Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Not to want to be grabbed...

36 replies

FrenchRuby · 07/07/2012 14:32

I'm quite heavily tattooed. I know I'm bound to get a reaction, positive or negative and to be honest, I'm not bothered either way, you either like tattoos or you don't. They're on my body so I'm not fussed if someone doesn't like them.
But the thing that annoys me is when some people notice my tattoos they start grabbing my arms and pulling them towards them. I get people pulling at my clothes, pushing up my sleeves to look further up my arms. I've even had one women move my top down so she can get a better look at my chest tattoos. Now is this just me being sensitive or is that completely out of order?
I've had some of my friends say stuff like 'I'd have told her to piss off' etc but that's not really me, I don't like being rude and I don't like confrontation.
I don't think I should have to cover myself up, as I said before, I don't mind people looking, obviously otherwise I would have got them in more discrete places. I don't even mind people asking questions about them, I get a lot of questions and to be honest I like telling people the stories of my tattoos. But I really think grabbing a complete stranger is a bit out of order. AIBU?

OP posts:
BonnieBumble · 07/07/2012 14:33

YANBU!

MsOnatopp · 07/07/2012 14:34

YANBU

susiedaisy · 07/07/2012 14:34

YANBU to not want to be grabbed, it's rude!

yellowraincoat · 07/07/2012 14:34

YANBU

People touching you uninvited is not ok.

If you don't want to say "piss off" maybe just say "excuse me" or "do you mind letting go of my arm"?

MammaTJ · 07/07/2012 14:35

YANBU!

It's like pregnant women having random strangers stroking the belly!!

EEUGH!!

FrenchRuby · 07/07/2012 14:36

That's what I thought! I used to hate when people touched my belly when I was pregnant.

OP posts:
WandaDoff · 07/07/2012 14:36

YANBU

paradisechick · 07/07/2012 14:36

Yanbu!

How would you react when a stranger takes an interest in your ink? Would you show it too then? Lift your own sleeves etc? I just ask as I love tattoos and looking at peoples art.

confusedpixie · 07/07/2012 14:37

YADNBU. How rude!

JeezyPeeps · 07/07/2012 14:37

Ask them 'what do you think you are doing?' - make them stop and think!

FrenchRuby · 07/07/2012 14:38

This probably sounds weird but I'm actually really shy haha so normally when people make comments on my tattoos (normally positive, people with negative opinions generally tend to just glare at me) I just say thanks and smile but if they ask if I have any more I'll show maybe the rest of my sleeve.

OP posts:
Casmama · 07/07/2012 14:39

I would just say " you can look but don't touch please" with a smile. Pretty non-confrontational but the message is clear I think.

Blueoctopus · 07/07/2012 14:39

YANBU I'm shocked that this actually happens, I never had the random bump stroking when I was pregnant eitherz

FrenchRuby · 07/07/2012 14:40

I used to get the bump stroking thing all the time, that annoyed me too.

OP posts:
Mrsjay · 07/07/2012 14:40

wow do people really do that how bloody rude I wouldnt dream of grabbing at somebody to look at a tattoo it is like going up to a stranger and say i love your hair and putting your hands through it, just tell them to get lost or words to that affect,

FrenchRuby · 07/07/2012 14:41

When I had bright blue hair I had some person in London take a photo of me... that was a bit weird.

OP posts:
susiedaisy · 07/07/2012 14:41

I detested random people rubbing or patting my bump when I was pregnantAngry

Blueoctopus · 07/07/2012 14:43

YANBU I'm shocked that this actually happens, I never had the random bump stroking when I was pregnant either.

Mrsjay · 07/07/2012 14:44

MY dd was constantly being patted onthe leg last week we were at a wedding she has a plaster cast on , she was getting mighty pissed off i had to sit infront of her like a guard dog Grin

lovebunny · 07/07/2012 14:58

assault. its an assault. tell them!

shrinkingnora · 07/07/2012 15:11

Have 'keep your fucking hands off' tattooed on? Joking apart it sounds horrible and creepy.

PomBearWithAnOFRS · 07/07/2012 16:49

Shout "Ow my tit" loudly. Or just slap their face/kick them in the shin and then go "oh my god I'm so sorry, I thought you were trying to grope me"
If you don't say or do anything, people will carry on doing it. I once had a really strange bloke try to bite one of mine off my arm, on a moving coach so I couldn't get away, but he stopped as soon as I shouted at him and stood up to him. If I hadn't said anything who knows what he would have done.
It's OK to "cause a scene" when someone grabs you against your will, really it is. We even tell this to children in the "stranger danger" talks - it's the same for adults. People rely on someone nt wanting to make a fuss to get away with all sorts of crap, don't let them. Make a big fuss, every time.

TheSpokenNerd · 07/07/2012 17:54

Grab them back.....I would. Pull their top or sleeve and say "Have you got any?"

HairyGrotter · 07/07/2012 17:58

YANBU

I have tattoos on my forearms and some have been known to grab my arm to take a look, it's very rude. I've a sharp tongue though, so it rarely happens. Maybe you look like a really nice person, I don't :)

FrenchRuby · 07/07/2012 18:28

PomBearWithAnOFRS that sounds scary!! I'm definitely not one to kick up a fuss but maybe I should from now on.

OP posts: