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AIBU?

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Mum's neighbour

58 replies

namechange1032 · 11/11/2023 22:25

I have a bit of a problem at Christmas. I'm going to my mum's who I recently found out has dementia.

Her next door neighbour has been very helpful, driving her to appointments and such. I'm very grateful to her.

The problem is, she reads the Daily Heil and has terribly racist views including anti English views. She often invites herself in and will probably come over while I'm there.

While I'm a big proponent of free speech and am grateful to her for the help she's given my mum, I find it hard to talk to her as she winds me up. How do I keep the peace over Christmas?

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
namechange1032 · 13/11/2023 11:25

Reading through the various answers here, I've decided to ignore her comments and use diversionary tactics like change the topic. She's very stuck in her views, so I can't see me challenging her changing her mind. I think I'm going to have to suck it up. There's no one else available to do the lifts, I live too far and the family nearby all work full time.

She can't get a taxi by herself as she needs help at the other end. There isn't anyone else who can help and I don't know how I would go about replacing her without causing a lot of trouble. My mum is very grateful to her for her help and doesn't take any notice of her views. She has a hearing problem and can't hear half of what she says.

Thanks all, it's been helpful.

OP posts:
namechange1032 · 13/11/2023 11:10

Redlarge · 12/11/2023 14:47

Is she Irish?

No, Scottish.

OP posts:
Helenahandkart · 12/11/2023 16:24

Mumto1boyo · 12/11/2023 15:09

My parents read the daily mail and aren't racist...

But they support and facilitate racism by funding it?

Mumto1boyo · 12/11/2023 15:09

My parents read the daily mail and aren't racist...

Redlarge · 12/11/2023 14:47

Is she Irish?

LizzBurg · 12/11/2023 14:40

@Pinkpinkpink15 i didn’t see it as interfering in her friendship, reading your comment I realise that you’re quite right and this is one of those situations where selective deafness is the solution.

Pinkpinkpink15 · 12/11/2023 14:38

Getting her mother taxis is one thing, but that doesn't replace the friendship, company security, knowing that someone is nearby.

its not the OP's place to call her mums friend out.

Pinkpinkpink15 · 12/11/2023 14:30

LizzBurg · 12/11/2023 08:58

So because she helps her mother out she has to ignore her racism? Hardly dictating to everyone? Maybe if more people pointed out her imperfections she would stop spouting racist nonsense.

@LizzBurg

She's her Mothers Friend, not hers. It's not her place to interfere in their friendship.

Maybe if more people pointed out her imperfections she would stop spouting racist nonsense

or she would just end her friendship with the OP's mother leaving her even more lonely and struggling to get to appointments etc

sometimes in life you have to pick your battles and keep your mouth shut (as unpleasant as that is) & when the impact of you confronting someone impacts others not yourself is one of those times.

Floatlikeafeather2 · 12/11/2023 10:59

OP, presumably your mother has been friendly with her neighbour for a long time. They are clearly friends. This woman is not going to change your personal views and your mother, having been exposed to them over a long period, has handled them in whatever way she has seen fit. Her diagnosis will be making her feel vulnerable and probably scared and it will be hugely important to her that she has the comfort of a familiar person accompanying her in situations like having to visit hospitals, GPs etc. Sadly this is something that will become more and more necessary. So to all those saying, "Put her in a taxi", that won't work or not for long, anway. What happens when she gets out the other end? What happens when she needs to get home again? It's a heartbreaking situation but I think you have to put your care for your mother above your principals at this point. You don't have to agree and you can certainly put your point of view to her (should the need arise) but you are not going to change her mindset now any more than you have to share it. Having said all that, I don't think that's what you came on here to ask really. I think your coping strategy will depend on exactly what happens when, what's said etc. and you'll manage ok

madroid · 12/11/2023 10:21

I really disagree that hearing opposing views is bad for you or anyone else.

It's healthy to have your certainties challenged and does no harm at all to have to think through and articulate why you disagree. It also models tolerance which is a good thing.

