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AIBU?

To not moan about my DH, therefore unintentionally pissing off nearly every woman I know?

39 replies

badtasteflump · 12/02/2013 09:50

No exaggeration - all my female relatives and most of my friends seem to have one favourite topic of conversation - being 'the general crapness of men'. Whatever the subject, it always seems to end up being about men being useless, men being thoughtless, lazy, dim, whatever. Sometimes it's in a jokey 'Mr Bean' way, sometimes it's a real slanging session.

I don't feel comfortable with these conversations for two reasons. 1 - I have sons, and quite often they're around when these conversations are going on. I don't want them to grow up believing that men are there to have the piss taken out of them. 2 - My DH isn't perfect (nearly but not quite Grin) but he works hard and does everything he can for me & the DC. So I don't have any reason to slate him and don't want to anyway - why would I be so shitty about someone I'm supposed to love? Confused.

So anyway, usually when these conversations are going on I go a bit quiet or make my excuses and go (because apart from anything else it's boring to hear again and again and again). At that point my friends/family will start pulling faces and making remarks like "Ooh Mr Flump would never do that.... ooh loves young dream Ooh sorry I forgot you live in a perfect little love bubble" etc ect....

One of these times I did actually get quite pissed off and tell the family member concerned that it was really sad that she'd rather spend her life with someone who she clearly doesn't have any respect for and slag him off constantly behind his back than do anything about it Blush. We had a few frosty weeks after that...

So anyway, AIBU?

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momb · 12/02/2013 09:53

YANBU. Mutual respect is very underrated generally IMO.

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FunnysInLaJardin · 12/02/2013 09:55

YANBU and I also feel like this. I can't and won't join in with the all men are bastards nonsense becuase that is just not my experience. My DH is lovely and always has been and my 2 sons are shaping up the same.

Sometimes people try to get me to join in a husband bashing convo and because I won't I get the oh Mr Funny is perfect I forgot. But I won't slag off DH just to please them! Good for you for answering back btw

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aldiwhore · 12/02/2013 09:55

YANBU if you're doing exactly as you say in your op.

YABU if you're smug and constantly reminding everyone how amazing your man is.

I have a near perfect-for-me DH. It makes me the target of mockery sometimes. It's annoying.

I try and ignore it, I'm certainly not going to join them. I may occassionally say "Thank fuck I don't have to deal with THAT" but I never join in with the slagging oof.

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retrocutie · 12/02/2013 09:55

1 - I have sons, and quite often they're around when these conversations are going on. I don't want them to grow up believing that men are there to have the piss taken out of them. 2 - My DH isn't perfect (nearly but not quite ) but he works hard and does everything he can for me & the DC.

No, YANBU. I think men generally get a raw deal in today's society. And on Mumsnet, for that matter.

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aldiwhore · 12/02/2013 09:55

oFF sorry Smile

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Cherriesarelovely · 12/02/2013 09:57

I understand what you mean. When I first had DD I used to go along to a baby group where this was literally all the other mums used to talk about. Some of them were just doing it in a jokey, sounding off kind of way but one or two used to literally assasinate their partner's characters in every way you can imagine so that you would actually think that they hated their partners rather than loved them. Of these 2 one of the couples did split up in the end but the other are still together and she is similarly vitriolic about him (he's not like that about her) 10 years on.

When I had Dd I was single so used to just sit quietly during these discussions but when Dd was 2 I met my wonderful Dp (I'm gay, DP is therefore another woman.....obviously!) and wouldn't dream of talking about her in the way those mums did their DHs.

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Goldmandra · 12/02/2013 09:58

YANBU to not want to join in the slagging off session and they ABU for criticising you for that. Perhaps they are a little jealous?

YABU to think your family member shouldn't be allowed to vent to others in the same position as her. You can't always change people into what you want them to be and venting to others is often a good way to manage your emotions about that.

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badtasteflump · 12/02/2013 09:58

aldi no I'm not smug - if anything I make a point of not talking about DH because nobody seems to want to hear anything nice Sad. And I do think it's sad that if somebody wants to tell everyone what a shit someone is, people seem to lap it up...

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TwllBach · 12/02/2013 10:04

YANBU when I first moved in with exDP I was 19 and mixed with older women. For a good few years me and exDP had what I thought was a perfect life, but I felt like I had to join in with the bitching, just to fit in. As I got older and more comfortable with my "friends" I just didn't join in. Luckily, they didn't laugh at me, they just accepted it. I do remember the feeling of pressure, though, and then the feeling of disloyalty when I joined in.

I do think, though, that it is just another way of reinforcing the bonds between women. I don't necessarily think they all thought there husbands/part are as useless as they make out. Not that it makes it any better!

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ThenWeTakeBerlin · 12/02/2013 10:05

I hate, "all men are useless/crap/can't do anything themselves,etc".

I wouldn't like hearing men generalising about women in that way.

