to think some people should sometimes just not interfere

[LilyBolero]

Was out shopping in town last week. Was in a department store with a very narrow lift, just wide enough for 2 ordinary sized buggies, side by side. I went over to the lift, one person had just got in with a buggy, so I went in as well, got the buggy manouevred in, (I have a v small buggy). The woman in the lift then said "Oh, sorry, you have to get out again". I said "Why?" She said "because there's a boy in a wheelchair, and he needs to use the lift."

So I did get out, thought to myself "yes, that's reasonable", the mum of the boy in the wheelchair was really apologetic, was saying "no, no, it's fine, we can wait, we're not in a hurry", but the woman in the lift looked like she might whack me if I tried going back in, and anyway I didn't mind waiting.

But afterwards, I thought about it, and 2 things struck me - firstly, a lift isn't like a parking space is it, though I really don't mind giving priority to people with disabilities, but I'm not sure it should be forced, and secondly, the woman in the lift didn't consider giving up HER space in the lift for the wheelchair!

So Aibu to be a bit about this? (Please note, I really really wouldn't begrudge giving priority to someone in a wheelchair, but it was a bit funny being turfed out the lift by someone else to give priority to someone who actually was embarrassed about it, and also didn't mind waiting, and to be turfed out by someone who wasn't prepared to also wait a bit longer.

[PaperBank]

YANBU

[Andrewofgg]

There's a meddlesome gene in some people - live with it.

[PeopleCallMeTricky]

She obviously didn't fancy being stuck in a lift with you. Yanbu though.

[exoticfruits]

I expect that the boy in the wheelchair was even more upset at being made a special case. Just forget it.

[DizzyKipper]

YANBU - there was no reason in that particular circumstance to give priority to the boy in the wheelchair, and in fact singling him out in that way sounds like it was quite unpleasant for him.

[Pendeen]

YANBU

A disability is not a reason to get priority in a queue for example (usually - I don't want to get flamed and accept that there may be a genuine reason on very special occasions).

I would have given the woman the choice of either getting out and giving up her space in the lift or shutting up.

[Dorje]

Lucky escape eh?

Just fancy if the lift had broken down - and you and herself were in it together!!

[joric]

YANBU - woman in lift probably embarrassed woman and her son and insulted you at the same time by implying that you were being thoughtless. She should have a) minded her own business or b) asked them if they wanted HER place in the lift.
If that had happened to me whilst out with my relative in wheelchair, I would have told the interfering mum No very firmly and insisted you stay in lift. Lifts are for everyone, first come first served- they are not just for mums/ pushchairs and people with disabilities.

[LilyBolero]

lol @ being stuck with the mum in the lift! Yes, very lucky escape!!!