Whilst filling up at the petrol station on my way to work, some jumped-up so-and-so decided it was a great idea to use his phone while filling up their work's van. I whistled across and told him he shouldn't be using it, to which he replied 'I know', paused for a second, then quickly followed it up with 'what's it to do with you?'. I told him that there's a sign there telling him specifically to not use it and that if the petrol station goes up in flames it has everything to do with me, and everyone else there. He asked, less than calmly;
"What are you, the f*'ing police or something?"
I replied that no, I wasn't, but that I'd happily inform them should he please. He told me to... 'go elsewhere'. At this point I was at my wick's end and told him to grow up, the 'something something' (mild expletives). He then asked what I'd called him, so I repeated it, at which point he was nose-to-nose with me. Now, considering I'm a sleight, young-looking, 20-something year old, and he was (guessing) mid 40's, I thought he'd have something better to do than to shout at me that he'd 'fill me in' and suchlike. I stood my ground and told him he was welcome to try, one hand on my petrol nozzle (no euphemism intended), one in my jacket pocket, at which point he backed off.
Very generously, a young (late 20's/early 30's) man, built like a brick sh*t house, decided to step in and told him that he'd fill the phone-user himself. I pulled away the generous helper and told him that it wasn't worth the effort. They shared some expletives and went their separate ways.
I know full-well that the evidence supporting mobile phone use around petrol fumes is relatively limited and, often, inconclusive. I also know, first-hand, the effects of being involved in a explosion and wouldn't wish it on anyone, let alone innocent bystanders in a 20-odd point petrol station. I think that's why I was so quick to jump down his throat, as it were.
