Barbers' patter

bobbyss · 26-01-2019 09:33PM #1

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 · 26-01-2019 09:34PM

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

TomSweeney · 26-01-2019 09:34PM

Whats goin on ?

vkus6mt3y8zg2q · 26-01-2019 09:35PM

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 · 26-01-2019 09:36PM

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

Kevin Finnerty · 26-01-2019 09:39PM

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

bobbyss · 26-01-2019 09:43PM

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 · 26-01-2019 09:47PM

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 · 26-01-2019 09:49PM

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 · 26-01-2019 09:51PM

Murray TheDemonic TalkingSkull wrote: »

They aint the Stazi.

You sure about that? :eek:

Foweva Awone · 26-01-2019 09:51PM

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 · 26-01-2019 09:51PM

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 · 26-01-2019 09:53PM

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

26-01-2019 09:55PM

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 · 26-01-2019 09:55PM

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

bobbyss · 26-01-2019 09:58PM

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 · 26-01-2019 09:58PM

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

freshpopcorn · 26-01-2019 09:59PM

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

Noveight · 26-01-2019 10:00PM

Imagine having that little to worry about?

JohnnyFlash · 26-01-2019 10:03PM

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 · 26-01-2019 10:04PM

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 · 26-01-2019 10:08PM

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 · 26-01-2019 10:09PM

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 · 26-01-2019 10:11PM

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 · 26-01-2019 10:13PM

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___ · 26-01-2019 10:18PM

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 · 26-01-2019 10:19PM

Something for the weekend,sir?

lawred2 · 26-01-2019 10:23PM

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 · 26-01-2019 10:23PM

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 · 26-01-2019 10:24PM

Kevin Finnerty wrote: »

But it's an infringement on their rights!

It's bangs out of order

26-01-2019 10:26PM

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?

Barbers' patter

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