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I've just bought a big parcel box for the sole purpose of not having to talk to the postman any more.

156 replies

IncompleteSenten · 13/06/2024 10:44

And now I feel guilty. Which is stupid I know but it turns out I have a heart after all.
Or a piece of one rattling round in an otherwise ice cold body.

My postie is a bloody judgemental and nosy bugger. He asks so many intrusive questions that I have to bat away but I also realise he's unhappy and maybe doesn't get to talk to people but bloody hell I'm sick of being grilled at my front door.

Where's my husband today, what's he doing? Why's he doing that? He's only just come back why's he going away again? He's in London today? Why has he gone there? Why do you do this? Why do you do that? What's going on with your neighbours house? Supposed to be a col crisis you wouldn't think it with all the parcels everyone's getting, etc. what do I do for a living, why do I do it, is there much money in it? Am I going away, I'm not? Why not? I should, why don't I? What's wrong?

I just reached my breaking point this morning and told him it's because I'm batcrap crazy and haven't left the house in years.

Then said my goodbyes and went on Amazon to buy an extra large parcel box just so I don't have to answer the door to him again.

I can't be the only one who has gone to ridiculous lengths to avoid people 🤣. So what are your stories?

OP posts:
IncompleteSenten · 14/06/2024 06:46

Yes, that's true, there is a lot of ableism on mumsnet and in society in general.

I believe that someone only has the power to hurt you if you care what they think so I'm not upset by being called a weirdo. It amused me if anything. But other people might be upset or hurt if treated like that, so it's really not on.

But I do like people to explain why they have the opinion they have because I want to understand and when they refuse to do so, I just assume they can't back it up.

So I'm going to assume that the poster was cross because other posters commented on their attitude and so decided to turn on me even though I had engaged with them politely and took no offence at their comments.

Then when they realised that elaborating would mean doubling down on autistic = weirdo they realised that was not going to look good so they deployed a face saver in the form of a statement basically saying figure it out you are of no importance I'm off to do something trivial and by sharing the extremely trivial nature of my planned activity I am saying you too are trivial and not worth my time.

I don't naturally think of other people's feelings. In fact, many years ago my husband once asked me "do you think I've got no feelings" and that shocked me. Mostly because he was right. I don't see other people as having feelings, I have to make myself see if that makes sense. I remember as a teenager trying to explain that there was something wrong with me but I didn't know what, I said that people look like cardboard cutouts to me. I also tried to explain it by saying it was like I was flying and looking down and people looked like ants.

It sounded hugely arrogant I am sure but I now understand I was trying to explain the disconnect I felt. That I felt such a huge gap between me and the rest of the world and that I was confused, scared and lonely.

I don't want to hurt anyone which is why I normally try to perform what I understand to be the appropriate or desired social interaction. I don't always succeed and I know I can be rude and impatient and very dismissive. That's why I try to go so far the other way until or unless someone pisses me off. Then I can't stop myself although I do try.

The postie appears to have the need to make conversation. He has told me some of his private information which has helped me understand that he may be feeling lonely which is why I have tried to be understanding and give him the opportunity to feel someone is willing to engage with him.

Except now I'm fed up of it so I am removing myself. I've had some excellent advice and opinions here which will certainly help me.

I see social etiquette like an instruction manual. You have to perform all the steps even if you don't understand why they are there and you think they are stupid. It's a manual everyone uses and it's what's expected even if you know your way is better 😁.

You don't need to understandwhy. You just need to understand that , is what I tell myself and what I tell my sons although me trying to teach them how to navigate socially is the blind leading the blind! We rely on my husband. And medication. Lots of medication.

So. What I've taken from this.

I'm weird because I'm autistic. Fair enough, I'm ok with that.

I post far far too much. Again, I'm ok with that. I use Mumsnet in the way that meets my needs.

I may possibly not be quite as rude as I worry
that I am.

I am not alone.

OP posts:
phonerings · 14/06/2024 07:57

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines - previously banned poster.

IncompleteSenten · 14/06/2024 08:06

Oh hello! Did you enjoy your program?

No, I disagree that accepting the reality of something means that that something is ideal.

I can see that objectively I post an excessive amount of times. I'm ok with that. In an ideal world I would have other things to do but I don't live in an ideal world so, I'm at peace with my addiction. It is what it is.

