That call might have been too good.

[minoanmiss]

I just talked to a customer for a half hour, about his unit, about the science of cooking, about how the composition of food affects the temperature it cooks at, and so on and so forth. It was a lot of fun to tell someone about the science of cooking, to use my knowledge.

But.

He got more and more lavishly complimentary as the conversation went on, and began to mention definitely calling me again, several times. I'm really glad he found me knowledgeable and friendly, but I hope he's not picturing my work Alter Ego as much more... invested... than I am. That can happen when one has a sweet feminine voice.

I hope he was just enthusiastic in the moment to find someone to talk to about how interesting the science of food really is.

Presenting as female can be so much fun. Customers feel entitled to yell at the stupid girl, or they become way too fond of that really nice smart chick who's probably pretty too... And then people think you're cocky or too sensitive when you try to talk about these things.

*sigh*

Comments

[baranduin]

I'd be wary too.

[petra]

I'm sorry the customer likes your worksona too much.

[buggery]

My monitor thanks you for the shower.

[cjsmith]

Ugh, yeah, I’d be leery of exactly that if I were in that situation, too. Isn’t it fun to live life as a woman?

I hope he forgets all about it.

[sabotabby]

I would be very concerned. Of course, I got into a super lengthy discussion with an NDP fundraising guy and I was like, "ummm, shouldn't he be getting off the phone now instead of trying to cheer me up, I already said I'd give money" that made me wonder along similar lines.

[amaebi]

Oh, boy, yeah. :(

[bikergeek]

When you're a nerd it's just plain exciting to find someone who shares your nerdery. Let's hope that's it.

We'll see if he calls back and/or if he says or does anything untoward.

[minoanmiss]

*clings to your hope* And I feel bad, you know, to be suspicious of someone who could just want to share the joy of nerdery! And yet...

[bikergeek]

yeah. you always have to wonder whether the fucker's intentions are less than salubrious.

[hitchhiker]

oh dear :(

[peoriapeoriawhereart]

Hope it doesn't turn into Red or Red II (Bruce Willis movies, Dame Helen presiding)

[cellio]

Hmm, yeah, I'd be wary too. It could be a food geek who's found another food geek and proceeds to geek together, as one does, but women also get a lot of, uh, stuff from people who are not, as it turns out, geeks in whatever the particular area is.

You could always direct him to an online Q&A community for cooking questions. I could suggest one that's small and trying to grow. :-)

[minoanmiss]

I would actually really love that suggestion -- I think I should Prepare Something in case he becomes a pest, and that would be very useful. Thank you :)

[cellio]

https://cooking.codidact.com

The community is small and we aren't getting a lot of questions at the moment. I hope we can improve that. We do have people hanging around and happy to answer questions (when we know or can research answers). I've gotten some good answers there to my questions and I'd like to see it grow.

[minoanmiss]

Thank you :)

[rachelmanija]

I like this idea.

[lilysea]

Ugh. :(

I wish men didn't feel entitled to develop romantic feelings for women and AFAB-people-who-they-incorrectly-perceive-as-women who are talking to them as workers. :(

[cmcmck]

The problem is, of course, the very word you use.

'Entitled'.............

[buggery]

If your boss weren't a problem in and of himself, I'd suggest a memo to him noting that there's a possibility of the customer in question becoming inappropriately familiar. Is there someone else you could send such a memo to? Is there an HR person maybe?

[vettecat]

It can be hard to strike that balance. Hope it didn't become awkward.