Am I just too old fashioned ?.

[zabado]

While in town the other day I was walking through the shopping centre and as I went through a swing door I stopped and held the door open for a young woman behind me . To my amazement she stopped dead in her tracks and spat out the words " Don't patronize me " .
Question .. What did I do wrong ?.

[pingping]

I think this might be a cultural thing as well. I've been brought up to always help others (e.g. helping to carry prams) and to hold open doors for others whether young, old, male, female (I'm female by the way).

I work in a central London university with a huge international student community, and I'm always shocked when one of our international students slams a door in my face rather than hold it open for me to pass through after them. And if I had a pound for every time I've been blanked after holding a door open for someone else rather than that person say thank you - I'd be very rich by now. I always make a point of saying (sarcastically) 'you're welcome' to anyone that does this, although they usually ignore this too!

[albaqwerty]

my father once had a similar experience. Held door open for a female and she waltzed past. He said pardon? she said "I never said anything" His retort, "Sorry I thought you said thank you" (This was in the 60's)

[TTG]

If I hold the door for someone most of the time they say thanks. If they don't, I used to say "thanks" for them but now I just walk away.

[Hazel104]

How rude!

I hate when I hold doors open or let people through in crowds and they say nothing, I can't help saying 'thank you' for them which they also ignore!
I think the most annoyed I have been though is when my step son (10) held a door for a man and he didn't say a word didn't even look at him - it was in a museum so he got a discreet earful when s.son was not in ear shot.