Bizarre incident on train...

You’re response was pretty moderate, given he imposed upon you. Classic male power play

No need to be rude. He was probably just being friendly.

Oh come on. The OP has every right to say what was said. If you look over someone’s shoulder at their phone you are being rude. I’d you go so far as to comment at what you’re looking at then you’re being damned rude.

I think you were rude. Probably someone just trying to engage in a conversation. Sad that a lot of people are loving what you said. Glad the two younger ladies called you out on it. Your post says he was demanding your attention, I think you need to get over yourself.

This.

Good for you OP. I would have said and done exactly the same and have done similar in the past, when someone started reading my book aloud over my shoulder. Think no more of it. I hope you enjoyed the art exhibition.

You don't think commenting on someone's photo (or anything else on their phone) is rude and very weird? How strange.

If you are viewing anything in close proximity to other people, whether that's a book, magazine or phone etc. then it's not going to be private is it? If you want what's on phone to remain private then you need to make sure others can't see it. You could have just given a short reply which indicated you were not up for chatting, rather than be so rude.

I also grew up in London...a long time ago and it was much friendlier then. Someone commenting on something you were looking at would usually be met with a smile and explanation. I dont think its creepy. I dont think its hugely unusual. Live in Italy or Spain and people do actually speak to eachother on public transport. this weird thing about not speaking to anyone or making eye contact, I find rather sad. A city full of people who wont communicate.

Can't believe so many people are saying they love your response. You could have said it in a much more polite way. Why be so angry? I think you were over the top and unpleasant, sorry OP.

He was rude. You were rude. The two young women were rude.

It was extremely rude of him to ask about photos on your phone, even if he could clearly see he shouldn’t have said anything cos that is admitting to actively looking! .

Yes, as others have pointed out the tube is a public space and often we’re closer to others than we would prefer but that doesn’t make it ok to ask questions to strangers just because we can see over their shoulder / read their book / screen etc.

No one should have to close their phone to avoid “conversation” on public transport.

OP I think your response was fine, hopefully he’ll think twice before trying it again.

Don’t give it another thought. He won’t be and nor will the two morality police officers opposite. He broke the rules of the tube and of phones tbh and you didn’t owe him your best behaviour when caught off guard and intruded upon.

Yup, reading this thread it echoes the whole be nice, heavens don’t be rude
The conscious and unconscious be nice, don’t be a bother, be a good (passive) girl

The girl's also immaturely sniggered so I wouldn't use them as proof OP was wrong. I don't like it when strange men impose themselves on me either and for good reason. If he had LD perhaps it's better for him to learn strangers do not take kindly to having their personal space invaded as he may then he do it to a man too and it might not turn out so well.

Too many people here sound 'but not all men'.

Love your response. You owe him nothing, he needs to mind his own business. Absolutely sick to death of men trying to impose on women who don't want them in their space.

Personally I would have moved away and not said anything. Tubes are the one place I worry about an altercation as there’s nowhere to hide! I’d do anything not to upset someone in this situation and you were overly defensive!

He was probably just curious and bored. But you're entitled to not want to chat. I hate when people chat To me on the tube

There you go OP. If you don't for some bizarre reason want to provide mental health support or conversation to random men all you have to do is wear headphones, move carriages, change seats and have a prepped pre-vetted polite response like a good service human

Or, you could just try communicating in a way that doesn't involve one party being spoken to like shit... It can be quite a successful method of communication. You might even enjoy chatting with a stranger.

This. I completely agree you were under no obligation to show him or explain anything but you were certainly rude. However, it sounds like it came from a place of absolute shock at his audacity! I'd just let it go tbh

He was rude, but so were you.

Would have been just as easy to say, "just some private photos" and put your phone away in your bag/pocket.

I don't think there was any need for the snark. And that's not "dick pandering" - I just think there's no need for rudeness.

Some people think commenting on what other people are reading/talking about/looking at in public is fair game. I find it invasive and rude, but then I'm a very private person. The stranger may have not realised it was rude - maybe they've had lots of lovely conversations on the Tube with others who haven't minded. Just look at this thread - lots of comments from people saying they like to chat to strangers on the Tube.

There was nothing wrong with shutting the conversation down but to be so rude, and then to post here proudly for ass pats for telling the nasty man off is just unnecessary.

YABU. He was only making conversation.

You were rude and aggressive and there was no need for it. If you didn’t want to chat you should have said so politely.

I'm from t' North and am used to having conversations with total strangers and being almost on Christmas card terms by the time one of us gets off the bus, but even I would consider this intrusive.

Obviously he didn't know the tube rules.

Man suits next to woman in the tube - So what? That's normal surely?

Man begins conversation with woman --Must be a northerner who hasn't been schooled on the 'stare straight ahead and for goodness sake don't even acknowledge that anyone else is in the carriage' rule.

I simply don't get the need to be really rude to someone who just had the temerity to begin a conversation because he noticed a picture on someone's phone.
Yes it's not polite to look at someone's phone, but I don't get the need for snark.