Elderly man mocked him on the train for doing embroidery and said it was ‘for girls’ — but the young man’s dark comeback shut him up instantly
Stereotypes often pull people down, but standing your ground can help shut down unwarranted comments. A Reddit user (u/DistributionQuirky40) was doing embroidery when an elderly man on a train mocked him for doing something he believed was "for girls." However, the storyteller, who wasn't having it, fired back with a dark comeback that made the old man instantly switch seats. Sharing the story on Reddit on November 22, 2025, the user expressed how he creeped out the passenger with just one question.
The 26-year-old had turned towards embroidery on his monorail journey back from work after he became sick of doomscrolling and dealing with mild depression. But an elderly man who boarded the train one day immediately looked at the man and said, "Embroidery's for girls, man. Why are you doing it?" The narrator, who grew up watching forensic shows, decided to pull a number on the man. He told him, "I'm training to prepare corpses for funerals. Would you rather I practice through embroidery or from stitching your eyes and mouth shut?" Hearing this, the man immediately moved to sit as far away as possible.
The user revealed that his dark comeback made the man ignore him for the rest of the journey. He also noted that he briefly considered flashing a slasher-style smile at the man from the train door when he looked back at him, but decided against it. Oftentimes, people judge others for doing things because, socially, it is only acceptable for one gender. Take sports, for instance. Many individuals still look down upon women for taking up sports activities that are predominantly played by men.
On the other hand, when men choose activities such as embroidery or stitching, they are mocked for doing what is traditionally associated with women. These gender stereotypes about what men and women should or should not do are social norms that limit people from pursuing what they enjoy. By choosing to do embroidery, the Reddit user cannot be reduced to being "less masculine." Rather, it only enhances his skills and allows him to express creativity. Whereas the elderly man's judgments stem from the traditional beliefs that have nothing to do with the activity itself.
Soon after his post went viral, many users shared their thoughts on it. u/luxafelicity mentioned, "We love a boy who embroiders. I've dabbled in it myself and it's a lot of fun! I'm also a massive fan of creeping out people who can't mind their business, so double points for you sir." u/WhichChest4981 reminded, "There have been [sic] several pro football players in the past that used embroidery, knitting, etc. as a way to wind down and relax before and after games," u/TieDye_Raptor remarked, "My husband has done embroidery before, though it's been a while since he's done it. It's for anyone who wants to do it. I love your response to them."