what is the proper response when someone steps on your toe reallllly hard?

[grasswire]

It happened in the supermarket. A woman came around the corner of the aisle blindly, jabbering to someone behind her. She stepped squarely on my foot with a kind of grinding motion.

Aside from the fact that I have a problem with that foot already, it really was a painful stomp and it still hurts hours later.

I said "ouch!" What is the proper response? Was I rude?

[petronius]

1. For me, the proper response is to replay the last minute and see what stupid thing I just said

Because 99% of the time, the person stepping on my foot is my wife delivering a well-deserved hint...

[Archae]

2. Stomp on her foot!

Kidding, of course.

I would just say "Ow!" and see what she says and/or does.

99% of people would say sorry.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

3. My dear grasswire...

I'd say you were NOT rude. Not at all...

I'd certainly say ouch, because that's a spontaneous response. I might even say something about watch where you're going...

She would realize very quickly that I was hurt by her thoughtlessness and her foot if only by my expression.

What did she say? Or did she say anything?

I'm sorry about your pain...

:hug:

[mix]

4. The guillotine.

Marie Antoinette stepped on her executioner's foot ascending the platform. She did apologize--Pardon, Monsieur--but the blade fell all the same.

The French right and royalist-sympathizing commoners see this as proof of her dignity and nobility.



Sorry to hear about your pain, hope it gets better. I would have been much ruder. Much.
:hug:

[elleng]

5. A very LOUD OUCH is perfectly apropos, and if grinding motion

deliberate, a 'LOOK.' If negative response, then, 'WTH???!!!'


:hi:

[tigereye]

6. what you did made sense... how could your response be

rude?

:shrug: She should apologize to you!

[Heidi]

7. "Ouch. I'll need the name of your personal liability insurance carrier." (nt)

[csziggy]

8. I'm not sure what to say to a human who stepped on my toe

I'm too used to horses doing it. And when a 1600 pound horse steps on your toe for the third time in a week, there are no coherent comments to be made. Screaming pretty much defines the proper response.