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Things people do that baffle you 2

340 replies

jenzzi · 25/04/2026 09:10

Following this thread https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/5520735-things-people-do-that-just-baffle-you?page=40

Things included
talking on loudspeaker in public
very elderly people who shop on Saturday morning
people that stop at shop entrances
people park next to you in a car park that is about 20% full

Page 40 | Things people do that just baffle you | Mumsnet

What does either a specific person in your life, or just the general public do, you just don't understand why they do it, and you either can't ask the...

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/5520735-things-people-do-that-just-baffle-you?page=40

OP posts:
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AwesomeChampagne · 06/05/2026 14:40

Live in an upstairs flat and not have a door bell. So irritating as someone who lives downstairs

sashh · 06/05/2026 06:19

This one will have a diagram.

I'm in a semi detached. My neighbour has a front path that leads to the street.

My footpath is at a right angle, so I come out, turn left and I can walk to the street. It's cul-de sac.

There is a metal fence between the end of our front paths.

When I get a taxi, they almost always drive down as far as the end of my path, back up, turn around and park where the fence is. There is no pavement there and I walk with a stick.

I mean why?

Things people do that baffle you 2
ChocolateAddictAlways · 05/05/2026 20:34

The parking next to me thing is so irritating!! Last weekend I parked in a retail park. I tend to park far away from a store entrance if it means less cars are near mine (I am not an amazing parker and can take ages to manoeuvre into small spaces so I avoid if possible!) I parked in a row that was completely empty. On my return a car was next to mine, by my driver's side. The rest of the row was empty! 😂And to make it worse they were so close to my door I had to climb in to my car through the PASSENGER SIDE!

G5000 · 05/05/2026 20:29

I don't understand people who buy overbred dogs who come with a myriad of health issues, The poor deformed things can barely breathe or walk, plagued by skin problems, eye ulcers, reduced lifepan, etc etc. Yes sure all dogs can have problems, but why choose one that is pretty much guaranteed to have them?

NewPapaGuinea · 05/05/2026 20:00

AntiqueBabyLoanSmurf · 05/05/2026 18:18

But even then, it's still something that worked perfectly well that has been downgraded to be less convenient. It's hardly the worst example of it, but why wouldn't people find it annoying?

I also wonder if you might feel differently if you had numb, arthritic or otherwise painful and/or less able fingers - and you found that, because of selfish litterers, you could no longer manage to enjoy bottled drinks?

I actually do have arthritis in my fingers.

Not even sure how it’s less convenient. The tether means I never accidentally drop the cap or have keep hold of it which are both more inconvenient.

BrickBiscuit · 05/05/2026 19:26

AntiqueBabyLoanSmurf · 05/05/2026 18:18

But even then, it's still something that worked perfectly well that has been downgraded to be less convenient. It's hardly the worst example of it, but why wouldn't people find it annoying?

I also wonder if you might feel differently if you had numb, arthritic or otherwise painful and/or less able fingers - and you found that, because of selfish litterers, you could no longer manage to enjoy bottled drinks?

That reminds me of the pre-peeled oranges scandal. Some retailer started selling them, and the outcry made them withdraw them. Leaving people with arthritic hands, busy lunch breaks or kids in tow unable to get a quick fresh-citrus fix. Ironically, the alternatives they would buy are much more full of ultra-processed ingredients and unnecessary packaging than the oranges ever were. We can't have nice things because other people are either inconsiderate or thick.

AntiqueBabyLoanSmurf · 05/05/2026 18:18

NewPapaGuinea · 05/05/2026 12:50

What’s baffling is when people complain how it gets in the way. I’ve seen stupid sketches where people are trying to drink and the cap is practically up their nose. Just use your index finger to keep it tucked back and cap rotated so it’s not mashing into your nose.

But even then, it's still something that worked perfectly well that has been downgraded to be less convenient. It's hardly the worst example of it, but why wouldn't people find it annoying?

I also wonder if you might feel differently if you had numb, arthritic or otherwise painful and/or less able fingers - and you found that, because of selfish litterers, you could no longer manage to enjoy bottled drinks?

