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AIBU?

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Original poster

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:
bluesatin · 05/12/2023 22:10

YouveGotAFastCar · 05/12/2023 21:21

I watched someone file their feet on the way to London once. Just got on, shoes and socks off, and went at it with a metal file. There was a gross pile of foot dust in front of them and it was horrific.

Other people are just odd. I’ve just been forced to spend an hour and a half next to a woman who was getting increasingly drunk on cans of gin and tonic, talking to a man who didn’t want to talk to her, and asking other passengers questions, like why one woman couldn’t stand, and why a Hindu lady had “a spot” on her head. Then she started eating prawns. It still smells of them.

I’d take laptop man over that 😆 I don’t think it’s uncommon to eat cereal on trains, I see a lot of people do it on early morning trains. And a lot of people with procecco and small bottles on afternoon ones!

Edited

Oh dear, I hope the G&T lady wasn't me... used to get through a lot on train journeys, also used to eat sushi there.
I was squicked by a lady plucking her eyebrows across a table from me on a train - and people putting their shoes on the seats opposite (or hotel beds) - yuck.. As for crunching, my mother hated it - used to have to suck crisps and pork crackling in her presence.

Original poster
capermum · 05/12/2023 22:07

Blondebutnotlegally · 05/12/2023 21:49

ANYWAY he was eating cereal. No worse than a packet of doritos. The lack of resilience of a brit in a public place is unmatched

I think Doritos should be banned then.

ok you’ve all helped my misphonia diagnosis for which I am genuinely grateful now I don’t need to apologise for find it outrageous 😁

OP posts:
SmileyClare · 05/12/2023 22:06

If eating noises or even someone tapping on a keyboard gives you rage then just take some ear phones when you venture out.

You can’t control what others are doing.

Sitting on a train seething can’t be fun!

keye · 05/12/2023 22:05

Although I still can’t believe people walk about with a coffee or bring one on the train. Eating food definitely shouldn’t be allowed.

You know on some trains they have e chefs preparing meals?

Mammyloveswine · 05/12/2023 22:05

Jesus how ridiculously ott!!! If it bothered you that much a polite "excuse me please" would have sufficed instead of shaming him for eating breakfast on an early morning train!!!

My boss regularly eats crunchy nut cornflakes at work.. maybe it was him on his way to a meeting! I'll have to ask him Grin

StoodySmithereens · 05/12/2023 22:04

I saw a woman get out a little plastic cup & a small bottle of wine & pour. Then she put the wine bottle away & replaced it with a small bottle of water. I thought she must’ve needed it.

Although I still can’t believe people walk about with a coffee, or bring one on the train. Eating food definitely shouldn’t be allowed. I always want to ask if they are really that hungry or thirsty that they couldn’t wait until they get to their destination. 🐷 🐖!

Original poster
capermum · 05/12/2023 22:03

LifeofBrienne · 05/12/2023 21:56

I honestly don’t see how cornflakes and milk could be that crunchy, they soften up really quickly and are positively soggy by the bottom of the bowl. What would you have done if he’d eaten something genuinely crunchy like a packet of crisps?

Premium brand mate.

OP posts:
IcakethereforeIam · 05/12/2023 22:02

I bet this isn't the only times he's done it, he's clearly a cereal offender.

Original poster
capermum · 05/12/2023 22:02

Holidayhell22 · 05/12/2023 21:56

I’m sorry op but your post made me chuckle. It sounds like an advert for Crunchy Nut Cornflakes.
It does sound gross though.

Ah that’s all I meant ! At last a kindred spirit who appreciates my stupid humour

OP posts:
betterangels · 05/12/2023 22:00

fishfingersandchipsagain · 05/12/2023 21:33

The fact that there are so many people saying this is OK is actually part of the problem. No bloody standards.

A small container with a regular amount of a non-noisy, non-smelly food, eaten with some decorum and manners. Fine. An entire box of cereal, slurped and crunched noisily. Not fine.

Its about basic manners and respect for the people around you.

This! I'm shocked people are 'whatever' about this.

XDownwiththissortofthingX · 05/12/2023 21:57

If he was a spoon-biter I don't think I'd have been able to restrain myself.

I have a sibling who not only used to bite down on the spoon with every mouthful, but they'd rattle the bowl like they were playing a bloody steel drum as well.

Cereal truly is the most antisocial of foods. Eating it in public should be a hanging offence.

Wolfpa · 05/12/2023 21:56

I think this may be a you problem, would you have the same issue with someone snacking on carrot sticks or crisps?

