I need a sense of humour?

[PinkPonyClubb]

I was in M&S today. Approached the lift with my pram, pressed the button and began moving backwards, as I was moving backwards the lift opened. I continued moving backwards and apologised to the elderly woman standing in the door way of the lift. The lady did not look impressed and had a very harsh and quite abrupt tone throughout the following exchange, her tone remained the same. This is how the conversation went…

Me “Sorry”
Her “Have you got X-ray vision?”
Me “Pardon?”
Her “Have you got X-ray vision?”
Me “No, I must have approached the lift pressed the button at the same time as you arrived, that’s why I said sorry.”
Her “You have not got X-ray vision and I have not get X-ray vision. We didn’t need sorry. Get a sense of humour.”

I walked away very confused?! I don’t get what she means. AIBU to think this was all a bit strange or have I missed the point? I can’t stop thinking about how odd this was!

She means neither of you needed to apologise because neither of you have x ray vision.

don’t take it under your notice.

If that was a light hearted joke then it was lost on me. Some people shouldn't play the comedian, they are crap at it.

I think she was just trying (in a pretty awkward way) to say you don’t need to apologise because you can’t see through the door that she is waiting to come out

Me too! If she smiled or had a humours tone then maybe it would have allowed me to think that way. She was dead pan stern and stern in her tone!

She was a witty lady. Possibly she said it in a very dry tone so it didn't land!

She sounds like an idiot 🙄

Was she of a certain age and "class" OP?

I do think she was probably trying to be witty

Yes she was trying to tell you that there was no need to say sorry but if it her tone was deadpan and she didn’t smile it probably felt like more of a telling off! I’d have said ‘just trying to be polite…’

Why were you moving backwards?

I have Parkinson's Disease. We often lose facial expressions and vocal inflexions. She was trying to be humorous and saying you didn't need to apologise.

It sounds odd, if she was making a joke why wasn't she smiling, laughing, having jokey body language?!

I mean it wasn't really very funny but most people when making jokey comments to strangers it's usually obvious by their delivery and manner.

The lift in my m&s seems to bring out the worst in everyone though. It has a mind of its own, makes terrifying screeching noises and seemingly traps people inside for several minutes. So it could be the vibe of the dodgy lift?!

bit weird but she was only trying to say you didn't do anything wrong. Don't think about it!

Wasn't an especially funny joke tbh, when you've got a pram or pushchair the default is usually people tutting and moaning lol so you we're more than likely preempting that, especially if her face or body language didn't match the fact she was trying to be funny 😂😬

I think you may have met my mother in law.

Was she like, Mary Poppins brusque? Is that what she was going for?

I get what she was trying to say, but you don't really need xray vision to know that there was likely someone already in the lift that you have called.

Well, hence why Op was already moving back!

They’re a strange lot in the M&S lifts I tell ya, when my son was a very small baby a lady took his dummy out in the lift and said he didn’t need it. She looked like the type to make a joke about x-ray vision to be fair.

i want to know as well

I know I’m confused too.

I’m guessing OP was moving backwards to give the woman space to get out the lift.

OP I think she started off trying to make a joke but then got annoyed that you didn’t get it hence why she became rude at the end. (I think most people would have been just as confused as you)

I wonder if we’re in the same area or if slightly terrifying lifts are just a standard feature in every branch.

Sounds like she’s either a bit socially clueless or she’s done the thing we’ve all probably done at some point of completely fucking up a casual social interaction because what you meant to say came entirely the wrong way.
Either way I wouldn’t linger on it or take it personally.

I wouldn't worry about it. I would assume she had dementia and move on with my day. 😅

I assume to get out of the way of the door after pressing the button

Not a very nice comment. It was a very sharp quip so very unlikely dementia!

Anyway, the lady's small effort to make a bit of conversation and share a little joke to pass the day has clearly gone right over your head (the OP's and a few others on this thread!).

So when the doors opened I was not blocking the way, if someone was in the lift.

I was still moving backwards when the door opened because the lift must have already arrived when I had pressed the button. I obviously couldn’t see this though.