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Was I rude, or is this guy a jerk?
My guess is he was just a jerk, but you know, I'm open to hearing otherwise.
After work today I went to the tube station and wanted to get one of those 'Baby on Board' pins. I don't always need to sit, but sometimes I do, and I'm too shy to ask. So I go up to the guy manning the turnstiles, and I say, "Excuse me". Three times. Each time consecutively louder and he didn't hear me. So I reached out with one finger and tapped him on the shoulder.
He turned around and I said, "I'm sorry, but can you tell me how to get a baby on board pin? Do I order it, or wait in line?"
Then he goes off on me! He was like, "Do you know that it's rude to touch someone? Well I'm telling you now. You are rude! I am telling you, you are rude!" When I said I called him three times, he said I should have called him 100 times, but not to touch him.
I just nodded my head and walked away.
So what's the verdict, INs? Is it rude to tap someone on the shoulder? I should add that it was a gentle tap, almost more like a graze.
Re: Was I rude, or is this guy a jerk?
I vote not rude, but I won't have touched him. Mainly because he was a turnstile operator. When he felt you tap him, he probably was expecting a rude, about to yell and complain customer so he was geared up for a fight. With all the abuse posters on the tube, I won't have touched them.
I don't think it is rude to tap someone on the shoulder, but I think it depends who it is, their role, and the environment.
Did you end up getting your pin? I would go to the counters to ask as opposed to the turnstile operators.
Holy over-reaction (on his part)! I'm voting for jerk.
While I probably wouldn't have touched him (my friends mock me for being completely anti-touch-- seriously), I certainly don't think a gentle 'tap' is "rude".
Might be NMS, and evidently, not his style either, but having a child-like meltdown and insisting the toucher is "rude" 3xs in 1 minute, seems indisputably rude.
I think a simple, "madam, you gave me a bit of a start, please do be careful, it's usually best to keep your hands to yourself"-- while unnecessary, would have been far closer to appropriate (if he indeed felt strongly) than the freak-out/name calling.
Interesting on the no-tapping. Noted.
I did get my pin. There was a long line and I didn't want to wait if I just had to order it online or something, but I dealt with the line and got one.
I think he over reacted, but I wouldn't have touched him either I don't think.
You get those pins at the Tube, I had no idea.
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Personally, I don't think I would tap someone on the shoulder unless I knew them, and even then it would depend on the circumstances. Like the others, I don't think tapping someone on the shoulder is RUDE though.
I definitely think he over-reacted. I wonder if maybe something happened to him ealier in the day that put him on edge. Maybe lots of people tap him on the shoulder? Maybe the last person that tapped him on the shoulder yelled at him? I imagine that with all of the violence in London this week, a lot of public service personnel were probably on edge....
But no, you weren't rude.
I'm sorry he yelled at you, that's horrible and he was totally rude.
But personally, I cannot stand it when strangers touch me. This guy ahead from me on a queue admired my bracelet and just touched my wrist and I was not pleased. I didn't scream in his face though!
I'm glad you what you needed in the end though.
BFP Apr 2012, EDD Dec 19 2012 * twin h/b at 6wk, 9wk scan * Baby A lost at 12wks, Baby B was my rainbow born at 36wks