September 24, 2019

What a man in a United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners t-shirt said to me today.

“That’s a crazy head of hair you’ve got.”

I was just walking along a bike/pedestrian trail here in Madison, and he was a stranger who approached from behind and walked past.

Take the poll...

How I responded...
 
pollcode.com free polls

75 comments:

stevew said...

How many votes until you reveal how you responded?

rhhardin said...

Sexual harassment. It's like he held a door open for you.

Ken B said...

I assume you mean like he did NOT exist.

I voted b crazy head.

The answer might be e) “‘head of’ is redundant”

Seeing Red said...

How old was he?

Seeing Red said...

It seems the younger generation can’t keep their mouths shut. They need to critique.

Beasts of England said...

f) ‘Don’t you know who I am?!’

rcocean said...

icy stares of disdain rarely work.

traditionalguy said...

Before responding, first look for the Union Label and the rest of his clothes. Then check out his Shoes.Finally, quote a Bob Dylan line or two to see if he understands civilization.

But does Southern hospitality apply in the North Country Far. Just mace him.

Michael K said...

Are you crashing picket lines now, Althouse ?

Scab !

traditionalguy said...

NB: Victim blaming applies when a stranger is too cute.

rcocean said...

I voted for the quip, since that what i would've said. Of course, usually when stuff like that happens, I'm so surprised/shocked by whatever, that i only think of the quip 2 minutes later.

rcocean said...

My mother advised me to treat jibes and insults with silent contempt. But i found a fist in the face - or threat of same - gets better results.

PM said...

"And a crazier head under it."

J L Oliver said...

I usually assume that people are lonely and reaching out with weird comments. It's a bid for attention. I also do not take myself that seriously. I like to oblige: "Crazy head, too."

J L Oliver said...

I realized that I had two older brothers and I am inured.

Fernandinande said...

More than a half-million
men & women who perform safe,
productive work every day.


The correct answer is always: Safety First.

Sebastian said...

But not crazy enough to join your union.

whitney said...

I would laugh. Its silliness

traditionalguy said...

Carpenters and Joiners are wimps. I suggest you look for a Teamster.

Ken B said...

“You have stolen my future. How dare you!”

Ken B said...

“I'd walk a million miles for one of your smiles, my mammy”.
Oh wait, Althouse not Trudeau.

Never mind.

Roughcoat said...

"Right back atcha, stud muffin!"

robother said...

Ann doesn't strike me as the joiner type.

Harsh Pencil said...

Was he wearing shorts?

Yancey Ward said...

"Thanks" is my go to response to out of the blue statements about me from strangers, so I voted for that one even though I actually liked "crazy head" better.

Yancey Ward said...

It is entirely possible he knows who you are.

Yancey Ward said...

And don't you owe us a selfie for this post?

rehajm said...

Depends. Is your head of hair crazy?

McSavage said...

Whenever my wife sees me reading Althouse she comments on the hair...

tcrosse said...

How does the real Althouse response tally with l'esprit d'escalier?

BJM said...

I open carry when I walk or ride alone on our local trails and have a large dog with me, mainly because of mountain lions.

An aside learned in a self-defence class, when a male stranger makes a remark in passing it can a harmless little flirt or simple friendliness, but it can also be a tell. He remarked on your hair, which is very personal; he sexualized your looks as he approached and had a remark at the ready.

IMHO it's no longer a good idea for a woman to isolate herself, especially a well known, nice looking woman such as yourself. It's a sad state of affairs but it is the way things are nowadays.

Pack or pal up, but don't walk in the woods alone.

Bill, Republic of Texas said...

"I'll be angry at you for more than 50 years like that principal who commented on my skirt"

john said...

That carpenter is likely never very far from his dual speed 21 degree pneumatic framing nail gun. So just smile, don't say anything, and walk faster.

Barry Dauphin said...

"You have stolen my dreams and my childhood with your empty words!"

Infinite Monkeys said...

I went with "thanks", but it really depends on the tone of voice he used.

Mid-Life Lawyer said...

I voted 3 but it could have been 2, depending on your mood.

MarkThomas said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Char Char Binks, Esq. said...

I know a roofer who refused to enroll in The United Brotherhood of Carpenters. I guess he's just not a joiner.

tcrosse said...

In my misspent childhood it would have been "Dig that crazy hair. I dig it the most".

mockturtle said...

I voted, "Thanks".

Temujin said...

That's some crazy day you've got going in Madison today. First the construction guys talking about 'pairs O' titties', then union thug talkin' bout that crazy hair. Clearly you inspire the working man in Madison.

WisRich said...

I guess my question is: what did your hair look like Ann? Should objective evidence be considered? Only then can I hazard a guess as to your response.

Choirboy626 said...

When out walking/running on lonely nature trails, I routinely voice a friendly greeting as I pass strangers. I'm a big guy who can seem threatening w/o doing anything, so I'm trying to send out a signal that I'm just a normal, well-intentioned dude out for a walk. If I come up behind folks and haven't made some noise to draw their attention to my presence, I expect that it would seem stalker-ish. I don't ever remark on a woman's appearance, but will occasionally risk an old-fashioned "Ladies" passing a group of women walking. It makes me sad to think that we are losing the ability to address and acknowledge the mere presence of another person.

