I 26M and my wife 27F went to a local urgent care because she was running a high fever. We got her checked out and walked out the door. She turned to me and said they forgot her doctor’s note and I immediately turned around and started walking back in to get it for her.
For reference this urgent care had a hospital like entrance with two auto doors and a good amount of space between them to fit wheelchairs and other things. I’m also 6 feet tall and not always looking down at the ground.
So anyways I’m walking in and didn’t notice a 5 foot tall woman that looked to be about 75 years old. I did a side step and said oops. Never touched her and was planning on just walking around her cause I had room. She immediately side stepped too, she was intentionally blocking me from going around. I thought she was playing a game and kept side stepping. After a little shuffle her face goes cold and she said, “What is wrong with you? You should never treat old people like that!”. I was taken off guard because I thought she was playing around at first. I said, “Okay”. I was taken aback by this interaction because I didn’t think I did anything wrong. My wife saw the whole thing take place and took my side immediately.
So AITA for trying to walk around an older woman in the front vestibule of an urgent care?
NTA!
NTA. Probably not the first time the old lady has done that.
NTA
ESH
She misunderstood your actions, and took them to be impatient. But, doorways are not dance floors, and your height has nothing at all to do with that. If you crash into something you didn’t see, which was in front of you, then you failed to look. Naturally this didn’t happen, but I suspect that she thought it was going to.
Hard to say without being there. Sometimes stuff just happens, and actions are misinterpreted.
ESH
NTA. I’m old, not 75 but 10 years younger, so, yeah.
She was totally in the wrong. You’re tall, as is my son, and the importance of spacial awareness is necessary to avoid lumps, bumps and headaches.
You tried to step around and commented like it was purely accidental. No actual contact made. She intentionally stepped in front of you, and imho, wanting a fight with someone.
Maybe things didn’t go so well for her at the clinic or she’s just normally a grouchy old woman. Jeez, I hold the door open for you young ones coming in/out sometimes, but, sweetly, most of you hold the door for me. We all need to treat each other with courtesy. No matter our age. We definitely don’t need to add additional stress to anyone’s life.
Always give elderly, women and disabled the right of way
ESH
Being tall isn’t an excuse for not looking where you’re going and it’s also not so tall you can’t see a person in front of you.
My husband is 6’ and my BIL is 6’4 with a mother who is just 4’11. They don’t have any issues and aren’t running into her.
She’s also 83 so she knows how a tiny stumble can actually be quite dangerous when you’re older. A small fall can break a hip when it would barely give you a bruise when you’re younger. Some falls that would be minor for you or me can even cause their immune systems to be compromised enough that they get pneumonia or something else that ends up killing them.
So older people can sometimes get a little squeamish with getting bumped into because they are actually scared of having a major injury.
But overall this was super minor and I wouldn’t spend too much time worrying about it. Just try to do your part in looking out for little old ladies scurrying by 😆
No physical contact was made. He was trying to walk around her, and she kept blocking his way.
NTA. I hate it when they play the old person card. I’m old. The only time I ask for priority is when I need a seat on crowded public transportation, and only then if I physically can’t handle standing.
NTA, it was just a genuine misunderstanding in my eyes