Little interactions can have such lasting effects

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Reading @DaddyEvil’s comment about being turned down by a prospective date made me think how what seem like such small actions can have a long-lasting impact. Many years ago I worked in medical research in a hospital lab. One morning I arrived at work on my motorbike as usual. I was just taking off my helmet when I saw a strange woman walking towards the door of our laboratory building. I approached her and asked ‘Can I help you?’ She looked down her nose at me in my leather jacket and replied ‘I don’t think so’ in a very sneering manner, and proceeded to go to the door. She rang the doorbell; I locked my bike, walked past her and unlocked the door to go inside. At that she looked surprised and said ‘Oh do you work here?’ I said yes, and when she told me she had an appointment at a different department I politely explained how to get there. Such a trivial incident but for years afterwards I was annoyed that I hadn’t just told her ‘You rudely refused my help a moment ago’ and just shut the door in her face. But I guess it’s just as well I didn’t because that would have only reinforced her obvious preconceived opinion that motorcyclists are just a bunch of ignorant morons. All rights reserved. © Text and image copyright Fleur 2026.