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AIBU?

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Fuming about directions woman

295 replies

HowardsWahey · 25/07/2026 15:34

I live in a seaside town that, at this time of year in particular, is very popular with tourists. Therefore it's quite common to be stopped and asked for directions or local information. I never mind, but I think a bit of gratitude doesn't go amiss.

Some woman and her husband stopped me today and asked if there was anywhere nearby they could get some fish and chips. I started saying, "Yes, if you walk to the bottom of the road just behind us, you'll see a big retail park with Sainsbury's and Lidl..."

Then, when I'm mid-sentence, she cuts me off and says, "Oh that's lovely - but we just fancied some fish and chips", saying "fish and chips" as if I was a bit simple and needed them explained to me. I gave her a bit of a look and said, "And if you'd let me finish, I'd have told you which turning to take at the retail park for the fish and chip shop".

I thought she'd have the sense to realise she shouldn't have interrupted, but she made a sort of huffing noise and said, "Well THAT'S a bit rude! I was only asking." So I said, "And I was only answering - but you interrupted me. THAT'S rude. Enjoy your chips". And I walked off.

What the hell is wrong with some people?! Someone takes time out of their day to help them out, and they won't take two seconds to listen! I hope she and her droopy-faced husband are still wandering about desperate to find their cod and chips 😄

OP posts:
BuildbyNumbere · 26/07/2026 19:11

HowardsWahey · 25/07/2026 16:29

Blimey, so I've not only got to direct them to the chip shop now, but I've also got to pick one I think they'll find aesthetically pleasing?

I'm not the tourist information centre!

But you do sound like a typical local.

BuildbyNumbere · 26/07/2026 19:09

She clearly thought you were sending her to a supermarket to buy it rather than a fish and chip shop.

Anarchy99 · 26/07/2026 18:08

HowardsWahey · 26/07/2026 13:19

Oh yes, because we must all be terribly, terribly nice, mustn't we? Spotted a goose? Don't dare say boo! Never, ever stick up for yourself under any circumstances - we must always #bekind, on pain of death.

Don’t be ridiculous. I’m as far from ‘be kind’ as possible - I’m perfectly capable of being a cunt.

But to be ‘furious’ and then to have a go at people who disagree is a ridiculous. You both behaved badly. Shit happens, humans are cunts. 🤷‍♀️

OrianaK · 26/07/2026 17:30

Eh up we’re in The Portentous Zone.

NoWordForFluffy · 26/07/2026 17:23

@Lightnomore 'When I say there was no need for a thread about this, it’s not reflecting the purpose of Mumsnet but is instead a comment on your character.'

What do you think is the purpose of Mumsnet?

I'd suggest it's you who doesn't understand what AIBU is for, not the OP.

Lightnomore · 26/07/2026 17:18

HowardsWahey · 26/07/2026 12:07

Oh dear. If you read the thread, you'll see the comments - which I'm guessing weren't 100% serious - about hoping a seagull shits on her and directing her off the pier came from other people. Do consider checking things like this before commenting.

Also, what is this bizarre fashion for people claiming topics "don't need a thread"? This might blow your mind, but there is no NEED for any threads on Mumsnet, ever. It's a completely voluntary discussion forum. No one needs to post, and no one needs to read. If you weren't interested in the thread, you could have scrolled on. But instead you've gone into great detail about why I'm wasting my time, with absolutely zero sense of irony.

I did read the thread. I read your replies to those posters, loving and endorsing what they said. Hence the relevance of them in my reply to you.

When I say there was no need for a thread about this, it’s not reflecting the purpose of Mumsnet but is instead a comment on your character. Letting small everyday things cause you to ‘fume’ is not good for you. And in all honesty, your comments throughout this thread make you look like an unhappy insecure person. Happy, secure people don’t let these small incidents occupy their headspace. My advice to you is to spend more time building yourself than knocking down a stranger as you are attempting to in this thread.

likelysuspect · 26/07/2026 16:36

Anarchy99 · 26/07/2026 09:08

A woman pissed me off. I snapped back at her. She didn't like it. I didn't care.

Except you did care because you came on here to express how angry you were

Its just a chat forum. I started a thread about ants the other day.

likelysuspect · 26/07/2026 16:34

Why are you slagging off the blokes face?

Illegally18 · 26/07/2026 16:33

Illegally18 · 26/07/2026 16:33

Well, it was clear to me, and wasn't there.

'I wasn't there'

Illegally18 · 26/07/2026 16:33

igelkott2026 · 26/07/2026 16:30

Clearly not obviously. Some people seem incapable of grasping that a supermarket can be near a fish and chip shop. Or that the supermarket is between where they are standing now, and where the fish and chip shop is.

Well, it was clear to me, and wasn't there.

igelkott2026 · 26/07/2026 16:30

Illegally18 · 26/07/2026 13:24

Eh? What's wrong with meeting her energy? The op was explaining and got interrupted. And as for sainsburys and lidl, they were points of reference for finding the fish and chip shop. Obviously!

Clearly not obviously. Some people seem incapable of grasping that a supermarket can be near a fish and chip shop. Or that the supermarket is between where they are standing now, and where the fish and chip shop is.

