6.14.2005

Annamaria's tips for proper gas station etiquette

I get hit on at gas stations. I don’t know why the sight of me at the gas pumps is seemingly so irresistible to men, but I appear to be at my cutest when my car is on E. Usually, a polite nod before turning my back and going about my business is enough to get these guys to back off and realize that I’m not looking for love at the BP. Occasionally, it takes a little more effort; for example, the other day I turned into the gas station just as a man was exiting his car, holding a map in his left hand while flagging me down with his right. I assumed he needed directions, and being the friendly and helpful girl that I am, I stopped to assist him. This was a mistake. Our conversation went like this:

Creepy Guy (CG): Excuse me, Miss?
ME: Yes?
CG: I just wanted to compliment you. I try to pay at least one woman a compliment everyday, and I wanted to let you know that you are beautiful. (while CG is speaking, he manages to put his hands on my car door, so that his fingers are over the open window, and slightly inside my car)
ME: Um...thanks? (trying to figure out how to drive off without running over CG’s feet)
CG: Are you married?
ME: Um...yes. (Thanking every known deity for the fact that my claddagh only fits on my left hand). Now, if you’ll excuse me, I really need to get gas.
CG: Oh, of course. Me too. Wow, God sure did bless you with some beautiful skin!
ME: Yeah. Bye. (sotto voce) Freak (Driving off and deciding that the gas station across the street, despite being $0.02 more per gallon is the better deal)

I know its a common myth that feminists hate being hit on. I can't speak for all of my sisters, but honestly, I don't mind it. It's flattering, and sometimes a smile from a cute guy is enough to make me happy for hours. But Creepy Guy...yeah, that's not flirting, nor is it flattering--it's just creepy. You see, walking up to a woman and invading her personal space (did I mention that his hands were inside my car??) in order to do your good deed for the day might seem like a good idea to you, Creepy Guy, but to me it seems like a good reason to start rethinking bans on mace and pepper spray.

So, here's my good deed for the day. Guys: if you spot a cutie at the Amoco, smile at her. See if she smiles back. Now, actually think about her smile--is it a smirk, as in "Would you look at that moron trying to pick me up at the gas station"? If so, do not approach said cutie. If it is a genuine smile, ask her a polite question, as in "How are you doing today?" In short, be interested in her, and she might become interested in you. But do not, under any circumstances, put your hands in her car!

annamaria at 2:35 PM

6 spoke

6 Comments

at Tuesday, June 14, 2005 4:29:00 PM  ID said...

I believe its "bootylicious." The changing of the Y to an I doesn't really apply in the hood.

This white man is not scared of huge boobs, particularly yours miss.

Heh.

 

at Tuesday, June 14, 2005 4:36:00 PM  Anonymous said...

Yeah but, if the white man were scared of the huge boobs, wouldn't he deny it?

 

at Tuesday, June 14, 2005 4:55:00 PM  Kurt said...

As a shy, okay timid white guy, I was amazed at braziness of black men at the barbeque restaurant I managed in South Dallas. I mean, a woman's husband/BF would go to the rest room and the guy behind her in line would start hitting on her!
I'm a flirt, but these guys were up front about what they had in mind. I asked some of the men, some of the women and one of my employees (all black). They laughed it off and just acknowledged that that was how the game was played in the 'hood. It's not in me...

 

at Saturday, June 18, 2005 4:50:00 PM  MT said...

Wow, you're so right. Gotta ponder this one. Hmm. I think a woman pumping gas is, for one thing, a solo woman. Also she's a driver, and nothing says independence in the U.S. like the car. Also driving is the opposite of passivity, which is sexy in a practical way because it suggests less need to guess or perform and making success seem easier and sexy for primal ways probably best discussed in the analysts office. Also, since it tends to be hot inside a car, and since the inside of your car feels private and secure, I suspect women coming out of a car tend to be wearing less clothing than women on average. Oh yeah: There's also that business with the nozzle and the pumping and how the woman shows the nozzle to the hole. There's something very apple pie about that.

 

at Monday, June 20, 2005 9:41:00 AM  annamaria said...

Yeah, I considered the phallic nature of the nozzle, but that still doesn't explain this particular situation--I wasn't anywhere near the gas pumps when Creepy Guy approached me. Maybe Creepy Guy is just creepy, and girl alone is enough to make him salivate. Pretty pathetic.

 

at Wednesday, June 22, 2005 3:18:00 PM  MT said...

"girl alone is enough to make him salivate. Pretty pathetic."

Oh, I dunno. What more is there to it, really? Ah, L'amour.

 

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