It is not every day that you encounter someone who knows exactly how to handle a total stranger trying to police their clothing, but Reddit user purrfunctory recently shared a story doing just that. She took to Reddit to describe an incident where a woman attempted to shame her for having visible bra straps, only for the poster to twist the conversation in a way that likely left the critic wishing she had just kept her mouth shut, making it a great addition to the r/traumatizeThemBack subreddit.
The original poster, who identifies as a T-7 paraplegic, was out running errands on a particularly hot day when she was stopped by a woman accompanied by her two teenage sons. To stay cool, the poster said she was wearing shorts, a tank top, and a sports bra. She noted that her shirt was baggy because she has lost nearly half of her body weight over the last 12 years. As she was walking with her service dog, Cap, the woman stepped directly into her path.
The poster wrote that the “Good Christian Women™️” immediately targeted the poster’s appearance, asking, “Excuse me, ma’am! Are you aware your bra straps are showing?” When the poster calmly replied, “Yes, and..?” the woman escalated the situation significantly. The mother claimed, “Your bra straps are a test of my sons’ purity. You are leading them to thoughts of lust and sin!”
Rather than retreat, purrfunctory used sarcasm
The poster stated that she challenged the woman by asking, “Do you also tell young men with their underwear showing out the back of their pants to pull them up or do you only shame women and girls?”
When the mother doubled down and called her out for what she termed “wh*** ways,” the poster delivered the ultimate shutdown. She allegedly added that if her sons are attracted to “an obese, middle aged cripple with saggy t-ts, I’m not gonna stop them.”
Purrfunctory noted that the woman was left standing there having “some big feelings” about the comment, while the poster simply swerved around her and continued her day. As for the teenage boys, the poster observed that they were bright red and were either “horrifically embarrassed” or struggling to hold in their laughter, though it was impossible to tell for sure given that they were wearing heavy school uniforms in extreme heat.
The Reddit community flooded in to celebrate and support the original poster. User ChaoticCrashy write, “You’re awesome. 110% awesome.” Another user, mummakush, who identified as a former Catholic, noted, “This was Epic!! I love it!! From a former Catholic turned atheist. I can’t stand the so called good Christian ladies.” Routine-Horse-1419 added, “That. Was. AWESOME!!! Holy shit you’re my hero! Yas queen!” Another outlined it precisely: “Oooh, what a strong slap back to that toad! You are quick with a quip.”
While the poster handled this confrontation with humor and sharp reflexes, Changing Faces notes that dealing with unsolicited comments on one’s appearance is a common challenge for those with visible differences. Experts suggest that when someone makes rude or thoughtless remarks, responding with a firm, assertive statement can often be more effective than getting angry.
Some of their recommended strategies for these situations include holding a firm gaze, stating clearly that the comment is unwelcome, or simply walking away to deny the other person the reaction they are seeking. Based on Changing Faces’ guidance, the poster’s approach of using humor worked to effectively turn the tables on a stranger who felt entitled to police her life.
By refusing to internalize the mother’s judgment, she reclaimed the space and ensured the encounter ended on her own terms. Another person who did this successfully was a Newscaster who immediately shut down a body shamer on live TV last year. Recently, a TikToker brought up the question of when it was ok to fat-shame someone, although her story got her a unanimous pat on the back.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, which noted the medical definition of paraplegia, an injury at the T-7 level typically means that the person has lost the ability to move or feel in their lower body, though their chest muscles remain unaffected. From her post, though, purrfunctory doesn’t let that stop her; she noted that life is currently quite busy, as she balances a small business, volunteering at a local performing arts center, and working for a professional baseball team.
Published: Jun 20, 2026 09:50 am