I was buying a broadband USB stick. The young female assistant talked me through the package – she seemed relaxed and approachable.

‘I’ll remove the filter controls,’ she said.
‘Controls?’
‘Some sites have restricted content.’
‘You mean pornography?’

I almost said: ‘are you calling me a wanker?’ but I instantly realised I’d misjudged the situation. I wasn’t joking with a friend; it was this girl’s job to be relaxed and approachable, part of her sales patter. I’d breeched the customer/supplier relationship.

There was an awkward silence and both of us blushed. Pornography hung in the air like a fat owl.