Flamingojune · 05/05/2026 17:19

Maybe the older people just like the buzz of busy shops. Not everyone hates other people

igelkott2026 · 05/05/2026 17:12

AntiqueBabyLoanSmurf · 04/05/2026 15:38

I always think it's really nasty when you get big shops with car parks that have a limit of 45 minutes or an hour. Not even any option to pay for more time - just you have this long and no more.

They've clearly based it around how long a young, healthy, able-bodied person will take at most and maybe added another 50%. Anybody staying longer than that MUST have left their car to go into town or do separate errands elsewhere. No thought or care whatsoever for elderly and disabled people who are indeed only parking there to use their one shop, but cannot help needing far longer to manage to do so.

The blue badge holders will get longer but of course that doesn't account for people who need longer but aren't "disabled enough" to get a blue badge.

It's rarely 45 minutes though, it's usually 2 hours. Although one of our local Sainsburys introduced a 30 minute limit recently but that's because it's near a school and parents were parking there Though if they are parking there to collect kids they are unlikely to need 30 minutes so it seems like a sledgehammer to crack a nut.

NewPapaGuinea · 05/05/2026 12:50

AntiqueBabyLoanSmurf · 05/05/2026 09:31

Whinging about bottle cap tethers.

Why would this one baffle you? I find it intensely irritating too and am also unhappy about this forced downgrade in one small part of life.

Apparently, because some people previously threw bottle caps in the street, all of us who would never have dreamt of doing that now have to either have a cap getting in the way when we're trying to drink or otherwise have to rip/cut it off and then have a loose, sharp tag remaining, that prevents you from easily replacing the cap.

Meanwhile, the people who previously chucked the cap with merry abandon will probably still just rip it off and fling it on the ground - if not the whole bottle.

In principle, it's like yesterday for me, when I set off two alarms because of slightly more expensive items I'd bought from Asda (one at the till and another at the exit) and I had to show my receipt twice. Meanwhile, the determined thieves with the angry, aggressive looks on their faces just fill their large rucksacks to the brim and walk straight out, completely unchallenged.

What’s baffling is when people complain how it gets in the way. I’ve seen stupid sketches where people are trying to drink and the cap is practically up their nose. Just use your index finger to keep it tucked back and cap rotated so it’s not mashing into your nose.

Squirrel60 · 05/05/2026 11:03

''Celebrities'' and those in the general public who are so far up their own bums, ''look at me, I'm vitally important'' types. We all poo the same brown smelly muck and will all either rot in the ground or be cremated when we drop dead!

AntiqueBabyLoanSmurf · 05/05/2026 09:31

Whinging about bottle cap tethers.

Why would this one baffle you? I find it intensely irritating too and am also unhappy about this forced downgrade in one small part of life.

Apparently, because some people previously threw bottle caps in the street, all of us who would never have dreamt of doing that now have to either have a cap getting in the way when we're trying to drink or otherwise have to rip/cut it off and then have a loose, sharp tag remaining, that prevents you from easily replacing the cap.

Meanwhile, the people who previously chucked the cap with merry abandon will probably still just rip it off and fling it on the ground - if not the whole bottle.

In principle, it's like yesterday for me, when I set off two alarms because of slightly more expensive items I'd bought from Asda (one at the till and another at the exit) and I had to show my receipt twice. Meanwhile, the determined thieves with the angry, aggressive looks on their faces just fill their large rucksacks to the brim and walk straight out, completely unchallenged.

pinkstripeycat · 04/05/2026 15:48

StrictlyAFemaleFemale · 25/04/2026 11:08

I've never understood people who voluntarily join the armed services. Don't get me wrong - I'm very thankful that they do! I just do not see the appeal because it is so far away from me and my world.

Adventure, belonging, good money, opportunity to travel, a challenge, fitness, excitement.

Just asked DH who was a soldier for 18 years. He jumped out of planes for a living. He loves challenges, is very disciplined and driven. He now runs ultra marathons for veterans charities and charities for the children of fallen soldiers.

