Around 1:00pm today, a customer started making small talk with me.
For context, I have a rather noticeable birthmark, no one in highschool or college ever asked anything more than “what's that?” with the reply a “birthmark” being sufficient.
The very second thing he said to me in this conversation was “what's that, an injury?” I replied “No it's a birthmark” that did not suffice. I had to repeat myself 3 times to this dude before refraising to “I've had it since birth” He then proceeded to say “Why don't you get it removed?”
I gritted my teeth, to me it read as 'I think your ugly and you should get surgery to fit my weird pre conceived notions'
I gave the usual naws hums and haw's. He then proceeded to offer me a job at his construction company for $45/hour. He could have offered me $100 and I'd still tell him no. He then kept asking why not, like dude, you just insulted my appearance, and then think I would ever want to work for you.
It soured my mood for the day, maybe I'm just overreacting but I spent alot of my childhood feeling self conscious about it.