To think this man was just rude?

[QuestioningStuff]

Shopping with DC earlier, we got to the cereal aisle and I asked DS (3yo) what cereal he wanted. I knew full well that he would say Weetabix as that's what he always has.

A man butted in before DS could answer and told me I should give him oats and fruit. That all these cereals are bad for them. I told him to mind his own business and took the weetabix. He called after me that I was rude. I said he was rude to comment on what a stranger feeds their child.

WIBU? He was rude wasn't he? I will be the first to admit that we don't live off of Kale and Chia Seeds (whatever the hell they are) but it's Weetabix ffs!

[wowfudge]

Six of one, half a dozen of the other. But he volunteered his opinion when he should have kept it buttoned. You should have picked up a box of Kraze or some other shite.

[NadiaWadia]

Well, he was probably correct, but how weird to comment on a stranger's shopping! Fair enough to tell him to mind his own business.

[hedgehogsdontbite]

I would have picked the biggest box of sugar puffs I could find and laughed maniacally as I put them in the trolly. (and sneaked back to change them once he'd gone)

[ItchyArmpit]

I count 4 breaches of etiquette.

1. He was a sanctimonious, interfering, patronising tosser.
   
2. You were quite rude.
   
3. He was rude for a second time (calling someone rude is in itself impolite, according to Miss Manners)
   
4. You were also rude for a second time.
   
   Overall, seeing as he started it, I think you win

[catfordbetty]

I think Weetabix is at the good end of the cereal spectrum, isn't it? Goodness knows what he would have said if you'd been buying choco-sugar-honey-syrup nutflakes. Some people are very hard to please.

[WhoTheFuckIsSimon]

Maybe he was keen to chat you up and this was the only way he could think to start a conversation? Maybe he just engages his mouth before his brain? Maybe he was genuinely trying to be helpful?

[QuestioningStuff]

at devils foreskin LOL

And I'm not riled, honestly. I am giving up smoking so have very little patience but even so I can't see why he would think it was an appropriate thing to do.

[Seriouslyffs]

I had a very short lived campaign to educate people on the evils of bottled water (waste/ tap water is pure in the UK etc.)
I never got a rude response but I learned too much about strangers' digestion (tap water causes constipation apparently )
I don't comment on others baskets now!

[saucony]

He was rude but you were rude back.

[GoodnightDarthVader]

If anyone feels the need to comment on what I'm buying in the supermarket they can get stuffed, unless I ask them directly for their opinion.

[Pilgit]

What an odd thing to do. Also weetabix is at the better end with no added sugar....

[claraschu]

I agree withWhothefuck. This is his chat up line.

[Summerwood1]

Bit rude maybe.

[MascaraAndConverse]

I think it depends on how he said it really. Was he arsey and obnoxious when he said it, or was he just making a bit of polite conversation? (albeit unnecessary and unwanted, but people pop up like this all the time and you just have to learn to smile and shrug it off)

[QuestioningStuff]

Chat up line?! I've come across some corkers in my time but ill judged cereal recommendation?

[alltoomuchrightnow]

of course he was rude. I was in the opinion that Weetabix was v healthy!

[QuestioningStuff]

He wasn't aggressive or anything but his tone was (I felt) very patronising.

[Haboose]

Depends on how he said it. If he said in a very authoritative voice "You SHOULDN'T Feed your child with cereals, they are bad. Oats and fruit are the BEST!". Then it is rude.
But perhaps he was just an opinionated man who thought he was being a nice helpful man sharing his wisdom with a seemingly young undecided mum about what is best to feed her child. He didn't realise you were playing a game with your child. Probably thought you were thinking out loud. In which case, your answer was rather unnecessary aggressive.

[BlahBlahUsername]

Unsolicited comments like that often deserve a bit of rudeness. If she was being rude - she only told him to mind his own business. It was a conversation between parent and child and absolutely none of his business.

Perhaps he'll think twice before attempting to parent other people's children in future. (He probably won't.)

[LadyLonely1]

You were much ruder.

[OnlyLovers]

He was a rude twat and what you said was fine.

[Itisbetternow]

He wasn't rude. You were. He was just making a comment. He might have fancied you and that was the first thing that came out of his mouth. If he swore at you or called your child a name then that would be rude.

[WindyMillersProbationOfficer]

I don't know in what world I'd think it was ok to comment negatively on a stranger's shopping. Of course you weren't rude.

[tibbawyrots]

That would be time for The Look and "I was talking to my child, thank you" in icy tones.

Or ignore him.

[OnlyLovers]

No, honestly, it IS rude to tell a total stranger, uninvited, that they 'should' do anything, not to mention yelling after them as they walk away to try to avoid more conflict.