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.

Two strangers blocking your way after coming into a shop, one grabbing your trolley and turning it without saying anything, yea. I would be wtf too regardless of their age.

Some act as if the couple couldn’t use their mouths to say something. They blocked OP’s path and could have said “think they’re trying to get your attention” and walked away.

Maybe he's a retired copper and thought he was helping the shop by apprehending you.

People are less likely to be ride to an elderly person.

If it was a man in his forties, most people would have said "What the hell are you doing?" and pushed past.

I probably would have let go of my trolley and barged past him.

But I am old too and fed up of being pushed around by men.

icky No one over the age of 5 should use this term.

I think age is relevant, old men tend to have been brought up in the era where people DID intervene, right or wrong, and that's why he did... public service and all that. Before the time you got slapped and stabbed for stepping in others business...

On breakfast tv this morning there was something about Home Bargains and other shops offering rewards to helpful citizens in catching shoplifters, maybe he was practising 😂🤣😂

@Allthegoodnamesarechosen ha ha😂! Is it possible that the man thought you were going against some sort of one way system? Maybe he was scared that your trolley was going to knock into him or his wife? This would explain him holding your trolley and turning it. Or maybe he is just an interfering type. Or some sort of OAP shop lifter vigilante. Try to forget about it OP sorry it upset you.

Not much of a copper if he thinks that shoplifters are generally found entering a store rather than leaving.

I don't expect it was about 'entitlement'; people of a certain age have strange, old-fashioned notions about social responsibility.

This is a bit silly because shoplifters are often caught when they set alarms off in other shops.

Either way, the member of staff was trying to get the OP's attention and the man obviously knew this.

A bit rude that he didn't say anything to the OP but there you go.

They're all the same, are they?

This..

Yes, there are entitled old men out there. It’s a description of what they are. There are entitled young and old men. In OPs case he happened to be old.

I had a teacher pick me up by my school backpack and attempt to move me out of the way. The corridors were packed and everyone was shuffling along slowly but that entitled old man thought he could try to lift me out the way. The younger teachers wouldn’t have touched us or our belongings. It was so bizarre it made me and my friend burst out laughing. You could try that next time OP. Because the way some people carry on really is laughable.

Of course they are. I say compulsory euthanasia after 43.

It was rude as it’s generally not good to physically stop someone. Instead he could have just pointed and told you someone was trying to get your attention.

The man and his wife sound a bit unhinged, you had an empty trolley so I’m not sure what they thought they were doing.

In future, just say firmly can you get your hands off my trolley.
If he accuses you of stealing then tell him that you’ve just walked it and obviously couldn’t have stolen anything.

It wouldn’t be nice if someone blocked your way like that or grabbed your trolley and I think most of us would be quite taken back by it and not necessarily know what to say.

I always remember a woman at my DCs primary school who would check everyone was parked appropriately.
She saw a car who’s number was on the double yellows and shouted at the man.
He didn’t get angry but he told her to go away and stop being such a busy body.

I always think about it because he stuck up for himself but didn’t resort to getting angry or shouting and it shut her right up.

And it's invited comments like "annoying old fool" and "annoying old pain in the arse".

Well if the cap fits ...

I just don’t know how women on here cope with everyday life if this is a thing.

Talking of laughable 😂🙄

Avoid supermarkets in the day time when elderly people are shopping?

I would assume the couple were simply trying to draw your attention to the staff member. If it's 'entitled' to try to help a fellow human then we're all f#cked

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

To give him credit, he was trying to do something civic. If you were a theif or something then he would've been right. In this instance he was wrong but it's arguably good that people are willing to stick their neck out.

Nothing entitled about it. There was nothing in it for him (except the potential satisfaction that he'd done what he thought was the right thing to do.)

The trolley grabbing was a step too far though, to be fair.