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

[SlitheryDee]

As an addendum to my previous statement: If I were the guy clicking his pen, I would be majorly pissed off if someone corrected me. This is even including the knowledge that I hate pen clicking myself. You just don't go around correcting people for stuff like that.

I can totally see myself snapping and saying something like "Jesus , would you stop that fucking shit"? I also wouldn't press charges if at that moment the guy jumped up and beat me senseless. I shouldn't have said anything, rather just got up and walked away. If I'm in a public place, I realize that the public are going to go about all their inane bullshit just like I do. Only we're doing it all together. If we can't forgive basically all the little noises and smells and everything else, then we can't peacefully be around each other. The ones who can't take the inconvenience should be the ones who don't go to public places. I can take it...most of the time.

 

[OverVolt]

It has to do with how you framed it. Your voice, tone, everything matters.

Going "Hey that clicking is bothering me can you please stop?"

Is better than *squeaky voice* "STOP THAT"

I would've had to see it in person.

 

[sixone]

You should have asked to borrow his pen.

Then started clicking it until he got annoyed.

 

[lxskllr]

You should have asked to borrow his pen.

Then started clicking it until he got annoyed.

I like that, especially for the WTF factor :^D

 

[debian0001]

next time just shoot him with your gun.

 

[Pray To Jesus]

All you who not even ask him to stop are pussies. I would ask him to stop politely, and if he doesn't then I would leave at that point.

 

[SparkyJJO]

I'll admit I may be that guy sometimes clicking the pen (I fidget, a lot), but if someone asked me to stop I'd probably put the pen down a little embarrassed. Odds are I'd probably be absentmindedly clicking it again after a little while :$

 

[LumbergTech]

I'll admit I may be that guy sometimes clicking the pen (I fidget, a lot), but if someone asked me to stop I'd probably put the pen down a little embarrassed. Odds are I'd probably be absentmindedly clicking it again after a little while :$

We've found your pen clicker.

 

[JulesMaximus]

I would probably have whipped out a katana and cut you in half.

 

[_Rick_]

Next time, ask him if he wants to see a magic trick.

And remember, smiiiile

 

[zinfamous]

If you wanted to avoid actually communicating and telling him that it's not a socially acceptable practice, consider the more amusing approach... perform the same action but at an exaggerated scale. In this case, make sure to go as far as spitting items out of your mouth while trying to talk. Hopefully, when they have pieces of food hitting them, they will realize how disgusting it is.

Oh, I like this approach

 

[M0oG0oGaiPan]

found a pic of the op

 

[randomrogue]

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.

 

[gorcorps]

I'll admit I may be that guy sometimes clicking the pen (I fidget, a lot), but if someone asked me to stop I'd probably put the pen down a little embarrassed. Odds are I'd probably be absentmindedly clicking it again after a little while :$

Me too. It's a nervous tick. I'd either click it, drum it on the table, spin it around my fingers (and drop it a lot, probably also annoying the OP) or something. I usually keep a few packets of earplugs with me due to work and if somebody says something I'll offer them those. Then you just get a dirty look though... so at that point they can just fuck themselves. I tried to help and I know I'll only stop for a little while until my habits come back.

 

[sourn]

With all due respect. Go fuck yourself.


Hey I said it respectfully.

 

[zebano]

You did fine assuming your tone of voice matched the words you've laid out. He has no obligation to stop but most reasonable people will if you ask.

 

[Ausm]

Take the pen and break the motherfucker in half! No need for conversation.

 

[PowerYoga]

freedom him full of second amendments.

 

[Red Storm]

I fail to see how pen clicking would be so bad as to drive someone crazy. Especially in a public place. Somewhere completely silent I could understand.

Nothing wrong with (politely) asking him to stop, but in this scenario I would say just tough up, it's just pen clicking.

 

[baydude]

If pen clicking is something bothers you so much for you to take action maybe you should stay home. There's way more obnoxious people out there. Some with OCD conditions beyond their control like constant random noises to clear throat, tapping the table, Tourette's, etc

 

[Yourself]

If pen clicking is something bothers you so much for you to take action maybe you should stay home. There's way more obnoxious people out there. Some with OCD conditions beyond their control like constant random noises to clear throat, tapping the table, Tourette's, etc

Agreed. I respectfully ask the OP to fuck off.

 

[dbailey]

Guy at my work 2 cubes over thinks whistling is fine. I had enough.. I call his phone every single time he starts and ask him to stop. Now, sometimes when he starts.. he stops by himself.. haha

 

[DougK62]

OP, you didn't do anything wrong. Were I in the other guy's position I would have stopped clicking and apologized for my being obnoxious in public. But I'm a considerate person - a lot of people are assholes.

 

[styrafoam]

I would have moved as soon as he started talking on his phone. If i were him, i would have stood up and sat next to you as soon as you asked me to stop clicking the pen.

 

[OBLAMA2009]

I'm in a coffee shop. The gentleman immediately adjacent to my table has been annoyingly clicking the shit out of his retractable pen, while on a call, for several painful minutes.

I waited for him to end his call and politely asked him to stop. He responded with attitude; an incredulous look and testily challenged, "Why?"

"Because it's obnoxious. I'm asking you to please stop."

"I'll see what I can do; if I can remember to stop."

"Please do. Thank you."

He looked at me as if I just tore off his mother's head and took a shit down her throat.

Was I out of line? I certainly don't think so.

i would never say anything like that, it would just make someone do it MORE