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A teenage shop assistant today...

217 replies

Tinytillytot · 19/09/2014 17:51

Shouted after me as i walked into a changing room cubicle that "Those clothes had BETTER come out on the clothes hanger" and then kissed her teeth.

Was I unreasonable to leave my clothes on the floor then swan out like a badass and simply saying "ciao".

I know it's sad and petty but I really enjoyed my coffee shortly after.

OP posts:
Oakmaiden · 19/09/2014 21:59

A bucket in your trousers?

Now I am really confused. Is this another thing that the cool kids know, but us geeks with narrow lives have blinkered ourselves towards?

alemci · 19/09/2014 22:00

I think the shop assistant needs some customer service training and the mindset that the customer is always right.

do you think she said that to everyone or did she single out op.

I may have said "I beg your pardon or excuse me! I.e. you didn't really say or mean that did you.

LadyWithLapdog · 19/09/2014 22:00

Oak maiden - naughty of you to rekindle the fire.

LadyWithLapdog · 19/09/2014 22:01

I asked DS (15) who goes to an all-boys school in London. He'd never heard of it either.

Titsalinabumsquash · 19/09/2014 22:05

Am I the only person that read this whole thread whilst trying to actually kiss their own teeth? As in trying to pucker up inwards to my choppers?Blush

Right, I'll get my coat...

WheelbarrowWoman · 19/09/2014 22:10

ShockBlushShockBlushShockBlush

I've been doing the exact same thing, Titsalina!

Oakmaiden · 19/09/2014 22:15

Oh I know. I am naughty, me...

But also was quite aggrieved by the whole thing...

And I really do want to know if I am missing something with the bucket thing? I am sure I am just being thick, but still...

Oakmaiden · 19/09/2014 22:15

Titsalina - no, I keep trying to do it too. I even watch the Youtube thing, and I can't do it...

ArsenicFaceCream · 19/09/2014 22:26

It's more a tooth-suck

LadyWithLapdog · 19/09/2014 22:28

No, that'd be close to tutting abc that was rejected more comprehensively than Scottish independence.

ArsenicFaceCream · 19/09/2014 22:33

Less percussive than a tut.

BiscuitMillionaire · 19/09/2014 22:42

Tutting is done with the tongue! Against the roof of your mouth. Completely different to sucking air through your teeth.

jadey101 · 19/09/2014 22:43

mealy mouthed approaches advocating mincing to the manager

hmc, you may enjoy being rude to all and sundry an think you are making some kind of statement about it, but it doesn't work with me. I never spoke down to you like you just tried to do to me and I don't appreciate it, hence I'm out.

Consider this your 'victory' via being rude, hope it makes you happy.

BiscuitMillionaire · 19/09/2014 22:44

Btw, I only learned what kissing your teeth was... on MN a while back! Not this thread. So a bit ironic that some PP said only on MN would people not know.

ArsenicFaceCream · 19/09/2014 22:44

I am so happy at thought of everyone sitting at their devices attempting it Smile

The youtube video is spot on. Maybe you have unusual lips? Hmm

HotPinkWeaselWearingLederhosen · 19/09/2014 22:45

I thought EVERYONE on mumsnet lived in a modest box, with no heating within walking distance to the ethical mines with only a magic chicken for company.

I am perplexed by posts indicating this may not be the case.

Op. You were a bit of a twit really. If you really objected you could have found the manager and pointed out a sales assistant didn't want you to try on the clothes.

UABU, and you know it.

CalamitouslyWrong · 19/09/2014 22:58

I'm pretty sure that the vegetarian MNers have a pile of lentils rather than a magic chicken.

hmc · 19/09/2014 23:00

Good grief Jadey! (Non plussed)

Fwiw - implying that someone is 'hardly [being] adult' is pretty condescending or 'talking down to someone' if you prefer....

Lordy - don't know why you're so touchy!

Bant · 19/09/2014 23:02

I think there is a fairly good explanation of what 'kissing teeth' is upthread. There's a video and everything. Could people look at that rather than continue to debate whether it's tutting or not?

OP - I can understand why you did it, but it probably would have been better - obeying the letter of the 'law' if not the spirit, to have put them all back on the wrong hangers, inside out, and possibly all on the same hanger, as mentioned upthread. And then spoken to the manager. Shop assistants are supposed to be helpful, at the least.

I've lived in very multicultural places, lived abroad, and have never heard the term 'kissing teeth' - or even seen it done (or maybe just never registered it).

And I completely agree that not sitting down poring the internet for the latest urban insults that are growing in popularity miles from where you live - that doesn't make you racist. It makes you normal. I wonder how many people understand yiddish insults, or Polish, or Urdu, or spend their free time understanding the etymology of the word 'drongo'. Who really has time to learn that belching is polite to belgians, or showing the soles of your feet is offensive in Japanese and Thailand. It's too far away for you to care that much, right?

Most people are too busy to worry about stuff that has absolutely no impact on their lives, and that doesn't make them close minded, just too busy to worry about useless stuff.

jadey101 · 19/09/2014 23:13

implying that someone is 'hardly [being] adult' is pretty condescending or 'talking down to someone' if you prefer.

Amazing, you can't help but be condescending, even whilst explaining the meaning of the word. (I'm not sure why you would assume I would need it explaining either?)

I'm not 'touchy' either I just don't believe putting people down and being rude is the way to resolve issues, and I don't care to converse with someone that does and considers a person who does anything less than that as being mealy-mouthed.

JeanneDeMontbaston · 19/09/2014 23:32

Tutting is done with the tongue! Against the roof of your mouth.

No! That's clucking, like you disapproving granny might.

Tutting - and I have even found a link - is sucking against your teeth. Like this: www.thefreedictionary.com/Tutting

(Honestly, I don't really mind what we call it, so long as we agree the shop assistant was rude to the OP and she was rude - if funny - back. Grin)

Iliveinalighthousewiththeghost · 19/09/2014 23:46

I wondered what kissing teeth meant.
Did u not complain O.P. There are teenagers out there with impeccable manners and standards that are on the dole.
I have never one been spoken to like that by a staff member nor would I expect or accept it. How rude and unprofessional.

Tinytillytot · 20/09/2014 08:25

Bugger, this escalated. To clarify there was no "build up" or back story, the girl gave me my number tag thing (incidentally what is that called?) then shouted what she shouted at my back as I wandered off into the cubicle. I was bloody annoyed. RE making an official complaint....why? I didn't want her to lose her job (we've all had bad days) I just wanted to piss her off a bit. Fight teen 'tude with teen 'tude. I guess I was posting originally still high on the adrenaline from the crime! I just felt so bloody badass Wink

RE teeth kissing, where I live (in S. London) teeth kissing is absolutely the universal sign of disrespect. I'm astounded that this thread turned into what it did.

OP posts:
Tinytillytot · 20/09/2014 08:28

@castlemilk Grin I am sad I didn't think of that speech!

OP posts:
hmc · 20/09/2014 08:33

I beg to differ Jadey - you are being touchy! I wasn't explaining the meaning of the word condescending but merely referring you back to your post where you claimed "I never spoke down to you" (when in fact you did)

Beyond bored of this now - my last post on the matter you'll be pleased to hear!