What’s your reaction when people accidentally bumps into you?
By natalie1981
@natalie1981 (1995)
Singapore
April 28, 2007 11:25am CST
I’m one of those people who says “sorry” automatically whenever I stepped on someone’s toes or bump into someone even when it’s not my fault. What I really hate is when I stepped/bumped into someone and I’ve apologized profusely and then the other person still glares at me and then says something like “watch where you’re going!” or something. I mean it’s not like I purposely bumped into them, I’ve said sorry, what more do they want?! For me to kiss the ground the ground they walk on? Puh-leese. I mean, how hard can it be to shrug it off? I mean, it’s like they wanted a confrontation right there and then.
I also hate it when someone steps/bumps into me and doesn’t even look back to give an apologetic stare or even mumble sorry. So, how do you react in these situation? Do you still tell the person off, say sorry automatically or just walk on without looking back?
8 people like this
22 responses
@maryannemax (12156)
• Sweden
29 Apr 07
sorry comes out automatically for me, too. just like you, i don't care who's fault is it... mine or the other person. i just feel i should apologize for bumping or him/her bumping into me.
and yep. i don't know why there are such rude persons who can't just accept apologies at all whe obviously, it wasn't intentional at all. just makes my day so ruined.
and isn't it crazy when people just don't care if they stepped on our feet or bumped us real hard. they continue as if we were ghost and that we don't exist at all.
i wonder why most people loves to have such bad qualities instead of being nice. the world is difficult to understand most of the time.
happy myLotting natalie!
3 people like this
@maryannemax (12156)
• Sweden
29 Apr 07
at times like that,i just wish i could punch the face of that person staring badly at me. like, hello.. are you deaf? i said, i was sorry! grrrr..
i wish people could atleast be thankful that there are apologetic people like us considering the fact that it's not actually us to be blamed.
1 person likes this
@natalie1981 (1995)
• Singapore
29 Apr 07
I know! There was even this one time that it's really not my fault, it was a crowded area, I think it was a sale at the mall and someone bumped into me from behind so I accidentally bump the person in front of me and this person gave me a dirty look and just started yakking about how I'm not careful even when I've repeatedly said sorry, people were staring so I just walked away. Jeez.
@natalie1981 (1995)
• Singapore
30 Apr 07
LOL. Careful, let's not go down to their level. Well, at least there are still plenty of nice people like us.
@nicolec (2671)
• United States
28 Apr 07
I'm the same way. When I bump into someone I always offer an apology of some sort. If people don't except it, that's there problem not mine. I move on. In some cases when some one bumps into me and offers nothing, I have been known to shout a sarcastic "excuse me" after them. Sometimes they ignore, but usually I just get that dirty look back. Oh well, it's their shame and they have to live with it.
@natalie1981 (1995)
• Singapore
28 Apr 07
LOL. I want to give that sarcastic excuse me a try but I'm afraid that if I do, the person would come back and we would have a shouting match of some sort. I don't really like confrontations and I always have this uneasy feeling whenever I feel like the thing I'm doing is making a scene.
2 people like this
@bananamanuk (835)
•
28 Apr 07
I would always apologise if I walked into someone, in fact I tend to say sorry if they walked into me as well, it's just a natural reaction. I wouldn't consider 'telling someone off' unless they were being deliberately obtrusive and making a point of getting in my way. Usually though, these things happen purely by mistake.
3 people like this
@crackhead (1826)
• India
29 Apr 07
Weather its some one bumps into me or i bumps into some one its just that "sorry" which comes out of my mouth. If some one bumps into me because of their carelessness then there won't be an apology from me instead i may give them a harsh look. Ask them to be careful since it might hurt some one if they bump into.
3 people like this
@tater03 (1765)
• United States
28 Apr 07
When I bump into someone I just apologize and move on. I know what you mean about people bumping into you and not even acknowledging that they have. But I just chalk that up to that person just being a rude person and then I move on. I don't let it get to me.
3 people like this
@missybal (4490)
• United States
29 Apr 07
I know what you mean. I alway apoligize too even if it isn't my fault. Most of the time I get that whole watch where your going thing and the look and what bugs me the most is that those people are usually the ones that bumped into me. I don't know why people are so rude. I tend to just let it go and keep walking, because it's not like they would listen to me anyway and I chose to be the better person.
1 person likes this
@natalie1981 (1995)
• Singapore
30 Apr 07
Yep, sometimes when I'm brimming, I chant, I'm the better person, I'm the better person, don't stoop to their level. It usually calms me down.
