AITA for leaving a woman stranded after she insulted me while I was trying to help her?

A Reddit user shared an encounter where they tried to help a woman stranded in a parking lot with a dead car battery, only to be met with insults and disrespect. Despite offering assistance, the woman criticized the user’s efforts and even made a rude comment about her car. After a final insulting remark, the user decided to leave, feeling her help wasn’t appreciated. Now, the user is questioning whether they were in the wrong for walking away. Was it justified to leave, or should they have pushed through despite the disrespect? Read the full story below and decide for yourself.

‘ AITA for leaving a woman stranded after she insulted me while I was trying to help her?’

So, this morning was freezing, like 12 degrees with a brutal wind chill. I was heading to work when I noticed a woman standing next to her car with its hood up in the grocery store parking lot. She was waving her arms at passing cars, clearly in distress. I’m not a car expert, but I know how to jump a battery, so I figured I’d stop and help her out. As a note, I’m a woman as well.

I pulled over, rolled down my window, and asked if she needed a jump. She immediately came over to my car and started going off, saying, “Finally! What took you so long? Are you blind? I’ve been stuck here forever!”

I didn’t let her attitude bother me and grabbed my jumper cables. As I was hooking them up, she barely acknowledged me and just stood there scrolling on her phone. I told her to try starting the car, but it didn’t work right away. I explained that sometimes the battery needs a few minutes to charge, and she totally flipped out. She goes, “Are you even doing this right? What’s the point of stopping if you’re just wasting my time?”

I tried to stay calm and suggested she be patient, but she then looked at my car (which is admittedly not that nice looking) and said, “Figures, you drive a piece of junk and you’re trying to help me. I should’ve waited for someone who actually knows what they’re doing, like a man.”

At that point, I was done. I unhooked the cables, packed everything up, and started walking back to my car. She shouted, “Where are you going? You can’t just leave me here!” I turned around and said, “Watch me,” and got in my car to drive off. As I left, she threw her coffee cup at my car and cursed me out.

So, AITA for walking away and leaving her stranded? I feel like I was just trying to help, but her attitude was completely uncalled for. Plus, it admittedly is unsafe for a woman to be stuck somewhere with car troubles. My friend said I should have helped her because of “girl code”, but I think she broke girlcode first.

See what others had to share with OP:

deathtodickens −  You stayed far too long. I would have driven off the moment she opened her mouth to say, “Finally!” You are clearly NTA in this situation.

Glum-Ad-4736 −  NTA. “Girl Code” says that if someone is helping you, you act reasonably thankful. You also behave like other people have feelings, because we’re all in this together. “Entitled Code” says other people are obligated to help you because you demand they do it. You behave like your feelings and needs are far more valid, because hey, it’s you and you’re special.

Girl Code gets you a tampon or a quick way out of a bad date if you need one. Entitled Code gets you frozen feet as you watch girls who would have had your back get disgusted and drive away making the “*whatever*” gesture in the rear view mirror. You sound like a lovely compassionate person. Tell the next person you see “Hey, that looks really nice on you!” as you pass. You’ll feel better and get back in the Christmas spirit.. Happy holidays!

Fun_Alarm786 −  This cant be real. Like for real? Someone can be that ungrateful and that a**sive to a complete stranger? Why would even question ur actions NTA.

[Reddit User] −  Nope . They need to learn respect and when to shut up you did the right thing.

Your_Daddy_1972 −  NTA. I’d have been gone the minute she went in her initial rant.

BeachinLife1 −  Nope, you stayed much longer than I would have! I would have gotten in my “piece of junk” with the WORKING BATTERY and left the minute she started with her crap.

007baldy −  You’re not, no. I’ve helped a couple people change tires who were standoffish. Usually, I will just stop and help, and not chat them up. This time, my wife was with me and she started chatting this lady up. She was just asking her about how her day is going, besides the obvious, and the lady said “why are you so f**king nosey? Mind your f**king business.” My wife turned and walked back to our car… I could tell she was a bit dejected, just by body language.

I had the car off the ground, tire off, spare out of the trunk and was about to throw it on when I heard that. I stood up and just stared at her as my wife walked back to our car. She looked at me and realized she fucked up. She walked over to me and said “I’m sorry, I’m having a hard day. Please, help me.”

I said, “go apologize now, or you can do this s**t yourself.” She immediately walked over to my wife, asked her to get out of the vehicle, apologized and hugged her and apologized again. I finished changing the tire and she thanked me and hugged me, and offered me money which I refused. I simply said, “you’re welcome, and try to treat people more gracefully next time.” She said “yes, I’m sorry, I let my stress get the best of me.” Sometimes people just let emotions get the best of them. Other times… they don’t deserve your help. Act accordingly.

Caligula2024 −  Oh how I wish I was there to see this, from a males point of view, from her first words, I would have said FU lady and drove away.

HarperxxGonzalez −  NTA. You tried to help, and she was rude and ungrateful, no one deserves to be treated like that, especially when you’re going out of your way to be kind.