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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Strangest encounter with a stranger?

482 replies

elevenspowers · 30/05/2022 21:22

Today I went to the cash point outside Tesco and a man walked in front of me diagonally and we almost clashed and so I moved back (assumed he was walking to the entrance) and he just stared at me.

He was on the phone talking, with his back to the cash point, staring at me carrying on his conversation. So after about a few seconds I was like “are you using the cash point” - he responded yes but then still carried on his conversation. I was just like 😬 ok ….

Probably not that weird, but it’s fresh in my head.

OP posts:
SlightlyJaded · 30/05/2022 22:48

I was in a restaurant in Islington and noticed all the staff were looking at me in an odd way - they seemed to be whispering and making excuses to walk close to me/past my table.

Eventually towards the end of the meal, one of them approached me and asked me if I'd mind waiting for ten minutes as there was someone they wanted me to meet. I thought it was bizarre but was young/carefree and in no hurry so I said 'sure'. About fifteen minutes later a woman walks in to start her shift and seems to be scanning the restaurant. She clocks me and just stops dead in her tracks. I am also blindsided and we just stare at each other. As she gets closer to the table we can't stop looking at each other and everyone in the restaurant is also now looking.

She was my absolute doppelgänger - from her hairstyle, height, build to facial features and skin tone. It was utterly weird. We both burst out laughing - honestly slightly shocked - and then chatted for a while. It turned out we were even born in the same year - five months apart (so not my secret twin) and both wore same clothes and shoe size.

But our faces were SO similar.

It was pre camera phones so we couldn't take a picture. I always regret that as I don't think anyone I tell can really understand how bizarre it was. The only person who knows is the boyfriend I was eating with. Luckily he is now DH so at least I have someone to say "do you remember the Waitress who was me?" to...

Oceanus · 30/05/2022 22:49

Years ago, at a bus stop in Notting Hill, I was waiting for the bus with a friend... this random guy started talking to us about God, sex and whatnot (we ignored him). We get in the bus and he follows (shouting about us being bad people etc), all of the sudden I push my friend out just before the bus closes the doors and leaves. As it starts moving we could see the guy banging on the doors, insulting us (the windows were open and he was loud) and shouting at the driver to open the doors, which he didn't. We got the tube instead because we were worried about being followed home.

HollowTalk · 30/05/2022 22:57

thenewduchessoflapland · 30/05/2022 21:41

DH was once buying nappies and some nutty woman behind him at the checkout threw them off the conveyor belt and on the floor and started shouting she'd had enough of bloody nappies!

She was escorted out of the store by security.

Tbf I used to feel like that about nappies!

Haffdonga · 30/05/2022 22:58

Not such a nice one.

Dh and I were doing our routine big supermarket shop last week. Perhaps relevant perhaps not, is that DH is obviously not white British whereas I am. Dh was pushing the trolley and I was a few paces behind him so not obviously with him but had a clear view. He wheeled past a lady (well wide of her). Suddenly she started shouting that he'd tried to knock her down! Dh and I were both confused and asked her what was wrong and automatically apologised if something had happened we weren't aware of. At this point she ran to a supermarket worker who was shelf stacking further down the aisle, grabbed his arm and pointed at dh saying Please protect me from that man. I'm feeling very frightened of him!. The poor shop guy looked totally panicked. Dh and I both tried to explain that nothing had happened but she kept clinging on to the shop worker asking him to escort her through the store because she felt intimidated by dh. Shop guy said Um I don't know what's going on at which point the lady tutted, walked off and then proceeded to peep round the end of the aisles at dh all round the store.

Poor dh was very upset and won't let me leave him alone in the shop now in case he gets accused of something random again.

dropthevipers · 30/05/2022 23:04

KermitlovesKeyLimePie · 30/05/2022 22:40

@dropthevipers You missed the bit where you said whether you agreed or not! 😁

I was genuinely speechless-first and last time, so far.

Oceanus · 30/05/2022 23:06

Haffdonga · 30/05/2022 22:58

Not such a nice one.

