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June 28, 2006
A Question of Protocol
This morning I stepped off the train behind a man most likely making his way to an office, just like the majority of my fellow passengers. He was maybe early 40's, short, squat, balding - pretty nondescript. I was reminded slightly of Edgar (RIP) on the television show 24. He was wearing a blue long sleeve button down shirt and black pants, and you may be wondering why I noticed so much about him. Well. He had a mento - or something like it - stuck to his butt.
I kind of stared at it for a second as we all did the fast walk to our respective places of business and then noticed everything about this person who was at some point going to get extremely embarrassed. What was my position here? I mean, he probably sat on it on the train, so I was most likely the first person to spot it. Should I have sidled up to him and muttered "Excuse me sir, you have a mento stuck to your ass"? It's a difficult dilemma. I was relieved when he veered in a different direction because it was pretty uncomfortable and how do you not stare?
So, should I feel badly about not saying something? Poor guy. I wonder how he found out. Or has it just become gradually more and more mashed into his pants because he didn't notice it and everyone who did felt the same hesitation that I felt?
I asked myself what I would prefer if it had been me: To discover it upon
arrival at work (either by snickering co-worker or on my own) and reflect on how stupid I must have looked, or to have a complete stranger inform me while surrounded by scads of other complete strangers, become utterly mortified and have my face burn until noon? I think I would choose the first. If I'm utterly friendless and have something stuck to me (face, ass, foot, whatever), I'd rather just be blissfully unaware.
It was a favor, my not telling this guy. Maybe. What it really comes down to, is I didn't want to be the one that had to initiate any public red-faced mortification. It's uncomfortable to be around uncomfortable people, and I'm pretty standard in that it's not pleasant for me to be the cause of all that awkardness. Although we really could blame the Mento.
| By heidi | 5:39 PM