I hate being treated like a helpless, doddering old fool.

[MIButterfly]

Yesterday I went to Costco to get gas. The pump wouldn't accept my membership card; the screen kept saying "Error - re-insert card" so I went to get the attendant (who looked to be all of 14). He then proceeded to turn the card over, point to the magnetic strip and explain to me very slowly and condescendingly that the card goes in with the strip facing the green light. You mean like I just did three effing times and every other time I've been there? I'm not senile nor am I stupid. I still have (most of) my faculties. I wished I had some kind of cane so I could shake it at him and call him a whippersnapper.

And of course, the card worked perfectly for him.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

1. Yeah, understand the feeling, but if the card worked perfectly for him then observe and learn

I understand you are angry at him, but he didn't get angry at you or call you names.

He did help you. Together you got the task accomplished that you were unable to do on your own (for whatever reason). Did you thank him for getting your card to work in his reader?

Anger doesn't make the card reader work better.

If he kinda sorta mistreated you (oh it's horrible) and you think it was because of his age, forgive him. He can't help his age any more than you can help your age.

If you really wanted to make an issue of it and teach him a lesson so that he doesn't abuse someone else so terribly by slowly and clearly helping them, ... then speak to him as clearly and slowly and condescendingly as he did while you explain that you felt abused and how awful that feels and how he can do better. Then thank him.

[MIButterfly]

3. Wow. I thought it was a semi-amusing story.

I thought people would respond "I know what you mean" or "something similar happened to me." I really didn't expect to be lectured or chastised. I guess I really am a doddering old fool.

And yes, I did say thank you. I wasn't brought up in a barn.

With all due respect, I think you're making way more out of this than what I intended.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

4. Well you fooled me. I must be 14 years old & wet behind the ears. It came off as a rant, not as you being amused.

Read my post again. I stated twice that I know what you mean, though I phrased it ever so slightly differently. Must be my fault for sympathizing only twice.

[MIButterfly]

6. I thought the image of someone shaking a cane and calling someone a whippersnapper was amusing.

Not only because it's a stereotype of an old person, but who has used the word "whippersnapper" in the last 100 years?

But I am sufficiently chastised and will think twice before I post anything from now on.

By the way, I wasn't angry at the kid, I was frustrated at his "mansplaining" to me about how to insert a membership card I'd inserted a hundred times before.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

7. C'mon, you are better than that to play the victim

But I am sufficiently chastised and will think twice before I post anything from now on.

I'm not impressed by your over-reaction, but I get it that you are just being "amusing".

[MIButterfly]

8. And I wasn't impressed by your chastising. Can we call it even?

And how do you know that I am better than that to play the victim? KIDDING.

I don't want to fight or debate or whatever this is. DU is my favorite website and DUers are my favorite people. That would, by definition, include you.

Now let me have it............

[KarenS]

2. I understand what you are saying,,,,,

[rickyhall]

5. I like to play them when they think I''m stupid.

[Bmoboy]

9. Another example of successful internet communication.

[EmmaLee E]

10. I always say "it must be my magnetic personality"

then smile my granny smile

[MIButterfly]

11. LOL! Good answer!

It's always best to respond with humor!

[Unity In Voice]

12. LOL!!!!!!

When I was 14 and my mother was 38 I used to think she was old. Then I started having kids and they think I'm old and I'm only 30!!!!