Dh and I were doing our routine big supermarket shop last week. Perhaps relevant perhaps not, is that DH is obviously not white British whereas I am. Dh was pushing the trolley and I was a few paces behind him so not obviously with him but had a clear view. He wheeled past a lady (well wide of her). Suddenly she started shouting that he'd tried to knock her down! Dh and I were both confused and asked her what was wrong and automatically apologised if something had happened we weren't aware of. At this point she ran to a supermarket worker who was shelf stacking further down the aisle, grabbed his arm and pointed at dh saying Please protect me from that man. I'm feeling very frightened of him!. The poor shop guy looked totally panicked. Dh and I both tried to explain that nothing had happened but she kept clinging on to the shop worker asking him to escort her through the store because she felt intimidated by dh. Shop guy said Um I don't know what's going on at which point the lady tutted, walked off and then proceeded to peep round the end of the aisles at dh all round the store.

Poor dh was very upset and won't let me leave him alone in the shop now in case he gets accused of something random again.

Some people are just effing cunts.

blubberyboo · 30/05/2022 23:10

Was in the supermarket looking at lasagne sauce when an old woman came over, apologised for interrupting my grocery shop then proceeded to ask if she could pray with me in the middle of the aisle. I politely declined then her friend saw an opportunity to butt in and asked me to show her how to send text messages on her iPhone.

by the time this mysterious encounter was all over I was so thoughother, I ended up buying the most expensive sauce on the shelf…raging!

PorpoiseWithPurpose · 30/05/2022 23:10

Thehonestybox · 30/05/2022 22:38

I think I met Jesus when I was 16. Honestly, I'm not being a dick. I was cycling to college down a crappy residential street of a rough part of Hull...we never saw any foreigners round there.

A really beautiful middle Eastern looking and importantly BARE FOOTED guy about 30 stopped and asked me in an American accent: "hey, do you know where I can get a bike? I'd like to get around and see the place"

I was so baffled that an American linen wearing Barefoot male model wanted to "see" suburban Hull, but I drew him a map of how to get to Halfords, and carried on to college.

I am 97% sure it was the second coming of Christ.

Also, I've just remembered the saying "Christ on a bike". My story has nothing to do with that (I don't think).

Superb!!. Love the Christ on a bike at the end!

PriamFarrl · 30/05/2022 23:16

Oh so many random people. I’ll think of the best one and come back.

LisaSimpson77 · 30/05/2022 23:19

Oh I had a slightly odd experience, multiple strangers rather than one but...
I was driving a long distance and decided to get out and stretch my legs. I walked down a few different country lanes all deserted then came across a mud track. Except this mud track was randomly really busy. Every single person there was male but of all ages from young teens to old men. They were all very pleasant and said hello as we passed so nothing illegal I don't think but it seemed as though every pair or small group of men was walking to the end of the lane, turning round and coming straight back. Nothing was happening at the end there that I could see and they weren't hanging around for long. I'm dying to know what they were doing:

catandcoffee · 30/05/2022 23:21

SlightlyJaded · 30/05/2022 22:48

I was in a restaurant in Islington and noticed all the staff were looking at me in an odd way - they seemed to be whispering and making excuses to walk close to me/past my table.

Eventually towards the end of the meal, one of them approached me and asked me if I'd mind waiting for ten minutes as there was someone they wanted me to meet. I thought it was bizarre but was young/carefree and in no hurry so I said 'sure'. About fifteen minutes later a woman walks in to start her shift and seems to be scanning the restaurant. She clocks me and just stops dead in her tracks. I am also blindsided and we just stare at each other. As she gets closer to the table we can't stop looking at each other and everyone in the restaurant is also now looking.

She was my absolute doppelgänger - from her hairstyle, height, build to facial features and skin tone. It was utterly weird. We both burst out laughing - honestly slightly shocked - and then chatted for a while. It turned out we were even born in the same year - five months apart (so not my secret twin) and both wore same clothes and shoe size.

But our faces were SO similar.