HowardsWahey · 26/07/2026 13:48

NCForOneNightOnly · 26/07/2026 13:44

Ironic really considering you’ve made an entire thread about it 😉

I think you may have missed the point here...

OP posts:
Spatchcork · 26/07/2026 13:44

OP, the majority of people in society are self-absorbed and thick.

NCForOneNightOnly · 26/07/2026 13:44

HowardsWahey · 26/07/2026 12:29

You are giving this post waaayy too much headspace...

Ironic really considering you’ve made an entire thread about it 😉

NCForOneNightOnly · 26/07/2026 13:42

Illegally18 · 26/07/2026 13:24

Eh? What's wrong with meeting her energy? The op was explaining and got interrupted. And as for sainsburys and lidl, they were points of reference for finding the fish and chip shop. Obviously!

Obviously when you meet someone’s energy the conversation is not going to progress constructively. You both end up being rude to each other. If you want a conversation to progress constructively then you diffuse the other person’s rudeness.

Illegally18 · 26/07/2026 13:24

NCForOneNightOnly · 25/07/2026 15:44

You met her energy with the same, that’s the problem. How relevant was the big retail park with Sainsbury’s and Lidl to where the chip shop was anyway?

Eh? What's wrong with meeting her energy? The op was explaining and got interrupted. And as for sainsburys and lidl, they were points of reference for finding the fish and chip shop. Obviously!

HowardsWahey · 26/07/2026 13:19

Anarchy99 · 26/07/2026 12:59

🤣🤣🤣 Given some of your comments I think I understand why the woman may have reacted to you like she did.

Oh yes, because we must all be terribly, terribly nice, mustn't we? Spotted a goose? Don't dare say boo! Never, ever stick up for yourself under any circumstances - we must always #bekind, on pain of death.

OP posts:
Anarchy99 · 26/07/2026 12:59

🤣🤣🤣 Given some of your comments I think I understand why the woman may have reacted to you like she did.

HowardsWahey · 26/07/2026 12:29

Anarchy99 · 26/07/2026 12:17

Mannie being man? I’m only asking as I have never seen the phrase before.

You are giving this post waaayy too much headspace...

OP posts:
Anarchy99 · 26/07/2026 12:17

Toottooot · 26/07/2026 12:04

Peer mannie - poor mannie 🤷🏻‍♀️

Mannie being man? I’m only asking as I have never seen the phrase before.

Mushr00mMagee · 26/07/2026 12:16

Dhejeje · 26/07/2026 12:01

You're from Cornwall aren't you

Oh kyj dhe ves, you clearly don’t know any Cornish people.

Anarchy99 · 26/07/2026 12:16

HowardsWahey · 26/07/2026 12:07

Oh dear. If you read the thread, you'll see the comments - which I'm guessing weren't 100% serious - about hoping a seagull shits on her and directing her off the pier came from other people. Do consider checking things like this before commenting.

Also, what is this bizarre fashion for people claiming topics "don't need a thread"? This might blow your mind, but there is no NEED for any threads on Mumsnet, ever. It's a completely voluntary discussion forum. No one needs to post, and no one needs to read. If you weren't interested in the thread, you could have scrolled on. But instead you've gone into great detail about why I'm wasting my time, with absolutely zero sense of irony.

Do you have a lot of these kind of interactions OP? It seems disproportionate to be so angry about a very short encounter. Rude people are everywhere, this isn’t news, surely.

Just shrug and move on. I guarantee she hasn’t given it another thought.

MistyMountainTop · 26/07/2026 12:14

Bjorkdidit · 26/07/2026 05:55

That reminds me of a couple of places in my city that everyone describes by where certain pubs used to be. Directions would be go along until you get to the Eagle junction, the Eagle being a pub that was demolished in the 1990s.

One of Bracknell's many roundabouts is called the Met Office roundabout. The Met Office moved to Exeter about 25 years ago 😂

HowardsWahey · 26/07/2026 12:07

Lightnomore · 26/07/2026 09:21

OP you have massively over-reacted. This should not have bothered you so much. It’s a trivial event. Wanting her to be shat on by a seagull or directions into the pier. Goodness people, learn how to shrug things off and move on.

Sounds to me like she misunderstood and thought you were directing her where to get a food shop. So she interrupted to let you know they wanted fish and chips instead. From your account she was trying to be polite in the way she said this, hence she found your ‘if you just let me finish.. ‘ comment rude.

She misunderstood what you were saying and your intent. You misunderstood her interruption. and her intent.

There’s nothing to see here.

Absolutely no need for a thread or these bizarre revenge fantasies.

Oh dear. If you read the thread, you'll see the comments - which I'm guessing weren't 100% serious - about hoping a seagull shits on her and directing her off the pier came from other people. Do consider checking things like this before commenting.

Also, what is this bizarre fashion for people claiming topics "don't need a thread"? This might blow your mind, but there is no NEED for any threads on Mumsnet, ever. It's a completely voluntary discussion forum. No one needs to post, and no one needs to read. If you weren't interested in the thread, you could have scrolled on. But instead you've gone into great detail about why I'm wasting my time, with absolutely zero sense of irony.

OP posts:
Toottooot · 26/07/2026 12:04

Anarchy99 · 26/07/2026 09:16

What’s a ‘peer mannie’?

Peer mannie - poor mannie 🤷🏻‍♀️