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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that you shouldn't use the lift unless you actually need to?

346 replies

Ems101 · 27/08/2011 23:18

So I was in a well known department store today (ok it was John Lewis!) and now that I am a mummy I find myself having to take the lift between floors as I have a pram with my 3 month old in. In this particular store they also have escalators and stairs between the floors, but the escalators are too narrow to safely get a pram up them, and I don't think it's reasonable to heave a pram up a flight of stairs. The escalators and stairs (which are next to each other) are at the front of the store, easy to find, easy to see, and if you are able bodied and not pushing a pushchair or carrying a heavy load, quite safe to use.

So WHY when I go to find the lift (which is at the back of the store, and I had to actually look at the signs to find it as I've never taken it before) do I find a couple with a pushchair waiting (perfectly reasonably of course, they had a baby too) and then a family of four with two children who were easily both over the age of 8, all of whom did not appear to be disabled as were standing up and seemed able to walk pefectly fine as they shoved past me to get in the lift before me so that it was then too full for me to go in, and I then had to wait again for the lift to come back.

Would it not be reasonable for me to expect that once they saw someone who actually needed the lift, they should have either let me go first or walked the 30 metres or so to the escalators or stairs and gone up them instead?

I know I have no 'right' or 'claim' over the lift, but wouldn't it be the decent thing to not use the lift unless you had to, especially when there are people waiting who don't really have another option but to use it.

Am I being unreasonable?

OP posts:
BimboNo5 · 27/08/2011 23:50

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by Mumsnet.

2shoes · 27/08/2011 23:50

wow is it me of or did the op go from an .......oh I am a mummy who need s the lift ..to a
of I feel for disabled people who have to use lifts...
a bit to quick
patronising shit

AgentZigzag · 27/08/2011 23:50

Thanks Bohica, it was a little while ago, but I'm not above milking it for all it's worth Grin

'oh and if any able bodied person tried to que jump and go in front of my dd, i would ram them with her wheelchair!'

Veeery stylish, and effective too. I like it Smile

cheesesarnie · 27/08/2011 23:51

i dont think bimbo told you to get over yourself btw,i did.

jellybeans · 27/08/2011 23:52

YABU

The parents/child could have had a hidden disability, arthritis, mental health problem, phobia etc. Although pushing past you was very rude I don't think you should have more of a right than anyone without a pram.

2shoes · 27/08/2011 23:53

AgentZigzag we also use the "moses effect"
you just keep pushing massive heavy wheelchair in a straight line,
and watch the people part in front of you:o
( wheelchair users/pushers should try it as it does happen, people are mainly nice and move)

StayFrosty · 27/08/2011 23:54

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

cheesesarnie · 27/08/2011 23:54

oh she did Grin

AgentZigzag · 27/08/2011 23:54

The strikethrough is funny DocDuck, you're not meant to show your ignorance of that fact by asking take it seriously, tsk.

Original poster
Ems101 · 27/08/2011 23:55

No wonder we're one of the fattest nations in the world if people can't be arsed to walk up some stairs when they are perfectly able to.

OP posts:
BimboNo5 · 27/08/2011 23:55

Did 'baby' also buy you a 'new mummy' present? And have you had a 'new mummy' photoshoot per chance?

BurningBridges · 27/08/2011 23:56

No wonder we're one of the fattest nations in the world if people can't be arsed to walk up some stairs when they are perfectly able to.

I think that was pretty much what the sign at the Tate was saying.

ShellyBoobs · 27/08/2011 23:56

I just feel sorry for those with disabilities...

But that's not what your OP was most concerned with. It was regarding the fact that you and other parents of babies didn't have priority over lesser members of the public.

squeakytoy · 27/08/2011 23:56

Ems. Do you think people should wear a tshirt proclaiming any hidden disability they may have to the world, so that people like you dont make assumptions about them.

MilkNoSugarPlease · 27/08/2011 23:57

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by Mumsnet.

perplexedpirate · 28/08/2011 00:00

Never mind all this...were there any other good signs in the Tate?

Empusa · 28/08/2011 00:00

I'm intrigued as to how anyone knows that the person using the lift doesn;t have a disability. What an amazing power that must be.

Tortington · 28/08/2011 00:00

i think they should have one of those lifts that don't stop - with no doors - like what you see in black and white movies.

THEN

Quick as a flash you throw in your baby rugby ball stylee and run up the stairs in time to catch them

NOW hear me out before you deem me crazy. this will ease so many problems

fat people will have to run faster to catch their babies

and if they are unfit, this is a perfect test and then the babies can be caught by thin people who deserve them

cheesesarnie · 28/08/2011 00:01

No wonder we're one of the fattest nations in the world if people can't be arsed to walk up some stairs when they are perfectly able to

im trying to put on weight,am i granted permission to use a lift?

BimboNo5 · 28/08/2011 00:01

PMSL Custardo Grin its just win win all round really isn't it?

cheesesarnie · 28/08/2011 00:02

Grincusty.thatll sort out the good/bad parents.save on electric too.good for the enviroment.you are clever,i think you should go on dragons den.

NorfolkBroad · 28/08/2011 00:03

I also think like this when I am taking my MIL out in her wheelchair. I wholeheartedly agree with you Ems101.

ShellyBoobs · 28/08/2011 00:03

CUSTARDO - that is bordering on genius. You should be on Dragon's Den with it. Grin

Original poster
Ems101 · 28/08/2011 00:03

Is being 'a mummy' makes me simple and precious, then that I shall be ;) I hope that snide remark made you feel good about yourself, you obviously needed something.

All I can say is no wonder we're one of the fattest nations in the world, if we can't be arsed to walk up some stairs if we're perfectly able to.

OP posts:
MilkNoSugarPlease · 28/08/2011 00:03

"and if they are unfit, this is a perfect test and then the babies can be caught by thin people who deserve them"

That one sentence has brightened up a very shit day!!