On this occasion, ie with a helpful neighbour, she's obviously a nice person, albeit with some questionable views. I think discretion may be the better part of valour on this one and smiling and changing the subject will be the best way to respond for your DM's sake.

MacarenaMacarena · 12/11/2023 10:21

Maybe encourage your mum to agree a plan for Christmas day - cheerfully do presents, breakfast and prep the Christmas lunch together together in the morning, with crazy neighbour invited to arrive at 1pm for lovely lunch together, staight after mince pie pudding put a film on for the oldies and say "I love a brisk walk after a great lunch" and get going for an hour or 2! If she's still there when you get back, you'll have your phone so retreat to tie room to wish family and friends a lovely day...

ThinWomansBrain · 12/11/2023 10:13

I would be worried exposing a loved one with dementia to someone with these views.

whatever her views, the neighbour is being extremely kind driving OPs DM to appointments and checking in on her - unless she is planning to move closer to home and do that stuff herself, probably not an option.

As others have said, either change the subject when she brings something offensive.

Helenahandkart · 12/11/2023 10:03

I have an extremely racist relative who continually makes terrible comments in a very matter of fact way, as if she expects everyone else to share her abhorrent views.
She is the generation above me, and was brought up in a family who share and reinforce her views. She is never going to change her opinion.
Because of the power imbalance (she is my older and ‘better’) and the fact that I have grown up listening to her, there has never been a point in our relationship where I felt able to really challenge her. Even if I had it would have been pointless - she will never change.
What I do is say politely ‘well, I don’t really agree with that, I think that viewpoint isn’t shared by a lot of people these days. Anyway, did you have a nice walk last week?’ so I try to steer the conversation away while gently suggesting that I might not agree with her.
What I want to do us tell her she’s disgusting and bigoted and I don’t want to hear anymore of her Daily Mail shit - but that wouldn’t achieve anything. In many respects she is a ‘good’ person.
I don’t know what the answer is but I think that you need to tread carefully if she is someone who your mum relies on. Gently shut the conversation down, change the subject. You can’t force people to change their views, no matter how appalling they are.

PinkiOcelot · 12/11/2023 10:00

Thursa · 12/11/2023 03:08

Find someone else to look after your mum?

🙄

People will be queuing up I’m sure.

SomePosters · 12/11/2023 09:54

Ignoring the blatant derailment of this thread.

OP there’s no good answer here because you s to fix this.
My best tactic for this lind of situation is to stay true to myself without letting them rile me.
They want a reaction, they want attention so don’t give it to them.

Smile sympathetically at her like she’s an addled dementia patient and can’t help it and forcibly move the conversation on or excuse yourself to make more tea

Just don’t let her draw you into it

paintingvenice · 12/11/2023 09:49

LizzBurg · 12/11/2023 08:58

So because she helps her mother out she has to ignore her racism? Hardly dictating to everyone? Maybe if more people pointed out her imperfections she would stop spouting racist nonsense.

Not at all. But this posters answer should be: I would call out this ladies comments and be happy to run the risk that I might have to start booking and paying for taxis for my mother if this lady gets upset and stops helping out. I would see paying for taxis as worth it to not have my mother exposed to this kind of rubbish.

Those just saying call her out, are ignoring the real risk that this lady stops helping her mum. That needs to be addressed.

MinnieL · 12/11/2023 09:48

Black people are rightly boycotting the shop as it’s black products that are sold within the hair shop. Why is that so hard for you to understand? His target audience is black people, black women in particular as that’s the nature of the hair shop and the contents that are sold inside. If we decide to stop purchasing items within the shop for whatever reason, how is that segregation or racism?

No one’s stopping him from rebranding his shop and opening one that targets the general public or the Asian community. Black people no longer want to put our money into this business and rightly so. Think what you want but it makes no difference anyway so no point going back and forth with you:)

MongoFrogman · 12/11/2023 09:42

She attacked him first, smashing him in the head with her trolley.

