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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:
Peacheykeen · 12/08/2015 22:28

Oooh maybe Emma is the teenage daughter that the op mentioned.

drudgetrudy · 12/08/2015 22:29

Yes-I am going to take a long train journey on Friday. I was looking forward to a peaceful time. I am now relishing the prospect of meeting a second seat hogger.

AngieBolen · 12/08/2015 22:30

Eh? Are you being unreasonable about what, OP?

You seem quite certain you are totally unreasonable.

I told her that she was rude and entitled and asked if she expected the train to herself.

Grin

You and the huffy-puffy lady sound as bad as each other OP.

RonaldosAbs · 12/08/2015 22:31

Mehitabel6

My DD is an "Emma battler", her last incident was climbing over some precious princess and leaving a wet London dirt footprint on her precious little lap. She just will not have it and I am glad she takes that attitude.

The woman tried to complain, the people laughed at her. I always like to see these people who think "nobody will mess with me" actually get confronted for their behavior, they normally cry and stomp their feet.

It's actually quite dangerous to behave like this, how tough will the Emmas of the world be when someone actually gets violent with them, not very I'm guessing.

YourMaNoBraBackOfMyCar · 12/08/2015 22:33

I know it's not the same thing but Emma reminded me of something I saw 2-3 years ago. I saw a middle aged couple with presumably their grandchildren nicely ask four teenage girls to vacate the seats they'd reserved. They told them in no uncertain terms to piss off. The lady didn't say anything else. She seated her family in random spare seats, went back, hauled herself onto the table and just sat there. I caught her eye and she smiled and said "to be fair I just wanted the table anyway". One of the girls called her a weirdo and the woman didn't look at her just said "Oh no. I've mistakenly given you the idea that I give two shits about your opinion". They were made to move anyway but I think they were about to give up as two of the girls kept saying to move seats.

ReginaBlitz · 12/08/2015 22:36

Tbh if she eye rolled Eric I probably would have said something but not all of what you said. She should have moved up they were sitting like that obviously to stop anyone else sitting there. And to the poster that said she wouldn't move as she won't let someone she didn't know sit next to her.. Get a fucking car it's public transport you don't get to chose who sits next to you Hmm

Daisydottle · 12/08/2015 22:38

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LondonRocks · 12/08/2015 22:38

Jeez - those of you who ttreasure your personal space that much need to travel by car. Don't go on bloody public transport. And, yep, you are entitled if you think your space is more important than others' right to sit.

Strokethefurrywall · 12/08/2015 22:39

Emma is it because you're so overweight that you take up two seats?? I think that might be it because otherwise I can't work out your cryptic "believe me you wouldn't be sitting next to me" responses.
But assuming you're not overweight and just a cunt, I'd have no problem dragging you out of the seat by your hair if I had to. Confrontation doesn't bother me really especially if it gets in the way of a comfy seat.

Larrytheleprechaun · 12/08/2015 22:40

It baffles me why someone would hog two seats rather than allow a person to sit down. Surely it is the most basic courtesy and manners to move over and let them sit down, rather than sit there and leave them standing?

kungfupannda · 12/08/2015 22:42

If I ever encounter Emma on a train, I'm going to re-enact the scene from the Austin Powers film, where he's on the bed with whatserface.

'Oops, I've fallen over. Oops, I've fallen over again. Oh no, there I go, falling over on you again.'

WantToGetLost · 12/08/2015 22:45

Tbh she started the rudeness so after all goes.

LavenderLeigh · 12/08/2015 22:46

I had an "Emma" on my way home tonight. She didn't want to move her bag to let me sit on the last seat. So I made as if I was going to sit down on top if it, at which point she moved it really quickly.
Her bag versus tired old me? No contest.
Cue lots of huffing and puffing from her. I just sat there reading MN on my phone and ignored her.

I smell lovely, btw.

Daisydottle · 12/08/2015 22:46

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Daisydottle · 12/08/2015 22:47

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Sorka · 12/08/2015 22:51

YANBU OP (though I do think some of your initial posts were a bit confusing, which is where people have gotten a bit side-tracked).

If there's an empty seat on my train I'm sitting on it. I don't care how much someone wants 'personal space' - I won't be standing. I specifically aim for window seats if I have an option, since there are always people stood the whole way up the aisles and I don't want bags and bums in my face. It's made much worse by the fact there's a buffet car on my train, and people who are obviously starving can't possibly wait until the train is past the first stop and instead clamber over everyone to get to the food. This means the people in the aisles then have to cram into the aisle seats to make room for the starving poeple to go past. I'm always miffed when I ask to sit down and the person in the aisle seat moves over. They're obviously aiming for two seats for themselves and I (silently) judge them.

I have before seen a few special snowflakes who think they can have an extra seat for their bags, or just for 'personal space'. Each and every time a person like that has refused to move they have ended up being moved, often after a blazing row and load of other commuters telling them how out of order they are. I've also seen seats saved for 'a friend' or someone who's 'just popped to the loo'. If no one turns up when the trains moving, someone will have that seat too.

BastardGoDarkly · 12/08/2015 22:52

Op YWNBU.

People that don't automatically make it easier for others to sit down, pregnant/smelly/old or not, are wankers.

DragonRojo · 12/08/2015 22:52

Emma, I am happy to climb over people like you. You clearly don't come across many angry London commuters. If there is a free seat, I will take it, whether you are in the aisle or not. I have been know to deposit my areas on the top of someone's Mulberry before.

Bakeoffcake · 12/08/2015 22:54

Hahahahahhaahah, I'm just imaging Emma on a rush hour train into London.

All those patient, smiley people on their sunny journey into work, of course they'd just let you take up two seats. you'd be toast Grin

Pneumometer · 12/08/2015 22:55

if I don't want somebody i don't know sitting next to me then they won't, end of. Stop being a bloody drama queen.

Do you buy two seats when you travel?

Sorka · 12/08/2015 22:56

Yep, London commuter here Grin

MudCity · 12/08/2015 23:02

I am astounded at Emma's attitude. If she won't move over to let someone have a seat on a busy train, then goodness knows what else she won't do to help a fellow citizen.

She sounds very, very bitter and deeply unpleasant.

Pneumometer · 12/08/2015 23:06

I am astounded at Emma's attitude. If she won't move over to let someone have a seat on a busy train

Those of a certain age will recall Ben Elton's piece about "double seat, double seat, got to get a double seat".

MrsKoala · 12/08/2015 23:11

What I'm interested to know is why would anyone want to or forcefully push themselves next to a total stranger who clearly does not want that person to sit next to them?

Confused

You do realise people aren't pushing past because they want to sit next to YOU, or whoever 'does not want them' in the seat. Whether anyone wants them in the seat is totally irrelevant surely. It does not even come in to my head to think what this random stranger wants . They simply cannot have 2 seats to themselves regardless of their personal ishoos regarding people.

I do love all the 'you just wouldn't, end of' tough talk tho. Are you channeling Peggy Mitchell? Because you just sound like a bit of a berk. It most certainly wouldn't work on me or my DH and if you said it to my Dad you may actually be forcefully yanked out of the seat, assault or not. Shock not condoning my fathers violence of course, i've seen him physically drag someone out of a taxi and frisbee their luggage across the road in Victoria after a particularly long and harrowing journey back from holiday

MoralityPlay · 12/08/2015 23:15

Has this thread reminded anyone else of 'The Big Man'. I think he might be needed on Emma's train.

BBC link with short video