I was once on a bus where a strange man kept asking me to stroke his puppy.

Turned out he was hiding one in his jacket.

Original poster
capermum · 05/12/2023 21:56

Blondebutnotlegally · 05/12/2023 21:48

Why would you find that offensive? There is literally nothing offensive in that post. It's almost like people see something that they can semi relate to themselves and immediately decide to find it offensive for absolutely no reason. Oh you had to walk away OP? Well I have 6 legs and find it difficult to move so I find it offensive

*queue someone with 6 legs jumping on my post

Show quote history

to read between the lines this is more a self diagnosis… apologies for offending

OP posts:
Holidayhell22 · 05/12/2023 21:56

I’m sorry op but your post made me chuckle. It sounds like an advert for Crunchy Nut Cornflakes.
It does sound gross though.

LifeofBrienne · 05/12/2023 21:56

I honestly don’t see how cornflakes and milk could be that crunchy, they soften up really quickly and are positively soggy by the bottom of the bowl. What would you have done if he’d eaten something genuinely crunchy like a packet of crisps?

ClafoutisSurprise · 05/12/2023 21:55

I wouldn’t have been able to sit next to someone eating cereal with milk either. The crunching would bother me, but it’s the soggy stuff in milk that I find truly disgusting. Seeing it half-eaten, hearing it being masticated… Also, the thought of the crumbs of cereal invading my space.

Yes, I have some issues and I find train travel a trial.

Original poster
capermum · 05/12/2023 21:54

PonyinShorts · 05/12/2023 21:36

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?

Well, I utterly detest the sound of people tapping away at laptop keyboards. I literally change train carriages whenever there is a person working on their laptop. The worst are the ones with a mouse.. Click click click. So annoying.

I could (just about) have put up with the cereal man but not with you working on your laptop. Never considered that you might piss off people too, did you?

Me too I have a “soft” keyboard and trackpad for this reason x

OP posts:
XDownwiththissortofthingX · 05/12/2023 21:54

This would have sent me into a boiling rage. Misophonia, and I have a phobia of dairy products. The sight of someone munching away on a bowl of cereal makes me feel queasy. It's my perfect storm of seethe-inducing deviant behaviours. 😡

SawX · 05/12/2023 21:54

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”

This is where it gets weird

Jaxhog · 05/12/2023 21:51

I once had a very drunk young woman sit in the aisle seat next to me. Not only did she pass out (drunken sleep), but she stank of alcohol. At my stop, several other passengers had to help drag her out of her seat so I could get off. Give me cornflakes and milk any day!

junebirthdaygirl · 05/12/2023 21:50

Remember in my interrailing days ltalian families having full picnics on the trains with everything including the kitchen sink on board. I was just green with envy as l was always starving and poor.

My most awkward moment on a train was the man beside me was facing timing his partner, chatting away and she was chatting back while walking around her house stark naked. It was impossible for me not to see and he was completely chilled. She was just popping around getting ready to go out or whatever but l had to spend the time head turned looking out the window.

SmileyClare · 05/12/2023 21:50

An entire box of cereal, slurped and crunched. Not fine

I doubt he was going to plough his way through an entire box of cornflakes 🤣

That would be quite entertaining- commuters would be cheering him on once he’d finished the fourth bowl, breaking into applause and shouting Go on mate in awe.

Blondebutnotlegally · 05/12/2023 21:50

Wonderwool · 05/12/2023 21:49

I can't believe the thread has run this long without someone making a snippy comment about how aghast and nauseated they are by his gross lack of portion control. Everyone knows a serving of cornflakes is 35g, and it sounds as if he was barely bothering to measure the amount he was tipping into his massive bowl. Ugh. No wonder the country's going to the dogs with all these gluttons cheerfully eating themselves into an early grave, etc etc.

Have you ever weighed that out? It's like half a heaped teaspoon!!!!! Upsets me every time I do it

Blondebutnotlegally · 05/12/2023 21:49

ANYWAY he was eating cereal. No worse than a packet of doritos. The lack of resilience of a brit in a public place is unmatched

Wonderwool · 05/12/2023 21:49

I can't believe the thread has run this long without someone making a snippy comment about how aghast and nauseated they are by his gross lack of portion control. Everyone knows a serving of cornflakes is 35g, and it sounds as if he was barely bothering to measure the amount he was tipping into his massive bowl. Ugh. No wonder the country's going to the dogs with all these gluttons cheerfully eating themselves into an early grave, etc etc.

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