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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Woman on train

261 replies

holidaysareoverated · 12/08/2015 20:57

DH and I took our toddler on the train today. The train wasn't super busy but there were no free seats so we walked to the next carriage. A woman and her teenage daughter were sitting at a table for four. So we approached and asked them to move over so that we could sit in the two free seats.
The woman started sighing and eye rolling at her daughter as though we were being complete pains in the arse. I told her that she was rude and entitled and asked if she expected the train to herself. Her daughter then started saying " she only sighed, she is allowed to sigh". The woman herself remained silent and then said exasperatedly "there's so much space!", which there was in the aisles. There were no other free seats at all.
AIBU to have fantasised about spilling my coffee all over them? I can't believe she thought a pregnant woman with a toddler should stand up so that she and her daughter could have a table for four to themselves!

OP posts:
TTTatty · 12/08/2015 21:18

You were completely unreasonable to ask them to move. There were free seats. Sit in them! If they are not to your liking then tough!

ThatJustAintCricket · 12/08/2015 21:18

So Emma you would make a pregnant woman with a child stand so you had a free seat next to you?

YANBU OP, I spent most of the weekend on the tube and was glad to see every pregnant lady/parent with very young child offered a seat straight away, despite the trains being hot and crowded.

VerityWaves · 12/08/2015 21:19

You had your seats - they moved for you. Prople are allowed to eye roll without a mouthful from you.
You sound like the entitled one in this scenario - people are not obliged to move seats for you and your son.

Iliveinalighthousewiththeghost · 12/08/2015 21:19

I can see both sides. You're pregnant and needed a seat. That's fair enough. That mother was once pregnant herself. I think she must have forgotten that.
However no-one likes their private space getting invaded, for whatever reason. I certainly don't. They could have been having a private conversation. I think I'd have sighed as well.

VodkaValiumLattePlease · 12/08/2015 21:20

Tttatty what bloody seats? She said the only seats were on this four table, one being on the aisle the other the window. What was supposed to do, clamber over them?!? Read the thread before you pile on someone!

ToadsJustFellFromTheSky · 12/08/2015 21:21

I don't want somebody i don't know sitting next to me then they won't, end of.

Even if the seat beside you is the only empty one? So you'd tell them "tough, you have to stand"? What if they ignored your request and sat down anyway?

The OP may be a drama queen but you don't sound any better yourself. You sound like hard work.

ShellyBobbs · 12/08/2015 21:22

I agree with you op. Cheeky cow rolling her eyes.

TTTatty · 12/08/2015 21:23

Thanks. No, funny enough she was not supposed to clamber over them but politely ask to get to the free seat. What she wanted was to sit together. You don't necessarily get to do that.
As I said, there were two free seats. Last to the table do not get to dictate where everyone sits. Entitled much :-/

EmmaU123 · 12/08/2015 21:24

And, Doreen? I don't want some smelly old man or woman sitting next to me so, like is said, they won't!

WayneRooneysHair · 12/08/2015 21:24

TBH you both sound entitled but I obviously understand that you wanted to sit down.

ToadsJustFellFromTheSky · 12/08/2015 21:24

You were NBU to ask her to move.

YWBVU to try and pick a fight. Just sit down.

AlbrechtDurer · 12/08/2015 21:24

I think you need to ensure that you never travel on public transport again, Emma. Can't believe that you would expect someone to stand so that you can have two seats to yourself.

Original poster
holidaysareoverated · 12/08/2015 21:26

Some of you need to read the thread. There were NO other free seats except the two at this particular table. It was that or stand up. We had already walked from another carriage.
I sat down in the empty aisle seat next to the daughter. DH who was carrying the toddler said " excuse me could I sit down please" to the woman who was sitting in the opposite aisle seat blocking the free window seat. She had the choice whether to shift over or get up and let DH sit in the window seat. We didn't dictate where she went. We got lots of heavy sighing and eye rolling as she got up and let him in. I only called her rude when she then made me get up and switch seats with her daughter ( who was happy sat in her original seat by the window). This was again done with lots of sighing and eye rolling and by telling her daughter to sit in the aisle. She was the rude one. She could have asked me if I would switch seats and I would have. Instead she acted like a brat who thought the train carriage was laid on for her.

OP posts:
VodkaValiumLattePlease · 12/08/2015 21:26

Tttatty can you please point out where she asks to sit together?

TTTatty · 12/08/2015 21:26

Emma - I assume you pay for two tickets then? Because otherwise the seats are not owned by you. You don't get to say who sits in them

SingSongSlummy · 12/08/2015 21:27

Emma you sound awful, selfish and rude!

ToadsJustFellFromTheSky · 12/08/2015 21:27

And, Doreen? I don't want some smelly old man or woman sitting next to me so, like is said, they won't!

If you don't want "some smelly old man or woman" sitting next to you then move or get off.

It's PUBLIC transport, not your own private transport.

What would you do if you told the "smelly old man or woman" that they couldn't sit next to you but they sat down anyway?

You really have some nerve calling anyone else a drama queen.

VodkaValiumLattePlease · 12/08/2015 21:28

And for the people that don't want to sit next to someone, guess what? In first class there are single seats, so you want the privilege? Pay up.

TTTatty · 12/08/2015 21:28

In the OP she says about asking the two people at the table to move next to each other as opposed to diagonally opposite so the OP can have both seats of one side of the table. Or that is how I understand the OP?

OttiliaVonBCup · 12/08/2015 21:28

Well Emma, if you feel so strongly about strange people sitting next to you then maybe it's time to get on your own private train?

ilovesooty · 12/08/2015 21:28

I can't believe Emma is serious. Surely no one really behaves like that.

YBR · 12/08/2015 21:28

I travel by train frequently and it is irritating how many people think their ticket entitles them to 2 (or more) seats. The Un - written rule is to not be baited by eye - rolling or similar antics. Just don't fall for it. Be unfailingly and unreasonably polite.

CustardLover · 12/08/2015 21:28

This thread is bringing out the best in people. Much like crowded public transport in fact.

WayneRooneysHair · 12/08/2015 21:29

Actually I've changed my mind, OP YANBU.

If I asked to sit down next to someone like Emma and she said no then I would anyway, what would she do< push me - a disabled person on the floor?

fastdaytears · 12/08/2015 21:29

Emma what will you say when the ticket collecting person points out that you have to let someone occupy an unoccupied seat? They are pretty hot on this round here and will stand there until people move their bags etc.