Going to the hardware store. I'm female. I've been in and out of hardware stores, lumber stores, automotive parts stores all my life. I use power tools. I LOATHE the "poor little woman doesn't know her own mind" crap. I usually don't get handed that, but then there are days like today.
I need 18 brass wood screws. 2 x 3/4, round head, slotted. This is for a doll project but I'm ranting about the hardware so I'll post here.
In my world, a round head screw is one that sticks out above the surface it is screwed into. A flat head is one that can be countersunk into the wood so it does not stick up. Sometime the top is also domed a little bit.
A slotted head takes a plain old 'normal' screwdriver, what my geeky husband calls a "minus" driver. Sometimes called a flat head. Which gets confusing, you see.
A Phillips head takes a Phillips screw driver, a "plus" driver.
My favorite hardware store couldn't help me. But they knew right away what I wanted.
On to the emergency back up only-if-I-have-to store.
In I go, waving my example of a round head, PHILLIPS screw that is not quite what I want but in the ballpark.
The dude shows me the wrong thing.
Me: "I that's not what I want, I don't want a phillips head."
Dude: "Why not"
Me: "I want a slotted head"
He shows me a phillips with a countersink head.
Me: "Not what I want." I continue, in the tone of voice reserved for idiots, annoying children, and cats: "I do not want a Phillips head."
Dude: "Why not".
I would never convince my husband of this, but I was getting a full on dose of the "little woman doesn't know what she really wants" vibe. There are several responses possible at this point. "Because" is the most terse and possibly the most satisfying. "Because I want a slotted head" has already failed. "Because the bookcase I'm making a 1/3 scale model of was put together 70 years ago by my grandfather and he used slotted screws" is too long to waste on this guy.
So I fall back on the classic silent: turning around and starting to leave.
Dude: "Why are you leaving?"
Me: in my best icy tone, teeth gritted, growling, aggravated female approach-with-caution-if-at-all tone of voice "Because you are NOT LISTENING!"