AntiqueBabyLoanSmurf · 04/05/2026 15:38

Tshirtking · 04/05/2026 08:40

You know jenzzi, elderly people don't take longer just to piss you off. Many have early onset dementia which affects their decision making. Many walk slow due to arthritis. There's many other conditions In not going to name them all. I get so angry when people, esp people who work in shops so should know better get annoyed with the elderly who just want to get through the day with kindness. Jenzzi it's time to give your head an enormous wobble.

I always think it's really nasty when you get big shops with car parks that have a limit of 45 minutes or an hour. Not even any option to pay for more time - just you have this long and no more.

They've clearly based it around how long a young, healthy, able-bodied person will take at most and maybe added another 50%. Anybody staying longer than that MUST have left their car to go into town or do separate errands elsewhere. No thought or care whatsoever for elderly and disabled people who are indeed only parking there to use their one shop, but cannot help needing far longer to manage to do so.

Whatexcellentboiledpotatoes · 04/05/2026 14:41

I think I have figured out the reason elderly people shop at the weekend. Not that I ever thought they shouldn't - but I have wondered why, when surely the week is quieter and more pleasant.

I have figured it out by watching my mother get older.

When she has something on during the day, that is the thing she is doing that day. She can not focus on anything else but that one thing. If she has a doctors appointment at 11am, she absolutely cannot fathom going to the supermarket in the afternoon, at say, 2 or 3pm, because she has doctors that day.

My mum is only 68, and in pretty good health. Barely even retirement age.

By the time people get to, say, 80, they have slowed down even more. A poster on the first thread, before this one, mentioned that her parents don't do anything else on bin day because "we have to put the bins out". What to us is a quick chore we barely even think about, is a whole thing to them. That's their task of the day.

Everything requires more mental and physical energy.

So if Monday is a Doctors appointment, Tuesday is bin day, Wednesday is some other appointment, Thursday is the day a bill is due (which requires going into the bank because they don't do the internet and can't manage touch-dial on a phone) Friday is when the cleaner comes, that only leaves the weekend.

igelkott2026 · 04/05/2026 14:41

Gwenhwyfar · 03/05/2026 20:47

And if they wear a helmet the impact goes to their neck instead and still costs the NHS money.

Good point. Anyway worrying about the NHS is sanctimonious in that context. We all do something that isn't good for our health.

beeble347 · 04/05/2026 14:26

In Mass when people usually say certain prayers in unison and you get the odd person that says it as quickly as possible ahead of other people. Could be cultural? But we all know the words, why say it before everyone else and out of sync?

Opposite end of the spectrum - in a certain former USSR country, people clap in unison at the end of a show! Slow and monotonous, it's quite ominous 😂

People who undertake on a 30mph road, speed ahead only to stop at the red light that was visible from before the undertaking. Why??

Men who parade around topless in summer. It's not that hot! All the women of various ages including those pregnant or going through hot flushes are managing to cope with tops on. People live in much hotter climates and cover up! Put your scorched belly away.

One I know isn't popular on here - why is there this attitude I've come across on quite a few threads of let whoever's looking after your child do anything they want (load them with sweets, no rules etc) or put them in paid childcare and presumably never leave them alone with your child? Speaking as one with a fabulous MIL who has my toddler one day a week, we provide everything she wants and she can have a day off whenever she wants to. She is very much on board with trying to keep consistency for our child but also has her own different rules at her house which we teach him to respect. Why no middle ground? Surely GP and parents can get more or less on the same page and same team? GP and GC get such a great bond from alone time, this attitude of let GP run amok or not see their GC as much is so strange to me. Again maybe it's cultural but GP are another authority figure for us just as the parents are. I do think it's good for kids to have their own relationship with different rules at Grandma's house but I don't see what's wrong with parents and GPs agreeing a few basic ground rules like limiting sugar or screen time. Perhaps I'm misunderstanding the posts I've seen but I really find it baffling!

CoffeeCantata · 04/05/2026 14:05

This one won't garner much support, but here goes..

I hate it when I get a coughing fit and people keep offering me a glass of water. Even when I shake my head or wave my hand at them, they keep insisting.

I've never understood how a glass of water helps - the tube affected by the coughing fit is your windpipe, and water would go down your oesophagus. You definitely don't want water down your windpipe!!!