It was pre camera phones so we couldn't take a picture. I always regret that as I don't think anyone I tell can really understand how bizarre it was. The only person who knows is the boyfriend I was eating with. Luckily he is now DH so at least I have someone to say "do you remember the Waitress who was me?" to...

Maybe not a twin, but a sibling...same father ??

Allywill · 30/05/2022 23:26

Someone stood at a bus stop with a dog on a lead. My adult daughter said aww what a lovely dog - can I say hello and pet him?” The man said very abruptly “ No, you should have asked” and flounced off. Confused doesn’t really cover it.

AyeUpMeDuck · 30/05/2022 23:32

I worked for a while on the checkouts of a small Tesco in a small town. As you can guess, pretty much everyone that shopped there would be regulars and lived in the town. You'd see them often, get to know them a bit etc.

Except this one guy.
He'd come in several times a week, only ever buying a few bits. There was something 'off' about him. I can't put my finger on it really.
He wasn't really rude to people or angry or sweary or anything, he was.just 'off'

He'd plonk his items on the belt and kind of just stand there. No eye contact, no chatting, no "Hiya, how are you? Having a good day? Ain't the weather horrid" etc etc.
I'd say,
"Hi there how are you? Need help with packing?" Or whatever. The most you'd get is,
"Hi, no you're ok thanks."
The he'd pack his stuff into an empty product box he'd take from a shelf somewhere and leave.

If you were stacking shelves when he came in, you'd kind of move, because he wouldn't think anything of moving your stock cage if it was in his way, like he didn't even really notice other people around him.

If he wanted eggs, for example, he'd walk in the doors, through the checkout backward, moving through people like a snake through a bush, straight up the aisle, push a stock cage or someone's trolley out the way, grab his eggs and back to the till.
Most people kind of amble, look around, spend minutes picking biscuits.. he didn't.. you'd see him enter, go round and be at your till in minutes.
No trolley or basket, No bags either.. he'd take empty boxing from a shelf and put his bits in that instead.

He wore like army trousers and boots and walked like he was a soldier in a perpetual rush. he was so we nicknamed him sarge. (Bit rude of us I guess)

I know he was probably just on a rush, shopping isn't exactly a social thing for some people, but yeah, he had a vibe which I'm not explaining well. It's been a decade since though and I can still remember the jangle of his keys where they were hooked to his belt as he walked.

WeasilyPleased · 30/05/2022 23:34

I was waiting for a friend to come back from the loo in a local pub when a man came up to me and put a toilet seat around my neck.
He said "There you go, beautiful." And walked off. I obviously removed it immediately. Bloody weird.

Muppet2022 · 30/05/2022 23:39

I've had a few weird things happen, but one that springs to mind is that I was offered a hand massage by a guy next to The Body Shop lotions counter (which had all sorts of lotions) using the testers.

I do like a hand massage, so said yes, and only found out afterwards when I went to pay for a couple of things that they didn't have anyone doing hand massages there.

Muppet2022 · 30/05/2022 23:41

AyeUpMeDuck · 30/05/2022 23:32

I worked for a while on the checkouts of a small Tesco in a small town. As you can guess, pretty much everyone that shopped there would be regulars and lived in the town. You'd see them often, get to know them a bit etc.

Except this one guy.
He'd come in several times a week, only ever buying a few bits. There was something 'off' about him. I can't put my finger on it really.
He wasn't really rude to people or angry or sweary or anything, he was.just 'off'

He'd plonk his items on the belt and kind of just stand there. No eye contact, no chatting, no "Hiya, how are you? Having a good day? Ain't the weather horrid" etc etc.
I'd say,
"Hi there how are you? Need help with packing?" Or whatever. The most you'd get is,
"Hi, no you're ok thanks."
The he'd pack his stuff into an empty product box he'd take from a shelf somewhere and leave.

If you were stacking shelves when he came in, you'd kind of move, because he wouldn't think anything of moving your stock cage if it was in his way, like he didn't even really notice other people around him.

