AIBU to not give this woman a lift?

[PurplePidjin]

Actually, is my friend from baby group BU but hey ho...

Just back from shopping, unloading car and 3wo. Older but seemingly fit and healthy lady walks past and asks for a lift to the corner shop. Complete stranger, elderly but having no difficulty walking - by the time my friend had unloaded, she'd reached the end of the road.

Was she being U to say no? What would you have done? Friend is now concerned the rest of the village will think her tight and uncharitable...

[SummerRainIsADistantMemory]

We have one like that in our village too, constantly trying to cadge lifts and couldn't give a rat's arse if it's convenient to the driver or necessary for her.

I've said no to her and don't seem to have ostracized myself

[FryOneFatManic]

Your friend was not being unreasonable. If she's unloading the shopping and a 3wo from the car, then she's not free to give lifts, is she? I wouldn't be giving lifts to a complete stranger either. Fine if you've been introduced, but as random as that? No.

[CloudsAndTrees]

Not unreasonable at all. Woman was rude, or dodgy.

[Sugarice]

Would she give a random strange man a lift in her car?

I hope not, why should a woman be any different, very odd request which I would have declined too.

[DonkeysDontRideBicycles]

No your friend was not BU, and with 3wo to look after, perfect excuse. Had said old lady been someone she knew, struggling with bags at the same time friend was loading up her car to come home, different situation.

[AMumInScotland]

YANBU (or rather SWNBU) - I imagine the rest of the village already know that this woman is either very demanding and/or a bit odd, so I doubt anyone will feel it was unkind of her.

If your friend had been about to head in that direction herself, then I suppose it might be reasonable to ask her for a lift - if she was going that way anyway and could have dropped her off without any inconvenience - but in the circumstances, the woman was being downright peculiar to ask.

Or perhaps the waman thought she was getting into the car rather than out of it?

[pigletmania]

YANBU how rude and entitled, from a complete stranger

[lljkk]

A stranger randomly asked for a lift to somewhere your friend had no intention of going anywhere near anytime soon? That is very very odd.

I don't know if it's rude, maybe the elderly lady has social boundaries issues, a form of Tourettes? I wouldn't let it worry me.