Miss Manners: Shopper blocking aisle comments on man’s girth before making room for him to pass

Miss Manners answers a question about encountering a rude shopper in grocery store

Judith Martin, known as Miss Manners, answers a question about encountering a rude shopper in grocery store.Canva

By

DEAR MISS MANNERS: My husband was at the grocery store yesterday and a woman was blocking the aisle, bending over to look at an item on the shelf. A male shopper in front of my husband asked her to please move so he could pass by, which the woman did.

My husband, a man with a noticeable paunch, approached her next, asking her to let him by. She responded, “If you didn’t have such a big belly, I wouldn’t have to get out of your way.” My husband, a kind and friendly man, walked by -- shocked, rightfully insulted, and at a loss for words.

What would have been a good response from him to let the woman know how cruel and insensitive she was? Her remark hurt.

GENTLE READER: Do we think she was unaware of this? Or that any response would have been more effective than the hurt look on your husband’s face?

***

(Please send your questions to Miss Manners at her website, www.missmanners.com; to her email, [email protected]; or through postal mail to Miss Manners, Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.)

Latest Advice Columns

If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.