Before you read this, you should probably know that I just moved back to the US after being in Korea for the past 11 years. I was 13 the last time I was here so I’m suffering from a bit of culture shock at the moment.
Anyway.
Yesterday I was waiting to cross the street when a boy, who looked around 10 but could have been a bit older, greeted me with a “Hey there.” I was startled - initially because I am still not used to being addressed by strangers on the street, but also because said strangers have never been kids. But I managed to return his greeting. “Hey.” “How you doin’?” “Um, okay, thanks.” “You lookin’ hot today.” "… :eek: "
Honestly, what the fuck? I nearly said to him, “I’m fucking old enough to be your biological mother,” but my powers of speech had been startled into hiding. Thank God, the light turned green and I could cross the street before he said anything else. I might have ended up being traumatized for life. I mean… getting hit on by a TEN YEAR OLD? Is this some aspect of American culture that’s sprung up over the past decade? Hitting on people twice your age? I suppose I might look younger than my real age, but I am pretty goddamn sure I do not look like I should be getting hit on by elementary school kids, for crying out loud. I’m all for dating younger men, but at the very least they have to be LEGAL. That’s all I’m asking. It’s not a lot.
Has this happened to anyone else? I feel like I’d be less traumatized if reassured that I am not alone in this.
2 years ago one of my 9th grade students was suspended for three days for saying, “If I were 20, I’d hit that” as the hottie teacher went by. Wow, was she mad.
I’m the mother of an eight year old. He likes the word “sexy” and he likes the word “hot.” He is - I’m sure - not really sure what these things REALLY mean (he thinks girls are gross), but he knows using them can get a rise out of grown ups.
So its possible that the ten year old in question was giving you a “complement” he didn’t understand - one that causes a reaction in grown ups.
Its also possible that he has already fathered children and was going to invite you out - that’s been known to happen as well. You should know that the average 10 year old allowance doesn’t make for much of a date - particularly after they buy cartridges for the gameboy.
When I worked retail, I was bent over in a box of clothes, sorting and putting them on hangers and the like, when a six year old slapped my ass. I looked up and he winked at me and walked away. I was startled and a little creeped out until I realized he probably sees his dad do this to his mom or sees it on tv and doesn’t understand he just sexually harrassed me.
FWIW, my then-two-year-old nephew was in a pizza parlor with his grandfather (my father-in-law) a few years back during the wintertime, when a two-year-old girl came in with her grandfather. By my FIL’s account, said nephew was transfixed by the sight of her, actually openly staring… Then when she started unzipping her parka-like down coat to sit down, he yelled out, “TAKE IT OFF!”
I have no idea where he picked this up. We all blamed my brother-in-law (his father), of course, as the obvious inculcator, who has one count of being Latino (Ecuadorean) against him, but he denied it, has never acted this way that we have seen, and he’s not alone with the kid a whole lot…
I guess it really doesn’t help society improve itself that we still frequently tell this story as a complete joke
I would not say 10.
… but… if we had met where the picture was taken, I might avoid hitting on you as being too young.
(Much to my loss. Since I know you’re not too young for me, How you doin?!? )
Otherwise, I might agree with Bosda that he was put up to it, or the couple of folks who think he might not have really known what he was saying.
Your height might have something to do with it?
I think it’s been mentioned on the boards that Asian women tend to look younger than they are compared to women of other races, perhap due to culturally reinforced mental image of what women at different ages are supposed to look like. It looks like the OP is in her early 30s, but In Chicago most people will probably think somewhat younger than that.
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