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AIBU?

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Stopped by old man

188 replies

Unsurehowtofeel · 18/10/2023 13:47

It's a strange one.

I was returning something in a supermarket today and as I walked in the alarms beeped. I was the only one walking in or out at the time so i knew it was me, but thought nothing of it and carried on to the customer service desk because A) I was walking in, not out and B) I didn't see or hear any security stopping me.

It's one of those supermarkets with automatic doors and a meter or so in is some electronic gates to enter the shop or to the left is open access for leaving. Customer service is also to the left.

Anyway, as I was making my way to customer services (walking against the traffic of people walking out) an old man and his wife blocked my way. I was confused. The man then held my trolly and started trying to turn it around towards a colleague stood behind on the other side of the doors (not customer services side) who in retrospect I think had tried to get my attention.

I have some social anxiety and at the time I was panicy thinking how can he (security) think I'm stealing when I'm walking in.

All security was asking in the end was whether the tag was still on it because he could remove it there for me.

Now I'm left feeling somewhat strange. The way an old man thought he could stop me from entering the shop and just his entitlement. Its made me feel all weird and icky. I dont know if it's because I didn't stick up for myself when I feel like I should have or whether it's because of his entitlement.

Just here to get it off my chest really 😂and any advice welcome for how to deal with men like that next time.

OP posts:
HazardLights · 18/10/2023 15:46

plumtreebroke · 18/10/2023 14:11

He just realised you hadn't seen security wanted you to stop so was pointing it out. Nothing too sinister.

Then he should’ve just said something, not pushed her trolley.

BIWI · 18/10/2023 15:45

@Robotalkingrubbish resorting to personal attacks?

Wonkasworld · 18/10/2023 15:44

Roughashouses · 18/10/2023 13:52

Oh blimey OP, you mentioned age. Now you won't get anything other than comments about that.

I'd have just laughed at him. Bloody busybody.

Well if the OP has deliberately mentioned age, then she will expect the responses.

BIWI · 18/10/2023 15:42

Ffsmakeitstop · 18/10/2023 14:56

Why the fuck do people get so snarky when age is mentioned? Sometimes it's relevant sometimes it's not but really no need to get arsey over it.
By the way I am a 65 year old women if that's of any relevance at all. If I am arsey it's usually age related as I am now of an age where bullshit will not be tolerated.

Because it's ageist. Another 'ist', like 'racist' or 'sexist' - all of which are against Mumsnet Talk Guidelines.

And his age has no relevance to the rest of the story, despite how much other posters are trying to make it part of her narrative.

LakeTiticaca · 18/10/2023 15:14

Yabu for not telling him to get out of your way before you run him over with your trolley

Trickedbyadoughnut · 18/10/2023 15:06

Perhaps he had a brain fart, saw the guard gesticulating, heard the alarm and thought that he was manfully helping stop a criminal, when actually in the heat of the moment, he missed the bleeding obvious fact that he was stopping someone walking into the shop ...

SummerInSun · 18/10/2023 15:06

This is what comes of politicians telling us to conduct citizens arrests when we see shoplifters!

NalafromtheLionKing · 18/10/2023 15:03

I would have said “Can you get out of my way please” and moved on past.

I think descriptions of people are useful context when picturing the scene (sex, age, race) and not somehow sexist/ageist/racist. It is only a description unless accompanied by negative statements eg “like a typical old man, the elderly guy did X”.

Robotalkingrubbish · 18/10/2023 15:00

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

MatildaTheCat · 18/10/2023 15:00

Allthegoodnamesarechosen · 18/10/2023 14:17

Bugger , pressed too soon. I was rather hopeful of your title, expecting a riveting tale of starvation and albatross slaying ….

‘It is an ancient Mariner,
And he stoppeth one of three.
'By thy long grey beard and glittering eye,
Now wherefore stopp'st thou me? ‘

but no such luck

Oh my, the Ancient Mariner performs a citizens arrest in the local Lidl. A very modern twist on a classic 😂

phoenixrosehere · 18/10/2023 14:59

CharlotteBog · 18/10/2023 14:46

Maybe the man had noticed that the security person was trying to get your attention and save you a trip to the customer service desk, and just went about it in a strange way - probably unthinking because it all happened in the space of 5 seconds.

