Stopped by old man

[Unsurehowtofeel]

It's a strange one.

I was returning something in a supermarket today and as I walked in the alarms beeped. I was the only one walking in or out at the time so i knew it was me, but thought nothing of it and carried on to the customer service desk because A) I was walking in, not out and B) I didn't see or hear any security stopping me.

It's one of those supermarkets with automatic doors and a meter or so in is some electronic gates to enter the shop or to the left is open access for leaving. Customer service is also to the left.

Anyway, as I was making my way to customer services (walking against the traffic of people walking out) an old man and his wife blocked my way. I was confused. The man then held my trolly and started trying to turn it around towards a colleague stood behind on the other side of the doors (not customer services side) who in retrospect I think had tried to get my attention.

I have some social anxiety and at the time I was panicy thinking how can he (security) think I'm stealing when I'm walking in.

All security was asking in the end was whether the tag was still on it because he could remove it there for me.

Now I'm left feeling somewhat strange. The way an old man thought he could stop me from entering the shop and just his entitlement. Its made me feel all weird and icky. I dont know if it's because I didn't stick up for myself when I feel like I should have or whether it's because of his entitlement.

Just here to get it off my chest really 😂and any advice welcome for how to deal with men like that next time.

With someone coming IN to the shop! He needs to go on a course!

Why the fuck do people get so snarky when age is mentioned? Sometimes it's relevant sometimes it's not but really no need to get arsey over it.
By the way I am a 65 year old women if that's of any relevance at all. If I am arsey it's usually age related as I am now of an age where bullshit will not be tolerated.

In the space of such seconds, people would normally say something when blocking instead of touching, holding and turning someone’s trolley. The intent may have not been malicious but the actions were rude.

Oh my, the Ancient Mariner performs a citizens arrest in the local Lidl. A very modern twist on a classic 😂

I would have said “Can you get out of my way please” and moved on past.

I think descriptions of people are useful context when picturing the scene (sex, age, race) and not somehow sexist/ageist/racist. It is only a description unless accompanied by negative statements eg “like a typical old man, the elderly guy did X”.

This is what comes of politicians telling us to conduct citizens arrests when we see shoplifters!

Perhaps he had a brain fart, saw the guard gesticulating, heard the alarm and thought that he was manfully helping stop a criminal, when actually in the heat of the moment, he missed the bleeding obvious fact that he was stopping someone walking into the shop ...

Yabu for not telling him to get out of your way before you run him over with your trolley

Because it's ageist. Another 'ist', like 'racist' or 'sexist' - all of which are against Mumsnet Talk Guidelines.

And his age has no relevance to the rest of the story, despite how much other posters are trying to make it part of her narrative.

Well if the OP has deliberately mentioned age, then she will expect the responses.

@Robotalkingrubbish resorting to personal attacks?

Then he should’ve just said something, not pushed her trolley.

Don’t worry about the age thing, OP. It’s a crime here to mention it. People asking in a faux naïve way, why you mentioned it, to imply you’re being horrifically ageist. I am assuming you were just describing the situation as it happened. It’s just part of the story. It’s like saying whether it was a man or a woman, the set up of the shop, etc. You haven’t done anything intrinsically wrong or become a bad person by mentioning it.

And also, yes, that would have made me feel icky too. Sorry that happened and that now you’re also getting shamed for your description of it!

You felt icky because a man stopped your trolley when you set the alarm off?

Get over yourself.

You must have missed the call of our PM to perform citizen's arrests on shoplifters. The old chap is just a faithful Tory voter reporting for duty.

Yes because describing an incident with a black woman, for example, would be treated differently.

There's no implication - the OP is horribly ageist. There's no reason given for specifying his age.

Try substituting 'black' for 'old'. You'd say that was racist, wouldn't you? In this case, it's ageist.

And no faux naïveté here. Calling ageism out, as it happens so much on MN. It's also against Talk Guidelines.

OP I know exactly the vibe you mean and it doesn’t come from young men usually. MNers are in denial that different generations are any different from each other though, so they’re gonna come for me 🙃🙃

Bloody busybody!

This was my thought

"I walked into a shop today and a black man approached me. He asked me what I was doing in the shop."
You're seriously suggesting nobody would pick up on that. Yeah, right.

What is it with these goady threads. Wonder if the old man was wearing a child backpack. 🤔

No it isn't. Unless you also think its horrible sexist to specify his sex?