What do you think it means?

[suzanne]

Today I was out shoe shopping. Or more accurately, doing an in store pick up of an online order. In the process, I try on all the shoes I purchased, and make returns if they're uncomfortable or don't fit. Of course, I need a second opinion, so I model them for the sales staff. LOL.

So, there I am, walking the store in one of my new pairs of shoes, browsing the clearance rack (where I found a really cute dress that cost me $12), soliciting opinion, and the SA, an assistant manager, starts a conversation with me. How she loves those shoes on me, the skirt I wore that day, and how nice my legs are. We get to talking about everything. Family, how long we've been made married etc. She talked about her tattoos and I told her about getting my legs waxed. She asked me how painful it was and I told her not too much. THEN she told me about getting a Brazilian, and I told her I'd never try it.

On one level, that's all WAAAAAY too much information, and definitely too intimate for a SA/customer relationship. On the other hand, the whole thing felt like the chat sisters would have over lunch. I feel like I've stopped being a male customer in a women's clothing store and become one of the girls. I love how that feels.

Has anyone else had an experience like this? To me, this is another reason to just get in there, own who you are, and act like being there is the most natural thing in the world. There's plenty of sales ladies who enjoy having you in their store, not just merely tolerating you and humoring you.

[Jean 103]

Yes this kind a thing happens to me all the time. I have gotten used to it. If you are comfortable with who you are people will be more open with you. Just last Saturday, there was a break in the weather so I went shopping. In the grocery store this woman starts talking to me about how she already has most of her Christmas shopping done, it’s like February. Anyway during the conversation she says “you have something if your hair”. I lean forward and she picks this piece of paper no more than a ¼” out of my hair(not a wig). Granted I’m likely the only one in town wearing a dress. Same trip in line another women we talk briefly and she complements me on how thin I am. I get home and my roommate asks me why it always takes you so long to go to the store. I told him of the lady, he is not interested. That’s the key, I will stop what I’m doing and take the time to talk to someone or include them in what I’m doing. It’s way more fun to stand out.

[Teresa]

Suzanne,
I can comment from both sides on this one. I was shoe shopping in drab and just trying on some knee high boots when we became aware of a male shopper with his lower jaw on the floor. That really broke the ice with the SA after that we chatted more like two girls, she told me how nice some peeped toed heels looked and lucky I was to be able to wear them when she couldn't.

Recently at our Xmas party I was wearing the dress in my avatar, I didn't leave the dance floor all night, the girls from the other parties just wouldn't let me leave, and yet if I'd been dressed as a guy I probably wouldn't have danced with them at all , I was totally accepted as one of the girls.

[Tracii G]

Many times Suzanne and I'm sure many here have done this as well.
Just enjoy it and play it by ear when the opportunity comes again.

[JeanTG]

Not quite the same but, once I was invited to lunch by a supplier. It turns out that at this supplier, I worked with three young women, ages mid-20s to mid-40s; I had just turned 50. Went out to lunch with all three of them, and they proceeded also to share "way too much information" with me as if I were one of the girls, part of the sisterhood as it were. They talked about their BFs, their periods, their sex lives, etc., just as if I was one of them. I was profoundly touched, and even though I was in drab, I have rarely felt as feminine as at that moment.

[CONSUELO]

It was her decision to share such information and you responded graciously it seems. So, no harm done and the entire encounter was civil and polite.
I always try hard to treat all people who "serve", that is SA's, waiters, bus drivers, TSA agents and so on, as politely as possible. Many years ago I worked the year before college in public transport. The rudeness and ignorance that people have to accept in those jobs in almost intolerable. Serving someone who was pleasant and polite was a real treat.

[sometimes_miss]

About 40 years ago, working with all women, in a hospital environment, no one ever held back when discussing girl stuff. On the rare occasion that we had someone from another department visit, and hesitate when she wanted to say something but was obviously glancing at me as if to infer to another woman whether she could talk, they were routinely told it was ok, that because of how all my coworkers felt about me, I had been given honorary girl status. Outwardly embarrassed, but inwardly cheering, I always said, 'go ahead and talk, whatever you say will never leave this room'. Then I went back to doing whatever I was doing.
If someone opens up to you and treats you well, it means they like, and trust you (perhaps admire, but there wasn't enough information to know in such a short time).

[Pat]

It seems to mean you're happy. And that your message is getting out to people, so they're treating you the way you want to be treated. Good job. :)

[suzanne]

I'm definitely not put off by the TMI. I'm greatly impressed by how easy it is to be taken into a woman's confidence just by being sincere. And I don't mean to make it sound like there's an ulterior motive. It's just nice to have a conversation that has some depth to it.

[AllieSF]

I agree with everything that has been said. An interesting side to the TMI part is that sometimes to receive you also have to give. Meaning that by occasionally sharing something personal about yourself you unwittingly open the door for the other or others present to open up about themselves. I believe that their opening up is not planned, it is just a natural response to being trusted with someone else's personal life. I tend to share my issues with others as my way of dealing with said issues. In doing so, I have had some very strong personality men share some very personal information about themselves that I believe was rarely shared with anyone in the past. I created a moment of trust where they could be vulnerable in a way to share something that may be embarrassing to themselves or show a weakness that they never exhibit openingly.