The ****? People's reactions to me this morning.

[Space05us]

I just walked up to the corner store to pick up some milk and oatmeal. A few suspicious looking characters turned and walked away from the direction I was headed in. Random not-so-clean people were seemingly going out of their way to say "good morning sir". The workers at the store all called me sir, other people were smiling at me and saying good morning.

I have gone up to that same store dozens, if not hundreds, of times, nobody has ever called me sir before. Except one man who works there. I think he only calls me sir for the same reason I call him sir, it's the appropriate way to address a stranger.

The difference? I've been lifting weights again, but only for the past month or so, so there isn't a very noticeable difference yet. My hair is cut much shorter than it was before, I have a buzzcut now rather than a styled cut. I also killed my beard and sideburns last night (may they rest in peace).

I can only think of two explanations. One, I am more approachable, but wtf was my beard not "sir" worthy? Two, I look like a cop.

Is there another possible explanation I am not considering?

[Imran Siddiqui]

I can see the "look like a cop" thing... the clean cut look seems to be a stereotype of cop.

[Felch]

Were you drenched in blood? That usually changes how folks react.

[DaShi]

You're official old.

[Space05us]

Were you drenched in blood? That usually changes how folks react.

No, not much anyway. I mean, my shoes made a sloshing sound.

You're official old.

I'm 22.

[Docfeelgood]

I was sitting at a red light, looked to the car on my left, had a women in it.
When we made eye contact she locked her doors.
It was just a quick glance.

[Imran Siddiqui]

She has good judgement

[DaShi]

I'm 22.

20 is the new 40. Fortunately, 30 is the new 20, so you just need to wait 8 more years.

[Winston]

The workers at the store all called me sir, other people were smiling at me and saying good morning.

I say you forgot to put on your pants.

[Docfeelgood]

She has good judgement

[Japher]

OP; maybe your fly was down

Doc; stop staring at people, you're freakin' them out

[Theben]

I was sitting at a red light, looked to the car on my left, had a women in it.
When we made eye contact she locked her doors.
It was just a quick glance.

You're lucky she didn't mace your car.

[-Jrabbit]

Sounds totally like a cop/military vibe to me. Try the same thing with a day-old beard, cut-off jeans and shabby T-shirt and see what happens.

[MrFun]

I just walked up to the corner store to pick up some milk and oatmeal. A few suspicious looking characters turned and walked away from the direction I was headed in. Random not-so-clean people were seemingly going out of their way to say "good morning sir". The workers at the store all called me sir, other people were smiling at me and saying good morning.

I have gone up to that same store dozens, if not hundreds, of times, nobody has ever called me sir before. Except one man who works there. I think he only calls me sir for the same reason I call him sir, it's the appropriate way to address a stranger.

The difference? I've been lifting weights again, but only for the past month or so, so there isn't a very noticeable difference yet. My hair is cut much shorter than it was before, I have a buzzcut now rather than a styled cut. I also killed my beard and sideburns last night (may they rest in peace).

I can only think of two explanations. One, I am more approachable, but wtf was my beard not "sir" worthy? Two, I look like a cop.

Is there another possible explanation I am not considering?

You made a thread about this?

[Wiglaf]

I'm 22.