If he wanted eggs, for example, he'd walk in the doors, through the checkout backward, moving through people like a snake through a bush, straight up the aisle, push a stock cage or someone's trolley out the way, grab his eggs and back to the till.
Most people kind of amble, look around, spend minutes picking biscuits.. he didn't.. you'd see him enter, go round and be at your till in minutes.
No trolley or basket, No bags either.. he'd take empty boxing from a shelf and put his bits in that instead.

He wore like army trousers and boots and walked like he was a soldier in a perpetual rush. he was so we nicknamed him sarge. (Bit rude of us I guess)

I know he was probably just on a rush, shopping isn't exactly a social thing for some people, but yeah, he had a vibe which I'm not explaining well. It's been a decade since though and I can still remember the jangle of his keys where they were hooked to his belt as he walked.

Maybe on the autism spectrum?

Lillygolightly · 30/05/2022 23:43

On the way home from work on the bus and a man in his late 20s turned around and made motions of slitting his wrists, there was another lady sat in the seat across from me who also saw it, she just rolled her eyes and looked the other way. I was only 18 and had no idea what I should do so I just stared out of the window intently. The man then proceeded to motion cutting his throat and then pointing at me. I was terrified, (this was pre mobile phone days) but carried on staring out the window and trying hard at pretending not to notice. He was silent and never said a thing the whole time just these huge obvious gesturing motions.

I debated getting off at a different stop but figured I would then have nowhere to go, but at the same time I didn’t dare get up to get off or move to the front in case he followed me. Luckily where I lived was busy and the bus was already stopping and so at the last possible moment I got up and ran off the bus as fast as my legs would carry me. I didn’t dare to look behind me, took me ages to stop shaking once I was finally behind my own locked front door.

listsandbudgets · 30/05/2022 23:44

I think the my prize goes to a man I encountered in Romania when inter railing. He walked over and without so much as a introduction tapped me on the shoulder and said " excuse me your boobies are they silicon ? my girlfriend would like them for her " I was NEARLY speechless but managed " no they're natural " and he said " so disappointing " and walked of again.

I hope his girlfriend found suitable silicon boobies 😂

AyeUpMeDuck · 30/05/2022 23:49

Muppet2022 · 30/05/2022 23:41

Maybe on the autism spectrum?

I don't much about autism, so I wouldn't like to guess tbh.
I've met a few people in life that gave off a vibe and made me uncomfortable to be near, he was one of them.

Hm2020 · 30/05/2022 23:54

Loving this thread

Princesselsa1 · 30/05/2022 23:57

I have a few:

  1. on a packed train to london. A girl next to me gets out a massive knife and proceeds to chop up a mango for a snack.

  2. an older lady in a lift asks me if I’m feeding my newborn twins in the buggy “properly”. A very strange way to ask a stranger if they are breastfeeding. I’ve also had many strangers ask if they were “natural”.

MistressoftheDarkSide · 30/05/2022 23:57

When my son was a cute toddler I was waiting for a bus with him, and a sweet little old lady started cooing over him….. suddenly out of nowhere she went on to inform me that all children were the spawn of the devil and needed religious intervention to remove their demonic forces in an intense but still conversational tone….. was too gobsmacked to do anything other than leap onto the bus and sit as far away from her as possible…..

TheWayoftheLeaf · 30/05/2022 23:58

A man once turned around at a restaurant and told me 'I'd like to be your postman' and then turned back to his companions and continued.

I'm assuming it was an odd dare or he was actually a bit mad.

TheWayoftheLeaf · 31/05/2022 00:00

420Bruh · 30/05/2022 21:37

On my way back from my dog walk this evening, on a fairly quiet path, I saw a young man coming towards me. Head down, every now and then picking something up and putting it in a carrier bag. Just as I was coming towards him he spat on the ground (ew). But what was he putting in the bag?! He did say "alright" to me but it's more of a Good Evening, Lovely Weather type area IYSWIM.

Cigarette butts most likely

OppsUpsSide · 31/05/2022 00:01

I went to a club once and was waiting to go in when a man appeared in a high vis jacket and a little red ridding hood type basket and came and asked us if we’d like to take a look inside his basket… so we legged it.
We had taken some shrooms so the weird ones might have actually been us.