Feel absolutely awful after encounter on train

Someone ate a tuna baguette near me on a train a couple of weeks ago. It was disgusting. I had to move away and gave him a ‘look’.

You didn’t do anything wrong OP. This woman clearly has a huge chip on her shoulder. She needs to keep her issues to herself, rude cow.

I probably would have made an excuse that I needed to make a personal telephone call so was going someone quieter but honestly I don’t think you did anything wrong. Most people would move away from a smell they found offensive if able to.

It was the exact scenario. OP claims she moved due to smell but instead was ‘falsely’ accused of body shaming.

Instead OP has managed to actually body shame the woman at every turn to push apparently being falsely accused of body shaming – which has been both bizarre and gross.

Honestly I wouldn’t give her a second thought. She clearly has issues and insecurities and you took the approach of least confrontation. You don’t know how she would have responded to you calling her smelly, she may very well have been violent or continued to say things to you. She doesn’t seem like the type to end the conversation there. She also seems like an attention seeker and was probs doing all those socially unconventional things to get a rise out of you.

Personally- there’s loads of weirdos on trains so I take the approach of not engaging.

I remember once, I got on an almost empty train with 1 other woman in the carriage. I had AirPods in and was focused on my phone yet could hear the woman stirring/fussing in the background. I looked up and she was angrily gesturing at me and kissing her teeth and cussing that “the train was empty” yet I “invaded her space” and sat “too close” to her. I was sat a few rows away from her on the opposite aisle and just replied that I didn’t even notice she was there. She was still cussing and asking me to move, then others joined the train and she shut up. It was funny because the train ended up being standing room only so she was squashed in like a sardine on her table and I just remember thinking where’s her attitude now!

Nope - doesn't work and wasn't the scenario

It would not have been the same story because the slander about being "body shaming" would not have made sense.

Honestly, some people have such a massive chip on their shoulder.

That totally misses the point of the post which was that OP was accused of being a fat shaming bitch or whatever the expression was

I bloody love sitting at a train table as a single traveller with no laptop or work to do. I do it A LOT. Spread my shit out all over that table too. Bag, books, drinks, Ploughman's lunch, feet up, whatever.

It's best not to argue back on a train OP. Nowhere to run if they turn out to be insane. Unless you want a Bond style exit onto the roof.

I can't imagine "It's not your size, it's how you smell" would have helped the situation, but you'd have been safe in the knowledge that if you'd run away, she wasn't going to catch you 😅

if OP hadn't mentioned the woman's weight then the part of the story where she accused OP of having an issue with fat people and being a body shaming bitch would have come completely out of context. All the responses would have been asking 'well was she fat?' Then OP would have been accused of drip feeding and leaving relevant information out!

Some people are just desperate to be offended...

In which case she might appreciate her behaviour was unacceptable

Sounds more like weariness than anger

Yeah...she may have been rude to ask where you were going and call you a b. BUT you really sound like you have a problem with fat people and I wouldn't be surprised if you were making this obvious to her while sat there.

In this story one simple 'she was overweight' to explain why she called you fat shaming would have sufficed.

On a train that's not full? And where you need a table? Are 'single' travellers prohibited from seats at a table?

Yes - her entire behaviour, even before you saw her, would indicate she was a PITA. As if she was trying to attract attention and to provoke a reaction.

Try to put it out of your mind.

I think it sounds like she has incredibly low self esteem - not in any way condoning her behaviour!!!
Could you have waited until the next stop and subtly moved then

I have had people sit next to me in half-empty train carriages with plenty of seats before. Maybe I look friendly, I clearly need to practice my resting scowl. I smile politely and say "can I possibly get out?" in a friendly voice, as if going to the loo, and then "thank you". I then move to an empty seat. I've only once been challenged by an older man who had sat next to me. I replied "I'm an introvert with small children who constantly talk at me. It's not personal but when I get the chance, I like to be alone and sit in complete silence."

When I travel with the kids, I don't need to worry because people give us a wiiiide berth. I don't know whether my kids give off hooligan vibes but unless the train is packed, we find ourselves with plenty of space 😂.

Not in Ireland, but the opposite happened with my little one, a business guy moved seats to let us sit together. So thoughtful and kind

Many, many lines have stops of this length. I’m currently sat on a LNER service and it’s 50 mins between Stevenage and Grantham. Do you only travel within the M25, as hardly shocking news.

Sounds like there was more to this story than you are letting on!!

I’ve noticed whenever there are any ‘fat’ discussions on MN that people get very defensive and there will always be the odd one or two that take offence and defend the person the post is about. I would definitely have moved seats, and maybe felt bad doing it, but……the woman clearly has a severe obesity problem and must realise she was being anti social in her behaviour and hopefully may have made today the day she does something about her health