Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Green man or person?

108 replies

Tiddybiddy247 · 17/07/2025 20:52

I'm probably going to get crucified for this but I'm asking out of genuine curiosity and here for answers as it were.

Was in town this morning getting ready to cross the road with my toddler and I always say to him "let's wait for the green man" and then we shout "there he is let's go!" And cross the road. This morning another mum arrived next to us and heard me and gave me a kind a dirty look. She turns to her daughter and goes "we need to wait for the green person don't we? " But like with emphasis on the person. I didn't know what to think 🤔 on the one hand she has a point, it could very well be a woman in trousers, but it just doesn't look very feminine... also I've always called it the green man. I suppose I'm terribly old fashioned to be going around assuming genders?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
10
CharlotteStreetW1 · 17/07/2025 21:43

Meanwhile in Trafalgar Square and Basel...

Green man or person?
Ukholidaysaregreat · 17/07/2025 21:42

Happy Solstice cards only.

scalt · 17/07/2025 21:35

In my home town, there’s a green man which identifies as a red man. The lights have used the green man stencil for the red man, and have obscured the “walking” leg, probably with duck tape, so that at first glance, it looks like a red man. I’ll try to remember to get a picture tomorrow.

If someone has time to wait for the green man, let alone discuss whether he/she/it is a man, person, goblin, gremlin, or a Pegasus, they have too much time on their hands.

becausewecancan · 17/07/2025 21:33

I wouldn't care what she called it, but giving you a dirty look and trying to score points by emphasising 'person' is just ridiculous. She should be embarrassed. Her unpleasant attitude won't help her cause.

Toottooot · 17/07/2025 21:26

Green mannie and that will not change.

nam3c4ang3 · 17/07/2025 21:26

The mum was just a massive bellend.

Hairgrip · 17/07/2025 21:24

Riiight...

ShinyAppleDreamingOfTheSea · 17/07/2025 21:21

Ah - read your post too quickly and I’ve voted wrongly - sorry .

Bea372 · 17/07/2025 21:17

You should have mentioned the Green MAN as many times as you reasonably could while crossing the road, purely to wind her up. She probably sings Baa Baa rainbow sheep and sends holiday greetings cards.

No one feels they can't be a Green man because the label only has the word man in it. They can't be a Green man because it's a light that comes on in a road to tell you that you can safely cross. I'd be concentrating on my child's safety rather than the lack of equality for Green women.

T00ManyBooks · 17/07/2025 21:16

Green person here (and yes, we’re in the SW). You call it whatever you want OP, and we’ll do the same. I think ignore the woman trying to make a point.

We also refer to all teddies/animals/ inanimate objects as “she” because the default is male and we’re trying to bring some balance. Read Invisible Women by Caroline Criado Perez.

Steelworks · 17/07/2025 21:16

I’ve always said ‘green man’ as well.

Hellomeee · 17/07/2025 21:15

Well I've always said green man and honestly if someone was being that over the top next to me I would have burst out laughing.

ExpressCheckout · 17/07/2025 21:12

Oldies will remember that the original Green Cross Code Man later became Darth Vader in Star Wars. So it's definitely a man.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Prowse

David Prowse - Wikipedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Prowse

spookysoul · 17/07/2025 21:11

I’m as ‘woke’ as you could possibly get and even I think that’s OTT

Imadeyouup · 17/07/2025 21:09

He's the little green man in our house.

Thingsthatgo · 17/07/2025 21:08

@R0setheHatthat photo needs a trigger warning- those green men give me the wiggins!
I quite like the idea of a green person rather than a green man. My children are 13 and 10 years old, and they are much more likely to notice everyday sexism than me.

Putthekettleon73 · 17/07/2025 21:08

Ukholidaysaregreat · 17/07/2025 20:55

O I was hoping for the original green man. Herne the Hunter. 🌿🌳 Nevermind. As you were.

Me tooooo!

theunbreakablecleopatrajones · 17/07/2025 21:07

hereismydog · 17/07/2025 20:54

Virtue signalling, performative bollocks.

Yup

IsThisLifeNow · 17/07/2025 21:07

I go with 'let's wait till it's green' no talk of man, person or anything else.

It started after a trip to the USA, or maybe Canada, it felt very wrong to say the white man, as that's what the traffic signals are there and it got me thinking

CinnamonBuns67 · 17/07/2025 21:06

Don't worry about it OP, some people just don't have anything interesting enough in their life so they find offense everywhere. You want to call it the red/green man like you always have you crack on as will I and many others.

ExpressCheckout · 17/07/2025 21:06

Ha ha 😂She's an idiot, OP. It's definitely a man.

Original poster
Tiddybiddy247 · 17/07/2025 21:05

Boshlily · 17/07/2025 20:55

I heard someone do this once with their daughter and I now am desperate to know if it is the same person. Are you in the SW at all? I would consider myself a feminist but I am happy to allow the green man their traffic safety patriarchy tbh.

Nope not South West but not far

OP posts:
Screamingabdabz · 17/07/2025 21:04

I thought this was going to be a thread about a seeing a supernatural pagan being in the woods!

ExitPursuedByABare · 17/07/2025 21:04

R0setheHat · 17/07/2025 21:01

Me too, was picturing this

Show quote history

Me too.

#disappointed.

R0setheHat · 17/07/2025 21:01

Ukholidaysaregreat · 17/07/2025 20:55

O I was hoping for the original green man. Herne the Hunter. 🌿🌳 Nevermind. As you were.

Me too, was picturing this

Green man or person?