I do agree that your fella was skirting the flirty/friendly edge, though. My guess is if he were ill-intentioned, a silent stare would indicate a woman who would freeze and not scream and fight. A person who responded shows an inclination toward action, and a smart, sassy reply indicates awareness, action and at least a little fight. Pair-up or carry.

I'm Full of Soup said...

I think he got a look at your tookus and wanted to join you!

MarkThomas said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Kathryn51 said...

Am I missing something? Why does it matter what he was wearing?

If he was wearing a suit? Zuckerberg gray t-shirt style? Shorts? Would Althouse react differently?

tim in vermont said...

You know what they say, “everybody wants to see the blonde turn around."

MountainMan said...

I think he recognized you and was giving you compliment. Being a great blogger who often has a nice turn of phrasI think he probably expected a response in kind. Will be interested in knowing what you said.

I've always thought you have cool hair. A DuckDuckGo search on you brings up lots of nice images.

Jim at said...

I'd say thanks, while thinking ... 'go to hell, union thug.'

Lucien said...

Sounds more like an IBEW comment to me.

Jim at said...

Why is he a “thug”, what has a tradesman who belongs to a union ever done to you?

You know, at least Fen had the good sense to leave when he was banned. He didn't keep sneaking back under new names.

RNB said...

Your hair may be crazy. You may even admit your hair is crazy. But for him to call it 'crazy' requires that he be fired from Fox News forthwith.

Francisco D said...

"Thanks" is probably the best answer, but that may just encourage him.

You do know that he was trying to pick you up, don't you?

The Godfather said...

If someone said it to me, I’d know they were delusional.

gilbar said...

Do i Have to be the 1st, to call RACISIM! on using the T word?

MadisonMan said...

It's pretty windy today. I can see how longish hair could go crazy.

FullMoon said...

Why is he a “thug”, what has a tradesman who belongs to a union ever done to you?

You know, at least Fen had the good sense to leave when he was banned. He didn't keep sneaking back under new names.

Her names may change but her game remains the same.

West Texas Intermediate Crude said...

"Bless your heart!"

tim in vermont said...

"It’s almost as if he being a union member made him more scary to Althouse,”

It’s almost as if you cannot detect subtle humor, and what is probably a little barb aimed at the more right wing of the commentariat. I used to resent unions because they expected me to buy shitty cars out of “patriotic duty” when UAW workers made three times what I made, but I think that those days are over.

MarkThomas said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
minnesota farm guy said...

Here's video of Ann's response.

FullMoon said...

I used to resent unions because they expected me to buy shitty cars out of “patriotic duty” when UAW workers made three times what I made

Union Members, Not Minimum-Wage Earners, Benefit When the MinimumWage Rises

Ingachuck'stoothlessARM said...

without your hijab, you were asking for it, infidel!

at least no acid in the face (this time)

Marc in Eugene said...

"I'll be angry at you for more than 50 years like that principal who commented on my skirt"

Do I believe that Althouse quite seriously remains angry with the principal over the skirt comment (if that's what she wrote; I vaguely recall this being blogged about)? no, of course not, but this was amusing. I believe that 'crazy' is used by the kids as a compliment in some circumstances but I can't keep up so who knows?

Marc in Eugene said...

Un manifestant fait signe à un policier de baisser son LBD40, le policier lui assène un coup de poing dans la bouche, a demonstrator gestured to a cop to lower his LBD40 [a non-lethal riot control gun, somehow]; the cop punched him in his mouth with his fist.

From the text accompanying the YouTube video of the amusing climate demo interaction. I had thought the climate activist actually touched the gun but re-watching I'm forced to admit that their description seems accurate.

The riot control police in Paris don't operate according to US television/film standards.

The Vault Dweller said...

Another negative incident with a Union member. I seem to recall several years back at some lefty protest against Scott Walker in Madison, Althouse and Meade went to observe the protest, and Althouse was physically assaulted by a man wearing a union shirt, which prompted her to call for police. I believe Meade had recorded the whole thing. I could be misremembering what the guy was wearing too.

Also, do we have any guarantee that Althouse actually reacted in one of the manners listed in her poll?

William said...

An oblique remark deserves a fleeting smile and an almost imperceptible head nod as you walk by and away. Carpenters are generally well behaved. Jesus was a carpenter It might just have been meant as a friendly comment, but he might have been a serial murderer who wore a carpenter union t-shirt in order to lure his victims into a fall sense of security. Life is so much easier when you're a guy.

Howard said...

Jesus was a carpenter and loved the hooker with a heart of gold

walter said...

Harsh Pencil said...Was he wearing shorts?
--
Was he bald?

Anonymous said...

I'd have asked "Why do you say that." It then I'm a guy and not worried about being raped on a bike trail.

Narr said...

I voted cray-cray.

Narr
Do let us know

tim in vermont said...

That video at 3:47 is hysterical.

Nichevo said...

How about g) "Crazy in the head, crazy in the bed!"

Optionally followed by either

h)"But you'll never know!"
Or
i)"Twenty dollars, I'll make you holler!"

Nichevo said...

How fast were you walking, and how fast was he walking? Were you really walking or were you just thinking about walking?

Anonymous said...

Depending on his age he may have meant that it is quite impressive.