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AIBU?

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Was I rude..? And what to do next?

194 replies

BassPlayerWanted · 22/06/2024 09:12

For clarity, I don't think I was but I also don't feel comfortable about the situation two days later so I'm just looking for other perspectives.

I do an activity. The 'outing hobby I'm not going to name' 😉. There are four of us - me and three men. I'm close to two of the men. The other, I regard as a bit of a dick but he really wanted to be part of it and so I relented - that was my first mistake...

He has a partner of 3 years. Their relationship can be best described as something out of a 70s sitcom. It's all a bit she 'nags' him for being a bit useless; he responds pipe down woman. That type of thing.

Anyway, other people's relationships aren't my concern (but it's relevant) , so I'll get to the point.

The four of us met up for the activity this week. He entered the room criticising his partner in a 'lighthearted' way - she'd nearly kicked him out this week but it's OK because, "now she's back on her tablets now so she's happy again." 🙄 (this is also relevant).

So he'd already irritated me by this comment. Her medication is none of our business, neither is their shitty relationship and telling us she nearly kicked him out and framing it as a 'her' issue pissed me off. I made a comment to show I thought it was inappropriate but didn't challenge further (because not my business) and he left it.

Towards the end of the evening, I tried to say, "I'm going to be full on at work for the next few weeks so I won't be available," and to propose the next steps in lieu of that. That was it. I started to speak. The first two men looked at me to listen, he started fiddling with stuff, not listening to me and not paying attention and making noise it was impossible to be heard over. Both of the other men told him I was speaking and to stop what he was doing and listen but he carried on.

Anyway (I'll get to the actual point now!), I ended up raising my voice (over the noise so not shouting/angry but probably sounded frustrated because I was) to say, "John! (Not his name), can you listen?" I'd waited for a moment of quiet and started speaking 3 or 4 times by that point.

He turned to me and said, "Ooh, shall I get you one of Sue's (not her name) happy pills? Will that help?" With a 😁😁😁

At that point, I'd had enough of him and just saw red. So I turned to him and said, "John. Just fuck off." He replied with the usual it was 'just a joke'. I said it wasn't and that Sue might be ok with him making shitty sexist comments to her but he wasn't speaking to me like that. I packed away my stuff and walked out the room and went home. I can't remember the last time I felt that angry!

The thing is, I actually think I did do the right thing in standing up for myself but I don't think i've ever told anyone to fuck off in my life! And I just feel a bit weird/awkward about it... probably because he's likely even more convinced I need one of Sue's happy pills now! 🙄

I'm just not really sure what to do next.I didn't raise my voice and what I've recounted here is as accurate as it can be without cctv footage to refer to 👍🏻

YABU - you were rude. You should have laughed along - it was just a joke

YANBU - He's lucky that's all you said and he's twat. Get rid.

OP posts:
Thirdsummerofourdiscontent · 22/06/2024 10:01

Start off as you intended to go on. You’ve let John know his shitty behaviour won’t be tolerated. It’s up to the 3 of you if he stays or not. Nothing to apologise for.

BassPlayerWanted · 22/06/2024 10:00

Katrinawaves · 22/06/2024 09:53

You’ve never heard of a man being described as domineering? And would think it ok if a man chastised a woman like a child in similar circumstances?

You are seeing gender bias where none exists here.

Have you read my detailed explanation of the situation?

Given everything I've explained above, what would you have done differently in those circumstances?

He needed to hear what I had to say and the others, who were listening, couldn't hear me either. He was being rude. It's very poor band etiquette to be playing when someone is speaking precisely because its very loud and no one else can hear what's being said.

OP posts:
Mnetcurious · 22/06/2024 09:58

Yanbu, John sounds like a misogynist who needed to be told that the way he was behaving at that point (leaving the other poor behaviour aside) was absolutely not on. Good for you!

Trickabrick · 22/06/2024 09:56

Honestly, I’d cut him loose. He sounds insufferable and he’s not going to change. It’s not your job to remind him how to be a decent person / bandmate.

BassPlayerWanted · 22/06/2024 09:54

MrsLighthouse · 22/06/2024 09:51

I might be in the minority here but l would probably talk to John and say something like “ John l know you like to banter about your wife , but have you ever thought that other women hearing it might not find it that funny ? “ give him a chance to consider ..even apologise . If he is a dick in response then you know you need to distance him in every way !

He's 58 years old. I don't think he needs to be coddled in that way. If he doesn't get it by now, he never will.

OP posts:
Nanny0gg · 22/06/2024 09:53

MrsLighthouse · 22/06/2024 09:51

I might be in the minority here but l would probably talk to John and say something like “ John l know you like to banter about your wife , but have you ever thought that other women hearing it might not find it that funny ? “ give him a chance to consider ..even apologise . If he is a dick in response then you know you need to distance him in every way !

I'm not sure it's the OP's job to 'educate' him

That's for his long-suffering wife to do if she can be arsed

Katrinawaves · 22/06/2024 09:53

Floorbard · 22/06/2024 09:46

He was making a loud noise while op was talking. He acted like a child and deserved to be chastised like one 🤷‍♀️ Interesting how you never hear of men being described as ‘bossy and domineering’.

You’ve never heard of a man being described as domineering? And would think it ok if a man chastised a woman like a child in similar circumstances?

You are seeing gender bias where none exists here.

OrigamiOwls · 22/06/2024 09:53

Sometimes you've got to communicate with people in a style they understand.

