Barbers' patter

bobbyss

If you met someone in a pub would you ask them straight away what they did for a living?

Barbers second question was 'What do you do yourself'.

I never went back to the place.
Football, The Weather Man U, The Rugby are all fine.

There is a line.

super_furry

That's why I like the Polish barbers up off Abbey Street in Dublin. €9 a haircut and no one asks you anything.

TomSweeney

Whats goin on ?

vkus6mt3y8zg2q

bobbyss wrote: »

If you met someone in a pub would you ask them straight away what they did for a living?

Barbers second question was 'What do you do yourself'.

I never went back to the place.
Football, The Weather Man U, The Rugby are all fine.

There is a line.

Hate the small talk with a barber even if it is just about sport. But agree asking your occupation is a bit much

TheValeyard

It's just small talk. What's the harm. They aint the Stazi.

Kevin Finnerty

Thought this was some new sex act or the like.Barbers Patter sounds sexual.

Loveinapril

I only go to the hairdressers once a year or so because I HATE the small talk. I don't want to talk to a stranger about my job, the fact that I am too poor to afford a holiday and my lack of plans for the weekend. I only tip them if they don't talk to me, same for taxi drivers!

bobbyss

Loveinapril wrote:

I only go to the hairdressers once a yer or so because I HATE the small talk. I don't want to talk to a stranger about my job, the fact that I am too poor to afford a holiday and my lack of plans for the weekend. I only tip them if they son't talk to me, same for taxi drivers!

Yes. I share all that. Except the hairdresser bit! And especially if you are unemployed and other customers are listening inevitably. It shows a lack of sensitivity and basic awareness.

wakka12

I dont get why some people are so private about things like that.Loosen up! Way too uptight! Who cares? Hes just a person making a bit of chat with you, whats the worst that can happen by telling him? he probably cares way less than you think he does

The world would be nicer if everyone was more open..if there is nothing bad that could happen by telling somebody something then whats the big deal saying it..I dont see how your profession could possibly be considered too private a topic to share even with a stranger

Foweva Awone

I kinda alternate between the barbers and the hairdressers, and the reason I much prefer the barbers is that they rarely bother with small-talk - not in the one I go to anyways.

Worst is in the hairdressers when they're drying your hair and asking you questions that you can't even hear over the noise of the dryer.

RMAOK

Murray TheDemonic TalkingSkull wrote: »

They aint the Stazi.

You sure about that? :eek:

Foweva Awone

Oh and if they ask what I do or where I work, I deliberately misunderstand and just mention the general area. None of their business, they dont need to know that to cut my hair!

lawred2

Missus cuts my hair thankfully.. haven't paid for a haircut in ten years

I can't stand the chit chat.. I just want to sit there in silence and oftentimes semi doze.

4ensic15

It is very bad manners to ask someone what they work at.

Just tell them you're a tax inspector specialising in barbers/hairdressers.

should shut them up rapid.

maybe throw in a follow-up question about yearly revenue.

(same would probably work well with taxi drivers if not better)

Boom_Bap

You can make up some brilliant sh*t though and see if they bite on your story.

bobbyss

wakka12 wrote:

I dont get why some people are so private about things like that. Who cares? Hes just a person making a bit of chat with you, whats the worst that can happen by telling him? he probably hardly cares

Just imagine a barbers full of customers and you are on the dole. I would not be proud of that. That would get me down. I suppose I'd feel depressed. So you are asked what you do for a living. Knowing that there are other people listening how would you feel when you say ' I am unemployed. I don't have a job'. Some people would feel embarrassed or even ashamed to be unemployed. A public humiliation.
On the other hand some people wouldn't care to tell all and sundry they're on dole.

artanevilla

A good barber knows what customers want to talk and what customers don't.

freshpopcorn

I've no issue with small talk once people don't push you to expand all your answers!

Loveinapril

wakka12 wrote: »

I dont see how your profession could possibly be considered too private a topic to share even with a stranger

It's not that my job is private, but it just leads to four million other questions as most people would have opinions/ thoughts on it. It is boring to me to spend what should be a relaxing time answering questions from someone I will never meet again.