If white or Asian people said they would only patronise white-owned shops, that would be racist. It would be segregation. It’s just the same when it’s the other way round.

Don’t come up at me with some Marxist rubbish to try to justify it either, please.

Black people can be very racist, especially in places like Peckham. You’ve just drunk radical left cool-aid if you’d try to deny this.

MinnieL · 12/11/2023 09:35

@MongoFrogman he tried to restrain her for shoplifting? By choking her? You don’t need to provide me with links, I’m apart of this community and I know everything there is to know. If black people standing together to boycott a shop is racist then you need to educate yourself on what racism is.

Whatever the circumstances, you can’t put your hands on someone like that and think there won’t be consequences. Should us black people keep on shopping there to put money into this man’s pockets despite how violent he was to a customer. I don’t think so. That’ll be my last comment to you because the fact that you’ve said the store had to close due to racist attacks on the owner is all I need to know about you

MongoFrogman · 12/11/2023 09:12

MinnieL · 12/11/2023 08:59

I walked down Rye Lane within the last fortnight, past the hair salon which had to close because of racist attacks on the owners

Are you actually shitting me? Racist attacks on the owners? Black people have RIGHTFULLY boycotted the store because the owner strangled one of their customers. He was manhandling her as if he had a right to put his hands on her.

For you to go around saying it’s a racist attack on the owners is absolutely shocking

He tried to restrain her for shoplifting.

Have a read of this:

https://thecritic.co.uk/peckham-protests-and-parasitic-merchants/

These signs look racist to me:

https://twitter.com/Uncle_londonn/status/1701627555923558601

https://twitter.com/Uncle_londonn/status/1701627555923558601

MinnieL · 12/11/2023 08:59

MongoFrogman · 12/11/2023 08:54

There is currently a shocking level of anti-Asian and anti-Semitic racism in Peckham.

I walked down Rye Lane within the last fortnight, past the hair salon which had to close because of racist attacks on the owners.

I also saw anti-Semitic posters and stickers up everywhere.

You could talk to her about this.

I walked down Rye Lane within the last fortnight, past the hair salon which had to close because of racist attacks on the owners

Are you actually shitting me? Racist attacks on the owners? Black people have RIGHTFULLY boycotted the store because the owner strangled one of their customers. He was manhandling her as if he had a right to put his hands on her.

For you to go around saying it’s a racist attack on the owners is absolutely shocking

LizzBurg · 12/11/2023 08:58

Pinkpinkpink15 · 12/11/2023 01:13

@doctorfosterwenttohospital

that's up to you, but you can't dictate to everyone.

Are you offering to go & visit the OP's Mum for some company & help her out?

if you're not, then maybe accept people aren't perfect.

So because she helps her mother out she has to ignore her racism? Hardly dictating to everyone? Maybe if more people pointed out her imperfections she would stop spouting racist nonsense.

saveforthat · 12/11/2023 08:56

WorkingItOutAsIGo · 11/11/2023 23:12

Honestly, I wish you hadn’t even typed out her comments. I don’t want to see them here. Can you perhaps ask MNHQ to edit your post, perhaps? We can take it on trust that she’s racist, we don’t need to have it repeated here where it could upset other readers.

WTF really?

MongoFrogman · 12/11/2023 08:54

There is currently a shocking level of anti-Asian and anti-Semitic racism in Peckham.

I walked down Rye Lane within the last fortnight, past the hair salon which had to close because of racist attacks on the owners.

I also saw anti-Semitic posters and stickers up everywhere.

You could talk to her about this.

Spinnymop · 12/11/2023 08:54

I think faux innocence could be a useful tactic here. "What's wrong with black people?" "Why are you living in England if you don't like it?" said with a smile and a head tilt. That's usually enough to shut most racists up. If she launches into a rant then politely say "No, I don't agree with that" and change the subject. Works with one of my racist clients.