To have told this woman to mind her own business

[ProudAS]

I was watching a pair of local swans with their babies. A woman came along with her children and told them out loud to keep away from the swans as they were dangerous that I was being stupid for standing where I was (a few feet from one of the adults and further from the cygnets). I asked her not to call me stupid and she retorted that the swans were dangerous. I pointed out that I knew what I was doing and didn't appreciate being called stupid and she walked off in a huff without an apology.

I have a lot of experience of being around swans in general and this pair in particular. If I get closer than the adult birds would like they will warn me by hissing (which they were not doing). They are powerful but will only attack as a last resort and I was keeping a close eye on them and ready to brace myself.

Whilst this woman wouldn't have known that I was well accustomed to the birds she I don't think she had any business to make a judgement about a total stranger without knowing the facts.

The thing about being a parent is: you often see adults doing "stupid" things and have to explain why an adult can be stupid but a child cannot

You of course were not "stupid" but if her children had run up to a pair of swans, they would indeed be "stupid" for doing so.

As you didn't have a placard on your back with all your credentials in swan-wifery, then she assumed you were indeed "stupid"

But she was rude to loud parent in your earshot.

It would have come across as rude to you, but I guess what she was trying to do was to warn her children not to do it.
Not really directed at you IYSWIM.
It's the same at the green man at a traffic lights. I never know how to tell my children why adults are walking across when it's red.

Of course she had to say something to the children but surely it could have been put in a more appropriate manner.

When I was the children's age I knew that there were certain things adults could do that I couldn't (e.g. use the cooker). I was never told that grown ups were stupid for handling hot water, crossing the road without someone to hold their hand etc.

She may have been tactless and a bit rude to put it like she did but I think previous posters may be correct, she didn't want her children going so close.

I personally am very nervous of large birds like swans and would not have wanted my small child, or any children I was responsible for, to go near. Not least because if the swan did go for the I would have to interven and the thought terrifies me!

arethereanyleftatall maybe I'm a stickler for the rules but as a child I never crossed the road when the red man was lit. I do now though.

Unless you were in some way checking up on the swans I think it was stupid to stand so close to them. It isn't fair for the swans to have lots of people disturbing them especially when they have babies.

What makes you think I was standing too close to them honeytea? They would have let me know if I was and BTW yes I was checking on them.