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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

My Pet Peeve- birthday "chapters" whats yours

163 replies

JadoreLeFromage · 04/08/2026 12:44

Am I being unreasonable (AIBU)?

I KNOW this is one of those things that mean nothing in the grand scheme of things, but it really "irks" me.

When people say/write in cards/post on social media "Chapter 40" at their 40th birthdays (or whatever age).

The day you turn 40, you are now in chapter 41!

You are not entering chapter 40; you entered that at 39. 🙄

Why does this annoy me so much? 😅

Same when people write "draws" instead of "drawers." Like nails on a blackboard.

  1. AIBU?
  2. Share your pet peeves, please!!
OP posts:
VodkaAndSoda · 04/08/2026 12:45

I have literally never seen this. Thankfully.

CordwainerBird · 04/08/2026 12:45

Oh Christ, I didn’t know that this irritated me until now! 😅

Thebinisrightthere · 04/08/2026 12:49

I've never heard this either

Original poster
JadoreLeFromage · 04/08/2026 12:50

Lucky you who have never seen this... it must be the people I have on facebook/instagram... its a trend I see every few months and drives me mad

OP posts:
Shardonneigghhh · 04/08/2026 12:51

Mine is when the passengers give the pilot a round of applause on landing after a perfectly normal flight.

I don't get it.

TokyoSushi · 04/08/2026 12:53

Oh I've seen the chapters thing...

Mine is 'smashing' everything, "little Tommy absolutely smashed Year 3" "Yeah, smashed it babe" and the like, shudder...

Floatlikeafeather2 · 04/08/2026 13:02

People who don't know the difference between bare and bear, wander and wonder and criticise and critique.

I also didn't know about this chapter thing but I am ready to be very irritated if I ever come across it!

Planesmistakenforstars · 04/08/2026 13:48

I haven't seen the "chapters" thing, but I assume it's the same sort of insufferable twat who goes on "journeys" (weight loss journey, pregnancy journey etc,) or who uses the phrase "making memories."

Original poster
JadoreLeFromage · 04/08/2026 14:08

I wish we still had the laugh emoji because the things written here also irk me so much its making me laugh at myself 😅😅

OP posts:
Kimbran · 04/08/2026 14:09

Now ubiquitous: we no longer get nor take, we only GRAB.

eurrgh

TanquerayTickles · 04/08/2026 14:28

When people say "3rd world problems" with a laugh.

It's 1st! 1st world problems! Just stop 😭

If you had 3rd world problems, you'd have actual serious problems, ffs.

pinkspeakers · 04/08/2026 14:34

I've never seen that "Chapter" thing.

But it bothers me a bit when people talk about entering the "40th year" when it is a 40th birthday. I have to bite my tongue not to correct this as I know it would be socially inept!

pinkspeakers · 04/08/2026 14:34

TanquerayTickles · 04/08/2026 14:28

When people say "3rd world problems" with a laugh.

It's 1st! 1st world problems! Just stop 😭

If you had 3rd world problems, you'd have actual serious problems, ffs.

i've never heard anyone say that???!

TanquerayTickles · 04/08/2026 14:51

pinkspeakers · 04/08/2026 14:34

i've never heard anyone say that???!

Show quote history

I heard 2 separate people say it on Saturday alone. I could weep 😂

Tablo · 04/08/2026 14:54

This is very much a social media thing but I hate ‘it’s giving’

It’s giving Autumn
It’s giving hot girl summer

🤢

Cuppachuchu · 04/08/2026 14:55

Never heard the chapters thing (happily).
But this thread has made me laugh, so 🤣

VictoriaEra · 04/08/2026 14:59

Kimbran · 04/08/2026 14:09

Now ubiquitous: we no longer get nor take, we only GRAB.

eurrgh

Yep. I came here to say exactly that.

WearingBeautifulShoes · 04/08/2026 15:01

I have never seen or heard the "chapters" thing, thank God! Agree it's probably used by people who are often on a "journey" of "making memories" with "this one".

Two phrases which I see very frequently at the moment and which really annoy me even though they're quite innocuous are - "It's on you/ this is on him" and "trust your gut/ what does your gut say?" I don't know why but both phrases me cringe.

CruCru · 04/08/2026 15:05

Tablo · 04/08/2026 14:54

This is very much a social media thing but I hate ‘it’s giving’

It’s giving Autumn
It’s giving hot girl summer

🤢

Oh God - I keep seeing adverts for things online with “hot girl summer” all over them. Ugh.

EpicaOmega · 04/08/2026 15:15

I’ve never seen the chapter thing either, but maybe people are thinking of the first year of life as a preface?…

Some of the things in this thread, though, get wholehearted agreement from me!!

RodneysGotaNewHairdo · 04/08/2026 15:18

People who don't know the difference between "unsociable" and "antisocial".

AmyDudley · 04/08/2026 15:18

I've never heard of birthday chapters (thank God). I can't abide the trend for saying 'it's my birthday 'week'. or even birthday 'month' ' usually in the context of 'no one else is allowed to do anything because it's my birthday week and I will be conning people into spending money on me celebrating on many days.'
There is no birthday week, the clue is in the name birth 'day' , get over yourself and stop being an attention seeking greedy fucker.

I also want to make rude noises at people who use the expression 'I was today years old when......' pure wank, stop it at once.

MrsClatterbuck · 04/08/2026 15:19

I have only noticed this lately. It's when people refer to the ground as the floor. Why? If they drop something outside they say they have dropped something on the floor. No just no
You dropped it on the ground. Ok

holachicatita · 04/08/2026 15:20

People wishing their dead grannies 'Happy birthday in heaven' on Facebook 🙄

People who don't know the difference between borrow and lend, or teach or learn. My MIL is always talking about how she 'learned' my kids to talk, walk etc

AmyDudley · 04/08/2026 15:21

Oh and referring to plural items of clothing in the singular. 'She is wearing a linen trouser with a beige sandal' - so half dressed then.