I think it's more to do with the feelings of the offerers - they want to be seen to be doing something. And I suppose medics would say 'it's the placebo effect - it feels as though it should do some good, so you relax and the coughing stops' or something?

What I crave when a coughing fit starts is for people not to look at me, not to make a fuss and to leave me alone and not make me speak. That's the best way to help things calm down. Or just let me run away and leave the room , if the situation allows and please, don't come running after me asking about water!!!

Apologies for sounding ungracious.

Tshirtking · 04/05/2026 13:52

jenzzi · 04/05/2026 11:28

It’s not disgusting. They are not helping anyone including themselves shopping during busy times.

My parents are retired and they don’t shop on Saturdays! None of our friends and family circle who are retired shop on Saturday mornings.

I have a disability which affects my speed, I'm doing no harm by shopping on a Saturday, I enjoy it. Other people need to learn tolerance because I'm going to keep doing it. The world does not revolve around the able bodied person only. If your parents don't want to shop on a Saturday that's their decision. You have no right to expect other pensioners to do the same, some pensioners only carry what they can manage so shop almost daily. You do not have the right to expect them to change this for your convience just because you can't wait a couple of minutes.

BrickBiscuit · 04/05/2026 12:15

Tshirtking · 04/05/2026 11:08

Oh sorry I guess one of my parents just imagined it in their late sixties even tho it was medically diagnosed.
And it dosent takeaway the fact that OP displayed horrendous behaviour towards the elderly when she worked in a supermarket. She should be discusted with herself

Edited

Sorry about your parent. Late-onset dementia starts in the late sixties. Early-onset dementia starts before the sixties. Early-stage dementia is what happens after it starts, whatever the age.

The elderly people in your earlier post are probably in the early stages of late-onset dementia.

Puffalicious · 04/05/2026 11:59

Coffeebeforework · 04/05/2026 06:34

@Puffalicious If you are currently driving into Inverness from the A96 I totally feel your pain!

I know that road, my friends live in Inverness! I'm driving the M8 in Glasgow, coming off at Ibrox where there's 4 month roadworks 🙈, & Paisley Road West has new temp lights/ roadworks/diversions daily! Sheesht!

Flamingojune · 04/05/2026 11:35

EstoyRobandoSuCasa · 03/05/2026 14:34

And as for those not wearing cycle helmets who have a bad accident - the cost to the NHS of treating someone with a brain injury could be huge.

Active travel such as cycling saves the nhs more money than it costs to treat cycling related accidents

jenzzi · 04/05/2026 11:28

Tshirtking · 04/05/2026 09:13

Plus jenzzi when you work in a supermarket you are there to help the customers. Not put the elderly or disabled through even more stress. I have also worked in a supermarket, your attitude is disgusting

It’s not disgusting. They are not helping anyone including themselves shopping during busy times.

My parents are retired and they don’t shop on Saturdays! None of our friends and family circle who are retired shop on Saturday mornings.

OP posts:
Tshirtking · 04/05/2026 11:08

Isittimeformynapyet · 04/05/2026 10:57

Many have early onset dementia

Early-onset dementia is dementia that appears at a young age, often in 40s/50s.

It doesn't mean the early stages of dementia in people over 65.

Oh sorry I guess one of my parents just imagined it in their late sixties even tho it was medically diagnosed.
And it dosent takeaway the fact that OP displayed horrendous behaviour towards the elderly when she worked in a supermarket. She should be discusted with herself

Isittimeformynapyet · 04/05/2026 10:57

Tshirtking · 04/05/2026 08:40

You know jenzzi, elderly people don't take longer just to piss you off. Many have early onset dementia which affects their decision making. Many walk slow due to arthritis. There's many other conditions In not going to name them all. I get so angry when people, esp people who work in shops so should know better get annoyed with the elderly who just want to get through the day with kindness. Jenzzi it's time to give your head an enormous wobble.

Many have early onset dementia

Early-onset dementia is dementia that appears at a young age, often in 40s/50s.

It doesn't mean the early stages of dementia in people over 65.