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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

How would you have reacted?

20 replies

Mouse007 · 10/09/2018 18:31

Went to the supermarket, they just rearranged one of the aisles so now it's a squeeze for two customers to get past each other (but still possible). As I went past a man, he muttered under his breath "seriously?!" but didn't say anything to me. A few mins later I had to get past him at another aisle and this time I waited for him and gave way. No thank you or smile, but instead he muttered under his breath "what you looking at?" At this point I asked him directly if he said something to me, and he replied "no I'm happy" and walked away very quickly!

I wish I had had something cleverer to say!

OP posts:
CryptoFascist · 10/09/2018 18:32

Probably just a tense or angry guy who had some issues, I'd pay him no mind.

Flyingpompom · 10/09/2018 18:33

What a dick. Don't try and second guess him, it's him not you.

NewYearNewMe18 · 10/09/2018 18:33

I don't see the point of deliberately seeking to challenge or gain a confrontation. He might have ignored you, he might have given you a fat lip. It's not worth the interaction.

Sparklesocks · 10/09/2018 18:33

Probably just stressed out or in a mood and taking it out on you, I wouldn’t give him any more headspace.

GunpowderGelatine · 10/09/2018 18:35

I'd have followed him round putting exactly the same items in my trolley that he was putting in his and whenever he looked I'd say "I guess I'm happy too" Wink (not really, I'm a wuss, I'd have called him a twat in my head and slunk off annoyed)

OrdinaryGirl · 10/09/2018 18:51

Did you come into contact with (or brush up against) the guy when you went past him the first time?

Original poster
Mouse007 · 10/09/2018 19:06

The rational side of me says I should have let it go but the not so rational side doesn't want to let people get away with rudeness!

OrdinaryGirl, no touching or brushing up at all. There was enough space to get past without touching / having to pull your shoulders together to make yourself smaller / walking sideways etc. Just not loads of space.

OP posts:
Sitranced · 10/09/2018 19:15

When he first said "seriously?" I would have replied "no, humourously".

pineappple · 10/09/2018 19:18

Might have been experiencing some mental issues and paranoia even. Might have just been in a bad mood. I'd pay no attention and let it go.

Timeisslippingaway · 10/09/2018 19:19

Sounds like he says things out loud without realising. The "what are you looking at" comment sounds like maybe he doesn't realise you can hear him. Was he quite old? My granda used to do things like this he was deaf, think he thought because he couldn't hear you properly you couldn't hear him and it got a lot worse when he got dementia.

LoveAGoodChat · 10/09/2018 19:25

I myself (if it happened to me) would just have ignored him and let it go,

Saying anything may escalate into an argument at least, and violence at worse (you don't know him so you don't know whether he could get violent if provoked)...also he may have been acting that way for many reasons, e.g mental health issues, having a bad day, or even maybe he is just an angry guy with a short fuse..

If it was me, I would let his negativity end at his mouth (meaning I wouldn't reply, or do anything, so there would be nothing on my end to continue or estate the situation)

LoveAGoodChat · 10/09/2018 19:26

*escalate...not estate

Creeper8 · 10/09/2018 19:32

reminds me of the time I got on the bus abd accidentally knocked someone with my bag, I immediately apologised and sat down. My nephew who was behind me then told me as he passed him he heard him call me a “stupid bitch” . Some people just want an argument

Witchend · 10/09/2018 19:33

Seriously could just as easily be irritation at the supermarket for reorganising it like that.

Excited0803 · 10/09/2018 19:36

After those comments from him I'd presume he had mental health issues and avoid any aisle with him in it; complete the shop in the other aisles and return to collect stuff from that one when he's moved on.

TheDairyQueen · 10/09/2018 19:45

There's no government health warning on half the mad fuckers you meet in shops, so as tempting as it can seem to go nuclear it's best to err on the side of caution.

That said, I'm a three strikes and you're out kind of crazy when shopping, so once more and I'd have confronted - trolley across the aisle, slapping a cucumber menacingly off of the palm of one hand whilst head-tilting the bastard.

YouTheCat · 10/09/2018 19:48

Maybe the change in the layout was stressing him out? I know it stresses me out when they fart about with this stuff. I'm not a rude twat though. I'd have just left it and moaned later.

YouTheCat · 10/09/2018 19:49

Or you could take DairyQueen's approach which is, at least, entertaining for the other shoppers. Grin

Oddcat · 10/09/2018 19:50

I'd have ignored him - I'm too busy 'forfucksaking' my way through life as it is without starting a barney with strangers .

CloudCaptain · 10/09/2018 19:52

I assume mental health problems or poorly socialised when someone is rude to me. Ignore and move away.

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