Sunday 30 August 2009

Random Turkish Fact #6

Picture the scene... you're in a shop (any shop) with a lady friend (the relationship to you is not important). She asks the salesman a question about a product. 99.99% of the time, the salesman will direct his reply to you, as the man, without even a glance at the woman.

What's the reason for this? To be honest, I'm not really sure. Perhaps it's an assumption that the small brained woman won't comprehend his answer.

More likely, it's an attempt to avoid an "Oi! Why are you talking to my missus/mother/aunt/daughter, you fucking rapist?!" misunderstanding.

Still, it makes me laugh. Especially when I'm given an answer to a question about slingbacks that I have absolutely no chance (or inclination) of understanding.

Beware though, that 0.01% of the time can be taxing. In a shop yesterday, the salesman complemented my girlfriends shorts. Not wanting to appear a stranger to the culture, I smiled, took a deep breath and torched the place... fucking rapist.

5 comments:

taetrus said...

Come on!!! Where do you go shopping? I am going shopping with women as much as I can remember and no one ever talks to me :( they talk to the the lady beside me.

Anonymous said...

I assume he goes to the "grand bizarre" type of places for shopping :) Sultanbeyli or Fatih by any chance?

You should get a pair of takunya "not to appear a stranger to the culture" :)

Anonymous said...

Made me laugh out loud anyway, as ever.. haha

Claire Geben said...

Most places speak to me only religious type people answer my husband one explanation i guess without long explanations is that in the koran it is a sin to ogle women, and they only get one chance in life to look at women in the wrong way before it is `written` against them. So to answer or look somewhere else advoids temptation!

Anonymous said...

I have been in this situation many times and am always intrigued after you have bought something and handed over the money, why the shopkeeper gives the change to your boyfriend!!