Politely asking stranger to stop clicking retractable pen. Am I out of line?

[brigden]

If a polite stare and maybe even a rude stare don't give him any hints then saying something politely is ok. I do the same thing when some kid is listening to his music too loud. People understand and stop as long as you're polite.

If you're a pen clicker, or doing something else obnoxious, and don't understand this and get upset when someone politely asks you to stop then you need to reevaluate your social skills.

I made direct, prolonged eye contact twice, then gave him the evil eye before saying something.

 

[bigrash]

I wouldn't asked for him to stop, but it's messed up the way he responded. He should understand that there are other people at a coffeeshop. If he reponded with that attitude to me, I would have turned up the volume on my phone all the way and start playing some video games.

 

[Apple Of Sodom]

It is better than being a passive pussy about it and mumbling "Sheesh, some people should stop clicking pens!"

You were not out of line. It is an annoying habit. Same applies if he is rudely snapping his gum. If he were tapping on the back of your chair would you say something?

If someone is doing something very rude then you say something or leave the area. You don't endure it and you don't get passive-aggressive about it. You did the right thing. You could also say something like "I'm not sure if you are aware that you are clicking your pen and it is driving me crazy. Could you please stop?"

 

[dbk]

you're in public..so.. he can do whatever he wants

 

[Raizinman]

You can't dictate your rules in a public restaurant. Lots of things are annoying such as cell phones, coins rattling, key jingling, and more. If it came from management, that is one thing, perhaps someone came in and had a loud radio. If you have a problem with it, see management or leave. That simple. In todays world of people carrying guns and using them for much less, I would have picked a bigger battle. Can you imagine your funeral? Here lies Brigden who was shot 5 times because he was annoyed by someone clicking his pen.

 

[brigden]

You can't dictate your rules in a public restaurant. Lots of things are annoying such as cell phones, coins rattling, key jingling, and more. If it came from management, that is one thing, perhaps someone came in and had a loud radio. If you have a problem with it, see management or leave. That simple. In todays world of people carrying guns and using them for much less, I would have picked a bigger battle. Can you imagine your funeral? Here lies Brigden who was shot 5 times because he was annoyed by someone clicking his pen.

Your idiotic reply speaks more to the lunacy of gun advocates than my act of scolding a grown man for his annoying behavior.

They aren't my rules. It is a shared space. Thus, he should have known better than to engage obsessively in a disruptive manner. If he fails to understand the etiquette expected of him, I have absolutely no problem in educating him, or anyone else for that matter.

 

[baydude]

Your idiotic reply speaks more to the lunacy of gun advocates than my act of scolding a grown man for his annoying behavior.

They aren't my rules. It is a shared space. Thus, he should have known better than to engage obsessively in a disruptive manner. If he fails to understand the etiquette expected of him, I have absolutely no problem in educating him, or anyone else for that matter.

I think his point was you never know what type of person you're dealing with in public. What if he was a psycho who stabbed you in the eye with his pen instead?

Or what if he claims he's Jesus and can do whatever the f*ck he wants?

 

[Lummex]

I was asked to stop clicking my pencil once by a girl in class. At first I was taken aback, but I understood.

 

[Kelvrick]

I think his point was you never know what type of person you're dealing with in public. What if he was a psycho who stabbed you in the eye with his pen instead?

Or what if he claims he's Jesus and can do whatever the f*ck he wants?

Hopefully there is a homeless hitchhiker with a hatchet nearby.

I think that is something that is wrong with today's society. Ask politely. If he is a douche about it, then you can decide whether you want to escalate it further.

 

[blankslate]

Well I guess it would be like if you were in a restaurant and someone at the next table asked you to please stop eating with your mouth open and to please stop the smacking sounds. Would you be offended?

Doesn't matter if I would be offended.... eating with your mouth open isn't polite at all and if I was doing it at a restaurant I'd deserve someone telling me to stop it no matter how rude he was...

 

[RossMAN]

Stop clicking the fucking pen and please do the needful.

 

[zanejohnson]

it would completely depend on how you asked..

if it was an assholish ask.. i'd click it even louder, maybe even get up and continue clicking it as loud as possible as i walked to your desk and put it right in your face..

if it was a kind way of asking.. i'd stop.. and think of you everytime i tried to start clicking it again by force of habit...and would ultimately remember how nice your request was.. and not click it.

 

[BoomerD]

Did he look like this?

That's what I thought of when I first saw the thread...

 

[tfinch2]

Stop clicking the fucking pen and please do the needful.

Kindly stop clicking the pen, or I will do the needful.