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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to be pissed off at this 'practical joke'

26 replies

FlumpingEll · 23/06/2013 22:18

My brother is staying with me at the moment. Today he decided to teach me a lesson not to leave my mobile phone on the windowsill when the window is open. (yes I know, not very wise)

I came downstairs from putting baby to bed to discover all of the blinds were pulled through the open window which I found odd, then noticed straight away my phone was missing, cue me pulling the sofa out and pulling all the cushions off like a crazed woman. I tried to ring it and it went straight to voicemail. At this point I started to get really emotional, not because of the phone itself but because it is full of pictures and videos of dd from being newborn. It also left me shaken that somebody had leaned through my window to steal it.

I was just about to call my network to block the phone (and probably the police) when my brother admitted he had it all along.

I should have been relieved but im just so angry with him, and also think he is a little strange for thinking it through the way he did and going into so much detail, blinds pulled through, phone turned off etc

At least I will know never to leave valuables near open windows again, the lesson did work...

OP posts:
tupuedes · 23/06/2013 22:20

Kick him out and let him sleep in the garden, to teach him a lesson about not being a cock to the host when you're a guest in their house.

Souredstones · 23/06/2013 22:21

Yabu

Well played that man! Great way to teach you to be more careful!! It clearly worked too!!

Nanny0gg · 23/06/2013 22:23

And back up your photos...

50shadesofbrown · 23/06/2013 22:24

Sorry but I think YABU a bit. Leaving it on the windowsill with the window open was silly.
He went way OTT with the blinds etc though, not really necessary IMO.

At least you'll not do it again.

hellhasnofurylikeahungrywoman · 23/06/2013 22:25

There would've bern no point in not making it authentic, be grateful it was him you have your phone and all it contains.

usualsuspect · 23/06/2013 22:27

What a twat.

Tell him to.keep his hands off your stuff in future.

RevoltingPeasant · 23/06/2013 22:30

Sounds like a bit of an arse, frankly. Adults don't "teach each other lessons". They say "hey, you know your phone might not be secure there" and then leave the other person to sort themselves out.

Sounds like the sort of thing I'd do to a 9yo to teach her about looking after her possessions or something.

McNewPants2013 · 23/06/2013 22:31

back up your photos, you cant get them back again and it's so easy.

It has given you a wake up call, don't leave valuables near an open window.

WorraLiberty · 23/06/2013 22:33

It worked, that's all I can say.

I can understand you being angry, but I'd like to think once you calmed down you realised he only had one person's best interests at heart, and that's yours.

If the phone had really been stolen you'd be beside yourself right now.

So back up the photos (1st lesson) and don't leave the phone there again.

usualsuspect · 23/06/2013 22:34

Pack his bags to teach him a lesson about being a such an idiot.

usualsuspect · 23/06/2013 22:34

If her phone had been stolen, the thief would have been to blame.

Doodledumdums · 23/06/2013 22:37

Sorry, but I think you are being a bit unreasonable, I doubt he meant for it to upset you Smile

My db looked after my cat for a week while I went on holiday, and nearly three weeks later I am STILL being caught out by all of the practical jokes that he set up!

usualsuspect · 23/06/2013 22:38

He could have just moved it if he was bothered about it being stolen.

I would have been more than pissed off with him.

sweetestcup · 23/06/2013 22:39

But why did you keep leaving it there in the first place? I do think YABU if it has worked which it clearly has!

WeleaseWodger · 23/06/2013 22:43

It's not a practical joke. And he's not your father. If you said he was your partner or boyfriend, few posts in someone would be asking "Is he always this controlling?" Ask him to take out the trash and lock him out without money or phone. See how he likes petty, controlling behaviour.

quoteunquote · 23/06/2013 22:44

well next time he leaves his phone by an open window you have the green light to go ahead,

put him to work backing up your photos.

Original poster
FlumpingEll · 23/06/2013 22:44

I know it was silly to leave it there, but was just a snap decision as I needed my hands free and was nearest place, it was still daylight, I live down a quiet street and it never crossed my mind it would get stolen tbh.

I was angry because in that time I thought it had been stolen, I didn't feel safe in my own home. I was only upstairs for 20 minutes so thought the 'thief' could still be close by, realised I had other windows open (been very warm today) etc.

He has done me a favour because will be a lot more safety conscious from now on, but im still mad about it.

Photos have now been backed up though Smile

OP posts:
ENormaSnob · 23/06/2013 22:45

Maybe teach him a lesson in behaving whilst being a guest in someone elses house.

usualsuspect · 23/06/2013 22:47

I would have felt the same as you OP, how horrible of him to make you feel unsafe in your own home.

mathanxiety · 23/06/2013 22:52

What an eejity thing to do. In fact quite cruel.

You were busy with the baby fgs. It was a horrible and really inappropriate thing to do. If he wanted to be helpful and not superior and self satisfied and more than a little creepy he could have made you a pot of tea while you were busy with the baby.

How long is he staying?
Are you cooking and doing laundry for him?

Original poster
FlumpingEll · 23/06/2013 22:55

Thanks usual

I don't think he was expecting me to get so upset about it, think he thought I would have a quick search for it and then he would hand it over. I discovered the 'crime scene' while he was in a different room though. He has said sorry and that he was just trying to point out it isn't safe to leave it there, agree with the posters who said he could have just told me that though.

OP posts:
AmyFarrahFowlerCooper · 23/06/2013 23:50

I think it was mean of him but positive things have come from it! You've backed up your photos as and you won't leave your phone in a silly place anymore. He could have just told you but it probably wouldn't have had that same impact.

BoysAreLikeDogs · 24/06/2013 01:34

What a shitty trick

Yes yes, ofc back up your pictures, think about securing your property but to make you believe you'd had an intruder - horrible.

NB tuck phone into one of yer bra cups (top tip)

Wibblypiglikesbananas · 24/06/2013 01:46

What a nasty thing to do - though perhaps it was with the best of intentions. It sounds like his 'joke' got out of hand, but personally I wouldn't have been very happy at all. I'm guessing he doesn't have children - anyone who did would know that the only thing you want after finally getting them to bed is a sit down and a cuppa or wine, not a fake crime scene!

SouthStar · 24/06/2013 01:48

Brothers are horrible. Mine is 32 and he still pranks me at any given moment.