When someone 'shadows' us down the road?

[LifeHope11]

DH & I were walking along the road today chatting, it was a quiet road with only one or two pedestrians so we were talking about fairly personal/family things.

I heard something behind me, glanced back & saw a woman just a few feet behind us, she had obviously walked fast enough to have crept up. She was easily within earshot so we broke off our conversation, slowed down a little to let her overtake but she didn't, just slowed down enough to remain 'hovering' behind us......this carried on for a few more minutes with us in silence until eventually she turned down a side road & we were rid of her.

Is it just me or is this rude? Is it too much to expect that people either overtake or drop back, thereby respecting each other's space?

I don't think it's a big deal. Free country etc.

whatever were you talking about that was so riveting?

you both must be so very special.

Could you not have crossed the road if she bothered you so much?

EclecticShock, I'm not claiming it is a huge deal just that it annoyed us and i think we were entitled to be annoyed. Plenty of things are legal but it doesn't stop them being inconsiderate.

You were in a public place. Yes it annoyed you, who's problem is that? Life can be annoying at times but seriously sometimes you can choose not to be annoyed.

You're always entitled to be annoyed but inconsiderate is pushing it.

Did she attempt to make direct eye contact or adopt the pose of a trex?

Adopt the pose of a trex

If her crime is being within earshot of your conversation in a public place, yabu.

I have described an example of a situation re people who don't respect other people's space. Other examples are people who sit at the next table to you in an empty restaurant, or the next seat on an empty bus etc. Yes we can cross the road/change seats etc but it is annoying & why should we have to? And our conversation was not riveting at all, quite boring in fact but I still don't want someone listening in on it when it is completely avoidable.

So now I can't sit next to you on the bus or in a restaurant?

How seriously precious...

Could she have felt safer walking down the street close to somebody else? Could the people in a restaurant/on a bus be lonely and perhaps may be hoping that there'll be some conversation?

YABU. If you have an issue with personal space the that's yours to deal with, not everyone has such an issue with it in public places. Unless you're willing to turn around to people and tell them to back off or move away yourself then what can you do?

P.S - Apologies if my posts are too close to yours

Were you taking up the whole pavement so she couldn't get by without stepping into the road or getting unreasonably close to you?

Something like this happened to DH and I once, and it was actually quite intimidating.

We were walking down the street and two youngish blokes sort of caught up with us then walked directly behind us, following us even when we crossed the road and slowing down when we slowed down. We only managed to shake them off when I stopped and showed DH something in the window of a shop and waited for them to pass by. And they still loitered and took their time passing us.

So I know what you mean. Though I only found it unsettling as I found them intimidating.

Could she have come out of a house or another street, or soething rather than silently stolen up behind you? SOunds a tad paranoid to me...

I think it is normal to want as much space as circumstances permit....don't think there is anything unusual or unreasonable about that. So no I don't think I am being 'precious' just normal. Why do people usually take an empty seat on a bus rather than sit next to someone, when there are free seats? So walking 2 feet behind people is fine on a busy road but seriously odd and inconsiderate behaviour on a quiet one.

My DS would say YAdefinitelyNBU

He's 5 though.

And has AS.

I don't think she meant to freak you out. Maybe next time, stop and stand to one side to let her pass - if she still stops behind you, then yes, that would be unreasonable.

Agree with stepping to one side.

If I walk home late at night bloody rare I will always look for nice sensible people that look like they won't murder me so I would take it as a compliment really.
Did she look like a pack of Trex if so you are right to feel nervous?

how very dare she - a sharp email to a local school and a brief description to the police may be in order - the very idea of walking behind you on a public road ...some people

all i can say is do not travel to india or se asia you will not cope

Did she creep up on you? Or was she walking slightly faster and caught up.

What was so interesting about your conversation?

Slowing down a little bit? Stand aside and let her pass. You may have trapped her in one of those odd situations that force her to walk too slow, or speed walk uncomfortably by.

I'm a fast walker and am often caught up in wierd personal space situations ;)

What a crazy bitch she is, acting all entitled like that.