Apr 07 2006
are you talking to me?*
shop assistant: ‘are you finding everything alright?‘ (Standing over 5ft away from Wendy without having made eye-contact)
Wendy: ……(doesn’t realize the assistant is talking to me)…….
shop assistant: ”ARE YOU FINDING EVERYTHING ALRIGHT?’‘ (louder, without moving closer, without attempting to gain eye contact)
Wendy: (walks to the shouting assistant, smiles) “were you talking to me?”
shop assistant: “yes” (looks a bit gobsmacked)
Wendy: “Can I help you?” (I adore reversing who is helping who with this phrase)
shop assistant: “are…are you finding everything alright?”
Wendy: “I’m just browsing, but thank YOU for asking” (or provides specific purchase criteria)
* the phrase ‘are you talking to me’ is often used as a pre-cursor to a contrived argument, a deliberate provocation to a fight. Well illustrated by Robert De Niro in ‘Taxi Driver’
write the first thought on are you talking to me?*
