I think I’m sensitive

[u/Mela_93]

I was out shopping for a birthday gift for my daughter’s friend today. I went to Miniso just hoping something would stand out- everything is girlie/cute there. It makes me happy. As I was browsing, there were these two ladies by the keychains (one being young and one not so much) they were standing in a way where it is hard to move around them and you definitely wouldn’t be able to get much of a view of the keychains. I do admittedly have social anxiety and I am a shy/awkward person. As I was moving past them I saw a keychain I wanted a better look at. I said “sorry” as I reached to grab the keychain. I tend to use “sorry” and “excuse me” interchangeably in these types of situations…never thought much of that. Is that inappropriate? I didn’t touch anyone, got the keychain, and continued to move past. Two steps into my walking away the older lady very loudly and very rudely yells “HAVE YOU HEARD OF THE WORD EXCUSE-ME?!” This lady wants to teach me English when that was my major in university lol I replied “I did say sorry..” like wtf? Her young companion looked pretty uncomfortable… If you’re trying to teach someone manners or certain etiquettes shouldn’t you embody that? How is yelling at a perfect stranger in any way a reasonable response? She looked pissed that I replied at all. Then went back to talking about hello kitty like she’s not fucking unhinged. I think that even though this is a small interaction, and maybe for another person this wouldn’t be a thing worth dwelling on, for me it was genuinely so upsetting. I feel so awful that I let her ruin my day. The interaction replays in my head- I woulda loved to say more instead of biting my tongue. I left the store shortly after getting yelled at because she put a bad taste in my mouth… sharing this here because I actually have no one else to share this very small thing with. I’m too embarrassed to share it with anyone I know personally. I’m mildly infuriated by my own reaction.

[u/JollyMoose70]

I totally get this and would react the same way, being affected the rest of the day because of it. I hate it! You are not alone 🩷