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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think that "oi" is the rudest way to get someone's attention?

36 replies

Koothrapanties · 20/07/2014 09:23

Dh has accidentally said "oi" to get my attention twice through our whole relationship, and I have been quite outraged. He obviously didn't mean to, and usually addresses me in a much nicer way, but doesn't really see the problem with it.

He also said "oi" to get baby dds attention a couple of days ago when she was about to do something a bit hazardous. I asked him not to as I think it's very disrespectful. She is 9 months and knows her name, it works perfectly well to say, "Dd's name, no!". Again, he didn't really see the issue.

Finally he seems to have realised how awful it sounds as we just heard one of our neighbours scream at her ds, "OI!!! NO!" and then kept just shouting, "OI!".

I hate it! It's one of those things that I get a really strong involuntary response to. Anyone else or aibu?

OP posts:
LadyWithLapdog · 20/07/2014 09:24

YANBU. It should be 'excuse me, dear. If you wouldn't mind awfully...'

Namechangearoonie123 · 20/07/2014 09:25

I'm sure others feel like you. But we're all different and it wouldn't occur to me it was disrespectful.

Fruityb · 20/07/2014 09:28

I think in a quick situation where you have to stop something happening then I use it. I also use it to get a group of kids ' attention when I'm at work. I don't have time to say all their names and it tends to make them jump enough to stop!

That said I wouldn't like it if someone got mine like that instead of saying hello or excuse me if they wanted to ask me something. But in a more difficult situation or I was about to do something I shouldn't it would shock me enough to get my attention.

Original poster
Koothrapanties · 20/07/2014 09:28

Lady, I wouldn't want him to say all that if dd was about to hurt herself, but I just hate "oi!".

OP posts:
Alisvolatpropiis · 20/07/2014 09:29

I dunno "er HELLO shithead?!" would definitely be more rude. I've heard it said, not to me though!

abigamarone · 20/07/2014 09:35

It's a phrase I only use when the person I'm trying to speak to is being an ignorant wassock.

GoringBit · 20/07/2014 09:37

Oi is definitely a bit common off, but what about whistling to get someone's attention? It's one of my pet hates, and a friend tried it with me once - just the once, mind you...

chesterberry · 20/07/2014 09:39

I think it depends how it's used. It can definitely be used in a way which is rude but I think there are situations and tones of voice when it's perfectly okay as an informal way of getting someone's attention.

Original poster
Koothrapanties · 20/07/2014 09:40

Alis I think I would object to shithead too, but there aren't that many people who think that is acceptable. I hear oi all the time!

OP posts:
Original poster
Koothrapanties · 20/07/2014 09:41

Goring whistling isn't great either, no. It makes me think they are addressing a dog.

OP posts:
JoeyMaynardsghost · 20/07/2014 09:45

My ex would shout OI and if that got ignored, he would then click his fingers. Which also got ignored. He didn't seem to work out that when he didn't say my name but reverted to OI and then clicking was when I ignored him. The instant he said my name was when I responded.

I used to work with someone who would click his fingers at his children to get their attention. Could never work out why that was meant to work when they have perfectly good names!

ddubsgirl77 · 20/07/2014 09:47

Yep get this at work and being whistled at aswell ?? no need for it we have 1 guy that taps his ring on the glass counter told him not to incase it breaks! Twat still does it

Original poster
Koothrapanties · 20/07/2014 09:49

Ugh! Clicking fingers! Another pet hate. So rude! Especially those special sort of arseholes who do it at waitresses as if they are an inferior species not deserving of respect. Grr.

OP posts:
FriendlyAmoeba · 20/07/2014 09:51

Depends, is DD's name more than one syllable? It might be quicker to say an attention getter than her name.

GoringBit · 20/07/2014 09:51

Exactly kooth, he used to do it with his DS. It would drive me crackers, but it was one of their 'things', and DS was certainly old enough and confident enough to stop it if he wanted to. Takes all sorts...

WhizzPopBang · 20/07/2014 09:53

YANBU... Oi isn't great, but whistling and clicking fingers are worse IMO. I hate it when people whistle at DD to get her attention, she's not a puppy!

ithoughtofitfirst · 20/07/2014 09:54

It's not the best.

Funny though.

Branleuse · 20/07/2014 09:54

what about OI OI SAVELOY

ExcuseTypos · 20/07/2014 09:56

It jars with me too. DH was a farmer when we met and he sometimes used to shout this at me, he used it a lot with the animals, so didn't realise he was doing it.

When he started using it with dd I did make him stop though. It sounds awful, but I do agree it gets someone's attention very quickly.

coldwater1 · 20/07/2014 09:56

I don't find it offensive at all. I just can't seem to get irritated over words, they are just that, words.

Boaty · 20/07/2014 10:00

Customers shout Oi, whistle or snap their fingers all the time at work...makes me bristle! Angry

Alisvolatpropiis · 20/07/2014 10:02

Clicking fingers is the worst. When a former boyfriend clicked his fingers at a waitress, it was one of the final nails in the coffin of our short lived relationship.

Original poster
Koothrapanties · 20/07/2014 10:04

Dds name is two syllables, but we mainly call her a one syllable shortened version. There's no excuse!

OP posts:
Original poster
Koothrapanties · 20/07/2014 10:05

Bran oi oi savaloy is a tried and tested pick up line in my neck of the woods. Grin

OP posts:
Bowlersarm · 20/07/2014 10:07
Grin

Why has this thread made me laugh so much?

YANBU, OP, but it's making me continue to snort with laughter for some strange reason Confused