Uncomfortable comment from a work colleague I don’t know

[JenJen94]

I’m a bit unsure how to feel after a comment made to me this morning - whether it’s right I’m creeped out or if I’m over-reacting.

Without being too outing, I work at the head office for a big national company so several thousand employees on site across the week and obviously I don’t know everyone.

I usually park in the same spot every morning (in office 3 days a week) and quite often a man is parked a few spots along who will start at a similar time to me. I don’t know him, never see him in the office or know what department he’s in etc.

Today, he was parked up before me but I saw he was sat in his car when I arrived. I got my stuff out and began to walk to the office. I heard him get out of his car about 15/20 seconds after I walked past.

I got stuck behind someone at the entrance to the office and he had caught up by that point. He said to me ‘got your legs out today then’ as I was wearing a skirt given the hot weather.

I smiled/sheepishly laughed and walked on into the office.

Is this creepy given I don’t know this person or is it just me?

Well it suggests he has been noticing you, and is aware you normally wear trousers. Trying to flirt? I don't find it creepy. But then, I was a teenager in the 80's......

And? So what? I'm sure the OP knew she "had got her legs out".

I wouldn’t have even known what he meant and been confused.
”I’m sorry - what?” would’ve been my reply.

That's completely different. It's jokey.

Oh don't be ridiculous. It's a different dynamic when the people involved know each other.

All the people saying this is perfectly fine and giving examples of when they said it to their postman, or a school dad… or their nan said it to them!!! 🤦‍♀️

This person was a total stranger. that the OP had never previously interacted with. It is not OK.

Really surprised at all the replies saying it’s just an observant comment 😆 Come onnnnnnn

Can you really imagine a woman saying this to another woman in the same context?

It’s clearly either flirty / a come on / or sexualised ‘banter’

Not sure how bothered I’d be by it – it wouldn’t worry me – but it’d certainly mark the guy out as a bit cringe and creep-like

What, a man he’d never spoken to before 🤣🤣🤣

”Got your legs out today then”

Yeah right 😆😂😂🤣

I can imagine a woman saying it because women do say it

This

I’m not supposed to laugh. Pain in my stomach. This made me properly lol

To a woman they’ve never spoken to before? As they walk up behind her?

”Got your legs out today then”

Really?

Wouldn’t bother me in the slightest

Really
Its not a complete stranger. OP has clocked they park near each other, why shouldn't he have either.

I would find this a bit over familiar and probably park somewhere else. I absolutely hate comments on my appearance from men I don't know.

Why would you say that to someone you don't know? Maybe they got a bit burnt by the sun ,feel a bit stupid and hope no one comments. Maybe they've got high colour, having a hot flush, an allergic reaction. Why does someone's need to make a remark about appearance trump the person's receiving the remark feeling of being a bit pissed off about it.

My male colleague was wearing shorts today.

I can confirm that other men do and did make the "got your legs out" comment to other men.

I think this is a slightly muddied situation because although the man is not someone that OP knows, it sounds like they do see each other frequently and hence the illusion of knowing each other better will have been built up.

I think he fancies you. Do you like him and are you single?

If this bloke had said "beautiful skirt" or similar- no problem. I get compliments about what I'm wearing regularly- including from random strangers, some of when are men. That's fine. It's a compliment to my taste/style, not a comment about my body.

I’m pretty relaxed but I have to say I’d find it deeply uncomfortable if someone (man or woman to be honest) in the office made a comment like that to me. I’d be weirded out, feel self conscious and also find it highly inappropriate.

Exactly. I will pay compliments about clothes, but I never comment on physical appearance.

But it’s completely different if the two people actually know each other and have struck up conversation before – agree, that would be unremarkable.

To someone you’ve never acknowledged or had any interaction with before, it’s got a whole different tone to it

Is this creepy given I don’t know this person or is it just me?

I personally find it creepy, and would hope to ignore this type of comment, rather than reward him with a giggle or looking as if you are embarrassed. It’s probably one of those situations that depends on how it was said eg in a Sid James voice or if it were an older man commenting to a young woman.

I'd find it creepy. There are a million things you can say to someone that don't require you to comment on their body. I wouldn't do anything based on today but I'd be very concerned if he 'just happened' to get out his car as you went by again tomorrow. If that happened and he said something weird again I'd go with 'I'm sorry do I know you?' said with maximum distain.

In our office we discuss who has their toes out. I don't think we are being creepy