YANBU to complain about the above. You shouldn't have to feel apologetic for having a lovely DH Smile

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badtasteflump · 12/02/2013 10:06

Gold yes I see what you mean about 'venting'. But in another way I think they are managing to slowly but surely ruin their relationships. My mum and one of my sisters spend lots of time together at my sisters house - where the main topic of conversation is how useless her H is. These conversations don't end when the H walks in - and then they wonder why he goes out all the time Hmm

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ThenWeTakeBerlin · 12/02/2013 10:08

Love's young dream.....Perfect little bubble.....

Sounds like sour grapes on their part Wink

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ThenWeTakeBerlin · 12/02/2013 10:10

Messed up my italics, MNing whilst watching Homes Under the Hammer :/

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treaclesoda · 12/02/2013 10:12

I hate hearing people slagging off their husband etc too. My DH is not perfect, but he is a decent human being, and I wouldn't criticise him to my friends or family (maybe a bit of light hearted jokey stuff) because I would hate to think of him sitting moaning about me to his friends.

I even went to counselling at one stage and the counsellor remarked on how unwilling I was to discuss my relationship, but frankly it was non of her business, and I felt it wasn't relevant to why I was seeking help.

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CartedOff · 12/02/2013 10:12

" Whatever the subject, it always seems to end up being about men being useless, men being thoughtless, lazy, dim, whatever"

What I hate about this kind of conversation is that it's usually reinforcing the attitude that men are naturally a bit rubbish, so it dismisses them and excuses an individual's crap behaviour at the same time. I hate this "Oh it's just the way they are" attitude that lumps all men in with a few selfish ones.

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aldiwhore · 12/02/2013 10:13

badtasteflump it very saddening isn't it?

The VERY strange this is that my DH isn't into grand gestures, and we don't 'do' Valentines or Anniversaries really, other than the usual "You are my cariad" kind of attitude. Yet, the friends who slag off their men ALL THE TIME, really advertise the huge gestures and expect everyone to go Awwww... it's difficult to do when for 99% of the time they're telling you what a bastard he is. If someone says "I've got loads of ironing to do, my DH is a lazy twat is yours the same?"and I say "Not really he's quite good like that"... they see it as their duty to mock me.

Meh.

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badtasteflump · 12/02/2013 10:14

BTW don't think we qualify as love's young dream unfortunately Grin

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PostBellumBugsy · 12/02/2013 10:15

badtaste - I'm glad for you & I'm really pleased to hear you don't moan about your DH.

I get really fed up of all my married/partnered friends whining about their OHs - particularly when most of it is trivial & unimportant.

As a single parent with a very uncooperative & tight ex-H, it pains me to hearing moaning about not taking the bins out or leaving the bath towel on the floor!!!!!

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GinAndSlimlinePlease · 12/02/2013 10:16

YANBU.

I find it utterly disrespectful when people slag off their partners. It's fine to off load a little grumble to close friends or family if really needed. But I'm in a team with my DH and believe in treating him with the respect I expect him to treat me with.

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treaclesoda · 12/02/2013 10:18

aldi you are so right about the grand gestures, I've noticed that too.

I used to work in an office where a few of the girls were always receiving massive bunches of flowers, delivered to the office on their birthday or whatever, and had these massive diamond rings bestowed upon them, yet they appeared to actively dislike the man in question. Yet they somehow pitied me because my DH couldn't afford to buy me a big engagement ring. I sometimes felt like I lived in a parallel universe.

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ThenWeTakeBerlin · 12/02/2013 10:18

I agree with your post, CartedOff.

Generalising that all men are rubbish can mean martyrdom and doing chores/jobs your DP could easily be doing.

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Branleuse · 12/02/2013 10:20

YANBU

I hate hearing people slag off their partners

Its one thing to talk with a close friend about a genuine relationship problem but to air your dirty laundry in public is completely disrespectful. I would never ever EVER (etc) do this. I only have one friend that does it and I dont like it.
If you dont like him, then leave the relationship or talk to HIM

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WhichIsBest · 12/02/2013 10:20

I don't know why, but I never regularly talk about crap partners with friends. We talk about work or er, I don't know, plans, the house, politics, the children, news, TV! I have one friend who tells me about her awful husband but they are know the process of separating so that's fair enough.

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Loa · 12/02/2013 10:25

YANBU - though I found it hard to not get sucked in on occasions - especially if there are things that I'm not wild about within the relationship but haven't been so upset that I've done anything about yet.

It then breeds resentment but doesn't always lead to better communication within the marriage.

After my PFB my mother would ring me up a lot and most conversations she would turn round to helping me find fault with DH. It took me a while to see that - it was made much clearer by seeing friend?s very overbearing parents do the same to her.

I found it much better to avoid such conversations.

You can ask if they told their DP how they feel - that often gets a look of scorn or a look of surprised shock.

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aldiwhore · 12/02/2013 10:31

It may be contrary, but I don't actually mind my friends discussing their DH's and their problems, just like I don't have an issue with some of the AIBU threads. I don't even mind occassional gentle mockery... it's the ongoing 'my DH is a joke' conversations that are often unfair and cruel that make me cringe.

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