PrueRamsay · 22/06/2024 09:52

God no just dump him.

MrsLighthouse · 22/06/2024 09:51

I might be in the minority here but l would probably talk to John and say something like “ John l know you like to banter about your wife , but have you ever thought that other women hearing it might not find it that funny ? “ give him a chance to consider ..even apologise . If he is a dick in response then you know you need to distance him in every way !

BassPlayerWanted · 22/06/2024 09:49

Just realised, the numbers don't add up... for clarity. We're also now looking for a drummer because the one we'd got just didn't turn up without letting anyone know 🙄 which caused its own problems and is why its important to let someone know if you can't make it.

We're only a couple of practices in. It's very new!

OP posts:
mindutopia · 22/06/2024 09:49

Sounds completely fine. I’ve told plenty of people to fuck off in my life. He was being rude. You asserted yourself. Stop overthinking. The more important question is why do you feel the need to spend time with someone socially who is such a dickhead. Find someone more pleasant to do your hobby with.

greengreyblue · 22/06/2024 09:48

Excellent work op. Well done.

desperatedaysareover · 22/06/2024 09:46

‘It was just a joke’ is the battle cry of the dickhead.

Floorbard · 22/06/2024 09:46

Katrinawaves · 22/06/2024 09:24

Maybe the activity is relevant because your description of what happened makes you sound really bossy and domineering! Who cares if he wasn’t listening and fiddling with his stuff when you were telling the others you weren’t going to be available the following week. You sound like you behaved like a teacher chastising a child!

His comment about his wife was disrespectful to her but the way you have described behaving before he made it was rude yes. And your reaction to his comment was disproportionate. Unless the other two men in your group also dislike “John” I think you have unnecessarily created a situation and an atmosphere here and you may have blown up the entire group. You might need to prepare yourself for the possibility that the other 3 move on without you (bringing a fourth in if the activity needs 4) rather than that you move on with them sans John.

Edited

He was making a loud noise while op was talking. He acted like a child and deserved to be chastised like one 🤷‍♀️ Interesting how you never hear of men being described as ‘bossy and domineering’.

BassPlayerWanted · 22/06/2024 09:45

Katrinawaves

It's a band. The two men I'm close to and I all used to play in a band together. We're all good musicians. We've been saying for a while that we should start something together. I was the one who got the ball rolling.

John plays the guitar but only ever has done at home on his own and he really wanted to join so we brought him on as rhythm guitar. We don't actually need a rhythm guitarist. If he left, it wouldn't be the end of the world. If any of the three of us left, we would need replacing.

It's quite normal that, if one person can't attend practice, you let the others know because without an integral part of the band there, a practice isn't much use. It would be like an orchestra practising without the entire violin section. So we don't practice if someone is unavailable. So they do need to know.

I was going to suggest we agreed on a few songs to work on because were very new so still at the learning/practising new songs stage. Which would be usual practice.

I doubt if one of theen had tried to impart this information, you'd consider him domineering and bossy? Just passing on useful information.

And, yes, when someone is strumming a guitar through an amp, it is impossible to hold a conversation.

OP posts:
Butterflyfern · 22/06/2024 09:44

Is the hobby ok to continue without John? I'd have a real hard think before continuing to any paid commitments whether you really want him involved. It's only going to get harder to get rid as things become more formal

Onabench · 22/06/2024 09:38

I hate John too.

Be prepared for him to apologise and how you want to move forward with that. I really feel that men like this think they're good guys, they're harmless, they're just having a laugh and he'll think he's the bigger person by apologising while still thinking you're being a silly dramatic little woman. When we all know he's a knob

Everythingiscalmfornow · 22/06/2024 09:37

LemonCitron · 22/06/2024 09:31

Well done OP! I don't know you but I am proud of you 👏

Totally agree with this.
Sounds as though having his behaviour challenged was long overdue.

Gazelda · 22/06/2024 09:33

Screamingabdabz · 22/06/2024 09:29

I think leave it. You said it. It’s done. Own it and move on.

I agree.

John's had his chance. He now has the opportunity to apologise to you. Whether he does or not says a lot about him.

I'd be tempted to move on with the assumption that things are 'as usual' with him dropping the misogynistic attitude. The first time it rears its head, I'd walk and not look back.

LemonCitron · 22/06/2024 09:31

Well done OP! I don't know you but I am proud of you 👏

burnoutbabe · 22/06/2024 09:31

Do you need John to get the paid work or can he be easily replaced? (I am assuming sone sort of musical act)

If he is unique and you need him then carry on. If you can do it less well as a 3 but it's doable then drop him.

PuppyMonkey · 22/06/2024 09:31

As always, I can’t concentrate because I need to know what the hobby is. And am imagining John dressed up as a Viking.

Screamingabdabz · 22/06/2024 09:29

I think leave it. You said it. It’s done. Own it and move on.

BassPlayerWanted · 22/06/2024 09:27

MangoJojo · 22/06/2024 09:24

God, I can’t fucking stand John. And there are so many Jonhs. He probably will tell everyone you clearly do need the happy pills or maybe it was your time of the month. You can’t change his shitty personality but I would not apologise to him. Next time you see him I would just act totally as normal. If he brings it up then you get an opportunity to humble him.

Oh I had no intention of apologising to him.

I feel I ought to apologise to the other man who will have felt uncomfortable. Not for telling John to fuck off but that it cut the night short? I don't know.

OP posts: