Strange encounter today

[Fartooold]

Before I start this saga, let me just say that I never felt in any real danger.

So, I was queueing at checkout in store and waited for ages - they had to send someone for a barcode, overflowing trolleys etc etc.,

I had 3 items. Got a tap on the shoulder and a man asked to go in front of me because he only had 2 items, I said ' no, sorry, I only have 3 myself and I've been waiting ages'.
He went berserk - I was a 'fucking cunt', he ranted for a good 30 seconds. Tbh, it was so ridiculous I wanted to laugh, but my only response was to smile and say 'seriously'?
Cue him then saying I needed to watch myself, I'd get what I deserved, he had his eye on me.
I tried to make eye contact with people around me. The woman in front turned her back. The man behind him looked to the side. The young cashier put his head down.
No one in that store gave me even tacit support.
Nowt happened, but I'm still a bit 'wtf would anyone have done if he had turned nasty'?

I'm not shook up by it, just quite disappointed really.

I had similar to @BunnyBettChetwynnd - got threatened by a guy on a tram platform as I was going into town on a Friday night. He kept telling me he was going to throw me in front of the tram. He didn’t, obviously, but got on the same carriage as me and continued to harangue and threaten me. There were two solo men on the platform and one with his girlfriend and nobody said a word. I was terrified.

At the next stop a couple of coppers got on right at the other end of the tram, so I went to tell them, they came up the carriage, had a chat with him, and made him get off at the next stop. I was so scared that I hadn’t noticed that all three blokes had made a point of getting on my carriage and sitting fairly close by - and like a previous poster said, they had clocked the situation but didn’t want to antagonise him, but would have stepped in if he’d laid a finger on me.

Terrifying to read these experiences. I was recently near an unstable woman swinging a dagger around, slashing walls, flowers and cars. People stood by and watched. I called the police and followed her (keeping some distance). In between me calling the police and then arriving, she attacked a woman on her doorstep. A member of the public (who saw it) thanked me for calling the police. It was like I was living in a parallel universe - it was so utterly bizarre that people stiff and watched. I had to give a statement and the police thought I was pranking them as they said multiple people usually call when there is a knife involved.

It made me think that nobody would intervene if I was in trouble. I like to think I would if someone was in trouble. I would said something if I was near you in the supermarket. I’m sorry it happened to you.

im going to be honest I wouldn’t have got involved at when something like this happened to me not a single person got involved either my experience is most people don’t say anything in these situations so I’m not surprised no one did

When I was young, 17/18ish, we used to wear a bit of jewellery in my little 'crew' and once I was on the 72 or 73? From Oxford Street to Tottenham.

A crackhead looking man got on and I noticed him looking at me. When a seat near me became free, he sat in it. So I moved. He followed when able. I moved. He followed.

The bus terminated early somewhere on an empty road and the conductor waited for him to get off and told me to stay on and he let me off further down the road at another stop.

So not all bystanders are arseholes.

This happened around 2000 and I still remember his kindness.

I can understand people not wanting to escalate a situation/antagonise and someone that unhinged turn violent but I can't believe the cashier didn't quietly buzz for security or that nobody came and stood near you quietly.

I do despiar sometimes at society.

Sounds as if he has mental health issues

Please

You have to point, it is the only thing that works. Point at the cashier and say "Call security over now". It is horrendous but these incidents are increasing.

You poor thing OP! I hope you're ok. I definitely think you should contact the shop management to tell them how poorly supported you were.

I was in a similar situation once, whilst waiting for a bus in London (and then on the bus too). I was subjected to vile and perverted verbal abuse by a man (who was simultaneously describing my shocked and frightened reactions to his mate on the phone). When the bus came, I got on quickly - but so did this man, and his tirade continued. The bus stop (and the bus itself) were busy with lots of reasonably young and healthy-looking people, male and female, sitting/standing close by, but they all looked the other way.

All except for one elderly lady. She squeezed up to make an extra space, beckoned me over to sit next to her, and just chatted to me - about the weather, my plans for the weekend, my holidays. By concentrating really hard on what she was saying, I was able to block out the horrible things this man was shouting at me. He got bored and got off the bus, and I never saw him again. I never saw the old woman again either, and she's probably dead by now - this was over 20 years ago. But I will never forget her kindness and bravery in helping me like that. Bystander effect is real, but there are some people who will help anyway, and I hope that if I ever witness a situation like the one you were in, I'll be strong enough to offer non-confrontational help and support like that old lady did for me.

Oh I think this is someone I know!! Turns out if you roar the same back in his face he backs down! Almost like he's a total fucking coward (the son is a gormless little twerp with zero prospects so lmao)

She does, as it happened she did try to harm herself, somehow got to her in time before she hurt herself, the night ended with police and an ambulance and her not coming home with us (she wasn’t hurt but she was deemed to not be well)

I did mention it to the police while they were there but we were otherwise occupied at that point with trying to secure her. The shit we went through that night has soured the friendship for good, I can’t be around her much anymore because of how she behaved, and how she just glossed over it like it was a minor scuffle after the fact. She knows I was nearly killed whilst saving her life and has not once acknowledged that 🤷🏼‍♀️ best for both of us to not be in regular contact anymore.

Not really helping, but Jack Dee used to have a bit about this in his early shows. He's at the checkout with his weekly shop and someone gets behind him with a single pot of yoghurt.

JD: "Is that all you've got ?"
Customer Behind (with sad eyes) "Yes."
JD: "Well you'd better piss of now, I'm going to be ages ..."

My DH was on a train on his way to work, the female guard came along, checking tickets, (you could pay on the train if you didn’t have a ticket) one bloke didn’t have one so she told him he’d have to pay her. He started shouting at her, getting right into her face, then shoulder barged her. DH, 6’2” and fit stood up and got between them and told him to calm down, this gave her time to get away from him and call the transport police who arrested him at the next station . DH gave a statement to the police and was prepared to go to court to give evidence but the bloke pleaded guilty thankfully,

Out of all these awful events, only one featured an abusive and dangerous woman.
Every other woman on here has experienced this Vile behaviour from men.
Cowards 😡