

I’m an MNer, just namechanged (Sistine screamer, softzilla, snapped and farted).

Is it just me who ends up feeling a bit embarrassed and never knows how I’m supposed to react when I’m joked with in the following manner?

I placed an food order today at a local independent food bar via an app. I received a message saying it would be ready at x time.

I arrived, there were about 5 staff there and I think one customer (he was standing around in front of the counter chatting with staff). I said “hello, I’ve come to pick up my order, please. It’s for Jane.”

Dead pan, one of the staff said in quite a haughty tone;

“Yeah, that won’t actually be ready for collection for another 45 minutes to an hour I’m afraid.”

I was quite confused, I’d travelled a fair distance and it would be out of my way to come back, and I got my phone out to check I hadn’t made a mistake. I said,

“I’m really sorry...the app said to come at this time. Just give me a sec, I can show you.”

And he was just staring at me and there was an awkward silence. Then the man I think was a customer said,

“Look love, I know his sense of humour, he’s having you on!”

I looked back up and the man who worked there who made the “joke” wordlessly handed me my meal. It had been right next to him behind the counter the whole time. The other people present laughed. I felt really stupid. A couple of people said “haha your face was a picture” type comments. I kind of wanted the ground to swallow me up. Only one (female perhaps unsurprisingly!) member of staff said “that was weird, what is he like?”

It was only when I got in my car I realised that really it wasn’t actually funny, joke or not and surely the purpose of that kind of joke is just to embarrass the customer rather than actually involve them in something that’s genuinely fun?

I’ve also experienced similar when ordering in restaurants etc

“Please can I have the tomato soup to start with?”

“I’m really sorry we don’t have any.”

“Ok, I’ll have the halloumi then.”

“No halloumi either!”

“Oh...right...erm I’ll just go straight to the main...”

“Haha I’m only joking!!! What is it you want soup or halloumi? Your face was hilarious there!”

And even with friends I’ve have similar experiences through the years. Am I just really humourless or easily embarrassed, or is it actually just about taking the piss out of someone and laughing at their expense?

@EdithGrantham

Best thing is to ask them to explain the joke "Sorry, I don't get it?" They explain it was just a joke etc "I still don't get it, which part am I meant to laugh at?"

I do this! I dead pan say ‘which part was supposed to be funny?’

I just called some boys out for doing this, not 10 mins ago. Cricket match, boy batting was getting very close to a century and doing brilliantly. His own teammates on the bench called to the scorer to ask the score, which was 92 or something. They yelled out "you're on 99!!" to their own batsman and then said "ha can you imagine if he starts celebrating when he hits a 4, snigger snigger, omg that would be hilarious"

I turned around and said "with mates like you, who needs enemies!!"

I hope the embarrassed silence means they never do it again. Pricks

(To be fair they actually are adolescents though)

Yep it’s always a certain sort of tedious twatty man and they do it because they get a kick out of making women uncomfortable. I hate it.

Just horrible. I would have hated that too. What is wrong with some people, you just wanted to collect your meal and leave.

Totally unfunny. Maybe next time tell him it was a two for one offer on the app and where’s the other portion ? Keep the dead pan expression....

Either you’ll get a second portion or he’ll be scratching his own head lol !!

These people are dickheads. There’s something weird about getting a laugh from making people worried / uncomfortable / upset etc. I also don’t really like people who cry with laughter when other people fall / really hurt themselves. It’s just about having a touch of empathy, isn’t it?

We had this once that could have potentially caused massive issues. The trains were cancelled last minute and a replacement coach service was put on. We were on our way to a very important wedding hours away.

The Coach was parked up by the village station.
I asked, "Is this the coach for XXX Town?"

Coach driver deadpanned, "No, it's not"

I turned to DH and thought, FUCK! And went to walk away until a lady passenger called us back and told us it actually was. The driver smirked and said something along the lines of, "Of course it is. Why else would I be sitting here?"

Then at another stop a young boy, maybe 13 or 14 asked the same question, the driver did it to him too but clearly upset that he'd potentially not be able to get home or something, he made a quick exit and no one managed to catch him in time to correct what the "fucking hilarious" driver had said. I always wonder if that boy got to where we needed to be.

I will always regret not reporting that dickhead.

Yes!!! I HATE this kind of shit. And agree with previous posters, it's always the thickest of the loser men who make these hilarious jokes. I've always nervously giggled them off, feeling like a dick, but this thread has given me the confidence to call them out next time!!

What sort of sorry arseholes do you encounter so frequently, op? These are not "jokes", they are dicks.

