Our gym has individual shower stalls and the urinals are very carefully concealed one from the other, so I suppose that prevents these episodes from happening very often. When I was much younger I never had any social life and both girls I knew strictly as friends and boys I knew in same context would wonder aloud to me why I didn't since both groups would comment that I was so good looking. Well the comments made be feel better but the social life was still zilch. I would get hit on by older women and many more older men, but I would just ignore them and pretend to be suddenly convulsed with an urge to vomit or something and leave the scene. As I reached middle age, this became less and less a problem but always wondered what would be an appropriate response in lieu of vomitus.
But then I read this interesting comment by Miss Manners. Her columns I read mostly for how cleverly she can get you gratiously out of compromising situations (e.g. how to introduce two people when you have forgotten either one or both names -- have used that successfully several times). She said that when anyone says something to you that is supposed to be funny or clever or whatever but that you find disgusting, you must never offend that person (assuming that there is nothing overtly malicious in the comment). Step 1 -- If the comment is a question or statement that demands a reply you say, Thank you (if a compliment) or no thank you (for unwanted service) and if no comment is required immediately move to Step 2 which is to smile only very meekly with a bit of tooth showing, but let the rest of the face show no emotion whatsoever and then turn away. That way both of you have behaved as properly as the situation allows -- the solicitor knows you are not interested, but is not crushed by silence or an insulting comment and you have been a perfect gentleman, always in control of the situation. It does take practice (especially the countenance that is expressionless) and mostly I have used this technique when someone tells an offensive joke in the presence of ladies who I know do not approve. Good luck in being flattered without a continuation of the flattery. |