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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to keep using a bag with a broken unused pocket zip?

53 replies

brokenbag · 21/09/2026 12:50

I have a rucksack with a small front pocket. I don’t use this pocket at all, but the zip has broken on it (old bag) however because I’ve never used it anyway the rest of the bag is still fine.

The number of well meaning people who keep taping me on the shoulder to tell me my bag is open is really frustrating and I do recognise this is unfair of me!

Do I need to just get rid of the bag, even though it’s fine? Or put a sign on my back?

OP posts:
MangoBiscuit · 21/09/2026 12:53

If it's gaping open, people will think you might have lost important things, so will be helpful and point it out. I have a bag in the same state!
Sew it closed. Doesn't have to be neat, but it will make it obvious you already know.

OneOfEachPlease · 21/09/2026 12:54

People are only trying to help. Personally, I would just Safety pin it closed.

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 21/09/2026 12:56

I find it really irritating when people do that! It’s always a pocket that I knowingly haven’t closed because it’s empty. I know they mean well but it jolts me out of whatever I’m listening to/ thinking about - however this might be an ADHD thing so I try to remember it’s well meant!

Maybe pin the pocket shut so that everyone can see it hasn’t just come open? Although I do resent having to make sure I’ve shut all empty pockets to stop the well meaning remarks!

ToKittyornottoKitty · 21/09/2026 12:57

cant you just sew it shut? If it frustrates you then fix it or get a new one

ToKittyornottoKitty · 21/09/2026 12:58

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 21/09/2026 12:56

I find it really irritating when people do that! It’s always a pocket that I knowingly haven’t closed because it’s empty. I know they mean well but it jolts me out of whatever I’m listening to/ thinking about - however this might be an ADHD thing so I try to remember it’s well meant!

Maybe pin the pocket shut so that everyone can see it hasn’t just come open? Although I do resent having to make sure I’ve shut all empty pockets to stop the well meaning remarks!

You resent having to seal your own bag shut so that people won’t be nice to you? Bizarre!

IHopeYouStepOnALegPiece · 21/09/2026 12:58

I mean, YA obviously NBU to use the bag but those that alert you to it are also not being unreasonable! Sew it shut or use some safety pins

Boreded · 21/09/2026 12:59

Pin it shut

fumingrightnow1 · 21/09/2026 13:09

Really

Original poster
brokenbag · 21/09/2026 14:00

I could pin or sew it shut but in all honesty I resent feeling I have to.

OP posts:
bigageap · 21/09/2026 14:02

brokenbag · 21/09/2026 14:00

I could pin or sew it shut but in all honesty I resent feeling I have to.

You resent people making sure you haven't been robbed??? Are you ok??

Original poster
brokenbag · 21/09/2026 14:03

bigageap · 21/09/2026 14:02

You resent people making sure you haven't been robbed??? Are you ok??

Show quote history

Rob what, air?

OP posts:
ToKittyornottoKitty · 21/09/2026 14:03

brokenbag · 21/09/2026 14:00

I could pin or sew it shut but in all honesty I resent feeling I have to.

Resent spending 5 seconds putting a pin on your broken bag? Really? I think you should really reflect on just how daft that is.

ChocolateApples · 21/09/2026 14:03

brokenbag · 21/09/2026 14:00

I could pin or sew it shut but in all honesty I resent feeling I have to.

Resent seems a bit over the top. It's a fairly easy thing to do and will avoid confusion. I'd much rather live in a world where people look out for each other and people making the occasional mistake like this is part of that.

Original poster
brokenbag · 21/09/2026 14:04

Lot of incredulous ‘reallys’ on this thread! I don’t own safety pins. So I do kind of resent buying one and pinning it shut (which also looks a bit stupid) just to stop the constant badgering!

OP posts:
theneighbourgotmycake · 21/09/2026 14:09

and I do recognise this is unfair of me!

you don't HAVE to sew it shut, but you can't resent people trying to help you.

beaglescurleduplikebagels · 21/09/2026 14:12

brokenbag · 21/09/2026 14:03

Rob what, air?

Show quote history

But they don't know that, do they? Hmm

WhatWouldTheDoctorDo · 21/09/2026 14:13

I’m always grateful if someone points out an open bag to me, but I can see that it would become tiresome if the bag is permanently open because the zip is broken. But I’d rather take some action to close it rather than be fed up with repeated well meaning comments from strangers.

ToKittyornottoKitty · 21/09/2026 14:14

brokenbag · 21/09/2026 14:04

Lot of incredulous ‘reallys’ on this thread! I don’t own safety pins. So I do kind of resent buying one and pinning it shut (which also looks a bit stupid) just to stop the constant badgering!

The bag will look more stupid hanging open. You can’t control other people being nice to you, so either fix the bag or buy a new bag, what else do you want people to say?

GuavaBanana · 21/09/2026 14:16

Would gluing along the zip work? If you dont have pins.

I would sew it just to stop other people commenting and also to look a bit neater

Original poster
brokenbag · 21/09/2026 14:16

It looks fine! It really doesn’t look stupid, it’s a zip that’s slightly open (it got jammed a while back.) I think I’m inclined to get a new one, based on these responses it doesn’t look like the shoulder taps are going to stop any time soon.

OP posts:
Peonies12 · 21/09/2026 14:18

You could have sewed or pinned it in the time you have written here. People are just being helpful.

Original poster
brokenbag · 21/09/2026 14:18

GuavaBanana · 21/09/2026 14:16

Would gluing along the zip work? If you dont have pins.

I would sew it just to stop other people commenting and also to look a bit neater

I probably need to take a photo but it isn’t gaping open or anything, the zip is just jammed, but quite close to where it would shut anyway.

Tbh though it’s one of those … I’d just prefer not to use a safety pin, as to me that actually would look a bit stupid. Maybe that’s unreasonable but it’s just personal choice and taste I think.

OP posts:
GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 21/09/2026 14:20

ToKittyornottoKitty · 21/09/2026 12:58

You resent having to seal your own bag shut so that people won’t be nice to you? Bizarre!

Show quote history

No matter how much I tried to make it really
clear I knew people meant well, it’s probably an ADHD focus thing, someone will
always come in with a judgemental comment like this!

I swear people don’t read before they try to be oh so clever.

ToKittyornottoKitty · 21/09/2026 14:22

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 21/09/2026 14:20

No matter how much I tried to make it really
clear I knew people meant well, it’s probably an ADHD focus thing, someone will
always come in with a judgemental comment like this!

I swear people don’t read before they try to be oh so clever.

Show quote history

I did read, I’m still allowed an opinion thanks!

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 21/09/2026 14:22

brokenbag · 21/09/2026 14:04

Lot of incredulous ‘reallys’ on this thread! I don’t own safety pins. So I do kind of resent buying one and pinning it shut (which also looks a bit stupid) just to stop the constant badgering!

I think some people don’t realise how much being tapped in the shoulder makes some other people’s skin crawl!

It does mine anyway