Walk in the park incident

[ellie09]

I was out having a lovely walk with my friend earlier today along a busy tow path next to a park.

We were obviously busy chatting and catching up. We had got to one of those gates and saw some people approaching from the other side, so stayed back to let them through.

Behind this group was an older woman talking on the phone. She got to the gate and was still chatting on the phone. My friend asked me a question also, and we started to walk through the gate.

I looked and the woman was still on the phone, so I hurried through whilst answering my friend.

As soon as we were through, this woman stormed up to me, right up to my face and shouted "WELL THANK YOU!" with her phone still up at her ear. I was confused by this sudden confrontation and I was a bit frozen on the spot, so I then said "thank you" quietly, and she just walked away after this going "seriously, seriously! Are you ffing kidding me?!"

My friend was also highly confused by this, as she was chatting on the phone whilst at the gate, so we wouldnt have said anything to her, and we had also let a large crowd through beforehand (there is no give way like a road unfortunately!)

Yes, I usually do say thanks as it's manners but at this time, I didnt want to disturb a phone call someone was on and they looked busy.

AIBU to think that this was an OTT reaction for what it was?

Do you think she was annoyed that you didn’t say thank you? Could it have been that she was being sarcastic as you didn’t her through?

Thats what I first assumed when I read the OP.

Either way, just try not to think about it any more. She was rude, it’s over now, you didn’t mean to annoy anyone. People get rage sometimes. It’s not right but it’s not worth any more of your brain space xx

All sorts of things could be going on..

Perhaps she thought you had just appeared and had barged through in front of her, rather than waiting - not realising you already had waited.

Perhaps SHE was waiting for you to come through and expected you to thank her and you didn't...

Whatever it was she thought happened, clearly her behaviour is pretty bonkers, so forget about it!

She was probably having a bad day and over reacted. Try not to be upset. It’s likely nothing to do with you at all.

Bloody "older" women...

Meh, some people are rude, who cares why, don't waste your brain on them

I wouldn’t give it a second thought.

She overreacted. Maybe having a shit morning. Maybe she is always an arsehole. I would be embarrassed to behave like that.

sorry it spoiled your day. Try to forget about it.

If she was in front of you why didn't you let her go through the gate first. Even so she sounds batty. Dont give it another thought.

You call it a tow path but don't mention any canal. I'm struggling to picture the layout.

She sounds awful and rude. You didn't do anything wrong.

Can you not imagine a canal with a towpath, running along one edge of a park? I can think of numerous locations where this is the case, but even if not, does it matter?