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AIBU?

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AIBU or is this mad behaviour on a train?

304 replies

capermum · 05/12/2023 20:38

So today I have a meeting the other side of the country today and I get an early train, guy in my seat when I arrive but shifts over for me (it’s a table of 4)
I’m window forward facing
he’s aisle forward facing

But THEN! The guy reaches down into a carrier bag on the floor and pulls out a large bowl which he places on top of his laptop, then reaches down again and retrieves a box of cornflakes that he tips into said massive bowl and then pulls out a big bottle of milk, pours it on the flakes and proceeds to munch away while watching iplayer though headphones like munch munch munch right in my effing ear, it’s not first class or anything so the seats are very close to each other.

I wouldn’t even sit next to my DH to eat cereal that close let alone a stranger!!!

After about 2 mins of this I interrupted his viewing and say “You have to let me out! I have to move while you eat, this is so antisocial and I can’t bear it”
“But I’m nearly finished” he says agog
“But I can’t bear to listen to another mouthful!”

So i do indeed leave while he finished and read my book further down the train where I can, in fact, still bloody hear him munch-munching away…

Then when it’s safe I return to my seat and get back to work

Oh yeah and when I’d arrived I get out my laptop and set it up to work, he reaches right across me an plugs into the socket that would have been closest to me, before I have a chance to, the passenger across from me notes this and offers me his socket with a knowing look, so is this further proof he’s a without doubt a total psycho?

I think in the end I made him as uncomfortable as he made me by calling him out, so I guess we are quits (for now)

It’s quite out of character for me to confront anyone ever, so tell me, is this totally antisocial or am I being over sensitive? and if I’m you think I’m being too soft then, please tell me what’s the worst outrageous antisocial behaviour you’ve witnessed on a train?

My colleague just told me she watched someone clipping their toenails once with those clippers that fling the nails every which way. So that’s probably worse

OP posts:
CountryStore · 05/12/2023 20:43

I thought at first you were going to say he spilt milk all over you or something.
I don't think it's antisocial tbh. Maybe a bit annoying, though

TicTacNicNak · 05/12/2023 20:43

I suffer from misophonia and can't stand the sound of people eating, especially crunching, so I wouldn't have been able to tolerate this either. Very rude of him to eat something so noisy in such close quarters to someone else.

Desecratedcoconut · 05/12/2023 20:42

I'm sorry, op, that all sounds awful but I just want to reach through your op and save his poor laptop from the inevitable spillage.

Dacadactyl · 05/12/2023 20:42

I mean it's odd behaviour from him for sure, but I'm not sure I'd have been bothered enough to move. I don't necessarily think it's antisocial either (I mean, would you have moved if he was eating a crossaint or porridge?)

However if someone clipped their nails next to me I'd definitely move.

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