Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Or do young lads try to walk right into you deliberately?

136 replies

MrJohnsonAteMyCustard · 21/02/2017 15:04

It's something I've noticed quite a lot recently, always with young lads/teenagers. It's as if they are deliberately walking into you with no intention of moving. I've come to expect it now so make sure I give them a very wide berth, because I've noticed that if I don't get out of the way they will most certainly at the very least brush past you.

For a long time I thought it was 1) Coincidence 2) Me needing a reasonable amount of personal space. But no, it happened today, in quick succession and the two lads obviously knew each other. Is this a new 'thing'??? Is it a game??

If anyone can enlighten me on this, that would be great as I'm wondering if it's just me they seem to want to antagonise Confused

OP posts:
DJBaggySmalls · 21/02/2017 15:10

Its called Manslamming. Its them asserting their rights as Free Men or some such entitled shit.
It goes along with other fuckwittery such as mansplaining, manspreading and making women pick up your bills because feminism is oppression.

Do not get me started...

RedHelenB · 21/02/2017 15:12

Never noticed it.

BitOutOfPractice · 21/02/2017 15:12

Is it really a thing? Shock

Original poster
MrJohnsonAteMyCustard · 21/02/2017 15:14

Oh my god - is this REALLY a thing??

I knew I hadn't imagined it.

Good lord.

OP posts:
Original poster
MrJohnsonAteMyCustard · 21/02/2017 15:17

It's happened way too much for me to imagine it. Some really young lads did it the other day and it was so obvious. One of them walked towards me first (spitting off to the side just to show how manly he was) and as I swerved to avoid him, a mate of his was bringing up the rear so I really had to swerve.

I want to kill them.

OP posts:
AssassinatedBeauty · 21/02/2017 15:18

What would they do if you didn't swerve? Would they walk right into you? Is that the point of the game?

User543212345 · 21/02/2017 15:19

Square your shoulders and don't get out of their way. They will either dodge at the last minute or will bear the brunt of the impact. Lots of teenagers do it around here - boys and girls - and I'm sick of being lesser and scuttling out of their way so I just let them walk into me but make sure they take the impact. Is infuriating.

Original poster
MrJohnsonAteMyCustard · 21/02/2017 15:20

The would almost knock you over. Not necessarily the younger ones, but the large teenagers. They simply don't move at all, they would literally walk right into you, and unless you can match them in size, you're going to come off worse.

OP posts:
Original poster
MrJohnsonAteMyCustard · 21/02/2017 15:23

SwearyGodmother - you don't know what a relief it is to hear that others have experienced this too! Honestly, I was beginning to think it was either me imagining it (though logic told me I wasn't) or that there was something about me that made me a target - it's reassuring to know I'm not the only one (thought it's not heartening to hear that the arseholes that do this are all over Sad

OP posts:
AssassinatedBeauty · 21/02/2017 15:24

I'm guessing they're too cowardly to try it with women that they probably couldn't knock over. Usually I have the pushchair with me so I guess they'd avoid that too, as I'd give them a bloody good ram with it if they tried that on.

If I was on my own I would not move out of their way, and make them walk into me if they dare. But I'm not likely to be pushed over as I'm fairly hefty.

pigsDOfly · 21/02/2017 15:27

Oh, this happened to me a few weeks ago. I didn't realise it was a thing. I was pretty sure the kid in question purposely bashed into me but was not sure enough to pull him up on it.

I was carry my small dog at the time, not sure why, and he was walking towards me with his mother, the pathway was fairly narrow so I pulled over towards the kerb to avoid them but he just bashed into my side. Fortunately, he caught my elbow and my bag so dog wasn't hurt but I really felt the impact, as I hope he did too. Little shit.

Slarti · 21/02/2017 15:30

Its called Manslamming. Its them asserting their rights as Free Men or some such entitled shit.

Pretty sure it's called being a twat. I'm a man, it happens to me all the time and it's certainly not just men who are the culprits. I've thought for a long, long time that the majority of pedestrians are "non-movers" who will show little to no consideration for people sharing the pavement.

FatCatFaces · 21/02/2017 15:32

It's something dickheads do, yes. Gobshite teens, I hate them.

If you're feeling fiesty and have good footing then as above elbows out and walk strong. They'll either move out of the way (kissing their teeth as they do) or you'll have a barge-off. If you choose to do this though, do be prepared for a potential torrent of abuse.

Teens (in general) are really rude these days. I'm 30 and while some kids were like this when I was younger, the entitled attitude has definitely got worse over the years. I'm not sure what to attribute it to. I live overseas so notice it even more when I come back to the UK (London). I'm currently in the Middle East and while the teens here (local and international) can be a bit loud and arrogant, they aren't aggressive or confrontational.

SomethingBorrowed · 21/02/2017 15:33

What if you stopped walking when you see them approaching? I do that sometimes, when it gets too busy (I'm easily overwhelmed...). Then the moving person has to walk round you, because noone expects a non-moving person to give way.
It won't work if someone walks into you on purpose, but at least you can then get angry at him for walking into a standing person.

Floggingmolly · 21/02/2017 15:34

Holy fuck Shock

Marcipex · 21/02/2017 15:34

I think it's a technique used by pick-pockets.

AlexanderBerry · 21/02/2017 15:35

m.huffpost.com/uk/entry/6499640

SoupDragon · 21/02/2017 15:36

I've experienced this from mothers walking their children to school!

Himoverthere · 21/02/2017 15:36

Are you sure they are not playing tit cricket?

www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=tit%20cricket

SuperFlyHigh · 21/02/2017 15:37

Never noticed this.

Personally I'd keep something heavy or sharp (not enough to actually harm them) and swipe them with it as they passed. Some may call me passive aggressive for doing this.

AshesandDust · 21/02/2017 15:38

It's a cultural thing in some countries - females have to shift out of
the way or they get barged.

MrsTerryPratchett · 21/02/2017 15:38

I look away. So they know that their ridiculous game of chicken will result in them being knocked into.

It's not just teens sadly. Since I made a conscious effort not to constantly get out of the way of men, I've noticed this in men of all ages.

JFT96 · 21/02/2017 15:39

This happens to me daily and its not just men or young men, it's far more by teenage girls or young women round here. So fucking entitled. I often wonder what happens when two of them come across each other and neither are gonna be the one to move

BalloonSlayer · 21/02/2017 15:39

I know quite a lot of teenage males, some nicer than others but have never seen them do this, nor do I think Teens (in general) are really rude these days.

I strongly suspect that people who slam teenagers all the time don't actually know any.

londonrach · 21/02/2017 15:40

No seen it. Id do the dance with them.