So, I was walking and this woman on crutches asked me for help. She had a backpack and another bag, and she asked if I could carry the bag for her for about 100 meters. I said yes and started helping her."
While we were walking, she asked me if there was a way she wouldn’t be bothered by the bag once she got on the bus. I just asked her, ‘Can’t you put the bag in your backpack?’
She immediately got mad and said, ‘What the fuck is wrong with you? I went all the way to the center to get food, give me the bag back, I’ll find a way myself.’ I told her I didn’t mean to be disrespectful, but she just kept demanding the bag back. I ended up saying, ‘Why are you disrespecting me? I’m 14 and you’re a grown woman,’ and she just said she wasn’t in the mood to argue.
The Ending:
I gave her the bag and she gave me a sarcastic ‘have a good day,’ so I just ignored her and walked away. I genuinely just wanted to help and was asking a question to solve her problem. AITA for how I handled it?
NTA she was probably mentally ill. Keep helping people!
NTA, you were helping her and she was acting like an entitled asshole.
This sucks. You were trying to help.
NTA. She asked a question and you answered. That being said, depending on the tone you used when you said “can’t you put the bag in your backpack”, it could come across as rude even if that wasn’t the intention.
NTA
NTA
This is confusing and a bit concerning also. We don’t know what was in the bag or the backpack, so it’s possible she could not reasonably place the bag in the backpack. BUT her reaction was so swift and extreme toward a 14yo child! I feel she either was having a mental break or wanted OP to get on the bus with her, either of which could be potentially dangerous for OP
NTA
She asked YOU if there was a way she wouldn’t be bothered by the bag on the bus?
Dude. She was trying to lure you into following her to “help” her.
NTA
Exactly this. She wanted OP to follow her for the scam/ kidnapping/ actually just to be used as physical labour.
She was embarrassed when her excuse didn’t make sense, and pissed off at OP for realizing it was odd
NTA, sometimes it’s difficult for adults to realize it occasionally 14 years old are smarter than we are. She was embarrassed that she hadn’t thought about it herself and took it out on you.
NTA. Next time just say okay and give the bag back. No need to hang around listening to her.
NTA. It sucks when you’re genuinely trying to be helpful and someone gets weird with you. Her reaction was unhinged and you didn’t deserve that for a making a simple suggestion you were asked for.
NTA. Here’s the crux. She asked you about how she might be able to deal with the food on the bus. She ASKED. You offered a potential solution. Her not liking it isn’t your fault. You don’t know what’s in the backpack or if it’s full. Maybe if you had tried to tell her this without her asking, then we have a debate, but when she asked and you suggested a possible solution? Nope, you’re clear.
Also, to make sure it gets said, an adult asking a child for help should always tweak your attenna. 100m to the bus stop, that’s probably fine, especially as a teen on a public street in your own neighbourhood. But did anyone else think that woman was asking OP to get on the bus with her? Even if she just wanted help to her door, even if she just wanted help to get on the bus… this is a red flag, even if it’s just her taking advantage of your helpful nature.
A respectable adult rarely asks a child for help.
They would usually ask another woman or even a grown man.
These sorts of situations are sketchy. It’s a little bit like how serial killers will pretend they need the help of a child or woman, in order to lure them into a dangerous situation. A grown man will almost always ask another man for help. An adult woman should likely ask another adult woman for help.
Stay safe OP, I’m glad you didn’t follow her onto the bus
NTA