OP posts:
phonerings · 14/06/2024 08:14

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines - previously banned poster.

QueensOfTheVolksAge · 14/06/2024 08:18

OP
There's a lot of people answering your post who don't understand (or care to learn) about being autistic. There's also a lot of people like the postman, who sense it and assume it gives them free rein to ignore social conditions and ramble/rant on at you. The post box is the right solution!

In my life, we've also changed things to avoid douchebsgs like him. Eg. I always lock my doors now thanks to one delivery driver who doesn't even knock, he just sidles in quietly and faffs about taking a photo of the parcel while I'm wondering who the hell doesn't knock and just walks in?!

There's also friends and family we avoid because they don't understand the old 'tism, and it causes arguments and problems. I'm at the age where I think, sod them, sod them all 😅

Mrsjayy · 14/06/2024 08:22

Why are certain posters advance searching the ops user name ? I mean if you don't want to read posts from her scroll away 🤷

IncompleteSenten · 14/06/2024 08:26

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines - previously banned poster.

I do. I think others perceive it to be.

Did you yourself not allude to that? Something about dozens and dozens of posts? Were you not hinting that I post excessively?

Does it not make sense that I would recognise that, think about it and see that there is truth in that? And then decide that while it may be true, it's fine with me?

OP posts:
IncompleteSenten · 14/06/2024 08:29

QueensOfTheVolksAge · 14/06/2024 08:18

OP
There's a lot of people answering your post who don't understand (or care to learn) about being autistic. There's also a lot of people like the postman, who sense it and assume it gives them free rein to ignore social conditions and ramble/rant on at you. The post box is the right solution!

In my life, we've also changed things to avoid douchebsgs like him. Eg. I always lock my doors now thanks to one delivery driver who doesn't even knock, he just sidles in quietly and faffs about taking a photo of the parcel while I'm wondering who the hell doesn't knock and just walks in?!

There's also friends and family we avoid because they don't understand the old 'tism, and it causes arguments and problems. I'm at the age where I think, sod them, sod them all 😅

Yeah, that's always going to be the case. It's another thing I accept and have decided to be ok with when it's directed at me. You just can't take these things personally. People will always be people. It's best to not let it get to you. 🤷

OP posts:
Crucible · 14/06/2024 08:31

What @QueensOfTheVolksAge said. You have done bugger all wrong OP. You're not the poster with concerning behaviour on this thread in any way. It sounds to me though that you hold a lot of anger at yourself for your autism, and you shouldn't (easy for me to say I know)

Lots of luck to you, the postbox was the right decision. (I love my porch!)

IncompleteSenten · 14/06/2024 08:31

Mrsjayy · 14/06/2024 08:22

Why are certain posters advance searching the ops user name ? I mean if you don't want to read posts from her scroll away 🤷

They've just found out I'm a weirdo and they're curious?
Fame at last. 🤣🤣

OP posts:
JamieFraserSporran · 14/06/2024 08:34

If you don't care what people think then why are you here?

IncompleteSenten · 14/06/2024 08:34

Crucible · 14/06/2024 08:31

What @QueensOfTheVolksAge said. You have done bugger all wrong OP. You're not the poster with concerning behaviour on this thread in any way. It sounds to me though that you hold a lot of anger at yourself for your autism, and you shouldn't (easy for me to say I know)

Lots of luck to you, the postbox was the right decision. (I love my porch!)

That's so sweet of you. Thank you

I do feel very frustrated with myself and angry when I fuck up that is certainly true.

I wish I was like other people. Life would be easier. There's so much I just don't understand and what I do understand it's like academically understanding something that you have no real world experience of if that makes sense.

But what can you do? 🤷 You have to play the cards you're dealt. I think I do ok all things considered.

OP posts:
phonerings · 14/06/2024 08:37

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines - previously banned poster.

Crucible · 14/06/2024 08:38

@IncompleteSenten yep, from your conduct on this thread I'd agree, you do ok, more than ok. Take care of yourself.

IncompleteSenten · 14/06/2024 08:39

JamieFraserSporran · 14/06/2024 08:34

If you don't care what people think then why are you here?