I wouldn't immediately assume entitlement, but sadly we seem to be moving towards a world where any unplanned interaction must have malicious intent.

In the space of such seconds, people would normally say something when blocking instead of touching, holding and turning someone’s trolley. The intent may have not been malicious but the actions were rude.

Ffsmakeitstop · 18/10/2023 14:56

Why the fuck do people get so snarky when age is mentioned? Sometimes it's relevant sometimes it's not but really no need to get arsey over it.
By the way I am a 65 year old women if that's of any relevance at all. If I am arsey it's usually age related as I am now of an age where bullshit will not be tolerated.

CharlotteBog · 18/10/2023 14:50

Holly60 · 18/10/2023 14:48

Hasn't something been mentioned in the news recently about the govt wanting ordinary people to get involved to help stop shop lifting? Maybe they've heard this and have decided to try it out??

With someone coming IN to the shop! He needs to go on a course!

CharlotteBog · 18/10/2023 14:48

Just here to get it off my chest really 😂and any advice welcome for how to deal with men like that next time.

If someone manhandled my trolley I would say "please can you take your hands off my trolley, I'm trying to do my shopping".

Holly60 · 18/10/2023 14:48

Hasn't something been mentioned in the news recently about the govt wanting ordinary people to get involved to help stop shop lifting? Maybe they've heard this and have decided to try it out??

CharlotteBog · 18/10/2023 14:46

Maybe the man had noticed that the security person was trying to get your attention and save you a trip to the customer service desk, and just went about it in a strange way - probably unthinking because it all happened in the space of 5 seconds.

I wouldn't immediately assume entitlement, but sadly we seem to be moving towards a world where any unplanned interaction must have malicious intent.

Nuca · 18/10/2023 14:41

I'm just waiting for someone to come along and ask whether it's likely that he has dementia as that seems to be the usual suggestion

TheLongGloriesOfTheWinterMoon · 18/10/2023 14:37

WomanStanleyWoman2 · 18/10/2023 14:12

Why do you want advice on dealing with men, when you’ve said he AND his wife stood in your way?

"old" men.
She clearly only has problems with old ones.
So much so she felt the need to mention it plural times in her ageist post.

Just think @Unsurehowtofeel , if you'd just have been not ageist and said "the supermarket bleepy thing went off and a couple blocked my way..." You'd have been told "and? They were just being helpful to the store/thought you were a scamming thief" or (in the case of one charmer "I'd have pushed them out of the way and given them some verbal"

Instead, we have to go through all this faux naivety again about his age being relevant.

Own your prejudices.

And btw, nothing happened. There was nothing to see. Move on now.

Bluetrews25 · 18/10/2023 14:19

It's a bit of a non-event, surely?
Just let it go
Someone was calling you over, and he alerted you to that. Nothing more to it. You're really over thinking this.

Allthegoodnamesarechosen · 18/10/2023 14:17

Bugger , pressed too soon. I was rather hopeful of your title, expecting a riveting tale of starvation and albatross slaying ….

‘It is an ancient Mariner,
And he stoppeth one of three.
'By thy long grey beard and glittering eye,
Now wherefore stopp'st thou me? ‘

but no such luck

Allthegoodnamesarechosen · 18/10/2023 14:14

I don’t suppose it’s going to ‘happen again’ , so I wouldn’t worry about it.

Notsuredontknow · 18/10/2023 14:14

I also think the age is helpful info OP and def gives a clearer picture of what happened. Very weird for him to not just say something to you - he probably felt like he was a hero in an action movie! I think I’d feel just like you. Don’t worry if you can’t quite put your finger on it. His behaviour was strange but don’t linger too long on it

WomanStanleyWoman2 · 18/10/2023 14:12

Why do you want advice on dealing with men, when you’ve said he AND his wife stood in your way?

plumtreebroke · 18/10/2023 14:11

He just realised you hadn't seen security wanted you to stop so was pointing it out. Nothing too sinister.

ilovesooty · 18/10/2023 14:10

His age isn't relevant.

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