Things you thought were normal/harmless until joining mumsnet

[Antsinyourpanta]

(Lighthearted )
lots of things that I thought were quite normal /fine/harmless before I joined MM seem to be quite abhorrent to a large percentage of posters. I often find myself wondering about whether my perceived normal is actually the minority. Some examples

Home made food or cakes - I bloody love home made cakes and think they are always nicer than shop bought - my first thoughts when offered one is usually yum, a cake! I've never given a moments thought to whether the person owns cats or dogs or has a hygeine certificate.

Ensuite bathrooms - I've got an ensuite bathroom. It's used for any instance where you may need a toilet. Apparently this is very very wrong.

Eating carbs

Bayliss and Harding toiletries - I would not be offended by this as a gift unless it was from my husband

(I'm with you on Thorntons though - they are nasty)

Answering the door to someone - if I see ex criminals selling stuff door to door, I dont answer, otherwise I dont have a problem with answering the door, and i get on with all of my neighbours.

Speaking to and socialising with work colleagues - i speak to, socialise (outside of work) and am friends with most of my work colleagues. I'd count many of them as friends. We buy each other birthday cards and presents and sometimes bring in cakes. (See point 1)

What are the things you've been educated on since joining MN?

I've also been presented with my dinner on a wooden board at a restaurant. And thought

'Great. The food's here'

instead of frogmarching the waiter back to the kitchen, all affronted

This made me laugh out loud because I am that person who hates all the things you listed.

Apart from carbs! I love carbs

It does come across that for some posters MN is the first time they come across different people, or possibly just other people.
This
I know there are lots of people who do things differently to me, I'm always amazed when posters seem surprised that some people earn a lot/ don't like loo brushes/ don't leave washing out overnight /don't give children squash to drink etc etc

@sashh

Dogs barking and staring, I thought it was just normal dog behaviour.

There's a doozy live right now if you haven't seen it.

@KeepSmiling89

Oh, eating snacks in Teams meetings/Zoom calls is apparently unacceptable... ...I NEED MY 10AM BANANA!

Eating fruit especially with natural yoghurt.

@Lipsandlashes

Having a white front door. I have never got over someone saying this was common

I thought it meant you had to clean it more?

Oh yes, that you should be mortally offended and/or terrified your child will die from germs if some old lady leans over the pram, strokes their cheek and comments on how sweet they are.

I handed almost newborn DS over to an old couple who were clearly desperate for a cuddle in a coffee shop once while waiting for my NCT gang to arrive. I now understand why they all looked at me like I was crazy when they got there to discover me chatting to a couple of strangers who were cooing over DS!!

Evening invites for weddings
Receiving request for cash gift from bride and groom
Genuinely enjoying socialising with parents met through NCT and baby groups
Likewise enjoying meeting other parents on school run and having coffees/dinner with school mums
Being friends with colleagues
Going to Center parcs

@InnPain

If your kid drinks fizzy juice it’s as if they are drinking alcohol on here!

Also screen time, you automatically are an awfully incompetent parent if you allow a device or television to babysit your child.

Yep screen time.

Ignoring the fact that I'm the one who is actually watching the CBeebies program and toddler DD has wandered off to play with her toys.....

Treating my trans woman friend as woman. including being in the same changing room. why on earth not?

YABU to limit the non-socialising just to colleagues, this should be extended to family and neighbours unless it's only on your terms, OP.

Just thought of another one.
I thought asking for (and repaying) favours with friends re childcare or asking someone to pick up from school if you were suddenly (and unavoidably) unable to, was ok.

charging earning adult children rent/digs /food/bills contributions.

Letting your children try something sugary before the age of 25

Evening invites for weddings. perfectly normal here. family to the day and friends/work colleagues evening.

YABU to limit the non-socialising just to colleagues, this should be extended to family and neighbours unless it's only on your terms, OP.

Our street whatsapp group (I've already failed havent I?🤣) are organising a street party. I'm looking forward to it. DH and teens prob wont go though.

I quite like my MIL

I don't think Exeter, Oxbridge and Durham are the only universities worth going to.

All men will have an affair at a moment’s notice and anyone who thinks otherwise is a deluded fool. Leave them alone for a second and they’ll be shagging the nearest available female.

All dogs are potential vicious killers, and must also be trained to robotic levels of perfection in all circumstances. Anyone who finds themselves in the position of needing to rehome a dog, no matter what the circumstances, must never ever have a dog again. Ever.

I have discovered I am doing everything wrong!

oh yeah and babies staying overnight. both mine went to their nanas from 5 weeks old . I was grateful for the sleep and lie in and nan loved having them.

Cycling, golf, cricket, fishing (of any sort) and historical re-enactment were just boring hobbies that some men did that weren't secret outing hobbies.

Swimming, tumble tods, gymnastics, rugby, martial arts, etc were just hobbies that some kids did that aren't secret outing hobbies.

@Lavendersquare

Washing bath towels with other laundry, ditto underwear. I always accepted that the washing process and laundry detergent cleaned things, but apparently towels and underwear must be washed separately preferably in a separate machine!

I totally agree but then my husband's hankies? I can't them washed with anything of mine. Why won't he use tissues?

And your partner having a night out and getting in late, apparently that means they’re having an affair and/or addicted to drugs not that they’re having a nice time with their mates

I used to feel I was missing out by living and being alone.. …. This thread has re-educated me and made me very very pleased... But I must be very different as I do not even HAVE a washing machine... Vive la difference..