Because of my shyness I came out of a chip shop with a portion of fish...

[MysticTed]

Instead of a cone of chips.

Which is what I asked for but was too embarrassed to correct the woman serving me.

So I ended up eating a massive battered cod on its own for lunch.

Can you please share any silly scenarios you've been in because if your lack of assertiveness to make me feel I'm not alone!

[OlennasWimple]

Next time someone snips about "no such thing as female socialisation to be nice", I shall refer them to this thread!

[AFingerofFudge]

Most of the time I'm Mrs Super Assertive, but occasionally, it just disappears and I'm left floundering. I was in a posh hotel at a "do" and ended up paying £12.20 (!) for a glass of Baileys. Normally I'd just say "£12.20? I'm not paying that!" and walk off but for some reason I reached into my purse and handed over the money.

[MelvinThePenguin]

Smeaton, I did before I had kids.

Now I say out loud to my 4 month old 'oh, Mummy's going the wrong way. Silly Mummy'. Obviously that doesn't make me look utterly bonkers

[whattobeexpected]

A lady at my local shops was convinced I was her nieces friend from primary school, after daily "yes you are, don't you remember her 10th birthday party I still have pictures of you and her together" in the end I went along with it for an easy life, until she was with her niece one day then it ended with the woman AND me convincing her we went primary school together 😂😂

[Hassled]

Smeaton - I nearly did it today. Sometimes I walk to work, sometimes I walk halfway and then catch the bus. Today I was going to walk all the way, then thought sod it and turned back for the bus stop I'd just passed. There was no-one else around - no-one gave a flying fuck that I'd done an about turn. But I slunk back - if I could have crawled, I would have. It was ridiculous.

[OSETmum]

I once ate custard on my potatoes as I thought it was cheese sauce (canteen style situation and the custard was just in amongst all the veg, gravy etc).

[Sunnydaysrock]

Serafinaaa really giggling at your ping ping ball.

[magicsoakingmyspine]

I used to do some freelance work for an elderly gentleman with Parkinson's. He was asking me how much he owed me, I said £25, he thought I said £5 and proceeded to give me £5. I mumbled the correct figure a couple of times but felt really awkward, so just took the fiver.

[amusedbush]

I recently spent over 5€ on the tiniest punnet of strawberries in Paris because the woman on the till had spent so long running around trying to find the price. DH looked at me like as I handed over the money but I was too British to say anything

[plominoagain]

I got caught by one of those assistants in Debenhams who get you to try on various cosmetics - my only defence is that I was with my mum , and she just can't bring herself to walk past ....

An hour later , I was wearing a complete face full of slap a la Katie Price ( I wear makeup about twice a year and that's usually not much) , had a bag full of Clarins , and a substantially larger amount on my credit card . DH was so stunned he took a picture for posterity . And took about an hour to stop laughing .

[HideShortcutButtons]

Some of these have got me in stitches!

walnutwhiplash what on earth did you do with 20 loaves??!

OSETmum

[Alabasterangel6]

OSET yes!!!!!

In a hotel I put a couple of crackers and several pieces of tasty looking cheese on my plate.

I popped the entire cheese lump in my mouth to chew, then realised it was a thoughtfully pre-cut large rectangle of unsalted butter.

I carried on regardless because I was too embarrassed to spit it out!!

[ieatmydinner]

I love this thread! It's so reassuring to know I'm not alone!

@dolphinbbq @Serafinaaa @Walnutwhiplash
I'm crying 😂🤣

[ILostItInTheEarlyNineties]

A ha ha the Bread Mountain

I asked for a few layers in my hair and smiled politely as the hairdresser gave me a haircut I hated, told him I loved it, gave him a tip.. then went home and cried.
It was long hair with a short fringe going all round my head

[Jupitertomars]

I say hello to a man ive never met and who thinks he knows me, calls me the wrong name, most mornings on the school run.

He'll say hello jane (wrong name) and ill say hello as im too embarrassed to say im not jane.

[MargaretCavendish]

Does everyone else do that thing where you realise you're walking the wrong way up a street but you just can't bring yourself to about turn? You have to cross over or go into a random shop before doubling back?

Every time I do this I act out a miniature play, where I exaggeratedly look at my watch and do a performance of 'oh, look at the time! I thought I had time to go this way, but in fact I must go this way! Because of the time!'. It obviously makes me look mad but in my head it's saving face.

[ILostItInTheEarlyNineties]

I have trouble hearing people in loud venues so instead of continually saying "Pardon?" I sometimes just nod and smile.

My friend was telling me something in a club so I did the usual nodding and laughing. Unfortunately she was telling me her bf was cheating on her. Argh

[Twiceover]

I got called up and asked out on a date. I thought it was someone I knew called Tom (we had a rubbish phone at the time and I'd had a few glasses of wine). I was properly delighted to be asked out by 'Tom' and accepted enthusiastically.

A little further on on the call I realised it was actually a bloke called Tim who I had met at a party and forgotten. He'd got my number from a mutual friend. I was so embarrassed I went through with the date and then went out with Tim for about 2 months even though I didn't really fancy him. It was a relief when he dumped me!

Early 20s me really needed an assertiveness course - sorry Tim!

[largepinotplease]

Literally did this today - DS is turning one on Saturday and I saw a bargain Thomas and Friends toy in Boots for £10 so thought I'd pick it up as something to open, get to the till and it's £23...I pause, smile and pay without a word of protest the toy was obviously in the wrong section but I didn't want to say anything or have the whole embarrassing conversation where you have to say you didn't realise its real cost then leave with nothing so I just bought it...I'm sure he'll love it though so can't complain.

I also did this in Gap when buying him some new clothes, I checked the label before going to the till and had a rough idea of the total, she tells me it all comes to £40+ and I KNOW ITS TOO MUCH but I say nothing, go home and check the receipt and I've been over charged as sale items weren't discounted, I knew this at the till but I pay, go home then two weeks later return it all (at least I got a full refund) I wish I wasn't so polite, it can be expensive 😕

[MargaretCavendish]

My friend was telling me something in a club so I did the usual nodding and laughing. Unfortunately she was telling me her bf was cheating on her. Argh

Someone once did this to me! They asked me how I was, I said 'To be honest not great, [boyfriend of six years] and I split up two days ago' and she went 'oh, ha ha ha, I know we're all so busy aren't we?!'. Obviously I was too polite to say anything. It's now nearly a decade later and I'm married to someone else so I imagine she figured out at some point that ex and I broke up...

[GrouchyKiwi]

I regularly drink tea with milk in because I'm too shy to remind people that I drink it black.

I am very thankful for my choice of words at the tea counter in Harrod's, though. If I'd asked for 100g of tie guan yin instead of asking how much it would be for 100g I'd have paid £120 for it.

[MrsGrindah]

Suspect this thread is 100% British posters!!

[ILostItInTheEarlyNineties]

Oh Lordy Margaret can I apologise now if that was me?
It's just gets awkward when you've asked someone to repeat themselves and still have no clue what they're saying. Sometimes I just guess (wrongly)