to not understand how someone can be so mean?

[MysteryDelivery]

I went to see Billy Ocean at the O2 in Sheffield last night (Roxy's to the locals). It was packed and I was standing with my friends towards the very back when I noticed two much older ladies who were really very short, I'm thinking well under 4ft. Next to me were two groups of women in their late twenties/thirties who had obviously had one too many and were getting each other to take pictures of one and another standing next to these little old ladies (who were facing the other way and didn't notice) whilst they were wetting themselves laughing and basically taking the piss out of these two ladies and mocking them for being significantly shorter and older than everyone else. They were then loading the pictures up on Facebook/Instagram whatever and having a good old laugh about these two ladies out on a night out, minding their own business.

Is this what people do nowadays? I could feel myself getting angrier and angrier at their rude and disrespectful behaviour but was talked out of saying anything. I'm kicking myself now as I really think someone should have pointed out how dickish their behaviour was. In fact, I'm half hoping they're fellow mumsnetters who have woken up, hung over and ashamed of themselves this morning!

Rant over! I'm not wrong though, am I? People don't really think it's ok to behave like that, do they? Or am
I just a killjoy?!

[Queenbean]

Well some people do that because, for as long as the world continues to turn, there always have and always will be utter wankers out there

I couldn't have not said something to them though and have done in similar situations in the past

[liz70]

What a pair of silly, bitchy airheads. BO is hardly a spring chicken himself, so there must have been plenty of "older" fans there!

Just pity this two in their ignorant nastiness.

[liz70]

I mean bunch, not pair. (bloody headache distracting me again.)

[SantasLittleMonkeyButler]

That would have upset and/or annoyed me too OP .

And they say bullying is only a childhood problem.

[Iliveinalighthousewiththeghost]

How old were they 14, because they sound it, mind you. The 14 year olds i know dont behave like that.
Sadly this is the example they are setting to their children. That is okay to mock people because they are different to you.
I'd have loved the women if she heard them to turn around and chin tyem all one by one, and I haven't got a violent not be in my body, but unfortunately getting a crack is sometimes the only to make arse holes sit up and think.

[MysteryDelivery]

I'm glad it's just not me being a killjoy then! One pair started it off and thought to myself 'really?' and did say to one of the women that it wasn't a nice way to behave but it was loud and she was wasted so didn't hear me. I was gobsmacked when a second group came over and started joining in with them. The two old ladies had walking sticks and I was so so tempted to get hold of one of them and put it to good use! I did mention it to a bouncer on the door out to the smoking area... He wasn't remotely interested and my friends convinced me it might cause more trouble than it was worth if I intervened then by that point, the little ladies had moved on. I can't believe grown women think acting like that is acceptable! I'm kicking myself for not kicking up a big fuss now!

So if you notice some pictures on your Facebook newsfeed from Billy Ocean last night and the women are stood next to two small old ladies but clearly mocking them and not with them, call them out on their behaviour please as they were being so mean! Ggrr!!

[Iliveinalighthousewiththeghost]

So they were mocking not only because they were small but because they had walking sticks. The fucking disablist Cunts. Do they realise they were committing a very serious offence there. There was a women who killed herself and her daughter because of abusive disablist behaviour. I'd be inclined to report them to the 02 . I'm sure they have CCTV, and I'd alsu report to the police. That was hate crime.

[Iliveinalighthousewiththeghost]

Oh the bouncer wasn't able interested. Be sure to mention that when you call the 02 abd the police, because ignoring and enabling hate crime is also a crime.

[PirateFairy45]

Should have said something.

[gamerchick]

Or took a picture of them doing it and sending it off to go viral. It would have got back to them probably.

[Originalfoogirl]

The women taking pictures were offensive, mean and idiotic. I do wonder how you were so certain these pictures were being taken mockingly and shared on social media?

However, being of short stature myself, I'd find being referred to as a "little lady" patronising. And for sure my mum hates being referred to as a "little, old lady"

[AppleSetsSail]

Appalling behaviour. I hate this kind of gratuitous meanness.

[bewarethewalkers]

Once DH and I were on a tube train and witness a group of males and females taking pictures with a guy who was drunk and completely out of it. They were physically holding him up and taking photos and laughing. We thought they were altogether but when we reached the station, they got off and left him slumped on the floor. DH and I helped the man off of the train and waited with him until help arrived. People can be arseholes.

[midsomermurderess]

It's horrible and hurtful behaviour but is it a hate crime?

[ExitPursuedByABear]

I'm off to see Springsteen on Wednesday stealth boast. I have a stick. I hope no one takes the piss out of me.

[LunaLoveg00d]

Some people are thick, do not have two brain cells to rub together and do not think about other people, only themselves.

I blame celebrity culture and holding up vacuous idiots like the Kardashians and anyone who goes on Big Brother as something to aspire to.

[LastFirstEverything]

You're not a killjoy or unreasonable OP.

What horrible people there are in the world. Of course there are some lovely ones too, but when you see something or experience something like this, it really knocks your faith and trust in humanity...

I don't understand it either. The lack of compassion, the lack of kindness, the lack of decency. I think you should do as iliveinalighthouse suggests too.

[Banderwassnatched]

Walking stick or not, any height under 5 foot counts as disability. I have had a lifetimes of short jokes, being picked up, drinks rested on my head (I am 5 foot nothing). It's not funny but it's a prejudice people literally don't care about at all.

[Clarissa69]

I hope the exact same thing happens to them when they get older and they age REALLY badly. Hate ageism and any form of discrimination. You know- I bet there were at least a couple of them that must have known it was a cruel thing to do (bloody cowards).

[chicaguapa]

YANBU. If it helps, the two ladies probably had a much better time at the concert than the wasted group of girls.

[Originalfoogirl]

Under 5ft counts as a disability

Really? 🤔

Being slightly under that myself, and having a daughter who has cerebral palsy, I'm fairly certain my short stature doesn't come anywhere near what she experiences as a person with a disability. Sure it can be inconvenient, and sure people take the piss sometimes, but it's a bit of a stretch to say anything under 5ft qualifies as a disability.

[GeorgeTheThird]

Barry Noble's Roxy is now the O2???

[GabsAlot]

im 5ft always used to get called shortarse midget etc but never had someone take the piss in adulthood

people are cruel

[Pipbin]

any height under 5 foot counts as disability.

As far as I know (I helped a friend look into this as she had certain other conditions that led to her being 4ft10) being under 4ft 11 is where you might need to be assessed by a doctor to see if you actually have a condition that makes you short or you are just plain short.
Being short in and of itself is not a disability, however other conditions that contribute to you being short can be classed as a disability.

All that aside the two girls sound hateful.

[Tragicomical]

I was in Temple Bar in Dublin last weekend enjoying the sunshine and listening to a band in the open air, we noticed a street drunk (female, quite young) almost passing out on a seat and a group of stags thought it was amusing to take pictures with her. People are fuckers.