I’ve been thinking around what eskielover said about existing some kind of social brake in small towns and rural areas.
It seems as the more anonymous we see ourselves, the more savage we are.

I would have done exactly what you and your friend did it, after trying to reason with her. Sometimes, people are under stress and who knows perhaps this woman was having a bad day. I’m not trying to justify her, please, don’t see it like that. Only, wondering because I’ve been myself sometimes rude in different occasions especially when I have to go for having bureaucratic stuff that I hate as hell. But, now, with a different attitude everything goes smoothly.

I’ve been also guilty of being rude and it’s good to remember these kind of things. 😀