Noveight

Imagine having that little to worry about?

JohnnyFlash

I love talking shîte with the barber. It’s just chat like. He isn’t asking you what colour knickers your missus wears. Chill out.

Agricola

Its why unisex salons are the best. The person cutting your hair will look a lot better than the guy in the barbers and they won't turn into a bantmeister general on you.

weemcd

Few of you need to dry up.

Only asking what you do, a highly common question that gets asked all the time, by everyone and anyone.

bobbyss

Noveight wrote:

Imagine having that little to worry about?

It's not really an issue of worrying about it. It's a question of how people interact with others. Asking someone you don't know about what they do for a living as in a barbers is simply bad manners.

Kevin Finnerty

weemcd wrote: »

Few of you need to dry up.

Only asking what you do, a highly common question that gets asked all the time, by everyone and anyone.

But it's an infringement on their rights!

One eyed Jack

bobbyss wrote: »

Just imagine a barbers full of customers and you are on the dole. I would not be proud of that. That would get me down. I suppose I'd feel depressed. So you are asked what you do for a living. Knowing that there are other people listening how would you feel when you say ' I am unemployed. I don't have a job'. Some people would feel embarrassed or even ashamed to be unemployed. A public humiliation.
On the other hand some people wouldn't care to tell all and sundry they're on dole.

That’s my barbers, nobody gives a shiny shìte whether anyone there is working or not, whether they’re still in school, whatever. They have their regulars and we all know each other to see at least - I don’t care for their first names and they don’t care for mine - my money is as good as theirs, a fella on the dole has even more reason to be well groomed and looking well when they have interviews coming up with their welfare officer.

Micky___

I go to the same female barber for the last 3 years. Shes a very grumpy, straight talking no nonsense person but we chat most days. Same general topics - weather, local gossip about the town, annoying radio presenters, our families etc anything really. Although some days I'll sit there and neither of us will say a word. She does give out about her other customers, I have to agree with her as shes the one with a scissors in her hand.
I defiantly prefer the days we do talk.

alan1963

Something for the weekend,sir?

lawred2

weemcd wrote: »

Few of you need to dry up.

Only asking what you do, a highly common question that gets asked all the time, by everyone and anyone.

Oh I couldn't care less the questions.. I wouldn't be offended by anything.

But I just want to doze.. as soon as anyone puts their hands in my hair, man or woman, the eyes go heavy

Super-Rush

I used to go to a barber where one of the lads was about 6ft7.

At least twice per haircut his crotch would be pressed into my shoulder.

Give me small talk any day.

pleas advice

Kevin Finnerty wrote: »

But it's an infringement on their rights!

It's bangs out of order

Sleeper12

Blake Purring Overlap wrote:

Hate the small talk with a barber even if it is just about sport. But agree asking your occupation is a bit much

Jasus hang on a second. When did asking what you do for a living become taboo? It's not like he asked do you like anal or something. It's a job. Most adults have at least one. What's the big secret?

Unless you are a male escort, undercover cop etc what's the big deal?

freshpopcorn

Agricola wrote: »

Its why unisex salons are the best. The person cutting your hair will look a lot better than the guy in the barbers and they won't turn into a bantmeister general on you.

I switched from a unisex place to a barbers last year and I find it great. Theres no women going on about weddings and bingo!

Gonad

I remember when I was a around 17 I was getting my haircut and the barber asked me what I done for a living. I was at an angle where I could not see who else was in the shop at the time .

I started telling him I was going for trials for man untied and Celtic and that I was one of the best layers in Ireland for my age. Alex Ferguson was over at me gaff for dinner ect

When he finished my haircut he spun my chair around guess who was sitting there listening to our conversation ?

















Alex Ferguson ....

He punched me and called me a liar


Now I don’t ever talk to barbers and I never ever tell lies ....

One eyed Jack

Agricola wrote: »

Its why unisex salons are the best. The person cutting your hair will look a lot better than the guy in the barbers and they won't turn into a bantmeister general on you.

