AIBU to think you should wear a top in a food shop?

StarlightLady · 09/08/2023 14:24

I agree 100%. What is apropriate at the beach stays at the beach! I go topless (I'm a women) on same beaches and I think it's fine there.

The same applies on public transport, I recently witnessed a man on a bus without his shirt on. I don't want someone's sweaty back on a seat.

You are right OP, it is not a snobbery thing, it is about being polite.

woodhill · 09/08/2023 14:26

Just rank yanbu

Comedycook · 09/08/2023 14:26

Yes probably but I couldn't get too worked up by it

Thirty5 · 09/08/2023 14:28

No you aren’t wrong, imagine the judgement if a woman walked into lidl with her bikini top on.

Roystonv · 09/08/2023 14:29

Not on at all; just courtesy.

Stratocumulus · 09/08/2023 14:29

Were they wearing high viz sleeveless vests at all? Was their torso not covered by anything?

Im not keen on a high viz vest & nothing else but to me it’s better than a bare torso. I’d probably “tut” under my breath and move on.

If they had a totally bare torso I would not be happy as it’s too much information in a food environment but they might throw a strop if tackled by security of a supervisor?

However, (being devils advocate,) when you look at what some women (don’t) wear to the shops, can we really say anything about the opposite sex in this context?

In my experience in the USA there are big signs on some shop and supermarket entrances “Shirt and shoes required.”

For those bothered by such masculine exposure, maybe we could lobby the supermarkets for something similar.

pinguins · 09/08/2023 14:30

Having been the teenager behind the counter serving sweaty fortysomething men without tops on, I found it intimidating and disgusting (I'm not even entirely sure why but it really bothered me) and wished we could have refused to serve them.

PonyPatter44 · 09/08/2023 14:31

No shirt, no shoes, no service!

Seriously, I completely agree. Put a t-shirt on when you go into a shop. Even if you have the most beautiful toned, tanned bod imaginable, noone wants to see it swishing around the prepared veg.

Original poster

SamW98 · 09/08/2023 14:31

@Stratocumulus - no hi-viz vests just bare tops and shorts

OP posts:

Meeting · 09/08/2023 14:33

YANBU but when women can walk around in sports bras I hardly see the difference.

I think everyone should be required to get dressed to go out in public, but nakedness is practically competitive these days.

Emeraldrings · 09/08/2023 14:34

It's a bit rank. Years ago when we went to France my brother was refused entry to the supermarket until he put a top on. Still in this country the staff would probably get a mouthful of abuse.

tattygrl · 09/08/2023 14:42

I think it's quite entitled, and takes advantage of the fact that men can get away with being shirtless. Women don't have this privilege. We always have to take care to be covered up while men can waltz around with their chests and back bared on a hot day. Outdoors is bad enough but in an enclosed space like a supermarket with narrow aisles and then having to stand over a cashier, I think it's obnoxious. Keep it on the beach.

flowngo · 09/08/2023 14:49

I went to a spar shop completely naked the other day, FLAME ME !

MrsTerryPratchett · 09/08/2023 14:51

Meeting · 09/08/2023 14:33

YANBU but when women can walk around in sports bras I hardly see the difference.

I think everyone should be required to get dressed to go out in public, but nakedness is practically competitive these days.

The equivalent would be a woman wandering around with no bra on. And I know in men's minds that would be fine. But the men wandering around shirtless aren't Hemsworths so let's imagine their mums and grans all going to Lidl without tops on. Would they like that?

It's a form of peeing in corners and I really dislike it.

wlana · 09/08/2023 14:53

I mean it’s a bit off, but I don’t think it would bother me. If the shop wants people to wear shirts, they can put a sign up.

Meeting · 09/08/2023 14:55

MrsTerryPratchett · 09/08/2023 14:51

The equivalent would be a woman wandering around with no bra on. And I know in men's minds that would be fine. But the men wandering around shirtless aren't Hemsworths so let's imagine their mums and grans all going to Lidl without tops on. Would they like that?

It's a form of peeing in corners and I really dislike it.

Show quote history

No it wouldn't. Male and female breasts are not the same, as much as people like to pretend online that they are.

BunnyBetChetwynnd · 09/08/2023 15:09

I hear Jackie from Friday Night Dinner saying, "Nobody wants to see your hairy bosoms Martyn, put your shirt on."

Nobody wants to queue up behind somebodies sweaty, spotty, hairy back.

Mrsjayy · 09/08/2023 15:10

SamW98 · 09/08/2023 14:15

Just been to our Tesco Local and there were a small group of workmen picking up sandwiches, fruit etc all not wearing tops.

AIBU to think it’s only common courtesy to wear a T-shirt to enter a food shop?

Btw before I get flamed, it’s in no way a snobbery thing re workmen I just think it’s good manners.

Yes nobody wants to see that especially In Tesco.

fluffiphlox · 09/08/2023 15:12

Yuk. Ditto pyjamas.

Mrsjayy · 09/08/2023 15:12

tattygrl · 09/08/2023 14:42

I think it's quite entitled, and takes advantage of the fact that men can get away with being shirtless. Women don't have this privilege. We always have to take care to be covered up while men can waltz around with their chests and back bared on a hot day. Outdoors is bad enough but in an enclosed space like a supermarket with narrow aisles and then having to stand over a cashier, I think it's obnoxious. Keep it on the beach.

YES,! OBNOXIOUS THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT IT IS 👏

Mrsjayy · 09/08/2023 15:13

Oops I all capped my post sorry

tattygrl · 09/08/2023 15:13

Mrsjayy · 09/08/2023 15:13

Oops I all capped my post sorry

Haha I enjoyed the enthusiastic agreement with my choice of words 😄

Mrsjayy · 09/08/2023 15:16

tattygrl · 09/08/2023 15:13

Haha I enjoyed the enthusiastic agreement with my choice of words 😄

Show quote history

I got over excited in my agreement for years I've been looking for the right words to describe shirtless men in public places . OBNOXIOUS😂

KittensAllOverTheCarpetAndSofa · 09/08/2023 15:19

Comedycook · 09/08/2023 14:26

Yes probably but I couldn't get too worked up by it

I once saw a shirtless bloke leaning over the tray of apples scratching his hairy chest. I could see the hairs falling into the apples, and so most likely skin cells too, I didn’t buy apples that day.

You don’t have to ‘get worked up about it’ to think it’s not very nice.

mondaytosunday · 09/08/2023 15:21

I think there's usually a sign - 'proper footwear and top required'. They should have been stopped.