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AIBU?

To prefer to quietly worry about abandoned shopping bags rather than suffer mild social embarrassment? [title edited by MNHQ]

81 replies

Houseofmirth66 · 29/11/2015 15:07

I took my children to the cinema last night and a woman scooted across the row in front of us, deposited her shopping bags on an empty seat and then went and sat miles away on the other side of the cinema. I asked the girl siting next to the bags if she knew the woman and she said no. Whilst I knew the bags were quite unlikely to contain a bomb, I did spend the whole film thinking I really should call the usher to check it out - but didn't! AIBU to literally rather die than look slightly silly in front of a load of people I don't even know. Bearing in mind that the kids would have been taken out too.

OP posts:
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ArmchairTraveller · 29/11/2015 15:11

Or you could have asked the usher to reunite the woman with her bags.

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kinkytoes · 29/11/2015 15:11

YABU and highly insensitive! Even just your thread title.

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muddymary · 29/11/2015 15:16

Yanbu or insensitive - I've done similar before. I think it's because in the back of my mind I just think it would never happen to us. Obviously it has to happen to some one so that's not the correct attitude but I do understand what you mean.

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KurriKurri · 29/11/2015 15:23

I have and do report unattended bags - just because I think it's a habit we should all get into. So I would have had no problem in your situation - quite apart from the fact that it would have annoyed me someone thinking their bags could have a seat - what if another person had come in a bit late and wanted to sit there?

Reporting unattended bags has been met with a range of responses form ' thatnls very much well chefck it out straight away' to a 'whatever'. complete indifference (Waterloo Station!!)

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Enjolrass · 29/11/2015 15:25

I would have told the usher.

I spent half my childhood in Derry, so grew up to expect to be on my guard, though.

I would have done before event events.

When you have seen a bomb go off, you lose the 'it won't happen to me' train of thought.

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Enjolrass · 29/11/2015 15:26

Before recent events

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MissFitt68 · 29/11/2015 15:29

You were being ridiculous. Why is it embarrassing to address that?

And your thread title is in very poor taste

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SheHasAWildHeart · 29/11/2015 15:30

The warning at train stations is always to alert staff to unattended bags, I would say the same applies in any public space.

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Houseofmirth66 · 29/11/2015 15:31

I didn't seriously think it was a bomb. But it did make me think how fear of 'making a fuss' does stop me doing the right thing. From intervening when kids are mucking about on the bus to speaking out when someone's queue jumping. A peculiarly British problem I think.

OP posts:
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TheFairyCaravan · 29/11/2015 15:34

Your thread title is beyond the pale when it comes to poor taste.

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vestandknickers · 29/11/2015 15:34

I think this is in bad taste.

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pnutter · 29/11/2015 15:35

Bad taste title sorry

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Enjolrass · 29/11/2015 15:37

I disagree, although I think the title could be better.

It's a conversation worth having. Some people do believe reporting unattended baggage is creating a fuss over nothing.

Unfortunately sometimes it isn't over nothing, talking about would (hopefully) make people more comfortable with it.

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CrumbledFeta · 29/11/2015 15:37

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

kimlo · 29/11/2015 15:40

About this time.last year the cinema next to me was closed down and evacuated because of unattended bags.

Why would she put her shopping on a seat away from her? Thats not normal

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DeirdreDoo · 29/11/2015 15:43

AIBU to literally rather die than look slightly silly in front of a load of people I don't even know

Stupidly phrased, and pretty offensive, though I understand what you meant to say.

I think this will probably end up deleted and deservingly so.

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MissFitt68 · 29/11/2015 15:44

Wow! They don't come with a warning.... They are designed to be normal looking, everyday, innocuous... That's the point, yet you 'didn't think it could be a bomb'

The U.K. Is on high alert ... How plainer do you need it put to you?

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Atenco · 29/11/2015 15:45

Why are people saying this is in bad taste? Sorry, don't get it.

I was similarly daft the first time I experienced an earthquake as I was naked in bed and opted to stay in bed and risk death rather than run naked into the street.

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Shakey15000 · 29/11/2015 15:47

Awful title. But to address the issue, I am in the habit of reporting unattended bags. Having worked on the underground, every time one is found the station is evacuated and police called.

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CrumbledFeta · 29/11/2015 15:47

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

DeirdreDoo · 29/11/2015 15:49

Because the OP is speaking flippantly about things that are horribly serious. And she wouldn't literally rather die than suffer some social embarrassment.

It diminishes the subject she is discussing. It could have been put far better and not have offended anyone. But no, just fling it out there as casually as possible.

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DeirdreDoo · 29/11/2015 15:50

It may have been inadvertent but it was IMO a really thought-free OP

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TSSDNCOP · 29/11/2015 15:50

I once left a packed train carriage because a sweating man with a rucksack was having a heated telephone conversation reeling off station names. No way would i have left those bags i situ without raising the roof.

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Sparklingbrook · 29/11/2015 15:52

I saw an abandoned battered old suitcase all alone in a shop once. I was about to go and locate a staff member and let them know when it's owner arrived, it did make me think. I couldn't have done nothing.

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MissFitt68 · 29/11/2015 15:52

crumbled sadly most bombs of late have been worn as belts. You'd need to be patting down strangers to find your bomb I'm afraid

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