To think I met some of the nastiest people ever today?

[FloralTeacup]

I was at a shopping centre today with my mum and DP. As the escalator wasn’t working, the alternative was a large flight of steep stairs or the lift. As my mum suffers with a heart condition that leaves her breathless easily, we went in the lift.

As the doors of the lift began to close, a young couple with a pushchair hastily tried to get on. As DP put him arm up to stop the doors closing, the woman of the two angrily said “Why are you letting ‘t doors close on me! Fucking idiot,”. DP actually APOLOGISED (despite the fact he had tried to stop the doors from shutting). The woman went on, aggressively, “You shouldn’t even be in the lift, there’s stairs over there!”. My mum calmly said “I have a heart condition, I can’t manage the stairs,”. But the woman and her partner just kept on, insisting that we shouldn’t be in the lift, that we were idiots, blah blah. My mum turned to me and said that stress isn’t good for her either (she was getting really worked up by this abuse). The man overheard her and said “Yeah, stress doesn’t do me good, either!”. As if the absolute buffoon was the one who should be stressed.

On and on they went, the entire time we were in the lift (which felt like an eternity). They just wouldn’t stop. I just wanted them pack it in; it was upsetting me, it was upsetting my mum. I said “shut up,” exasperated, as we were about to get out the lift. They didn’t respond to that.

Ahh, just writing that all out again has me shaking and feeling upset. I just can’t understand how and why people like that exist. Just nastiness and aggression for no reason at all.

Feel free to share any similar stories! I know MNetters have a few.

I saw that report Basketofkittens, but did you see the video? I do not react the way the gentleman who was stabbed reacted. He followed the stabber through a few carriages calling him an idiot. He didn’t deserve to be stabbed obviously but I don’t shout, or swear, or get up in anyone’s grill like that. I just tell people firmly not to start with me and for some reason even I can’t fathom, they dont.

Knowing my luck I would be “shanked” as the kids say these days! Hence I just ignore the crazies and don’t engage.

You know what, there are some truly vile people in this world. Please understand that it has nothing to do with you, they have many, many issues and take pleasure in mouthing off at innocent bystanders. Thank goodness they are in the minority.

"Do you engage your IQ before you open your mouth, normally?"

Tends to leave them a bit confused for a few moments, giving ample opportunity to make a quick exit, toe treading on the way out.

I would have said "Not you again", and maybe assumed you were not all there, riding up and down in the lift to annoy people.

@Andysbestadventure I thought of all the clever things I could’ve said hours after the fact! That line is fantastic!

Poor diet (especially processed food high in carbohydrates) has an adverse effect on dogs’ impulse control, aggression and ability to gain adequate rest through REM sleep. I firmly believe the same is true for humans. So many people walking around with processed food and caffeine inside them (sales of energy drinks keep growing) that I’m not surprised at all the rage and rudeness.

Carry a Tazar gun for next time

It must have been a day for it.

I have really injured my back, meaning it's almost impossible to walk down stairs at the moment. I obviously don't have a blue badge or radar key because it's a short term
Injury, but that doesn't make me any more capable of managing stairs.

I had to use the loo at Waterloo; the Women's is down a long flight of stairs but there is an accessible one at ground level. I waited at the door for the baby change / disabled / accessible toilets (there are two).

Some lady comes out with her daughter (about 8, walking fine, no APPARENT additional needs though I could be wrong) and I move to go in after she walked out.
She stopped me and snapped "these toilets are the baby change" as she visibly looks me up and down.

I said "well, they are actually the accessible loos and I can't do stairs at the moment due to a back injury, so that's why I am waiting to use them".

She then takes her daughter by the hand, pushes past me (physically), and huffs! What the fuck?

So naturally I shouted after her "not all disabilities are visible, and you don't even have a baby!"

So mature of me I know but what the hell was she thinking?!

It could have been worse.
You could have ended up stuck in the lift with these awful people!
That would be my worst nightmare.
I hate lifts at the best of times, but the thought of being stuck in one with a hateful person just doesn't bear thinking about!
Having said that, I also wonder if they would start being kind if they were stuck in that situation.... maybe not!

A couple in a car flew up behind me as I was indicating to change lane on a slip road.
I hesitated as they were indicating to change to the same lane but saw they were waiting for me to go first - or so I thought. They pulled along side me both swearing and gesticulating at me. I shrugged and mimed ‘what?’ -genuinely confused.
They then screeched to a halt right in front of my car, causing me to slam my brakes on, then they both got out of the car screaming abuse at me. And coming towards my car. Every car around us had stopped and people were watching.
All I could do was lock my doors, I was terrified. I thought I’d be dragged from my car.
What made it 100x worse was that my poor 6 year old DS was in the back, also terrified. He’d never seen anyone behaving like that before.
I was just shouting at them to go away.
It was only when they realised they were being watched they got back in their car and drove off.
Fucking horrible people.

Then a few weeks later we then had an incident (similar to a couple of posters above) in our high street when crossing the road. A nasty bastard sped up as we crossed. He could see I had a child with me. WTF??

Both these happened in the last 6 months. I’m generally a positive, resilient person but they shook me more than I like to admit. Probably because my DS witnessed them too

@TightPants Those stories are awful. What a carry on from those people in the car! It’s a good job other people stopped - you wouldn’t be alone if they’d become violent! So many of these incidents described are always completely unprovoked. That’s the part that unsettles me the most. It’s as if merely existing warrants abuse from these angry people.

I always feel sorry for the kids when adults have confrontations like that.
I remember when I was about eight, my Dad had an argument with a cashier at the check out of a local shop.
I can't even remember what it was over, but I remember feeling absolutely mortified.
I ran out of the shop and almost got hit by a car! My Dad and the cashier came running out having heard the breaks screech!
Any adults who confront one another when there are kids present really need to wake up to themselves!

I shouted at a guy for not pulling forward and leaving space for my DH to park last year. He very calmly told me it wasn't nice to shout at people in public. I felt like such a tit, especially as I had to then stand behind him in a queue for 5 minutes. I can only blame lack of sleep and I can't imagine doing it again

That's some people's lives. They go from creating one drama to another. Sad really. It's like they are going through life totally asleep. Absolutely no realisation and/or concern of their impact upon others.

Just know, they were soooo sooo in the wrong. You can hold your head up high with how you handled the situation.

I’ve had this with a twat.
I just looked at him and said, with your red angry face I’m sure you’ll die of a heart attack long before you need to. And walked off.
Made me feel better anyway.

@AmeriAnn
Do you really not have any friends to hang out with ...
Sounds lonely out there

I would have reported that behaviour to the nearest security guard especially as they had a vulnerable child with them,

Narrow street, cars parked on other side of road, so I have right of way. Usually if possible, people are courteous, and stop alongside a space to let another driver pull in. This guy in a van came hurtling towards me despite there being spaces to pull in, stopped dead and started ranting and raving at me to reverse...🙄. He was in full flow and didn't notice the Police Car behind him, who had a "word"..😂

@LilQueenie We did actually report it! Unfortunately, there wasn’t much they could do as it was after the fact... Although there is CCTV footage in the lift, there was no audio. Security guard was lovely and sincerely apologetic, though!

@SusanneLinder 😂 brilliant!!!

I would have torn in to them. Some people are just plain ignorant and stupid. I hope you n your mum are ok. YANBU

I’d have gently leaned in and whisperered why don’t you go fuck yourselves!!

It's incredibly difficult not to feel intimidated and annoyed when your in a confined space with a pair of nutters.
Self entitled brats, think no one else matters but them. I think you showed great self control in not lamping one of them.