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AIBU?

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Original poster

DS aged 3.9 is stood on our gate …

211 replies

indurently · 17/09/2024 13:29

He’s looking at cars, tractors and so on. We live on a country road. I’m pushing his sister on a swing.

And a couple just walked by and told me he shouldn’t be on the gate.

Racking my brains somewhat as to what we have done wrong!

OP posts:
hepsitemiz · 17/09/2024 15:45

What part of the gate are his feet actually on?

They may have a safety concern.

Is it one of those rural, five-bar gates, and your DS's feet are on one of the lower bars? The way you have described it, he could be perched on the very top edge of the gate and that of course would attract comment. If he's on a lower bar, then of course he can steady himself by holding onto a higher-up bar with his hands.

Original poster
indurently · 17/09/2024 15:44

PuddlesPityParty · 17/09/2024 15:35

Why are you letting random people bother you so much over nothing?

Do you mean the people who told me my DS shouldn’t be there or the pedants on here? 😅

Either way neither are ‘bothering me so much’ I was just a bit lost as to what they were criticising.

I am actually Lancashire born although have lived in the East Midlands for a number of years now.

OP posts:
alpacachino · 17/09/2024 15:43

In all seriousness maybe they know there's a convicted child abuser who lives nearby?

whatsinmypockets · 17/09/2024 15:43

MNHQ, GET THIS THREAD TO CLASSICS!

alpacachino · 17/09/2024 15:43

DickEmery · 17/09/2024 15:21

My lovely horse
Standing on the gate

With your fetlocks blowing,
In the wiiind.

biscuitandcake · 17/09/2024 15:41

gapattachment · 17/09/2024 14:27

It’s just shorthand for three years nine months.

It's really not.

Only if you think in base 10. In base 12 it's accurate and that's what we use for months (sort of) .

Investinmyself · 17/09/2024 15:39

Worried he was escaping? Worried he’d fall into road.
I wouldn’t give it another thought seems an odd thing for them to comment on.

PuddlesPityParty · 17/09/2024 15:35

Why are you letting random people bother you so much over nothing?

3luckystars · 17/09/2024 15:35

Another angle, maybe you are so young looking, they thought you were his sister.

Look on the bright side I say.

Livinginaclock · 17/09/2024 15:34

This is my favourite thread in ages 😅

Bunnycat101 · 17/09/2024 15:27

Could they have been worried by proximity to the road? I’m quite rural and I don’t think it’s ever occurred to me to be worried about toddlers on a gate re its structural integrity but I would if I thought there was any chance they could get into a road.

GinAndJuice99 · 17/09/2024 15:26

TarantinoIsAMisogynist · 17/09/2024 15:21

It's not about "school monitor types", it's about the fact that standing on someone's gate is likely to cause damage, which will be expensive for the farmer/landowner (who does actually own it!) to repair. And unlike in a city, that gate is probably needed to keep livestock from escaping the field.

Think about it - would you like visitors to your area to clamber on your garden gate or other parts of your property? No?

Edited
Show quote history

It was their gate! What business was it of the randomers walking past?

LL1991 · 17/09/2024 15:22

Couple can butt out. He's on your fence, on your land, looking at machinery - I think that's pretty wholesome. Pay them no mind!

SoupDragon · 17/09/2024 15:21

EcoChica1980 · 17/09/2024 15:18

This right here is why so many people feel unwelcome in the countryside. Too many school monitor types who think the own the place.

Show quote history

People who cause damage to gates by standing on the open end are rightly unwelcome. Would you be happy with people damaging your property and make them welcome?

TarantinoIsAMisogynist · 17/09/2024 15:21

EcoChica1980 · 17/09/2024 15:18

This right here is why so many people feel unwelcome in the countryside. Too many school monitor types who think the own the place.

Show quote history

It's not about "school monitor types", it's about the fact that standing on someone's gate is likely to cause damage, which will be expensive for the farmer/landowner (who does actually own it!) to repair. And unlike in a city, that gate is probably needed to keep livestock from escaping the field.

Think about it - would you like visitors to your area to clamber on your garden gate or other parts of your property? No?

DickEmery · 17/09/2024 15:21

My lovely horse
Standing on the gate

DS aged 3.9 is stood on our gate …
alpacachino · 17/09/2024 15:19

EcoChica1980 · 17/09/2024 15:18

This right here is why so many people feel unwelcome in the countryside. Too many school monitor types who think the own the place.

Show quote history

It's just physics that most people would have learnt at school????

EcoChica1980 · 17/09/2024 15:18

stayathomegardener · 17/09/2024 13:37

If you stand or climb over on the end furthest away from the hinges it causes the gate to drop.

Very bad countryside etiquette.

This right here is why so many people feel unwelcome in the countryside. Too many school monitor types who think the own the place.

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 17/09/2024 15:17

Oooh a 'Gategate' post!

Maia77 · 17/09/2024 15:17

Maybe the person who commented on 'is stood' is not a native speaker and was genuinely taken aback.

ErrolTheDragon · 17/09/2024 15:16

(I now desperately want someone who uses CoPilot to illustrate the Bad Horse family at play.)

ErrolTheDragon · 17/09/2024 15:14

I don't think OP's three year old is a horse?

Pretty sure not, horses can't stand on garden gates and their filly sisters wouldn't fit on a swing.

alpacachino · 17/09/2024 15:14

DickEmery · 17/09/2024 15:14

There is a lot that we don't know about this three year old.

Good point. I wouldn't want to assume

Trickedbyadoughnut · 17/09/2024 15:14

Bet this isn't the way you thought this thread would go, @indurently 😆

@DickEmery chapeau, my friend, chapeau 😂

DickEmery · 17/09/2024 15:14

There is a lot that we don't know about this three year old.