AITA for yelling at a woman and her autistic daughter after they almost knocked me into the subway tracks?

A Redditor recently had a tense encounter on a crowded subway platform when a woman and her autistic daughter nearly knocked them onto the train tracks. After barely catching their balance, the Redditor confronted the pair, only for the mother to respond that her daughter was autistic and sensitive in crowded spaces.

The Redditor felt justified in warning them to be more careful, but the mother found their reaction rude and insensitive. Now, the Redditor wonders if they were out of line. Read the full story below.

‘ AITA for yelling at a woman and her autistic daughter after they almost knocked me into the subway tracks?’

So this happened yesterday on my way on my way to somewhere after work. I had just gotten off the subway and was walking on the platform to the stairs. It was a bit crowded since it was rush hour so I walked across the platform so I was walking closer to the opposite track.

While I’m walking someone crashes into my side and knocks me into the yellow part of the platform that you’re not supposed to stand on while waiting for a train (people who have been to NYC will know what I am talking about). I almost lost my balance, and to make matters worse a train was pulling in.

I look in front of me, and I see two women walking by. One woman was walking in front and the other younger woman has holding on to the back of her backpack and swinging back and forth and not paying any attention to how she was walking.

I yelled “Hey, watch it!” They just kind ignored me or didn’t hear me, and I went closer to them and yelled again “Hey, I’m talking to you, watch where you’re going!” The woman in front turned around and told me not to yell at her and her daughter (the younger woman, but still an adult) bc she was autistic and was sensitive in the subway.

I told her that she and her daughter needed to be more careful bc she almost knocked me into the tracks. The woman told me I was being rude and insensitive to her daughter’s disability and stormed off.. AITA?

See what others had to share with OP:

embaleezers −  NTA. autistic person here AND mother to autistic kids. What they did was dangerous. I understand how it could happen, but her nonchalant attitude about it was messed up.

She should have immediately helped you and apologized and explained that her daughter wasn’t being malicious, just overstimulated and unaware. Her attitude was WAY wrong and you had every right to be upset and say what you said.

StAlvis −  NTA. The woman in front turned around and told me not to yell at her and her daughter (the younger woman, but still an adult) bc she was autistic and was sensitive in the subway. She needs to be **more** f**king sensitive.

Entarotupac −  NTA. I knew a guy in college with cerebral palsy (or maybe MD, this was \~20 years ago). He couldn’t get a driver’s license for the same reason folks with epilepsy can’t, but he had a car anyway. I rode with him once. It was f**king *terrifying*.

He thought I was the a**hole–and I guess the whole DMV–for being so scared that he couldn’t maintain a lane and or stop veering randomly. He **could not control** this ton and a half of metal that he was driving at 40+ mph. My then-friend group didn’t see what the big deal was, either. The dude was probably gonna kill somebody one day because he didn’t want to take the bus.

It’s as bad as killing someone in a DUI collision and arguably worse because alcohol impairs decision-making whereas he knowingly endangered other drivers and pedestrians without mind-altering chemicals (and no, I am not apologizing for drunk drivers–f**k those s**fish assholes with.

Disabilities are inherently unfair and those with them should absolutely be treated with respect and kindness. Having a chip on your shoulder about it is sad but entirely understandable. But it’s not a free pass to be a public menace.

ReviewOk929 −  the other younger woman has holding on to the back of her backpack and swinging back and forth and not paying any attention to how she was walking.

NTA – Doesn’t matter who you are or what you have, there’s no excuse for not having basic manners and awareness. That could have gone south quickly and she’d be looking at something more serious than someone shouting at her.

bimmer_rider −  NTA, parents of ND kids need to be extra careful not just for the safety of others but for the safety of their own children. It was you, a reasonable person this time. Next time it could be an armed nutjob!

Kaleidoscope_Eyes_31 −  NTA. My daughter is autistic. The mom should be concerned with teaching her daughter to be safe in the subway since she’s not always gonna be around to make sure she doesn’t knock someone over or fall herself.

Sweetcilantro −  nta. If her daughter has issues that are causing problems that could hurt other people the daughter should be in front of her so she can see her, not behind. If the daughter does not need to be watched then she cant be mad that you yelled at her for almost knocking you on the tracks so to speak as the yellow area can make it very easy to fall onto them.

Squinky75 −  NTA. They were being rude and insensitive to your need to be alive.

Some_Enthusiasm_471 −  Autism isn’t a get out of jail free card. If your autism doesn’t allow you to function appropriately in public – don’t be out in public.

Far-Bluejay7695 −  NTA. Even those with disabilities have to conduct themselves in a way that causes no harm to others. Being autistic is not a choice, but swinging a backpack on a crowded subway platform is, and also wholly out of bounds. New Yorker here. There are signs EVERYWHERE on the subway platform to take you backpack off your back. To prevent this very thing. Mom’s arrogance and her dismissive response really not acceptable. Not at all.

Do you think the Redditor’s reaction was justified given the danger, or should they have responded with more understanding once they learned about the daughter’s condition? How would you handle a close call like this on a busy platform? Share your thoughts!