Should I have said thank you?

[Lilyabelle]

So, I’m probably being over-sensitive about this but I’d be keen to know what people think. I popped out for a walk with my four month old son in his pram as the weather is so beautiful. On our way home we have to go up a steep hill, which has quite a narrow pavement. There were two women walking in tandem down the hill towards me and as they passed one went behind the other so we could all fit (otherwise I would have been pushed into the road!). Literally as I walked past one of them said loudly, “You’re welcome” - I can’t decide if it was sarcastic... Is it just me or was that uncalled for and a bit pathetic? I wouldn’t expect a thank you if me and a friend had done the same for someone else!

My DH will tell me not to give it a second thought and I’m sure I’ll forget about it in a day or two, but manners are hugely important to me and I feel a bit rubbish now after having had a lovely day with my DS. Perhaps I’m just being incredibly hormonal but it felt a bit aggressive and I hate confrontation. Thoughts, please! Then I’ll get a life 😉

Yes, of course. Someone moved out of your way. I'd have said "you're welcome" too.

You should have said thank you. They made way for you, quite rightly, but you should have acknowledged their gesture.

Tbh I would have said thank you without thinking about it. But the other woman over-reacted a bit.

I would have said thank you but wouldn’t sweat too much say it next time op

I would fixated on it like you have. I would’ve said “Thank You” and have expected it. Then again I do say thank you/ sorry way too much.

Yes, ideally you should have said thank-you but her comment was uncalled. Don’t worry about it.

I would have said thank you to anyone who moves for me.

But this person probably forgot all about you nanoseconds later. You can let it go now, don't worry about it.

No, you shouldn't. Since the two of them were walking side-by-side and effectively taking up the whole pavement, one of them absolutely should have moved in order to allow you to continue walking. Otherwise they would have been blocking your right of way. You should not have been forced into the road in order to continue your journey.

Its courtesy to say thank you but her attitude was uncalled for.

You should have said thank you, she moved out the way for you.

Ahh, thanks all! I feel really bad now as I hate rudeness and I should have been more gracious. I’ll be more aware next time. To be honest, my mind was so focused on my mewling LO, not deep breathing like a phone pest as I trudged up this hill, and the packet of biscuits at home, that I wasn’t really concentrating. No excuse though and I’ll make sure I say thank you next time!

I live somewhere with a pavement like that (narrow and on a steep hill). There is a school at the top of the hill and I am often walking against the flow of pedestrians who are going up to school as I am coming down the hill. I always thank anyone who steps aside for me - although I'm usually the one to step aside as I don't have a prm or small children in tow. Virtually everyone says a quick "thanks".

Don't worry about it now OP, you cn't change what happened but saying Thank You costs nothing, so better to say it if someone does something for you - whether you think it is worthy of thanks or not!

Yes you should have said thank you as someone moved. It would have been polite.

I'm known to over thank and over apologise but actually no I don't think you needed to thank them in this situation. No one had right of way, they were blocking the entire path so it makes sense that one of of them needed to move behind the other. Very silly of her to be so sarcastic.

I would have said thank you. I would have likely replied 'you're welcome' too when you didn't thank me.

No harm saying thanks or doing a quick smile to acknowledge the gesture. Sounds like the other person overreacted but she was probably having a shite day, I wouldn't worry about it

A similar thing happened to me years ago. I was walking along and a man with a buggy was coming towards me. He had to stop because there was not enough space for both of us to pass because there was a bin. I did not really register him. I was walking along thinking about things. He shouted thank you very loudly after he passed me.

I was very upset about it and still think about it. I didn't really notice him or what he was doing and he really upset me. I often move out the way so others can get past on a pavement, they don't say thank you and I don't expect it.

They were the ones blocking the path not you - what were you supposed to do if they didn't move - climb over them. I'm not saying you shouldn't have said thank you - I would do it as a matter of course but that was a major over-reaction on her part.

Yes you should have said thank you, had the woman who commented been on her own I expect she would not have made such a big thing of you not saying thank you.

I recently had a driver shout a sarcastic "you're welcome" at me after I'd crossed a pedestrian crossing in front of him. Do people really say thanks in this situation? The driver wouldn't even hear it through closed car windows!

Of course you should have said thanks.

Just a simple, common courtesy.

I don’t say thanks at a zebra crossing as it is a legal requirement for cars to stop.

If someone actually moves then I'd say thank you, regardless of whether they were otherwise taking up the pavement. Not sure it justified the comment though since they didn't actually let you through first or something. Just say thanks next time and forget about it.

yes, you should have said, 'Thank you,' but she really shouldn;t have said, 'You're welcome.' I hate that sort of passive aggression. It's as if people think their every last tiny act of kindness needs to be honoured. Maybe you had other stuff on your mind or were shattered. How unimaginative of them not to consider that when passing a woman with a small child.

No of course you shouldn't have to, they don't own the pavement, they weren't lending it to you.