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AIBU?

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Original poster

if I find people like me slightly annoying...

62 replies

bohemianbint · 21/05/2007 21:22

Ok, here's the thing. I was feeling a bit depressed a few weeks back because I don't know many people round these parts who think like I do. (I'm still bf at 9months, no plans to stop, don't want a baby walker, cook most of DS's food from scratch (but by no means all!) and use cloth nappies etc.) Anyway, so I thought the answer was to try to find like minded people and someone recommended I went to a sling meet. So I did, but I found it a bit....eurrghh. And I'm not entirely sure why and I'm a bit disappointed. Sure, it was a bit Milo/Tarquin-ish. And there were some fairly humourless discussions about how some babies remembering their births etc. So why, when I am classed as a bit of a tofu welder did I not really enjoy being in a room full of other welders? Apart from the slight unfriendliness and lack of humour?

OP posts:
pointydog · 21/05/2007 21:48

ma, you make a good point

MaPickle · 21/05/2007 21:47

Well at least they don't all look at you like you're off your trolley when you say you make your own baby food etc etc ... Actually, iot sounds like they'd probably start quizzing on you on whether your organic veg is locally sourced cos of food miles. Better to hang out with people who don't do what you do then you can feel warm, fuzzy and ever so slightly smug. Smugness is a highly underated thing

pointydog · 21/05/2007 21:46

Like and like repels. That's the science bit.

pointydog · 21/05/2007 21:44

Your way of thinking is going to attract a lot of earnest people. Principles and humour. Which do you value more when it comes to trivial chat?

Instead of looking for other people with same principles, look for other people with same humour.

Booboobedoo · 21/05/2007 21:43

bohemianbint: I'm a singing and drama teacher, and I have always felt uncomfortable around other theatrical types.

My BF is a doctor and can't stand medics.

It probably stems from some kind of neurosis. Most things do.

MerryMarigold · 21/05/2007 21:42

I remember my birth 34 years ago, it had a profound impact on me....

LoveAngel · 21/05/2007 21:39

Welcome to the twilight zone.

I consider myself fairly allied to this sort of parenting approach. HOWEVER...AP-ers, slingers and natural parenting types generally have me gagging to put my son infront of the telly with a packet of E-Number cookies for an hour or five while I curl up for a nice read of Gina Ford. Ok, maybe not the Ford bit...

...Maybe I just mix with the wrong ones (I DO live in a particularly we-think-we're-so-bloody-trendy part of London), but they all seem to take themselves sooooooo seriously. I was once told by a particularly annoying member of one of these groups that 'you can't be an attachment parent if you don't sling' (I could hardly bloody walk, let alone carry my 10lb monster-newborn across my chest).
I confess, I felt like saying 'you can't breastfeed if you've got no tits!' right back at her (cheap shot, I know, but she WAS very flat chested and looked a bit like the boy who plays Martin Fowler in Eastenders)...of course, I didn't. I just scuttled away and gave her kid a sip of Fruit Shoot when she wasn't looking instead (ok, in my dreams I did)

Anyway...ditto with bells on

Original poster
bohemianbint · 21/05/2007 21:37

Oooops, meant mild...

OP posts:
Original poster
bohemianbint · 21/05/2007 21:35

Hmmm....am in Manchester. Perhaps should try to organise some Manchester based non-serious mlid tofu welding meet up.

Thinking about it, the girl who recommended said meet was a bit condescending about some people at a none lentilly meeting where I go sometimes. And there's no need really because they're all actually really nice.

OP posts:
Bambiraptor · 21/05/2007 21:33

IME the people you get on with has little to do with them making similar lifestyle choices to you. It would be a bit boring if all your friends thought exactly the same way as you do. You probably prefer a little variety.
Or maybe they were just unfriendly people who happen to do similar things to you.

I would go to the group again anyway and see if it was just a one off feeling of uncomfortableness.

zizou · 21/05/2007 21:31

maybe you are only a borderline tofu welder.....anyway of course you should avoid anything with a poncey name like a sling meet. You will meet some nice people soon. Where are you? Do a shout out on here, you get all sorts.

castrolgtx · 21/05/2007 21:25

I know exactly what you mean. I went to a group this morning where i knew people would be like me, like you infact, and I just felt really uncomfortable.
I think I do all the forementioned things, but I also find them quite funny, and laugh at myself, whereas everyone else seems to take themselves very seriously.