Ageism? Sexism? What was wrong with this guy?

[torontogal12]

I was on the subway today about to get off at a really busy station. Most of the people on the train get off at that station because you can change trains there.

As I am standing at the door, this older man (about the age of my dad, 70ish) decides he needs to push me (hard) out of the way to get out, before the train has even stopped. Nearly lost my balance because the train was braking. Even though there is no need, people who never ride the train tend to push because they don't know everyone else is leaving too. And of course, no one can say "excuse me."

I turned around and told him he didn't need to push because the rest of the people on the train were getting off there too. I said it with a matter of fact tone.

He then goes on some verbal rampage in front of everyone on the train about how I need to learn "respect" and asked whether I would ever speak to my father that way.

Excuse me? You pushed ME. And I'm the one who needs to be respectful? I made sure to say that part out loud, but he looked at me like I was beneath him or something.

I can't figure out whether this was sexism or ageism. I really don't see why anyone's relationship with their father has anything to do with telling some random person not to push them. Was he angry that I dared talk back to him (an older person and a MAN no less) and call him out on his rudeness? I don't care who you are, you touch me for no reason, I don't have to stand for it.

And if only he KNEW that my dad always taught me to talk back against people like this lol!!!

[Darth Penguin]

I'd go with random rudeness....he knew he was in the wrong and tried to shame you into backing down by mentioning his and your respective ages as an excuse.

And if a random older man asked me if I'd speak to my (late) father like that, the answer would be "yes, since he could be an unpleasent SOB...."

[DianneS]

Agree with Darth. He sounds like one of those generally miserable people who has a chip on their shoulder.

[Shwa Girl]

Wondering if he has an anxiety disorder.
Maybe it wasn't about you OP.
From what he did and how he responded to you, there may be more going on with him than we can see.

[RebeccaRYoung]

I agree with everyone else so far. He was probably just in a mood and took it out on you. There have been more behind the story than you know.

[Chantel]

Just sounds like an entitled old jerk. Maybe a little ageism, because I'm sure at his age he'd had it drilled into him as a child that if somebody was older than you, you do not question them.

[cath007]

Unfair and gosh remind me some neigbour...He has no right to do that..

[DaveP]

Just your typical a**hat. There's way too many of them in the world.

[torontogal12]

Haha, when I texted my husband about this, I pretty much said that verbatim hahaha

Just your typical a**hat. There's way too many of them in the world.

[electric_viking]

random rudeness. large city, pretty easy to come across people who are rude.
i guess he felt that his age gave him the right to act like a complete moron.

[janetta]

Sometimes it feels like the subway and rude people go hand in hand!
But most of the time I find people very polite and accommodating to others.
Then there are the crazies who yell at everyone or pee on the train...
...and with the new "rockets" there's really no where to run to. lol
Hopefully he'll think twice about pushing people on a moving train next time, because you called him out on it.
Hopefully.

[Poirot]

He's a bully.He's probably always been a bully.

[Natalka]

He was just rude. Being elderly doesn't give him an 'excuse' to be an arse.

[lilo0003]

Thanks for calling him out on it, maybe it will save me the same experience someday. When I first starting working downtown the subway rides freaked me out, way to many people with no patience and no space.

[Snow In Summer]

I spent a week in NYC in July and I can tell you that pushing people on the subway is a standard protocol used by all there. In fact if you don't, you will miss your stop!!! I was actually told by the locals on the train to push people and make my way to the door fast, after panicking and missing 2 stops to get off at Yankees Stadium. lol So maybe the old geezer was from NYC and you didn't know it.