What would you have done?

This week, I have a question for my readers. I’m the inquiring mind who wants to know … what would you have done?

As we got off the elevator at the Tampa airport, a man tried to enter as we were stepping out. I went to the right. He got in my way. I went to the left. He got in my way. His (I assume) wife stood to the side, waiting.

He says curtly, “Pick a lane, lady.”

I was shocked and not at all amused. I had to make a split-second decision. You know, ignore it or address it.

The younger Janet would have ignored his rudeness. Instead, the older Janet smiled and said, “Well, talk about RUDE!” He replied, “Yeah, RUDE.”

We were trying to find the car my daughter had left for us to drive to Chuck’s house in Tampa. Emily had an earlier business flight that morning. We had been up since 4:00. We had very little sleep because we had stayed up for the Super Bowl, the interviews, and the celebration. I was not in the mood to deal with a rude person.

As we walked away, I glanced over my shoulder and saw him staring at me. I might have smiled. I don’t think he was expecting an older lady to brazenly call him out for being rude and not acting like a gentleman. I was raised to let someone off the elevator and out of the way before entering. Apparently, he was not raised that way. Because I was a woman, did he feel entitled to speak to me in a horse’s-hind-end sort of way? That’s an Audreyism.

Later that day, I was still stewing, so I turned to social media to hear others’ opinions. Over one hundred people shared their thoughts with me.

First, I need to tell you that he looked about my age. Second, you need to know that my husband did not hear our exchange. If he had, it would not have been a pleasant discussion. Chuck is very protective of his wife.

The opinions ran the gamut; from I should have just let it roll off my shoulders to I should have told his wife I was so sorry she had to live with him. What if I made things worse for her? I can’t imagine living with someone like him.

One person said I should have told him, “I did pick a lane, and you’re in it.” I thought that was clever. Why is it that I can’t think of clever things until the moment has passed?

I’m that same person who allowed a young man to take my window seat a few years ago. I even prayed for him. I have to question myself if I would do the same today. I hate confrontation but I also hate being done dirty.

Why am I just now, at 70, standing up for myself and not accepting the rudeness of others?

A few people thought he might have dementia or Alzheimer’s, and that might be his excuse.

Some thought I should have taken the high road and ignored him. That has been my usual way of dealing with rude people. Have you ever gotten tired of taking the high road?

Have we, as a society, become complacent about rudeness that we don’t call it out? Have we accepted rudeness as no big deal and just the way some people are? Do we add to the problem by ignoring it?

As we were looking for where to go in the airport, a nice man must have noticed we looked a bit lost. He asked if he could help us. He actually walked with us to find the car. I think he was raised right. He was taught to be a helper. He was older as well. He proved to us that there are still good people to be found … or that find us.

So, tell me … what would you have done?

Janet Hart Leonard can be contacted at janethartleonard@gmail.com or followed on Facebook or Instagram (@janethartleonard). She is the recipient of the Reporter’s Spring 2025 Ink-Stained Wretch award. Visit janethartleonard.com.