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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think this was rude?

94 replies

Fuzzyblanket · 07/04/2012 13:49

We were at a gallery today when DS (2) started crying. Not full on screaming, not just a winge, but somewhere between the two. We were in a corridor. A member of staff walked past with her fingers pressed rightly over her ears. It wasn't a jokey, wink wink kind of thing, she walked as far away from us as possible and didn't make eye contact. She had her badge, radio etc so I could tell she was staff. I looked at her as she was walking past and she kind of smirked to herself.

For some reason I found this really annoying. AIBU? I know the sound of a child crying can be extremely irritating. But wasn't this reaction pretty rude/unprofessional? Surely it isn't the best idea to work in a child friendly public place if you can't tolerate children crying for 30 seconds? But maybe there is some reason for her behaviour that I'm not aware of...

OP posts:
winnybella · 07/04/2012 18:00

Admittedly perhaps it was not a best example as it's always (I think) exposed outside and so there's lots of people commenting loudly etc.

I love it but had ambivalent feelings about it as I'm an arachnophobe and , yes, it is a fucking giant spider Grin

skybluepearl · 07/04/2012 18:00

my kids love exhibitions too and they have every right to view the work

AutumnSummers · 07/04/2012 18:02

Yes, she was rude.

And good for you for taking your toddler to the gallery. They love the stimuli of smells and sights from different places. Our local galleries have lots of crafting / art activties for young children to encourage them in. The library is the same.

I see where those speaking against you for taking your son to the gallery are coming from but I wholeheartedly disagree.

bunnygirl1976 · 07/04/2012 18:02

I love Jeff Koons' giant balloon animal. Much nicer than a giant spider :)

winnybella · 07/04/2012 18:03

But surely people see a difference between taking a 2yo and a 5yo to a museum?

Unless it's like a Natural History Museum, for example, with lots of stuffed animals and models of dinosaurs etc-that's lots of fun for very young kids.

winnybella · 07/04/2012 18:04

bunny- I posed for him once! My lips are immortalised in a piece of his work Grin No clue which one though.

bunnygirl1976 · 07/04/2012 18:07

How cool is that :) vair impressed. You are a muse!

winnybella · 07/04/2012 18:09

OMG, it's this one

I have totally forgot about it. Nah, not a muse, he just needed to take some photos of lips to paint from later.

bunnygirl1976 · 07/04/2012 18:10

Very sexy lips!

Ilovedaintynuts · 07/04/2012 18:10

Who cares?
I hate screaming kids and don't blame anyone blocking their ears.
I block mine and expect other people to block theirs if my kids are irritating them.
I've had miserable kids too Smile

skybluepearl · 07/04/2012 18:13

Actually my kids love all the play you describe WINNY but also love art galleries and museums. We just walk around and look at things - like everyone else. Not really sure how this can inconvenience others?

WorraLiberty · 07/04/2012 18:14

Where I would disagree with some posters is on taking young children to galleries - my son actually really enjoyed seeing some of the art (sculptures etc), and wasn't crying out of boredom!

Oh please

Your child is 2 years old!

If she was 'smirking' and covering her ears, it's quite likely she was joking about with you.

winnybella · 07/04/2012 18:15

Mine are the opened ones. How bizarre.

Btw I have just realised that I'm supposed to visit DP in London in a few weeks and I'm desperate to go to at least few galleries and I'll have 3yo DD with me...and DP will be working so no one to take care of her...

Blush
winnybella · 07/04/2012 18:16

sky-only if they are loud!

bunnygirl1976 · 07/04/2012 18:18

Ooh they are the best ones Winny - nice pouty hotness :)

Aribura · 07/04/2012 18:19

Rule #234: the noise your kid is making is ALWAYS worse than you think.

asiatic · 07/04/2012 18:19

I think an art gallery is an excellent place to take children, right from a young age.

i also think it sounds like this lady was actually listening to some sort of radio device or something.

Dawndonna · 07/04/2012 18:22

My DH has Asperger Syndrome, he'd do this, because he couldn't cope with the noise. So, maybe not being rude.

bobbledunk · 07/04/2012 18:28

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by Mumsnet for breaking our Talk Guidelines. Replies may also be deleted.

Tiago · 07/04/2012 18:28

Is it not a giant spider?

Laambkins · 07/04/2012 18:30

Rude!

AwkwardMaryHadAnEasterLamb · 07/04/2012 18:38

Bollocks to those who say art galleries are for adults! My DC LOVE visiting them...the sense of space and seeing great art is amazing for their development. Twats.

Ephiny · 07/04/2012 18:40

I have been known to put my fingers in my ears if a kid starts screaming right next to me. I'm sorry if it's rude but I'm quite sensitive to loud high-pitched noises, and they're actually painful to me sometimes (and if it's sudden it can be a more-or-less involuntary reaction on my part).

I'd probably try to have more tolerance/patience if I was working in a customer-facing role though, I guess in that kind of role you have to deal with all kinds of annoyances and put on a 'friendly' face even if it's the last thing you feel.

I have no problem with people taking children to galleries, they have as much right as anyone to be there. But when they get bored and start crying and playing up, it's probably time to go, for their sake and everyone else's.

WorraLiberty · 07/04/2012 18:41

Errrr yeah but the kid is 2??

They appreciate looking at their own snot at that age so it's probably best to understand that if you're going to take them somewhere their parents really want to visit, they will at times throw a hissy.

And when that hissy is thrown...other people around them might not really appreciate it.

PineCones · 07/04/2012 18:41

Bobbledunk- OP has already written a very sensible post after considering all the responses. It would nice if you could be bothered to go through the thread before bringing your rudeness to the thread.