"A shake of the head, no smile, no word of thanks", no "acknowledgment" and "what are you doing?".
The unmentionable act committed by men recently which warranted the above reactions from women?
Chivalry. It's a 21st-century ethical minefield, apparently.
The responses reportedly came when one elderly man offered a young woman a seat on the bus, when another man waited for a woman to get into a lift first, and when another opened the door for a woman.
Chivalry is the traditional "warrior" code of conduct associated with the medieval institution of knighthood, involving individual training and service to others.
Knights were expected to protect those who could not protect themselves, such as widows, children, and the elderly, and guard the honour of fellow knights. Their central vow was to fight for the welfare of all.
But, in much the same way as religious teachings, it seems many now interpret this foundation of moral behaviour as an old-fashioned insult to modern sensibilities, individual freedom - and, given the reactions, women's independence.
But are those overreactions?
Surely the idea of chivalry at a fundamental level simply involves looking after fellow citizens and treating people with respect, common courtesy and good manners?
Has the equality pendulum really swung so far that some women are now demeaned or insulted by such gestures?
Or is it that society's values have changed to such an extent that such gestures to anyone are seen as outdated in an increasingly self-centred, dog-eat-dog world?
At what stage did society deem it acceptable not even to say "thank you" to someone trying to be friendly, polite and helpful?
Of course many women - particularly in Western culture - rightly have more opportunities, freedoms and choices available to them than any time in history.
Thankfully, gone are the days when they are totally dependent on men - their fathers, sons, brothers or husbands - for everything from income, health and welfare, to education, housing and transport. While modern women need not thank men repeatedly for their beneficence, surely a small act of kindness can be acknowledged at no cost?
Former All Blacks captain and coach Sir Brian Lochore said recently women were "in a far stronger position than they were when I was a kid", but as chivalry had died, so too he believed had respect towards women and the elderly.
So while the days of "damsels in distress" may have been consigned to the history books, ignoring or responding rudely to such gestures could be a double-edged sword.
For what could it tell us about how others want to be treated - if not with respect and courtesy?
It is often said the measure of a society is how it treats its most vulnerable members - children, the elderly, the infirm, the disabled, the poor. Some of them might be women. Some will be men. Regardless, teaching and showing fundamental values of respect to and for others is a foundation stone of democratic values on which we pride ourselves at civic and governmental levels. And at a personal level, respect is a key aspect of behaviour, which if not valued can have tragic consequences at extreme levels. Child abuse, domestic abuse and elder abuse all stem from a fundamental lack of respect for other people and their rights.
In a world that seems increasingly unpredictable, violent and uncaring, in which reports of abuse, conflict, deaths and disasters are commonplace, a simple smile or act of kindness from a stranger reaching out to someone should surely be a welcome respite and a comfort. And if such gestures really do send shivers up the spine of self-respecting independently minded women who fear any seemingly subservient sacrifice to their gender's hard-fought gains, they could feel free to "pay it forward".
For if true chivalry is for the welfare of all, women should be able to open doors for men, or the elderly or other women - perhaps someone wheeling a buggy, perhaps someone on crutches, or perhaps just because they can. For isn't true chivalry treating others as you would like to be treated?
And when it comes down to it, that's just good old-fashioned manners - which should never go out of style.