Because I want to care. I want to understand. I want to interact. I want to be sociable in a way that I am able to. I have to live in this world too and I do that best by understanding it where possible.

I recognise my weaknesses and want to be better.

Not caring is not a good thing or something to aspire to. You should care about other people. It should matter to you how people feel.

Also, and probably more importantly , I use MN to better understand why people think the way they think. I have learned a lot over the years and while a lot of it may not make sense to me, I like to think I understand people's motivations and likely feelings on different things

I can then use that and apply it in life, making it a little easier for me to interact when required.

There are a lot of things I don't care about and don't care that I don't care about iyswim, but there are things I want to care about or even just want to present as caring about once I understand that is the norm.

OP posts:
Mrsjayy · 14/06/2024 08:40

IncompleteSenten · 14/06/2024 08:31

They've just found out I'm a weirdo and they're curious?
Fame at last. 🤣🤣

Ah fair 😂 however who has the inclination to follow people round mumsnet and think it's OK the heafspace that must use up.

Mrsjayy · 14/06/2024 08:42

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines - previously banned poster.

What is your Motivation for following someone's posting history I mean that must be fulfilling some need in you?

IncompleteSenten · 14/06/2024 08:45

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines - previously banned poster.

Doesn't mean it's ideal. Just means I'm ok with it.
You seem to care. Is there a reason for that? Do you want to have the last word? I'm happy to not respond to you further if you need that. I understand because I can be like that too. Sort of a need to 'win'. It's ok. I honestly don't mind.

OP posts:
EightChalk · 14/06/2024 08:53

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This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines - previously banned poster.

It's embarrassing to watch you keeping on trying and failing to rile the OP up. What are you getting out of hounding her?

Jimmyneutronsforehead · 14/06/2024 11:04

This is my worst nightmare, YANBU op

I hate when people assume every one is up for small talk so they just go on and on and then you dread every time you'll see them and they have no filter and no barriers.

Our neighbour over the road is like this. He sees you coming out of the house and swoops in for the attack, and when he's realised that I'm not going to answer any more of his personal questions he starts oversharing his life.

No, Ronald! I don't want to know that the nurse is coming to refit your urinary catheter today! I just want to strim the grass!

Ariela · 14/06/2024 12:21

@OP You just wasted money.. Our postie at work is a bit too chatty. All I do is take the phone, put it to my ear, open the door chatting 'Right can you hold on a second, just got the postie here...'
I just say thank you to the postie and carry on with my imaginary conversation. If pushed I'll whisper to postie 'Supplier in China' or similar.

I swear our postie is angling for someone to be making a cuppa (others have given him one sometimes, it's right near the door) and has his eyes on the deluxe Fortnum's biscuit tin by the kettle.
Sadly that was emptied years ago, if you're lucky there's the remnants of a broken Rich Tea in it.

Fraaahnces · 14/06/2024 13:48

I understand the disconnect and the way you describe it @IncompleteSenten. I see it in the way my eldest daughter can be so dismissive of people (unintentionally) and the way I protected myself from others when I was young because of trauma. I know you feel a sense of “otherness” when you describe the rest of the population, but let me assure you that doesn’t make you as much of a weirdo as any dickhead who needs to feel bigger/stronger/connected by being nasty to complete safety of the internet. That’s not just weird, it’s fucking peculiar.

lawnseed · 14/06/2024 14:10

Calling someone weird is incredibly basic 😂 and is generally done by very dull, boring people who can't possibly imagine that anyone could have a different perspective on life. They're just npcs and make pointless taking up space posts😂

Get hobbies npc ppl 😜

Tiredmumma83 · 14/06/2024 16:21

Hello 👋

I just wanted to mention that poster @phonerings absolutely hounded me last night too. Thread now deleted as it really was upsetting in the end.

I am also ND and if anything, she ramped it up after discovering that.

She seems to have now been banned thank goodness!!! PBP by the looks of it.

Sometimes we aren't the weirdos op! ♥

BeardofHagrid · 14/06/2024 16:26

I’ve got a postie a bit like this at the moment (I know him from my school days) and yes it is annoying! I don’t mind a chat, but post is a personal thing and I’d rather have someone I’m unfamiliar with bringing it round frankly :/