Eh? There are plenty of female barbers too if women are your thing? I wouldn’t be into male barbers myself so I wouldn’t give a shìte how they look. It’s horses for courses as there are numerous differences between a barbers and a salon, unisex or otherwise.

vkus6mt3y8zg2q

lawred2 wrote: »

Oh I couldn't care less the questions.. I wouldn't be offended by anything.

But I just want to doze.. as soon as anyone puts their hands in my hair, man or woman, the eyes go heavy

Yep I'm the exact same, always feel sleepy in the barbers chair

vkus6mt3y8zg2q

Sleeper12 wrote: »

Jasus hang on a second. When did asking what you do for a living become taboo? It's not like he asked do you like anal or something. It's a job. Most adults have at least one. What's the big secret?

Unless you are a male escort, undercover cop etc what's the big deal?

What's your occupation?

Laphroaig52

Kevin Finnerty wrote: »

Thought this was some new sex act or the like.Barbers Patter sounds sexual.

You're thinking of Barbara.

RhubarbCrumble

You know where it even worse? People phoning into radio stations and being asked. Seriously, I hear it all the time "Hiya Tom, so what are you at today, are you working?" I absolutely hate it.

I used to go to a hairdresser before who was really lovely. She never gossiped or b****hed about anyone else to me, therefore as far as I was aware, she never gossiped or b***hed about me to anyone either.

Sleeper12

Blake Purring Overlap wrote:

What's your occupation?

It's no secret here on boards.ie. I'm a plumber and proud to be one

Will I Am Not

Don’t go to England OP. It’s the first sentence out of everyone’s mouth over there. They have to class you before engaging further.

4ensic15

weemcd wrote: »

Few of you need to dry up.

Only asking what you do, a highly common question that gets asked all the time, by everyone and anyone.

I never ask anyone what they work at. In fact, the phrase "what you do" implies that a person is their job. It is a way of classifying people and I find it objectionable. If anyone asks me what I do, I tell them I get up in the morning, have breakfast and so on.

CalamariFritti

It all depends. I go to the same barber all the time, i know him well, all good.

But when I go to someone different I kinda dread that expectation of having to chat. Most of the time I'd be happy to just sit there and get it over with and not have some forced small talk.

But sometimes the guy is good and comes up with something interesting or makes chatting easy and if the conversation went to what I do for a living I wouldn't really care to be honest. Whats he gonna do with what I tell him? Sell it on twitter?

BuboBubo

I go to a unisex/barbers place myself for the chop once in a while.

The best bit is when the they run their hands through my curly mop and ask me who cut it the last time, like a critique of sorts with a few silent tuts. I always say "twas you".

Total conversation killer that

Kevin Finnerty

JohnnyFlash wrote: »

I love talking shîte with the barber. It’s just chat like. He isn’t asking you what colour knickers your missus wears. Chill out.

Yeah but now you got us all wondering.

Guy:Incognito

Murray TheDemonic TalkingSkull wrote: »

It's just small talk. What's the harm. They aint the Stazi.

Much like taxi drivers, a lot seem to struggle with the concept that you might not actually want to talk to them at all. When you try to start a conversation with someone and they clearly dont want to engage ( one word answers etc) , deop it and just get on with the job you're doing.

4ensic15

Guy:Incognito wrote: »

Much like taxi drivers, a lot seem to struggle with the concept that you might not actually want to talk to them at all. When you try to start a conversation with someone and they clearly dont want to engage ( one word answers etc) , deop it and just get on with the job you're doing.

In fairness to taxi drivers, they don't want to know anything about the passenger. They just want to advise the passenger of the solution to all of the problems of the world.

shutup

Grafton Barber : How would you like your hair cut?
Me : In complete silence.

bur

Need to be careful not to make any insensitive comments.

MrCostington

Will I Am Not wrote: »

Don’t go to England OP. It’s the first sentence out of everyone’s mouth over there. They have to class you before engaging further.

True! I was in Manchester in Nov looking at a car and the guy asked me that. Then his son asked me about the IRA