Fuming about directions woman

[HowardsWahey]

I live in a seaside town that, at this time of year in particular, is very popular with tourists. Therefore it's quite common to be stopped and asked for directions or local information. I never mind, but I think a bit of gratitude doesn't go amiss.

Some woman and her husband stopped me today and asked if there was anywhere nearby they could get some fish and chips. I started saying, "Yes, if you walk to the bottom of the road just behind us, you'll see a big retail park with Sainsbury's and Lidl..."

Then, when I'm mid-sentence, she cuts me off and says, "Oh that's lovely - but we just fancied some fish and chips", saying "fish and chips" as if I was a bit simple and needed them explained to me. I gave her a bit of a look and said, "And if you'd let me finish, I'd have told you which turning to take at the retail park for the fish and chip shop".

I thought she'd have the sense to realise she shouldn't have interrupted, but she made a sort of huffing noise and said, "Well THAT'S a bit rude! I was only asking." So I said, "And I was only answering - but you interrupted me. THAT'S rude. Enjoy your chips". And I walked off.

What the hell is wrong with some people?! Someone takes time out of their day to help them out, and they won't take two seconds to listen! I hope she and her droopy-faced husband are still wandering about desperate to find their cod and chips 😄

Best answer yet!

You never use big easy landmarks to give directions? Like pass Sainsburybagd it’s the road on your right hand side?

If you dint I’d say you’re the one who is weird tbh

I think you were kind op. In your shoes and if I'd had the presence of mind (rare but I like to fantasise), I'd have said something like:

''Well I was in the middle of explaining how to get to it before you interrupted me mid sentence. I've now run out of time to help impatient tourists. Good luck finding the fish and chips shop" and walked off

Obviously I'd never have thought of that , I'd have been much more likely to say 'Find it on tour own then' in a stroppy tone and then walked off as I'd have been so annoyed

Your response was more than reasonable op, you even finished telling her where it was. I probably wouldn't have

She shouldnt have interrupted, she only has herself to blame.

Just a simple “there’s one on the just past the retail park that way” would have been suffice.

Well I’m no pedant but that’s not even English. It’s missing a noun (on the what?) and “have been suffice” mixes tenses and makes no sense. I suspect your directions are bloody awful, unless one is fluent in Esperanto.

And if someone gave me directions I would be delighted if they directed me via landmarks rather than obscure remarks. And I would be more than happy to get good chips and take them to the seaside/ park with me.

I think she was a DFL twat but you gave as good as you got OP!

Genuinely curios
What else would have said that convey the idea ‘I haven’t finished my description of how to get there’?

I think your instructions sounded fine as far as they went - retail park - recognisable shops …

How was the OP rude?

She was cut off mid sentence by a stupid woman not listening to her - women ARE allowed to be annoyed at rudeness when they are just trying to help, you know

No it isn't, it is telling an eejit to listen to the answer to a question SHE has asked

It's not that there's anything wrong with giving very detailed directions, it's just that it can give rise to misunderstandings, as has happened here. It seems clear from her response that she thought you had finished and you were directing her to the shops.

I could say, but it would have me deleted! 😬🤣

What's DFL?

It really isn't in this context.

OP you've cheered up my afternoon reading both your exchange and then some of the responses on here.

The OP wasn't rude. That silly woman was and so are you.

I hope the peer mannie hadn’t previously suffered a stroke or some form of facial palsy.

You were all a bit cunty.
Her for interrupting.
You for being a tad impatient and calling her rude.
Husband for having a droopy face.

Oh, I wish the weather were cooler. I haven’t had fish and chips since it got so hot. I don’t buy them from a shop now, it’s too expensive, and cooking at home… ok, I’ve been eating mainly cold food for ages. Last night I had crunchy sushi with a salad and some bread and butter. So now you know. Also had rose wine with it, it makes all cold food taste better.
I might mention this, later, if anyone asks me for directions anywhere. Treat em mean, keep em keen.

I just read your first post again OP. If I was a tourist and asked about fish and chips nearby and the person began talking about Retail parks, Lidl and Sainsbury’s…I think I would check if I’d been misheard and interject.

(You don’t say you said there’s a really good one that wins lots of awards or the locals love the one in town or similar…and then start the directions.)

I don't think that’s too weird that she interjected to check what you were recommending, on a day out / holiday I wouldn’t want to wander a retail park…at that point you fell out with each other.

Doesn't sound like something to fume about, just a misunderstanding ..you do sound pretty cross as you describe her husband unkindly

What's wrong with Lidl? Like actually asking? When I was pregnant I had a real craving for full fat milk, so I used to go to Lidl to get their milk specifically because it tasted nicer than anywhere else. I still go to Lidl all the time but it's not the same place. (Where I used to live i could walk from where I worked, go to Lidl, then go to Aldi on the way home. Here Aldi is the other side of town, across the road from another bigger Lidl, so I have to make do with the smaller one.)

But then she would have thought she was either deaf or stupid.

OP did nothing wrong and that includes remarking on here on droopy face.

Or just that there had been a mishearing or a misunderstanding? It happens. Nothing to get het up about 🤷🏻‍♀️

Getting a delivery! Hopefully the just eat guy knows how to get there

duplicate post!

Interrupting is something to get upset about and I have had to work very hard at not doing it because I'm hard wired to do it. It's rude, even more so when you have asked a question, someone has put themselves out to answer you and you won't wait for the answer.

But you were rude back! You could have said 'yes, and you need to turn left past Aldi' or whatever.