It's not unreasonable to assume large men appearing out of hedges in alleyways might be murderous murderers™?

[HoneyDragon]

Was walking down a cut through today and a chap just appeared from out a large hedge. I jumped out my skin.

He was somewhat offended that I jumped.

I think jumping when people appear from where they shouldn't is a natural response to the fact that everyone knows murderous murderers* hide behind hedges in alleyways.

He had in fact been retrieving a frisbee that his child had lobbed over their fence.

We parted amicably although he still seemed very wounded by my started jump backwards.

AIBU to take murderous murderer evasion protocol backwards leaping when perfectly nice people loom out of hedges?

*murderous murder ™eatshitderek year 20whateveritwas.

[chewingawasp]

Yanbu, I would probably wet myself in shock if that happened to me.

[VestalVirgin]

No, yanbu, and he's not that nice if he acts all offended.
For all you know, he could still be a crazy axe murderer. It's not as if you can read his thoughts.

[HoneyDragon]

I certainly appreciated my pelvic floor of steel let me tell you.

[SaucyJack]

Agree with Vestal.

Perhaps you weren't his "type", and he's gone back into the bush to look for a young man.

[HoneyDragon]

He really seemed put out. Not aggressive, he was perfectly nice and did apologise, but did say "I gave quite a reaction" with a wounded face.

[ExcuseMyEyebrows]

YANBU at all, that would have alarmed me too.

I once took a shortcut through a park (at lunchtime) and the only other person there - a man - strode over to me and asked me if I knew the time. I was a bit and slightly alarmed as he too could have been one of those murderous murderers.

I'll probably now have lots of posters telling me I'm pathetic but he startled me - don't they ever stop to think?

[chewingawasp]

Think you dodged a bullet there. I've heard of 'Mad Frisbee Fraser'

[AnnaMarlowe]

YANBU but neither is he. From his perspective he knows he isn't a murderous murderer.

I remember my DH coming home from a safety talk at uni, the presenter explained that groups of men walking behind a lone woman are intimidating- DH was momentarily shocked. He knows that he and his group of mates are 'good guys' so it hadn't actually occurred to him that it wasn't obvious to strangers.

Perhaps the hedge man just hadn't previously thought of himself as scary.

[MistressChalk]

I've had a chap literally jump out of a hedge I was walking past once and I screamed in his face. I was wearing headphones so it's possible he had announced his intention to unexpectedly launch himself from a bush in case anyone was passing, but still....YANBU

[SoupDragon]

No, yanbu, and he's not that nice if he acts all offended.

Seriously?? Im assuming he didn't leap out of the hedge wearing a balaclava so he is perfectly entitled to be a bit miffed and the OP is perfectly entitled to have been startled.

[HoneyDragon]

I'm not unduly worried about him, I'm just checking I'm not unreasonable.

[HoneyDragon]

Well I'm a little concerned he might be sobbing over the frisbee, thinking he's terrifying.

And now I'm a little offended I might not of been his type.

[AnnaMarlowe]

Of course Honey herself may be scary... Maybe you frightened him...

[HoneyDragon]

I am 5.2 of pure flip flopped pure menace when out and about. Good point.

[AnnaMarlowe]

I could tell that about you Honey.

I knew you were fierce

[FuckingFattyBitch]

Yanbu. I would have done the same.

[SaucyJack]

I'm sorry if I upset you Honey.

I'm sure your intestines knit into as nice a Fair Isle snood as anyone else's really.

[HoneyDragon]

Aaaaaw fanks mate

[Spudlet]

I scared a couple once. I was hiding behind a bush from my wicked dog. I didn't realise anyone else was around... They thought I was lurking

[VestalVirgin]

YANBU but neither is he. From his perspective he knows he isn't a murderous murderer.

I don't know, anyone about the age of five should know that other people don't share his knowledge about himself?

There's a development stage where children don't realize that a person who isn't in the room won't know where to look for the toy hidden there in the meantime, but that hardly applies to adults.

[VestalVirgin]

Not about, above. Though a child of five would likely know this, too.

[UterusUterusGhali]

I jump out of my skin when one of my kids come in from school.

Even today, a friend I was expecting slowly approached my door and commented "what, no scream?" (I had seen him open the back gate).

YADNBU.
Stupid people with their stupid being places.

[NeedACleverNN]

Should have bopped him on the nose like a naughty dog.

Wouldn't do it again