What should I have said?

[BadHairDyeDay]

I ventured out in Storm Diana today and got not unexpectedly soaked. Called into a shop where I exchanged some chat with the man behind the counter about the awful weather. He then says " why is it all these storms are named after women hahaha?". I kind of pathetically pointed out that they alternate with mens names and have been kicking myself ever since! I know it wasn't clever nor did it put him in his chauvinistic place. So come on mumsnet - what should I have said ??? (Without being sweary)

I would have said the same as you!

Maybe with hindsight, something like "because we're a lot stronger than we look!" But that's probably more dumb than giving him the correct explanation, as you did.

I'd have just said, pretty much as you did, that they're not, they alternate between male and female names, and anyway what's his point?

I don't understand what the point of his comment was!

I think he meant that women are full of bluster or something to that effect 🙄

Apparently storms with women's names do greater damage than storms with men's names, despite being no stronger than male-named storms, often even weaker. It's thought that this may be because people feel less threatened by feminine names, therefore take fewer precautions.

(Not relevant, sorry, just interesting. FWIW I would have said the same as you.)

I think your answer was spot on - factually accurate, exposed him as a numpty (even if he was too dim to realise it) and devoted about as much of your time and energy to the exchange as his idiocy required.

Btw, I don't think it's worth berating yourself for not having some witty put down immediately to hand. In situations like that a standard response can simply be to ask them what they mean. Most of the time they will back down and realise the idiocy of what they're saying if they're asked to state it explicitly.