14 The Appropriateness of No Response

There are times when it is absolutely appropriate to say nothing less you say something you cannot take back, say something you should not or abandon all etiquette of good manners and tolerance in favor of deliberate sarcastic rude obnoxious behavior wheeled with the explicit intent to humiliate.

Some good examples of times should hold one’s tongue includes the painfully obvious such as:

• Encountering someone who is familiar with you and you’ve just had a haircut, you go from medium length hair to a buzz cut and they ask… “Did you cut your hair?” and you think …hmmmm… do you really want a response? Or…

• You’ve lost 50 pounds going from a size 18 to a 10 and they ask, “Did you lose weight?” better yet how about…

• You present someone with a gift saying ‘for you’ and they say, “For me! Are you sure? Really?” making you feel to snatch it back and say never mind.

Well yesterday was such a day for me. On my way to pick up my mother from the bus station I stopped before I exited the subway to purchase some senior tickets (65 years or older) for her for our return trip home. There was a bit of a line. I waited in line to make my purchase and when it was my turn I asked for 2 senior tickets but was told that they were sold in 5’s ($8.25) or 10’s ($16.50). I asked for 5 and paid with a $20 bill, upon receipt of my 5 tickets and change ($12.75) the young woman looked at me and asked, “They are not for you are they?” I just took my tickets and change and looked at her straight in the eyes and burst out laughing, the look on her face was priceless when she realized the stupidity of her question. I just shook my head and left. I didn’t even answer her. I thought, ‘what an idiot, definitely too much peroxide in the head’. I wanted to say no duh….!