To me, the man's response could have been taken wrong. Just leaving the DC area, I can say with experience that the place is a "mixing bowl" (ha ha, get it, "mixing bowl") full of different walks of life, let alone all the different cultures.

When I was in the dating game, I was invited to a place wayyyy out of my social register by the girl I was seeing at the time. Me, a career Marine, and she, a (some kinda political intern or lobbyist, I didn't pay attention or understand) lady with much more social refinement and background. Lets just say I was lost as a bastard on Father's day.

Anyhoo, folks asked what I did, and I tried to answer in terms that some would understand. Heck, on lady was trying to figure out what university the USMC was located at.

I was polite, hoped I didn't offend anyone and suffered through the event with little damage done. The point was, a few days afterward, a few of my date's friends "didn't like my crude tone" and I was told that I needed to learn to "lie better." Shortly thereafter, I realized this was little more than a social status competition between she and some friends, and who was to bring the candy to the event. I was to be there, look good and shut up. So we all know how that turned out.

But I didn't intend to offend, but I was definitely out of my social "comfort zone." I was with a lot of "haves" and I am definitely from the "have not" part of society.

Either way, perhaps the guy was at the wrong place at the wrong time, and hopefully no feelings were permanently hurt.

Just my 2 cents. Marty