Whistling is for the dogs.

This blog is fast becoming my outlet to let off steam from everyday life with a bit of food and knitting thrown into the mix. And this blog entry is no different. If ain't broke.....

My work day was pretty ordinary except for one glaring incident. While working at my desk a patron whistled, yes whistled, for me to come over and help him with the computer. Since I've been on the job, patrons have caught my attention to ask for help in a variety of ways. Some say, "Excuse me, Miss", "Ma'am, can you help me", "Can you help me". Others just raise their index finger or wave (that really annoys me for reasons I will cover later), and now today, someone whistled for me like I was a dog.

Pissed off does not even to begin to describe my reaction to the rude gesture. I am a woman, human being, and at least in my capacity at work, someone who has a better understanding of computers than the person asking for assistance; and as such I should be treated with respect. I'm not asking for statutes to be built in my honor or parades thrown on my birthday (Ha ha!), but I expect to treated respectfully as any human being would, and my authority to be acknowledged and recognized. It's very simple, you wouldn't whistle for your mother, so don't whistle for me.

If I could look at this from a more objective standpoint, I could possibly admit there might have been a cultural dynamic at work. It was apparent this particular patron was a recent immigrant to the United States. Perhaps he saw nothing wrong with what he did, maybe his actions did not breach his social norms. But for me this just another gesture in a long line of socially unacceptable actions I have to put up with at work.

At first I did not think too much about the a male patron (and it's almost always men), who would raise his finger or dismissively wave his hand. But when these events occur on a daily basis, and when male patrons continually disregard your warnings to curb their conduct, the wonder of the situation ceases to exist, and you see things for how they really are.