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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To have shouted at this person for taking more than 2 apples from my box of apples outside my

264 replies

BigRedBall · 28/09/2014 12:11

I have an apple tree in my garden which grows nice big cooking apples. We just moved here and I thought it would be nice to put a box outside our house for neighbours.

Anyway, I put a sign up saying "free to take, 2 per person" so all our neighbours got some.

I just saw a man come in a car and was piling up a tesco bag full of my apples and taking them to his boot.

I went running outside and asked him what he thought he was doing and to put them back. He looked at me and said it says free apples. I told him it's 2 per person. He just ignored me and sat in his car and drove off.

Now my box of apples is empty and some person who doesn't even live on my road has taken them all. I'm really not happy.

Why would someone do this? AIBU?

OP posts:

Moreisnnogedag · 28/09/2014 12:31

"I wanted everyone to see how generous I am"? Really? At least you're honest I suppose.

Round mine everyone has zillions of apples. I'd have to throw in a free chicken to get anyone interested in a bag of apples.

CookieB · 28/09/2014 12:31

Wow. You do something nice and for absolutely no gain and still people question your generosity?! I'd love it if 1 of my neighbours was this thoughtful. It would help me out on the days when I'm making packed lunches and find there is no fruit left.

WorraLiberty · 28/09/2014 12:32

Even if they are quite big

I need a minimum of 4 quite big apples to make a crumble

I don't mean to sound unkind, but you are coming across as a bit precious...though I still agree the man was greedy and probably making cider

Only1scoop · 28/09/2014 12:32

I've got visions of neighbours forming an orderly line for their two apples each....all Bowled over by your generosity

TinklyLittleLaugh · 28/09/2014 12:37

There are six of us, and I normally do a crumble big enough to last for two days. Two apples would be no good to me I'm afraid, but it's a nice gesture nonetheless.

Starlingsintheslipstream · 28/09/2014 12:37

Man was cheeky but I agree 4 for a crumble. Your sign is a bit odd, I wouldn't bother if I was only allowed 2.

Viviennemary · 28/09/2014 12:37

The trouble is once some people say the word 'free' all logic and sense of fair play goes out the window. Which is why I wouldn't put things on freecycle and would give them to charity or pass them on to a friend or sell them.

Gruntfuttock · 28/09/2014 12:38

The "2 apples per person" may well have put a lot of your neighbours off, because as others have said, there's not a lot you can do with only 2 cooking apples, so they would either have to take more or not take any at all. So I think that if that man hadn't taken them all, you may not have got rid of any of them. Still, at least if all the neighbours saw the box with the sign they will still know how generous you are, which is obviously the most important thing, even if they didn't feel they could take any themselves due to the limit you imposed.
So it was win/win if you think about it.

Original poster

BigRedBall · 28/09/2014 12:39

I took a picture of his number plate as he drove off...could I do something with it? I'm still feeling quite angry about this.

OP posts:

tattychicken · 28/09/2014 12:40

Leaving your apples out is a nice thing to do. I'm always grateful when my neighbours do it and like others, will take about 4 for a crumble. But they are offering them to us so they don't just rot and get wasted, they want th to be used. It was a bit greedy of that chap but a bit OTT in my book to chase after him and challenge him! And your comment 'I wanted them to see how generous I was..' is frankly a bit weird.

If you were my neighbour I think I'd steer clear of the apples......

Starlingsintheslipstream · 28/09/2014 12:40

As an aside, my apples have been rubbish this year. Loads have gone rotten on the tree .

gobbynorthernbird · 28/09/2014 12:41

I'd report him, OP. Or get the fuck over myself. Either way.

Scholes34 · 28/09/2014 12:41

Anyone putting out apples like this usually has more than they know what to do with. I'd consider my neighbour thoughtful for putting out a box. I'd only consider my neighbour "generous" if they were offering actual apple pies or crumbles ready-made and for free!

Taking away the apples means you're doing a favour so they don't have to bin them themselves.

SvenandSven · 28/09/2014 12:41

I'm afraid you have just had a life lesson there. Your motive was all wrong. Genuine people do not tend to think what can I give to make me look good. Next time take the apples to your neighbours and ask if they would like some. That way you can also actually talk to them.

BravePotato · 28/09/2014 12:44

What can you do with 2 cooking apples?

Pointless, no?

Still, nice to share your apples

KnackeredMuchly · 28/09/2014 12:45

No you can't do anything with his number plate

MmeMorrible · 28/09/2014 12:45

Why do you need everyone to see how generous you are? Why use the lesser apples yourself and put the bigger, nicer ones on display? If you don't want or need them why do you care how many per person or who takes them?

Putting surplus apples out for the rest of community to benefit from is great. Putting on a show of apparent generosity when actually you're doing it to make yourself look good is much less so.

MrsSchadenfreude · 28/09/2014 12:45

Two is not enough to do anything with. It's not enough for a crumble, for chutney, blackberry and apple jam or anything, apart perhaps from adding to mincemeat. I've never seen free apples limited before. I'd have taken a bag and given you a jar of chutney to say thank you! Maybe the man will do the same?

amyhamster · 28/09/2014 12:45

"I wanted everyone to see how generous I am"?

Why?
Why do you give a shite if your neighbours think your generous?
& taking a pic of us number plate?! Really are you going to phone the police about apples
do you have nothing else to worry about

DancingDinosaur · 28/09/2014 12:46

You took a photo of his number plate? For taking free apples? I don't believe you. Surely no ones lives are so void of activity that they have the time to build up a frothy rage about some free apples? You don't sound generous you just sound odd.

tattychicken · 28/09/2014 12:46

I hate reverse AIBUs...

Only1scoop · 28/09/2014 12:47

Sadly I don't think this is....

BravePotato · 28/09/2014 12:47

A picture of his number plate?

Report him???

LOL, that sounds bizarre

If I were to write a comedy on life in the village, this would feature. Terribly funny.

mommy2ash · 28/09/2014 12:47

I think you had the wrong motive for giving them away. report him for what taking free apples? come on seriously. I agree two is a weird number not enough to do anything with. I wouldn't have taken any if I could only have two.

Pobblewhohasnotoes · 28/09/2014 12:47

In my village back home neighbours leave boxes of apples out all the time, I've never seen a number limit, it's just help yourself.

Two apples is hardly going to make a decent crumble. What are you going to do? Report him? You'll get laughed at.

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