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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Lighthearted please settle a disagreement

39 replies

Zeroperspective · 10/03/2024 12:45

A friend and I were having a random conversation about Humpty Dumpty (cos why not 🤷🏼‍♀️) and a disagreement occurred so we are turning to you oh wise mumsnetters!

Person A believes HD is an egg.
Person B states there is no evidence to back up this assumption.
Person A agrees there is nothing factual but asserts its a widely held belief that HD is in fact an egg.
Person B will not state what they believe HD to be other than a person/object able to "sit" on a wall

So please can you vote and/or comment on what you believe Humpty Dumpty is!

YABU HD is an egg
YANBU it is unknown what HD is but I don't believe it's an egg

I'll reveal if I am Person A or B after the vote closes

OP posts:
Sparklfairy · 10/03/2024 13:05

Helfs · 10/03/2024 13:01

In the very original version the illustration is of a boy.

Really?! Must have been one hell of a fall if they "couldn't put Humpty together again"! Shock

I like the cannon origins, I've never heard that before. Every single illustration I've ever seen has been an egg, but we all know kids' nursery rhymes can have weird/dark origins (Ring-a-ring-a-rosies anyone?)

Zapx · 10/03/2024 13:03

I believe the cannon story/theory 🤷‍♀️

Helfs · 10/03/2024 13:01

In the very original version the illustration is of a boy.

anareen · 10/03/2024 13:00

This controversial topic makes my brain hurt every time 😅

goodnessidontknow · 10/03/2024 12:54

Humpty Dumpty is believed to be a large cannon that broke. The egg image comes from the illustrations in the Lewis Carroll book and it seems to have stuck in popular culture. I always think of an egg with thin arms and legs 😀

JellyBeanFactory · 10/03/2024 12:53

Always thought it was about a soldier who was killed in battle! Or maybe a King who led a battle? Not sure why that's in my mind...

innerdesign · 10/03/2024 12:53

YABU HD is an egg
YANBU it is unknown what HD is but I don't believe it's an egg

Neither of these - it is unknown what HD is but I've always thought he was an egg (from the pictures)

Mumof2teens79 · 10/03/2024 12:52

KrisAkabusi · 10/03/2024 12:48

If I remember rightly, the belief that Humpty Dumpty is an egg came from an illustration in an old book. But there's nothing in the rhyme that hints at egg. So both right really.

This

Peppermint81 · 10/03/2024 12:50

A person. Think the egg picture came about as easier for child to understand a broken egg rather than limbs etc!

calimali · 10/03/2024 12:49

It was a cannon I believe

Catname · 10/03/2024 12:49

An egg with arms and legs

KrisAkabusi · 10/03/2024 12:48

If I remember rightly, the belief that Humpty Dumpty is an egg came from an illustration in an old book. But there's nothing in the rhyme that hints at egg. So both right really.

Alargeoneplease89 · 10/03/2024 12:48

I always assumed he is an egg but nowadays I'm sure he can identify as anything and if you can put an egg back together again, you can put anything back together 😂