What a bizarre thing to do. I think if his manager saw him at that carry on he'd have his arse handed to him.

I'm not sure it's worth a response, is it? I think I'd just be totally stone faced at that shite chat. Eye roll. Move on with your considerably more fulfilling and productive life.

Op, start walking away from people who are taking the piss out of you, stop giving them your money.

Practical jokers are the absolute cunts of the universe

I say put it on a review. It's really not on to try and embarrass customers. I wonder if his manager or employer would be okay with that dickish behaviour?

I must be missing something. It's neither a prank nor remotely funny. But this is definitely what online reviews are for.

Years ago I was at a New Year's party in someone's garden and we were gathered round a fire for most of the evening as it was cold.
At one point I was standing with my back to the fire to warm up my back and legs.
One of the blokes at the party started pointing and laughing and saying "oh look Beach has melted the back of her jacket from standing too close to the fire".
I felt awful as I had borrowed a friend's jacket so I took it off in a bit of a panic to see how bad the damage was.
The jacket was totally fine, not melted at all.

Twat man then chortled away saying "ha ha your face was a PICTURE".
A couple of the other men chortled with him and I felt ridiculously confused and embarrassed.

I still remember years later how bad it made me feel.

Yes, it is usually men who do this at women's expense. And it makes them nasty wankers. They are the ones who should feel bloody embarrassed.

There's always the option of ringing and asking to speak to the manager and being soooo sorry but you think there might be a problem with their app order system because you were in earlier and the app said it was ready but Twatface said it would be another hour so you were about to go home again but then it turned out your food was sitting next to him all along and you just wanted to let them know in case it's something they need to fix because you're soooooo concerned.

Childish, but then so was he.

God I hate this. Last time it happened to me was in Pret, but I could see it coming. Tried to order a coffee, cheeky smirk from Pret guy "no you can't have one" I tried to order a tea, another smirk from Pret "no you can't have one"

I said fine let me just pay for this sandwich. Dead eyed. He tried another smirky 'joke' about drinks and then the colleague at the till next to him gave him the side eye and asked me if I wanted to pay at her till - and she gave me a free coffee. I know they are allowed to give out free items in Pret (up to a certain number per day), but I was v pleased to get it that day.

It sounds like someone who doesn't have the wit or intelligence to be funny, so they do this instead to cause nervous laughter from people feeling uncomfortable.

@Bluntness100

Actually I agree with you on this, it’s like you’re not in on the joke. I was coming back from a work trip once, fell fast asleep on the Eurostar, one of the staff woke me when we reached London, and I woke with a fright and said oh are we in London, and he said no madam, we are in Paris, with a totally straight face, I actually panicked for a moment, and was looking around me, before he said, only kidding, yes we are in London. I honestly didn’t find it remotely funny.

That one is just mischievous and actually is quite funny. Sorry

Not had this often but one springs to mind a few years ago buying wine in co op, aged about 30, got asked for Id, followed by "only joking"
Really all you can do with people like this is remember that they are the one with the problem, not you. Ask their name. And either leave a bad review or write to the manager.

@GreyhoundG1rl

Op, start walking away from people who are taking the piss out of you, stop giving them your money.

I’d already paid prior to collection.

And with regards to your previous post, obviously I don’t get to choose who serves me. With acquaintances/“friends” who have previously pulled these pranks, they get one shot and I avoid them like the plague for the rest of eternity. I did call some of them out once (I kept repeating an insult used towards me back and asking them to explain what exactly it meant, to be told I was “oversensitive”) and I immediately ditched them on a night out, got a taxi home, never to associate with them again.

But with people in shop or who work customer service jobs I can’t pre-empt how they might treat me.

Oh God, I know exactly the type of person and joke you mean - 'ha ha, you should have seen your face!'

Fucking twats....

So strange!!
How is saying "your food order isn't ready for another hour" remotely funny!
I think he needs to practice in the humour department before cracking any more "jokes".

He's the one who should feel embarrassed

@Flugbusters4

God I hate this. Last time it happened to me was in Pret, but I could see it coming. Tried to order a coffee, cheeky smirk from Pret guy "no you can't have one" I tried to order a tea, another smirk from Pret "no you can't have one"

I said fine let me just pay for this sandwich. Dead eyed. He tried another smirky 'joke' about drinks and then the colleague at the till next to him gave him the side eye and asked me if I wanted to pay at her till - and she gave me a free coffee. I know they are allowed to give out free items in Pret (up to a certain number per day), but I was v pleased to get it that day.

What is it with Pret?!

Thank goodness for the colleague!