To think strangers should mind their own business

[Bpdqueen]

I have burns and scars all down the left side of my face and body. I work in a shop and everyday I have multiple customers ask me about my burns and scars for e.g oooh how did you do that or I bet that's painful or what happened or what's wrong with your face ect. The problem is what happened is complicated and still distressing to me so I would rather not discuss it with a complete stranger infront of a que of people staring at me. I understand people are curious but theres a time and a place and in the middle of a busy shop isn't it AIBU to be annoyed at this and also if anyone has any advice on how to handle this situation I'd appreciate it

How rude, it’s horrible asking as part of their own horrible curiosity but not stopping to think how you feel. Tell them you had a run in with a tiger. But honestly just ask if they need anything else and goodbye I would just ignore tbh

Good God, how rude! What's wrong with people, how can grown adults think that's acceptable?

"I don't like to talk about it. Here's your change nosy prick."

I would look completely aghast at them asking and query whether l knew them (outside work) as in 'oh do l know you, because all my friends already know ' if they come back with no they don't know you then just say 'sorry l don't discuss it with strangers'.
Or a favourite reply l was taught years ago by a wise lady was when someone asks you an intrusive question turn it into a question back at them and in a very polite (but slightly concerned for them) way say 'Why do you ask?' Then watch them squirm trying think of a valid reason why they would ask such a question of a complete stranger.

It's disgustingly rude. My brother has a distinct scar on his head from a traumatic event. And people honestly think it's fine to ask him about it. Complete strangers as well.

My dd has a rare skin disease and it was pretty bad last year. The amount of people who literally just went "what's wrong with you" astounded me tbh. She told one "I'm not sure but I'm told it's very infectious" 😂

Of course YANBU. Who are these bloody idiots who thinks its okay to be so intrusive? I wouldn't dream of asking something so personal.
I wouldn't blame you for being rude back.

'Why are you so smooth? Was it an accident? Is it a birth defect?'

'Lord Voldemort curses me when I wanted to stop being a Death Eater'.

' This is how we all look on my planet'

I'd say I got them from burning down the house of the last person who asked me too many questions.
Accompany with blank stare.

So rude...

I'd add to the dragon story...when I was at Hogworts.

In your case then, of course, random strangers shouldn’t be asking you such personal questions. I find utterly bizarre that anyone in a public place like a shop would consider it normal to ask any such thing from the person behind the till!

Very rude of ppl sending hugs

I had my lymph nodes out of my neck & armpit & so raw scars for a while & on a bus someone I could hear talking about my scars then finally asked me. I said I was bottled in a bar fight with someone who wouldn't mind their own business

Clearly I was joking but it did the trick 😝

It is rude and there is no excuse for it. In fact it's rude to comment at all on someone else's appearance.
I have an 8 inch scar down the back of my thigh and when I'm asked about it I say shark bite.

I have a lot of scars (years of self harm). Not had any strangers outright ask about them, but I can hear them talk about them. One time, I heard one chap just keep muttering "fucking hell" to himself.
Also got asked to leave a pub because I was "making people uncomfortable" by daring to have naked arms. It was in the middle of summer.

I am so sorry, OP. Adults asking strangers about their injuries is an awful thing to do, and you are completely right to make up whatever story you wanted to. I worked as a burns nurse for some time and unless the patient bought up the accident personally, I would not discuss it with them. The trauma from the retelling... I cannot imagine.

On a lighter note, my DC broke their leg and people asked continually what happened. DC, who broke it jumping off a bunk-bed, began making up the most outrageous stories to cope with it, which made it much more manageable and even fun.

Best of luck, OP.

I can’t imagine being interested in a total strangers scars (no offence 😆) Some people are just so daft, definitely go with the dragon reason.

'I rescue orphaned baby dragons in my spare time. They're endangered, you know - that's why you don't see too many about. Trouble is, some of them can be a little - spicy - when you're handrearing them.'

DD2 convinced everybody in her class that she got a scar on her arm from fighting off a shark whilst surfing. She tripped over her boogie board in the carpark. She then followed it up a couple of years later with a tale of crossing the wilds of Alaska with a team of sled dogs that fell into a frozen lake to explain some deep abrasion scars on her shoulder and hip. That was vaguely based in fact as well - the difference was that the team of sled dogs was her Dad's Boxer, the sled was a skateboard and extending dog lead and the ice was a puddle on the pavement outside his house in Deepest Surrey.

I'm absolutely loving these responses I think I can definitely have some fun with this 🤣🤣

I'm very badly scarred and get the same questions, although not to the same extent as I'm not in a public facing role. I literally just ignore and don't respond.

So nosey and you absolutely don't have to talk about it - l had a customer quizzing me once as to why l only had one child!
My dh has had a mangled ear since birth. When people ask him what happened he says he was doing the ironing when the phone rang and he put the iron to his ear. Says it all with a straight face and loves watching people's reactions.

I'm sorry you have to put up with such rude people. Sadly there's nothing you can do about them.

You can only turn it in something to amuse yourself, by creating elaborate storys like above. Or simple say "We are not not allowed to speak of this", the say into your collar, "We have a live one. Activate Code 43. No delay."