Bizarre encounter with man

[VickyPollard25]

I was walking along a normal sized footpath on a busy road (room for people walking each direction). I was carrying my umbrella with the handle in my hand and the rest against my body and over my shoulder so that the end/tip of my umbrella was in the air above my shoulder. I was happily walking along and listening to a podcast.

I passed a man and his girlfriend/wife. There were no issues. Plenty of room etc. He then started shouting at me. He was so loud I heard him over my podcast. I was puzzled and took out my headphones and looked at him to understand what the issue was. He was yelling aggressively that I should not walk around with my umbrella like that as it was threatening! Apparently I was threatening him. I did not know what to say. I was dumbfounded and just said “what?”. He then raised his fist to punch me, and would have had his partner not intervened and pulled him away.

I am at a loss as to what his problem was and what I had done wrong. Am I being unreasonable to think he would never had said anything if I was a man? I am sure he acted that way because I’m a small woman and he wanted to be dominating.

Of course he was being very unreasonable to threaten you - disgusting behaviour on his behalf! He is slightly right re: carrying an umbrella like that though, could easily whack or poke someone without realising

where in the country was it raining today!? that gives me some hope - I am desperate for this weather to break.

Yes, umbrellas on a pavement can be very difficult to navigate, even threatening. Put them down or hold them out over the road to allow people to pass

How can carrying an umbrella be threatening? The OP wasn't brandishing it like a bloody sword. And even if it was annoying there is no excuse to shout abuse or threaten to punch someone.

Threatening? Does it mean something different where you are? How bizarre. Just ignore him, sounds like a right arse.

Was the umbrella open or closed?

I'd be calling the police if I nearly got punched by a stranger. The man is dangerous to the public.

Was he young or old, @VickyPollard25 ?

His partner dragging him away suggests the anger management issues are well established. I wouldn't give it a second thought, except to, perhaps, wonder if the woman needs a number to Woman's aid.

Yeah, I wouldn’t give it another thought, except I’d wonder whether he was a danger to others, so I might call the non emergency police number. Whatever that is.

SE coast saw rain today (also saw a very "nippy" 20c)

OP, sorry he was so vile to you. Hope you aren't too shaken up.

Really? Sounds quite bizarre!

What?

An umbrella against your body is more dangerous or threatening than one being held out in the road??

Doesn't matter if you were pretend jousting with your umbrella as you merrily toddled along, he is yet another insane, deranged angry man. They're everywhere now, just look at the news. Hope you enjoyed your podcast as you carried on your journey, not your fault OP.

Such a bizarre reaction would make me think he was quite possibly mentally ill, and triggered somehow.

Am I being unreasonable to think he would never had said anything if I was a man? I am sure he acted that way because I’m a small woman and he wanted to be dominating.

None of us (including yourself) will never ever know this.

The umbrella was closed as it wasn’t raining. It was no closer to him than my body, which was far enough away to pass him without incident (at east a foot).

Thank you so much. The whole incident has upset me so much. I keep thinking about what I could have possibly done to upset him. I literally cannot find a reason. I didn’t touch him or even notice him until he started shouting.

I’d guess early 30s

o, I see, if it was closed, I can't really see the problem.

It was closed. It just seemed an easy way to carry it.

When people behave in a mad way I always assume it’s about them rather than me, and I just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. He could be unmedicated, he could be high or drunk, or just some aggressive asshole, but I would just try to put it down to “loonies out there” and move on.

I was just carrying it home. It wasn’t raining.

It was securely against my body and I had a solid hold. It was not going to fall or poke anyone. It was nowhere near him. Even if someone was right behind me (and this guy was walking towards me) they wouldn’t be touched by it.

Thank you. That’s what I wondered. He was a big bearded man. A lot bigger than me. I was no threat to him even if my umbrella was a sword.

In the air above your shoulder isn’t secure. I’m not saying that you did this (I’m certain you didn’t!) but in the past I have definitely experienced passers by accidentally getting hit by umbrellas being held in this position

I wish I thought more like you. It’s made me so angry as there is literally nothing I can do in those situations except take the abuse and back away.