Was IBU to say/do this?

[farmers]

Yesterday I saw a young woman (20ish) walking past me, obviously crying.
I stopped her and asked if she was alright. She nodded (still crying) and I asked if there was anything I could get her (tissues/water).
She said she didn't need anything so I told her I hoped she felt better soon and walked off.

I mentioned this to a friend who said it was very intrusive of me.

WIBU and if I was, what would you like a stranger to do if you were crying in public?

I would have appreciated it... someone else might not have done. Hard to say

But YWNBU

Somebody did this for me once when I burst into tears on a train 10 mins after being knocked off my bike. She gave me tissues and was lovely. Made a huge difference at the time.

I don't think you were U. Always do the nice thing. She may have needed help with something you could have assisted with. Once my mum saw a woman crying on the street, turned out her boyfriend had attacked her and she was trying to get away and was scared with no money to get anywhere, my mum gave her a lift to a friends house. You never know what people are going through and if they don't need help they'll tell you.

More people should do what you did. You showed concern for a woman clearly in distress without forcing your help on her. A lovely gesture and I'm sure she will have appreciated it.

No, you weren't intrusive - you went away when she said she didn't need help. I think you did exactly the right thing. You may not have been able to help with whatever was troubling her, but your concern might at least have made her feel the world was a slightly better place.

I think it was a nice thing to do. The offer of help can always be refused but it's awful to be upset and feel like nobody would help if you needed it. YWNBU in my opinion.

I don't think so, I know one time I was really upset, it restored my faith in humanity, that there are nice people out there. I think it was a lovely thing to do.

So many are teetering so close to suicide, it could be that your concern entered warmth into her for a brief moment, I think when you feel alone, although you wouldn't expect a stranger to do anything, it really does give you hope.

It's a kind thing to do. More people should do this instead of just walking on by.

It was the right thing to do. It may have been nothing but it may have been a situation as I saw on TV where a guy prevented a suicide attempt. Better to be thought of as a bit nosey than to ignore and something terrible happen. (PS> I don't think it was nosey).

your concern might at least have made her feel the world was a slightly better place
I agree with this ^^

We had a thread on this very subject recently.

Clearly I'm in the minority, but I'm with your friend and think YWBU. If that was me, I'd want people to pretend not to notice and not draw attention to it.

Take no bloody notice of your friend. That was a lovely thing to do. I can absolutely guarantee that she would have appreciated it. I remember being in the hospital when my mum was ill sitting in the foyer sobbing. A kind lady came over and said. Are you okay. Do you need to talk. I said I'm okay thanks, but Than you for coming over. Only problem was her kindness made me cry even more

Not intrusive at all - the kindness of strangers means so much!

You were being decent and kind. If someone can walk past someone who is in distress that says a lot about them...

I remember hearing some bad news whilst walking home, I was still on my mobile and must have looked distressed because a woman walked past me and patted me on my arm and smiled. Such a small gesture but it meant a lot to me.

You did the right thing! I've walked down the street in tears a few times, a couple of times people have approached me like you did and it made me feel better, even though I said no thank you.

The other day I'd just come out the GP mid-breakdown (tears down my face, bawling) and a chugger with a massive smile said "hello darling, how are you enjoying this fabulous day today?".

He is on my Arya Stark-style hate list.

Think you were being lovely . Would have made a huge difference to me when I often have been if I were in that lady's situation.

Intrusive would have been to continue to talk to her after she'd already said she didn't want help.
You were kind, showed concern and then respected her choice to not accept any help.

I'd have done the same.

Fuck being intrusive. So many people need more intrusion in their lives. Especially someone who is clearly needing help or support from someone.

You did the right thing.

I was once heavily pregnant on my way to my GPs in London and passing a block of council flats when I heard screaming and a woman, maybe 20-25, ran onto the road from the flats and threw herself down. She was roaring crying and distressed, covered in small bruises, in dirty pyjamas. I tried to approach her and help her up but she was hysterical and started off back to the flats with me chasing and asking her to wait. She was gone too quickly. I felt confused (in my lucky life I've never really come across people in such desperate circumstances) and vulnerable with my big bump so didn't want to enter the flats alone in case there was a violent incident I would walk into but I stood for ages listening. I should have called the police but only thought of that later. I've always regretted not helping more.

A LOT of people need help and if that is seen as intrusion then so be it.

I believe you don't the right thing.
You offered

Aggghh try again:-

I believe you done the right thing!