After encounters like this, the rapier-like response that leaves them stunned always comes to mind somewhat after the moment is past.
The one above is a doozy: essentially equates her worth to her dateability, a cheap shot to a young woman, essentially declaring she would be worthless in that respect to a large swath of humanity (nobody would date you), questions her judgment and implies she is stupid/foolish for her choice (why would you want to do that), then tells her what she “should” do without having been asked his opinion, telling her her place is at home (that will always be a choice, of course, but hers alone)...argh. I declare him a Jerk, First Order. He was also counting on her not calling him on it, because no doubt she was raised to be nice, and he felt confident he could say stuff like that and get away with it.
A quiet and uninflected “Wow,” slight pause, then a swift and bland, unfazed, turn of the conversation to another topic (can you believe the rain out there) restores the power balance of a conversation where someone just rolls in with a multi-pronged dig. A favorite of mine over the years.
Of course, I’ve had fun thinking up positively wicked things to say. Inspired by “Thank you for your service” above, I’m always fond of thanking people. Perhaps “Gosh, thank you, I am such an idiot, I hadn’t realized wanting to serve my country would completely destroy my ability to date anyone. I so appreciate you telling me that.”
Forgive me, I had so much of this thrown at me over the years when women were just starting to enter the service outside the Nurse Corps in large numbers, I have way too much practice in fantasizing satisfyingly awful ripostes. The sad thing is, it’s still happening.