Body language, facial expressions, posture, etc. make that clearer than one might think. Someone with immediate malicious intent looks absolutely nothing like someone with good intentions. Language differences wouldn’t matter a whit.
Doesn’t mean non-verbal clues can’t be misinterpreted, or that the woman was a sound enough state of mind to ascertain non-verbal where Trisk was coming from.
At the end of it all, no harm, no foul. Would’ve helped a ton for at least one of the sound-off folks in the parking lot to address Trisk in English, but that hardly matters now.
That was my first thought, too–that episode. Which is why I assumed Russian immigrants.
Count me in as confused about ascenray’s reaction. I honestly don’t see why you think the OP has some nefarious intent. Especially since all he did was ask if she was okay. It’s a sad world when simply inquiring about how someone is is a bad thing.
Anyway, not all people are necessarily able to ask for help when they’re so upset. I was recently robbed and my first reaction was screaming and crying and a stranger did ask me if I needed help (OK, granted all was in English), which was nice–much nicer than the strangers who stared at me blankly. Yes, I could have asked for help but I was definitely kind of reeling and hysterical to the point where it’s nice when someone just reaches out–sort of has a calming effect.
I think this kind of, “WTF is the matter with you?” reaction is why so often people don’t ask, though. I’m glad we have caring people like that, and I do want to offer the OP virtual hugs for that kind of response.
Okay, perhaps I am being a little hyperbolic. I don’t actually think Trisk did anything wrong. There was just something about his OP that felt a little “save the damsel in distress”-y and it always rubs me the wrong when folks go out of their way to offer help to a woman in situations that they possibly would not consider helping a man.
But, yeah, once you see that someone’s on the phone, that’s a clear signal to back off without finishing your thought, unless you have some other business with that person or want to request that he or she take the conversation to a less inappropriate place.
Yes, I’m of Indian origin, but it’s unlikely that this has anything to do with Indian culture. Indians are notorious for getting into each other’s business in public places.