Mumsnet posts which drive me mad

These topics (and a few others that have arisen) aren't random stuff, though. They are about things that annoy people on MN. On birthdays (a discussion that ended several days ago, but some people seem determined to drag it back to complain about it), the topic was not birthdays as such, but some MN-ers' criticisms of those who either do or don't want their birthdays acknowledged. On driving, the topic is not driving as such, but the attitude that some MN-ers display to non-drivers.

Just as relevant to the thread as people announcing their name-changes, or calling their friends 'A' and 'B' - neither of which bothers me in the slightest, but obviously are issues to some people.

Probably I shouldn't be entering the debate at all, and thereby no doubt prolonging it- but the 'relevance police' posts are starting to drive me slightly mad in themselves!

I know other posters do this too - check if there’s more than one post from the OP and if there isn’t I don’t bother with the thread

HairyMcHairyFace · 25/02/2024 23:05

This gets my goat too and I'm not American. "We don't do anything for Halloween. It's a horrible American invention".

So's the car and the modern lightbulb Sandra and I don't see you sitting in the dark and travelling everywhere by horse and cart.

The modern incandescent lightbulb was actually invented by Joseph Swan, of Sunderland, but living and working in Gateshead. Edison just ignored the patent and had better mass manufacture.

Karl Benz patented the first motor car.

While I will not go into detailed debate and discussion about exactly how useful driving is: one thing that I hate that occasionally on MN, is the occasional expression of contempt for non-drivers; the idea that they are not true adults; even once or twice that anyone who ever assists them by giving a lift (in one case ONCE A YEAR at Christmas) is at fault for 'enabling' them not to learn to drive. That only people with 'genuine medical reasons' can be excused for not driving- well, some of us have genuine medical reasons that are not instantly visible; do we need to get a doctor's note in order for this to be tolerated?

Nope - the squirrel has left the building ...

Sometimes conversations (or arguments) develop beyond the original point. If you have something to say you feel is more pertinent, no one is stopping you.

Birthdays and now driving

Start a new thread

Well if I develop a disability that’s serious enough for me to have to leave my home, it’s highly likely to leave me unable to drive too! And yes, I might have a drop in income and have to move, but the area still won’t be pre-designated - I could still choose a cheaper area with public transport options. If anything, lower income areas are likely to be better served in that sense. And if my drop in income is that severe, won’t a car be something of a luxury?

No one is saying driving is a useless skill. Of course it isn’t. But it’s not as essential as all too many MNers make out.

It does make sense.

You have no control over what amenities or public transport will exist near you in the future. You don't have total control about where you live ( you may suffer a big loss of income or a marriage break-up or a disability that means you have to leave your home).

But anyway, you don't have to become a slave to the car for driving to be a really useful skill. That's the point.

OK one question.

If you are cutting a slice of bread, or buttering a slice of bread do you still use your left hand?

Or really unsubtle sarcasm?

Has anyone mentioned posters who derail a thread with random bickering yet?

This doesn’t make any sense. Why won’t people who don’t drive be in walking distance of things forever? Why would they actively move from a convenient location to somewhere where they can’t get around? You’re still making it sound like relocation is something that just happens spontaneously, with no input from the person actually doing the relocation.

And no one is saying “Don’t bother learning to drive in case your reflexes and eyesight deteriorate in later life”. But as I and other posters have pointed out, you can’t assume you will be able to drive forever - and that’s something you have far less control over than your location.

Out of date opinions on London locations to live.
Typically non Londoner parents or aunts asking where their 20-something relative should live.
Cue loads of posts about suburban places miles out, and terror stories from years ago about now gentrified areas which are favourites of young people who want to be on good late night transport etc.
Driven extra mad by assertions that places ‘don’t feel safe’ when the only discernible difference in quality of life from the place they have recommended is that more black people live there. And they have only ever driven through.

Christ, people will argue about anything on mumsnet

Nowhere did I say it wasn’t a useful skill. I actually know how to drive but never had a license nor am I in my 40s. I haven’t been behind the wheel in about 20 years. I simply choose not to for various reasons.

And just because your reflexes might deteriorate in 30 or 40 years' time, doesn't mean you need to worry about them now.

The same could be said about being in the car with someone that gets ill behind the wheel.

Being within walking distance of everything in your 40s doesn't mean you will be in walking distance of them forever.

And just because your reflexes might deteriorate in 30 or 40 years' time, doesn't mean you need to worry about them now.

It remains unreasonable to suggest that driving a car is anything other than a useful life skill. Of course, you can survive without it, just as you can survive without being able to cook or read or swim or ride a bicycle.

I get cross with posts where someone claims that their child has got into multiple famous, expensive schools and they have no idea which to choose. Particularly at a time of year where pretty much no schools are making offers (like during the summer holidays).

So your son got into Eton, Harrow, Winchester, Westminster and St Paul’s? And you have absolutely no idea which one you like best? Even though he had to go through a mad process involving a pre test, a more involved exam set by the school, several interviews, a group activity and a tour of the school? It isn’t as though the finger of God points down and chooses the children at 10 or 11. Having absolutely no idea which to choose after going through all that is peculiar. Or, perhaps it’s made up nonsense.

I’m always surprised by anyone who gives advice on here (assuming that they actually are a lawyer / actuary / doctor / accountant). It’s always drummed into us at work that we aren’t insured to give advice that we aren’t paid for. Although perhaps it is difficult to sue a mystery person on the internet.

Although you do also get people who work in X industry or do have useful insight into whatever it is, who can sometimes point you in the right direction or make you aware of relevant stuff you would otherwise have no idea about. (You don’t know what you don’t know.) Obviously you do have to investigate any info provided further, away from the thread.

You do realise that some of us non-drivers have actually planned and prepared for such events hence the reason we are comfortable with our choices and don’t need to drive.

I agree with you. When I lived in London I didn't need to drive. When I moved away I learned to drive. We wouldn't live where we do now if we didn't drive.

I too get amazed that any sane person would ask a random group of strangers for financial, medica, legal advice, it's the equivalent of stopping people in the street!

Oh yes. Posters who think The North is: the end of the M1! There's a lot of space beyond Leeds etc!

@HotChocolateNotCocoa

It’s not like I’ll wake up one morning and discover I’ve been teleported to a small Cornish village.

LOL 😂😂😂