It’s natural to try to help others when the opportunity arises, especially in situations involving mobility challenges. However, good intentions don’t always guarantee a positive response.

One person’s effort to help open a door for a stranger in a wheelchair ended with confusion and frustration.

You’ll want to read on for this one.

AITA for holding the door open in a parking lot elevator?

I live in an apartment building that uses a key system to get into every door in the building.

At around noon, I was helping my family unload groceries into a wagon and went ahead to open the metal screen door leading to the elevator room in the building’s underground parking lot so they could go inside.

They soon saw a stranger approach that they thought might need help.

A person in a motorized wheelchair was opening the door, and I walked up to them to try to hold the door open so that it would be easier for them (and my family) to go into the elevator room.

But it quickly became clear that this stranger wasn’t looking for assistance.

As I was saying “I got the door for you” and reaching for the door, the person in the wheelchair ripped the door out of my hands, shutting it with a slam, and rolled away from the door out of the parking lot.

I was confused but then continued to unlock the door and hold it open for my family and our groceries.

And the stranger was sure to let them know about their distaste for their attempt to help.

As we were waiting for the elevator, the person in the wheelchair rolls back to the door and starts saying to me, “Never do that again,” over and over again.

Out of reflex I replied, “Sorry,” and then rushed into the elevator with my family.

The whole situation left them incredibly confused.

I still don’t know why this person was so upset.

AITA in this situation? If so, what did I do wrong?

Misunderstandings happen, but that doesn’t make them any less uncomfortable in the moment.

What did Reddit make of all this?

Not wanting help is one thing, but being a total jerk about it is another.

Maybe his reaction was about something else entirely.

While it was clear they didn’t have any ill intent, the situation could be handled better next time.

This encounter was shaped by misread intentions, not malice.

It’s a good reminder that even kindness isn’t always received the way we expect.

If you thought that was an interesting story, check this one out about a man who created a points system for his inheritance, and a family friend ends up getting almost all of it.