Encounters with pettiness.

It always amazes me when people need help and immediately they are looking beyond the obvious. Here, the in thing when you go to sort out a problem, the first question that is usually asked is, "So, which constituency are you from?" I imagine with every office equiped with the 8th Parliament charts, they look at who represents you and maybe party!
This is often followed by subtle glances at you. It's like in their heads they are saying, "Do you fit the bill?" Others outright refuse to get any assistance from you and prefer to get help from the men in the department.
To counter all these issues, I practice what I know best- The Art of Quiet and in response to the question of my constituency, I ask them, "Or you mean which part of the world I come from".
In the end, I befuddle them both ways!