Unnecessary comment about my outfit from male member of staff at the school - your thoughts?

[TwatAtSchool91]

I live a stones throw from a secondary school which I have to pass daily on our school run.

A male member of staff stands outside in the morning greeting the kids.

A few months ago he made a comment to me as I walked past him. It was a stupid remark, nothing vulgar or massively offensive, but it has bothered me to the extent I'm now self conscious about what I'm wearing whenever I have to go past him.

The comment he made was "morning Blade" in a mocking tone, both infront of the secondary school kids and my own.

(for reference I was wearing a belted leather trench coat and some black riding style boots)

It wasn't a friendly jibe, he was being a twat. I wouldn't give it much thought if he were a random in the street but he's stood there representing the school 😐

Would you have raised it with the school or not? Do you think it was inappropriate?

wrong shoes, but do you think Kate would have been offended?

It's funny and it's the outfit. Wear something less Blade next time and you're fine

We need to see a pic of you in the outfit op so we can make a fair judgement.

My view is that women have the right to walk in public without snidey rude comments from male strangers. He's supposed to be a positive role model to the children. It's upset her and he should be aware of this. It's irrelevant as to whether he thought it was just a joke. It was the wrong thing to do and now she feels uncomfortable. Nobody is saying it's the crime of the century but it is a really weird and out of order thing to do that has caused distress. Minor distress in the grand scheme of things is still distress. He's a massive prick being a prick at his place of work!

would it make you feel better if the joke had came from a woman?
Because we do have brains too, we could have come up with the joke too 😂

He just happened to be a man.

Are you Irish, OP? They’re savages when it comes to critiquing fashion. This is a BoredPanda summary of responses to a Twitter account where the writer was called Super Mario by a stranger for wearing a red beret.

https://www.boredpanda.com/funny-irish-fashion-tweets/

As an aside, I cycled into town with my DD during COVID for a takeaway coffee. I was wearing that viral yellow Joules fisherman jacket at the time and a homeless guy walked past and said sarcastically, ‘Nice coat’, and laughed. I was gutted!

It’s not normal to critique a strangers outfit/look to their face though!

This. ^ Taking offence at something so innocuous is utterly ludicrous.

I think men need to be aware of power dynamics when talking to female strangers. This school gate twat needs social skills classes.

Not being funny but......oh what the hell I'm actually laughing my head off 😂

Me too. 😆

I would have laughed as it's quite funny.

It's interesting to hear people's different reactions to the same event. Fact remains though that it's risky making jokes to strangers about their appearance. Probably best to keep quiet whilst at work at a school!

Honestly it's the kind of thing I'd maybe have thought but not said out loud and if ye were friends I'd say it was funny. I really don't think you can raise it now all these months later without looking like a very delicate snowflake Z I'd let it go and just give him a wide berth from now on.

@TwatAtSchool91 The comment he made was "morning Blade" in a mocking tone, both infront of the secondary school kids and my own.

"Blade" can also be a young woman. Are you sure that's not what he meant?

Yes, and valuable teacher time would be wasted when they could be getting on with the proper stuff.

And just when I think society can't get and more bizarre

Like they use it in NI? Why would you say that in a mocking tone?

If you’re wearing leather trench and boots in July/August, then you must expect this sort of thing

My late OH used to wear a black trenchcoat which he called his Gestapo mac but that was back in the days when a sense of humour was allowed!

Yes, I agree, he's probably a twit, but best ignored. Those morning duties are so boring, saying "Good Morning!" in a cheery voice to about 800 kids, but that's the job.

What a wag. Sounds like he has never left the playground in any respect.

I was wearing a belted leather trench coat and some black riding style boots

If you’re going to go out neck to toe in black leather, expect comments! You probably looked like you were out in fancy dress!

If the OP had said a random man (not school staff obviously) had said “Morning Barbie” due to her outfit posters would find that more offensive.

What power dynamics? Because some female strangers in public seemed to have had no issues with verbally abusing me, which I did nothing to provoke.

Oh get a grip!!!