Your slip is showing
@thinkingoutloud (6127)
Canada
January 4, 2007 10:02pm CST
When I was in college, I was in the cafeteria one day and it was packed to the brim with students. A really attractive girl walked in and headed for something to eat. She drew attention from most of the guys at my table. As she turned to take her place in the line, there was a lull in their conversation and then they all started to laugh. Not only did this girl have her skirt caught in the back of her tights but she also had a relatively long piece of toilet paper dangling from the waist too!!
She was standing there, head held high, without a clue! More and more people started to notice... and to laugh at her. I just couldn't stand it! I walked over and told her. She was mortified and her eyes started to fill up with tears (mine would have too!). She thanked me but rushed out about as fast as she could. I didn't know her but it killed me that almost the whole room was pointing at her and laughing!
Would you ever up and tell someone (friend, relative, stranger) something really embarrassing? Would you do it to "rescue" them or save them from further embarrassment?
5 people like this
10 responses
@emeraldisle (13139)
• United States
8 Feb 07
It's a shame they did that to her. Who knows how long it had been like that and no one had bothered to tell her. That really irks me. I would have done what you did as well. I might have also said something to the whole group once she'd gotten out of there. Like none of them have ever made a mistake in their lives. They sure wouldn't think it was funny if it happened to them.
3 people like this
@thinkingoutloud (6127)
• Canada
8 Feb 07
Totally agreed, emeraldisle... that's what gets me -- no one wants to be the person who steps forward to say something but, honestly, who is the one who's going to be more embarrassed? No one remembered ME, I'm sure, but that poor girl was a topic of conversation no doubt.
2 people like this
@irisheyes (4370)
• United States
8 Feb 07
In that situation I hope I would tell. I certainly wouldn't laugh and point. However, I have had a few times when I wanted to and didn't know how. Like when someone was wearing a dark jacket and there was dandruff on the shoulders.
In that situation, I hope I would. I certainly would not have laughed and pointed. But I confess that once I didn't know how to say something so I didn't. The person I was talking to was wearing a dark blazer and there was dandruff on the shoulders of the jacket.
2 people like this
@thinkingoutloud (6127)
• Canada
8 Feb 07
It's true that some things, once you've noticed them, can be really distracting. Like something in a person's hair or, as you mentioned, dandruff on a dark item of clothing. Usually, if it's really visible and I feel the person might be uncomfortable when they saw it later, I'll make it "fluff"... :) Such as, "Oh you seem to have some fluff on your jacket (or in your hair, etc.)" By not saying, "You have dandruff on your jacket," it might come across as less personal but still let them know they might want to brush it off?
1 person likes this
@hockeygal4ever (10021)
• United States
7 Feb 07
I always tell people if something embarassing is happening. My only exception is if a man I don't know has his fly down I leave that to another fella to tell him! lol
2 people like this
@thinkingoutloud (6127)
• Canada
7 Feb 07
LOL!!! Yeah, that's a little more awkward... perhaps some mumbled remark about it being "drafty"?? ;)
1 person likes this
@vivasuzi (4127)
• United States
5 Jan 07
I try to tell people if they have something in their teeth, or shirt is messed up or whatever, but it's harder to tell strangers. I don't know if I would get up and walk across a room to tell someone like you did, maybe that's mean of me but I just would hope someone nearer to her would tell her - or she would notice soon. Then again, i'd hope someone would tell me! Although that would never happen to me b/c I always check my skirt like every 2 minutes (I'm OCD that way). I don't know, maybe I would tell her! I guess I had to be there. For friends - yes definitely. For strangers, I just don't know.
2 people like this
@thinkingoutloud (6127)
• Canada
5 Jan 07
Honestly, it was one of the hardest things I think I ever made myself do LOL But I just couldn't stand to look around and see all those students laughing at one person and she didn't have the faintest idea. I felt like a bit of an idiot walking over to her but I kept thinking, "What if that were ME?"
And to think I was really shy in school! Lordy... lol
1 person likes this
@ronita34 (3922)
• Canada
7 Feb 07
ROTFLMAO...OMG how embarrassing such a situation is!!! I would tell someone regardless of who it was and yes of course to both rescue them from the situation and save them any further embarrassment. My younger sister got out of the car once after working in the bar and she got out of the car and went running in to the store. I heard a cab full f guys start whistling and i looked up and her skirt was tucked into the top of her corona booty shorts ... LOL! I yelled at her immediately and she fixed it! When she got back into the car we both shared a good laugh about that ne ... LOL! Although a cab full of guys is nothing compared to a lunch room of college students!!
@thinkingoutloud (6127)
• Canada
7 Feb 07
ROFL! I JUST don't know how that happens... I mean, you would think we would FEEL it, you know??? Good thing your sister was within yelling distance! LOL
1 person likes this
@awonderfullife (2893)
• United States
6 Feb 07
I try to if it's something like food stuck in between their teeth (like a piece of spinach dangling). A complete stranger with toilet paper hanging? I probably would intervene because that could be so embarrassing for the person! I'm glad that you stepped in for that poor girl!
2 people like this
@thinkingoutloud (6127)
• Canada
7 Feb 07
Oh my! I am so obsessed all the time about the food between the teeth thing LOL Especially broccoli! I have to brush my teeth immediately after eating.
1 person likes this
@Lostinoz (145)
• United States
17 Feb 07
I was in a similar situation but it was with an elderly lady at our church. She had went to the restroom and when she came out her dress was tucked inside of her pantyhose. She sits on the very first row of the church and had made it almost to her seat before I caught up to her. I noticed that most people just turned their heads and looked the other way, but I felt the need to do something.
I guess there are those who will point and laugh and then there are others who will react in a positive manner such as you did. Great job!
I just draped my coat around her waist and asked her to follow me to the restroom. She is such a sweet lady and I hate that she was embarrassed in this way.
2 people like this
@Kilrone (63)
• India
11 Mar 07
What you did is commendable.I, for one, would want to be alerted if such a situation should arise. But for some people,i guess they'd rather laugh at the person (though they sure wouldn't find it funny if they were in that person's shoes).
But then again, we are forced to think twice before telling someone... more so, if it's a total stranger. Who knows we might even up being the one needing to be rescued from an embarassing situation when we thought we were just being a Good Samaritan. Like the person chooses to be rude instead of being grateful.Different people,different reactions, u know.
If i should decide to take that risk, i'd try to let them know..as discreetly as possible.
