Rou

So, I started reading a book series. Bought the first two from the store and liked them. So, I went off to Amazon and picked up the next two, along with some other series I was interested. The girlfriend hits me up for a couple of books she wants as well. Total of 8 books. No problem. I go submit my order. By coincidence, all of the ladies books will be shipped from a different location than mine. No biggie.

So, By another amazing coincidence, both shipments arrive the same day. I grab both boxes and start opening them. Open hers; I see three books, a packing certificate and one of those packing bubbles they use to keep stuff safe. Just like normal.

Open my box. I see my five books, a packing certificate, and one of those bubbles. Plus one other item. Now, to fully appreciate my annoyance, you have to realize what I have ordered. Those five books are Star Wars books. I’m not proud of that, but there you have it. I’m a nerd. I recently started reading a nerdy series. Bite my ass.

The final item in my box however, annoys me. It’s a free sample. Generally, I like them. However, I feel that placing a free sample of deodorant in my ‘nerd’ books is wrong on many levels. I see humor in it, but it’s annoying me too. It seems to send the wrong message. It wouldn’t be o bad if it was in every box (hers and mine). But it’s not. It’s not even every order. I just bought books from Amazon. Normal non-nerdy books. No deodorant. Nerd books… I get deodorant.

Should I be offended? No. And I’m not really. But I still think there is a little something of stereotype enforcement there. Maybe I’m wrong. Maybe they just saw that those books are typically purchased by men and threw in the sample. Maybe it was random. Doesn’t mean that my first reaction upon opening it was to be slightly offended that they thought that my enjoyment of those books meant they thought I was somehow... smelly.