Bizarre incident on train...

Personally I would have felt awkward being that blunt (don't know if that's necessarily a good thing) but I think the point is fair. It would be totally inappropriate to look over someone's shoulder at a WhatsApp conversation and ask what that was about. I don't think this is any different.

You were unnecessarily rude. There is a way of saying things.

Well, bully for you. Have you been raised to be a good girl and to be kind to men?

So as not to be rude one must not be seen to be rude.irrespective of the provocation or event

Why should anyone speak kindly to a creepy man?

I like to think that I would have spoken in a kinder way.

I'm only guessing based on the information available. Seems more like the girls felt OP's reaction was harsh and felt sorry for the man. But who knows

Your reaction was perfect.

But since when did people on the tube start talking to each other? I remember studied silence when I lived and worked in London.

I reckon those two women weren't local. Real Londoners would've recognised his behaviour as inappropriate.

To everyone saying the OP was being rude: men who make women feel uncomfortable do not have the right to be responded to with politeness. Women are not obliged to be polite and chatty just to make the world a better place for men.

To everyone who wonders why Londoners are "rude" - it's because of the long-term effects of constant harassment over a long period of time. Harassment isn't just about individual incidents - it's about the way it's ingrained into society and about us having to deal with yet another creepy man, again. Living in a big city inevitably means you'll see anti-social behaviour, and we have to be alert in dealing with it. People living in pretty Cotswold villages shouldn't be telling women in big cities how to deal with harassment.

I would have just smiled and answered his question.

I’m glad you called him out in his behaviour, if he did have bad intentions then he deserved it. If he didn’t then perhaps he’ll think twice before doing this again and creeping someone else out who may be too scared to say anything.

Hmm. More likely they were trying to rob the OP. Why would unrelated girls need to stick.up for a creepy man hitting on a lone woman?

He was a bit rude, but perhaps so were you.
Hard to judge without witnessing it.

if you're ever uncomfortable on the tube, it's easy enough to say "I'm getting off here, goodbye" and then wait a couple of minutes for the next train (or even just get off and back onto another carriage).

I think you are being ageist there and pretty rude about your mum to portray her as an ill mannered, clueless old person who would peer into and ask questions about someone's private business.

A conversation is not the same thing as what the OP describes.

The man was rude and out of order, no question. But I think the reaction from the girls is potentially telling. Perhaps the man was unintentionally rude. Perhaps you responded in a purposefully unpleasant manner to someone who was trying to be friendly.

This thread is depressing. I hope I am raising my DD to be like you OP and not to sit in uncomfortable situations incase she upsets a man.

Men are asking how they can make woman feel more safe. Don’t be creepy weirdos encroaching on our personal space for a start.

All those shrieking “how rude”, presumably those of you with male partners would not be phased at all if they behaved towards random lone women in the same way?

or if you have daughters and they came home and said they had been approached in this way. Would you be teaching them to #BePolite? Or would you think “thank fuck my daughter is able to draw firm boundaries with potentially predatory men”?

What if a woman did this? Would you have behaved the same?

It is something I would have done but I come from a place where, regardless of gender, having chit chat with strangers is normal and seen as part of life.

Exactly. Nothing wrong with op giving a rude response to rude behaviour. If the man didn't realise he was rude he has hopefully learned from the encounter. If he did he deserved it.

It's extremely rude and intrusive to comment on a stranger's reading material.. it might be less threatening were it an old lady but it would be equally rude and annoying. Can't believe so many people think it's acceptable!

OP the weird comments are a sign of deeply our society believes women should stfu and serve men at all times. Or they are rude, unpleasant and scorn-worthy. You were absolutely right to do what you did.
DD(17) is very anxious and 2 men approx 25-30 sat behind her on the bus today, discussing the disgusting sexual things they wanted to do to her. I wish she had your courage, but she sat there crying until they got off. Women need to teach men to not give ANY attention where it is not wanted.

Even if he hadn’t already encroached on OP physically, looking over a stranger’s shoulder and asking them about the photos on their phone isn’t reasonable. It’s rude and irritating.

I'm northern too. If you start leaning into someone and peering at their phone you can expect short shrift up here. Making conversation is one thing. Being rude and creepy is another.

I think I (and presumably most other adult women) can pretty easily tell the difference between someone chatting to be friendly and someone being inappropriate or trying to intimidate. It's better to be like the op and nip it in the bud early on than to tolerate it until it escalates.

What’s this born and raised in London business by previous posters? So was I but I think you were fine to be a bit snippy OP - he was rude, even if he noticed what was on your phone it wasn’t his place to start making conversation over your private pics. And if you’d responded nicely or neutrally he would have continued in that vein.