I was at a club in Europe a while ago with two of my friends (a couple). We are American. I was trying to pass through a crowd of tons of people as usual. My methods are not too rude I think- I make eye contact, say pardon me with a smile, and worm my way through. Sometimes though drunk people with loud music in the back don’t notice what’s around them, so I would gently poke them or use my arm to move them. I do not think that is a problem, personally.
What bothers me is that I grabbed the shoulder of one woman (also American) to move her over because she didn’t notice me at all and she gave me a look like I had smacked her butt or something. First off, I am gay- I have no interest and didn’t think of it in a sexual way. But even if I was straight, I feel like I didn’t do anything wrong. I touched her shoulder because that is less creepy than the back and less rude than pushing her. Anyway, when I was leaving the club I passed by her again and the man she was with like held her back in one arm and shielded me away in the other. I looked at him confused and just left.
My question for women: would you react this way? Does this seem like a big deal to you? Because from my perspective, I did not touch her in any wrong way. It is normal if I am trying to get through a crowd. This just frustrated me because it is terrible to be seen in this creepy way, then the guy like making this big deal like he was protecting her when I walked out. All my best friends are girls so it’s not like I don’t talk to women or something. This is the only time this has happened to me btw.