Grabbed on tube but I escalated

[Somemenarewankers]

I'm shaking a bit because I hate confrontation (and also wouldn't have acted the same way if I'd had more than 4 hours sleep).
Got on the tube just before doors closed (not at the beep beep beep) and the bit by the door wasn't too crowded for that time, which was pleasant. However, found myself suddenly standing in between the seats and realised I'd literally been moved there - hand on each shoulder. I don't quite know how he did it, but my shoulders were smarting.
I turned round and saw this enormous man - about 6'7 - staring at me and realised he'd moved me like a lamp. I shouted "You can't touch me!" or something gutters. I've got quite a rough history and the thought of strange men touching me makes me lose my mind.

He started shouting back in my face that I was too close (with insults (whore etc)). I said something then decided to de-escalate, particularly as it was only one stop.

But then I got irate that this man was walking around feeling he could just move women around roughly and shout at them. I did something stupid - tried to take a surreptitious photo. He grabbed my phone and threw it and lunged I think. Other passengers intervened- if you're reading this THANK YOU - especially to the woman who told me where to walk. I needed clear instructions!
So - WIBU to escalate a situation with a clearly unstable man and ruin loads of nice peoples mornings?

There is no point in trying to take a photo, if it puts the person taking it in further danger though, is there? Even the Op admits that it was unwise to do so.

How do you know she was in the way? Some people like to stand in advantageous spots and will shove you out of the way to get there.

It is never, ever, ever ok to physically lift someone up and move them.

FFS.

@Somemenarewankers

I have just asked a tube driver - it depends on whether the train is the old stock or not as to whether the brakes are applied when you pull the emergency cord, the old stock they are so you can stop in the tunnel - but even if you are on the old stock the driver can override the emergency cord and pull safely into the station.

Glad you have reported it, always speak to station staff or even go to the front and bang on the drivers door and they will call a member of station staff.

I think the only pathetic one on this thread is you with this comment.

disgusting man-dont know why some voted yabu yeah course us women are unsresonable to be lifted up and physically moved

It depends I think. If you were really too close to him and he was uncomfortable then I can understand his reaction

Yes of course he should have just asked you to move but it seems like he reacted in a similar way to the way you did.

Reacted first maybe thought later

I think the origin of the emergency cord ‘myth’ is that pulling it did indeed stop the train back in the day. I was on a fair few trains where this happened and the guard would come through the train carriage by carriage asking if anyone had pulled it and to see what the issue was (didn’t alert them to what carriage it had been pulled in back then). Back then the doors were easily opened so if there had been an altercation all that happened was the perpetrator(s) would just open the door and hot foot it down the tracks given the train was conveniently stopped. Pretty sure there wasn’t even communication between the train and station or emergency services back then either but may be wrong.

At some point someone in charge wised up and realised this was ridiculous and achieved nothing and the train kept going to the next station. Meanwhile the guard started the trek through the train to try and identify carriage and issue. Then communications between train and stations became a given so assistance could be organised to meet the train.

Now obviously they know what carriage the alert has come from, ability to speak if able to convey problem etc. So trains did indeed used to just grind to a halt but not anymore.

The Op was asking WIBU to escalate a situation with a clearly unstable man. I agree that she was. If however the Op ruined nice people's morning, is neither here nor there.

Phillip Schofield
Danny Dyer
Amanda Holden
Ant and Dec
David Walliams
James Corden
Seems I'm not alone here.

Not following your point @Stridthekiller - please can you elaborate

People may push and shove on the tube because it gets crowded, it doesn’t mean that they get to put their hands on you, that’s assault and it’s illegal, so is abusing people on public transport and he deserved to get kneed in the balls, maybe the op should have screamed assault, bastards like him get away with it because the powers that be can’t be bothered to get of their lazy arses and actually do what they get paid for.

Trains have a cord, or they used to have. (I think most of them have red levers now.) And trains being mostly above ground, when someone pulled the cord/lever/handle, the driver stopped the train.

It doesn't work like this with the tube; carriages don't have a 'cord' (it's a handle, or a lever behind a plastic flap) and the process is the tube train runs to the next station and stops there, unless there's a reason not to (like the train has broken down).

The trouble with using the emergency brake is that you are then stuck between stations WITH all of the people in your carriage.

Not on the tube, you're not.

It will stop because the train doesn't know why you are pulling the cord

@Somemenarewankers
Tube can have someone me very unstable types on it.
My 3 yr old was pushed over by one, I retaliated verbally, and the loon grabbed my coat and threatened violence. Nasty unkempt rogue who stank.
Not one person intervened or commented til he got off.
Some very unpleasant people use public transport- Please report it.

It won't stop when it's in a tunnel.

"Use one of the red emergency alarms beside the doors to alert the driver.

If the train is at a station, it will stop. If it is in a tunnel, it will keep going to the next station"
tfl.gov.uk/travel-information/safety/emergency-evacuation

It will stop because the train doesn't know why you are pulling the cord

No it won't!

God why are people endlessly repeating this errant nonsense. The driver can override it.

Trains do stop: www.greateranglia.co.uk/emergency-alarm

Tubes are not trains.

I cant believe we are debating whether or not YABU! FFS .100 percent report .It seems wrong if nothing is done but at least you will have done your bit. Cannot believe the entitlement of some of these disgusting males!

Yes report op. Hope you are ok x

Thanks, everyone. It's really helped me to read all the messages of support.

I don't really disagree with posters who have questioned me tbh - I do wonder what the "best" way to deal with such scenarios is.

@oakleaffy - I'm so sorry that happened to you.

@Somemenarewankers
Thanks.. It really made me shake.The bloke clearly had a screw loose to attack a child .
Tube is not a pleasant environment as you well know.
Stay safe :)

Sorry, I made a mistake. It used to be the case.