To be annoyed with a stranger telling me to 'cheer up'

[canwetalkaboutcake]

I've just been out for a walk to town. A man of about 60 passed me and told me to 'cheer up'.

I am not cheered up, in fact I'm pissed off. Why do strangers think it's acceptable to say this to someone - I could have just received bad news or be going through something terrible.

I felt like telling him to piss off but I'm too timid to do such a thing.

Agree that it's blokes that say it but disagree they don't say it to blokes. Either that or there's lots of blokes out there that think I'm a woman, despite the beard.

It's a power play, it's said in the same way to blokes as it is to women and is basically a retort if you dare kind of comment, they do it expecting to throw you off.

I hate this too. I had said to me recently - the classic "cheer up, it might never happen"... said to me by a woman. I asked her why she thought it appropriate to say it to me, and that she had no idea what was going on in my life.

You farted?

I thought let rip meant farting..

Hilarious!

I hate this. They never say it to other men, do they?

I hate it when strangers think they have the right to comment on other people's appearance or demeanour. The worst (apart from crude fatshaming or similar appearance-bashing) is 'Cheer up, it may never happen!' Quite possibly it happened already.

Usually in my experience it means to blow up at someone; I assume that's what was meant here.

Oh cry me a fucking river! 🙄

I don't need strangers to 'show that they care' (unless I need actual help with something, and then I'd ask for it). I need them to treat my appearance and demeanour as an ABSOLUTELY comment-free zone!

As a youngish adult, I looked younger than my actual age, which brought out the patronizing in some people, and I got rather too many such comments. Sometimes from women, but more often from men. Less so now that I am, and look, older,

Oh look another handmaiden to the menz 🙄

Cheer up that 🙄 face. Turn that frown up upside down!

😂good answer!

I remember a man saying this to me at a temp job, so I promptly and crossly reeled off all the reasons I was unhappy and worried - he seemed completely amazed that I might have had any problems.

I agree, it might well have been that.

Ffs. I didnt know men still did this. I used to hear it a lot in my youth.

Yes, all he did was say cheer up but would he say it to a man or is it reserved exclusively for women? Dh said that no one has ever said it to him. I've lost count of how many times its been said to me but never by a woman.

A woman said this to me as I walked past her last summer. We were caring for my terminally ill mum and as it happened it was her last day. I was so shocked I stopped and challenged her on it. Maybe she will think twice.

It's just another form of misogynistic heckling. I've had it for years , and so often out running. Now I challenge it. I like 'my face/running is none of your business'

Then someone needs to explain to people who think like this that they’re at risk of looking unhelpful and insensitive, because they have no idea what the person they say ‘cheer up’ to is sad about. If they really mean well they’ll take that on board.

Yes, I remember someone saying this to me on the train on the way back from work when I'd just been told my dad had died. I wish I'd said something to him.
I've never had a woman say this to me - only men.

Nope, I've had it said by a few women. Really doesn't bother me, getting all het up about it it's just going to make you feel even worse so just ignore and move on if it's so uber offensive to you

Agree... this thread is ridiculous over reaction

And anyone trying to say otherwise is displaying handmaidenly behaviour.

Handmaidenly behaviour wtf is that!
I think you lot should cheer up

Do an Aimee from sex education!

Someone shouted to her cheer up darling and she shouted "why the fuck would I cheer up and and I've just been to a ficking funeral and now you're talking to me so fuck off !! "

I'd love to do that .

Jeez.

I doubt that