@sunshinelady (7609)
• United States
28 Apr 07
I say I am sorry but if the person still looks irritated that is their problem. I didn't mean to do it and I am sure that the person has probably done the same thing at one time. It is common courtsey to say you are sorry when you bump into them but if they want to be rude and make a big deal out of it that is their problem and think about what the person looks like to the people that are around in the area. I just shrug their reaction off and go about my business and don't think about it anymore. There are better things to have on my mind than some jerk that wouldn't take my apology.
2 people like this
@sunshinelady (7609)
• United States
28 Apr 07
Also if someone bumps into me and doesn't say they are sorry it doesn't bother me. Not everyone knows the rules of courtsey and that is the way I look at it. I was taught by my mom to do certain things to other people so as not to be rude and I have followed that rule of conduct all my life. I am 57 so figure how long my mom's rules have stuck with me.
2 people like this
@natalie1981 (1995)
• Singapore
28 Apr 07
Sometimes it doesn't bother me but what really bothers me is when there's a large open space around me and this persons seems to purposely bump into me and he couldn't even say "sorry" or give an apologetic stare. I mean, I'm sure he's not blind, he's just probably rude.
2 people like this
@ydiwan (448)
• India
30 Apr 07
Well i am also in your league where if i bump into a person i always say sorry and apologiese to the person immediately and yes one find those rare ones which normally stare at you even if u say sorry but hey i cannot blame them in this fast world one does not know whats on that persons mind and how we have interupted his thoughts so its ok but when people bump into me even i expect and apology and when i do not get none i ofcourse mumble and give a glare so thats how i react
@jc_star10 (953)
• Indonesia
29 Apr 07
I will say sorry to anyone that i bumped or stepped to. It's just a reflex, no matter who is wrong. If someone glares at me, like i'm the one who did wrong, I glares at him too..LOL. I already said sorry so don't ever create trouble by expanding the matter anymore. That will only making it worse. So, usually i just glares back and went walk by.
@natalie1981 (1995)
• Singapore
30 Apr 07
LOL. A glaring contest, I like that. I just usually glare when their back is turned.
@YoungInLove (1254)
• Canada
29 Apr 07
My halls in my school are very small so you dont have much room to be able to walk carelessly and not watch where your going. Sometimes i say sorry when i bump into somebody, but also, there are a lot of people who walk slow, and who walk without looking and bump right into people, i dont bother saying sorry to them because they deserve it.
1 person likes this
@Odinxz (30)
• Malaysia
29 Apr 07
well.. i will see... if that person is a polite type... i mean... will look at u and say sorry... i will smile and said... "its ok... accident do happens.." if to those who look at u and being rude... i'll said.. "dude, do u know u bumps on me?" hehe...
1 person likes this
@AnnaB87 (761)
• United States
29 Apr 07
I always apologize. Then walk away. I try to not run into people but sometimes I do.
I really need to watch better I suppose all the time. I do have poor eye sight so that is how I end up running into people sometimes.
People should not be rude, but people generally are for one reason or another.
Thankfully not everyone is though.
1 person likes this
@cyclops_online2004 (779)
• India
29 Apr 07
My first reaction is also to say "sorry" to the person whoever bumps in to me or if i bump into someone. But, there are times when people start to blame you for the bump. This is the situation where i also argue if it is not my faul. If it is i just say sorry and put up a small smile.
1 person likes this
@operationcwal (188)
• Malaysia
29 Apr 07
If it was not my fault,i will simply smile at that person.If it was my fault,automatically i will say sorry with innocent look.
1 person likes this
@scarlet_woman (23463)
• United States
29 Apr 07
i usually just shrug off someone bumping into me unless they're really rude,or it's obvious they did it purposely.
if i bump into them,i'll apologize,but if they get uppity,oh well.they'll have to get over it :)
@ashanti1967 (191)
• United States
29 Apr 07
lol...ok what about the ones that bump into you but look at you as if you took there last piece of candy or something..lol..and once an apology is offered why cant they keep it moving? i was watching wjere i was going..lol unfortunately it seems that people are all out for themselves and have not the common courtesy that i would think should be taught when young so things like this dont happen..
usually if im stepped on/ bumped into if it wasnt so hard as to just about knock me off my feet i just ignore it..although it is agravating..but when its the hard bump or step then what usually flies out id "excuse you"! and i get a reaction..because now im excusing them for being rude!
1 person likes this
@glra2222 (492)
• Australia
29 Apr 07
id say "what the hell is wrong with you?"
lol just kidding - im not that arrogant and mean.
Normally people say they are sorry and i reply with "no worries mate".
Don't wanna start a fight now do we.
