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Depends. I would probably say something. I normally respond calmly and sarcastically which makes them even more irate. A few days ago a girl (late teens)was half talking to her friend across the store (her head facing 90 degrees away from the direction she is walking) / half texting and then ran right into ME. Yet, she made a remark at ME. I asked her to clarify her remark, reevaluate the way she walks and the direction of her head/eyes while doing so.

It depends. Sometimes I ignore them, sometimes I try to reason with them, and other times I curse them out. I recently had to yell at a lady who didn't understand that seats on the train are open to anyone who paid their fare.

I will most likely say something back to them. I'm definitely not the type to take crap from anyone or believe in the "higher road" of just keeping quiet. People like that need to be spoken back to and know they can't just go around treating people like shit.

Lately, i've started speaking up more. It feels good to address the situation appropriately. I've spent way too long taking the "high road" and being meek in the process. I mean, not in a way that's going to get me shot, but I do address it sometimes (ie last week a woman asked if i was having twins and I flat out told her that was rude)

I tend not to say anything directly to anyone because you just never know what they might do!

@looch: I totally agree. You never know how unstable that stranger might be or how they might retaliate if you say anything! I often think about this when someone is rude to me in another car when I'm driving...I just let it go incase that person is crazy enough to try and run me off the road to prove a point!

I speak up - as politely as possible. If ever I do bite my tongue I find myself regretting it later! If I'm with LO though I do have to always check myself - if I'm not confident that I can keep my tone calm and civil then I don't say anything. He's not old enough to understand what's being said, and I don't want him to see me randomly showing anger towards strangers.

At this point I would not say anything. we Learned our lesson the hard way when a TSA agent was harassing an older lady in front of us in the security line in Chicago a few years ago My husband said something (calm and polite) about it to the guy, and he started screaming at my husband and getting in his face. I was heavily pregnant at the time, and when I turned around to see what was going on, the guy started shouting at me asking if I wanted to get involved, telling me to mind my own business, and insisting that we were in "his house" and had better play by "his rules".

Of course smart-aleck DH then had to comment "you live in the airport"?

Anyway, it could have gotten so much worse. In the end we both just walked away with elevated blood pressure. But it reminded me you never know how unstable someone might be

I can never think of something good to say back to them to make them feel like the ass they are, so I don't usually say anything.

@looch: Honestly, this.

A dude got shot at on the highway I drive regularly for flashing his lights at a guy who cut him off... I keep my damn mouth shut because people are fucking crazy. Mostly, just stink eye them and walk away.

However, if it was someone who was working in a store or something, I'd ask for a manager and be a big old bitch about it. If it was someone making some kind of rude comment (like the "are you having twins?" example earlier), I'd probably say something sarcastic and make it really awkward for them.

With people on power trips who can affect my travel or my life (like a TSA or Customs agent) I probably would bite my tongue. For others, if they're were working, I'd calmly ask for a manager or supervisor. For personal interactions, I either walk away/ hang up, or matter-of-factly ask, "why would you say that to me?" Usually there is no good response to that question.

Depends on the situation, but I'm liable to do everything from being overly sweet back, to ignoring, to making a fuss about it. I guess it depends on my mood!

I'm usually just glad I'm not them.

I think people who are rude to strangers are pretty miserable with their life. It makes me sad more than anything.

usually I just give them The Look and walk away.