Originally Posted by
Arking
Ok my first proper real b!tc# it out!
I have a pet peeve, its become a tick at times but let me explain. I work for a mens clothing store that specializes in mens undergarments (socks/underwear/undershirts) but we also carry swim, gym and casual attire as well. My store is about three blocks from my cities "gay village" so outside of it but close enough to be lumped alongside. Our clientele of course is predominantly gay men, and the film and entertainment industry but it's really close to 60/40 if you have to see it by sexual preference. Due to all of these things it's not uncommon for me to have customers who are at first shy, or unsure when entering our store. Now note this is not a sex store, we do not carry products of that nature at all. Shyness though is just something that's to be expected as much of what we carry is of a personal sort, and for the most part there can be a stigma associated when you're shopping for designer apparel of this nature.
My store goes to great lengths to not sexualize anything, our displays outdoors are always fully clothed and until you enter you wouldn't know that we sell men's underwear unless you peered in at the racks. Any who I do get customers who come in that are of course do not consider themselves to be our stereotypical clientele, straight men unaccompanied or with their girlfriends usually under 40 years of age. What's gotten under my skin is a sort of habit I've noticed of some of these customers, that they have a compulsory need to share that they are in-fact straight. Like a verbal acknowledgement, a out loud statement to assure me that they are a straight male in my store.
I do my best to assure them that we do get a mix of clientele, and that if they need I can assist them with any questions they may have. I'm not heartless and I do understand the stigma associated with being in my store for the first time, and I get when people are uncomfortable yet desire to try something new outside of the zone they've been confined too. It's not easy, I should know, so I do my best to assure the would-be unicorns that enter my store they more of an run of the mill pony and there's really nothing to be concerned about. The thing is a few have become frequent patrons and yet they maintain this desire to say things like "I'm like the only straight guy who comes here" when they visit despite my assurances they really are not and it's really just a clothing store.
What's become a bit of a bother is that this declaration which seemingly started as a desire to garner a form of understanding from me has become a bit of a mantra for a few and it's made me feel a bit uncomfortable. I get the need to let others know you feel like an outsider, but to latch onto that image of yourself alienates the person you are comparing yourself against in the process. I am a gay male, and quite honestly it took me some time to get over that it wasn't a bad thing. It makes me want to slap some of them upside the head and tell them to move past this notion that being straight in a "gay space" (it's not its a clothing store for pete's sakes) is somehow special or worthy of note. It says to me that they think being like me is bad, and they don't want to be mistaken and devalued like that.
In short, b!tc# please...that is all.