Do people really consider it unreasonable to eat on the train?

[MyNewBearTotoro]

Reading another thread in which a poster mentioned eating on the train and I was really surprised by the responses calling her unreasonable/ antisocial for bringing food onto the train and the vitriol she was facing for this alone.

Do people really consider it unreasonable to eat on the train or is this just one of those 'only on Mumsnet' things?

I know it's not pleasant to be stuck next to someone eating smelly food, but equally lots of things are unpleasant on trains - being crammed in close to a stranger, oversized luggage, crying babies, other people's conversations, air-conditioning to high/low etc - but just because some people may find it unpleasant does that automatically make it unreasonable or anti-social?

In an ideal world people would not bring smelly food onto the train, but in an ideal world neither would people bring on crying babies/ noisy children etc but we are human and we need to eat, especially as many people will be making journeys over several hours long. Choices of food are usually limited by either what is available on board the train or what is available from the shops on/ around the station and sometimes hot or fast food is the only option available.

Obviously hot food is permitted on trains, my local train company has buffet carriages which sell hot food (including bacon rolls) and sandwiches (including tuna fish or egg mayo) for people to buy. So I'm not questioning whether it's allowed but I guess I'm curious as to whether people genuinely think it shouldn't be. And, considering it is allowed, are people who do eat on trains genuinely considered anti-social or unreasonable by some?

It is simply not going to work to have a list of sandwich fillings allowed or not allowed.
If we have a TaliZorah list you would find that others disagreed.

Mehitabel yes Tali is one of those posters who refuses to budge on her viewpoint whatsoever.

I have also been out most of the day yet she's still here...,

From what I can see on this thread the vast majority of people are NOT inconvenienced by others eating in trains.

I think anti-social behaviour is behaviour that is unnecessary, very unpleasant to most others and behaviour most reasonable people wouldn't engage in.

Eating is necessary. Eating smells are a little unpleasant to most but usually not so much that they feel unwell. In my experience most people also do eat on trains so most don't seem to consider it unreasonable.

It just doesn't meet the criteria for being anti-social in my eyes.

expat I beg of you please don't suggest nasty smelling garlic or vinegar to the delicate Tali!

Ps if I see you next week eating yummy caramel nuts on the tube I'll know it's you and say hi or flick my leopard print scarf!

Burger smells like burger to me too. I dislike MaccyD's so I wouldn't particularly get excited by the smell of one. I would just zone out. But I love tuna in any way shape or form and anyone eating a tuna sandwich would have me saying to myself "Damn. Why didn't I think to get one of those to eat on the train."

That's it.

A good job you are not in my house- I am just off to cook a fish pie!
I will leave you to it again. You must be on some very strange flights if no one eats!

I like the smell of chilli.

Perhaps Tali would like to give her list of permitted foods.

I think she has. It was fruit. And errrr bread. And carrotts. I think.

You have no idea how many people dislike it, as a lot of people won't say.

Rousette I do actually have pretty bad migraines. Id never heard of osmophobia, but sometimes smells have triggered migraines in me as well as just vomiting.

I had no idea it was connected to migraines

Tali. That is interesting. I think you honestly ought to go to the Dr's and mention this condition to them. Because (and I am honestly trying to be kind here) to vomit from just a waft of a smell of very normal food is very unusual. So you have to accept there is something wrong and try your damndest to see if you can get some help with eliminating this condition.

Then you can join us on trains for a great picnic of all the foods you've labelled as 'disgusting' in the past

'Ps if I see you next week eating yummy caramel nuts on the tube I'll know it's you and say hi or flick my leopard print scarf! grin'

I cannot wait to buy some of those spicy nuts being sold around London off those carts at Xmas. Mmmm. I invite others to share, they are delicious, on the Tube.

Oh, I'll be wearing a spritz of perfume, too. God help the world.

Rousette i think I'll mention it, like I said I had no idea. It makes sense though, I have a friend who has misophonia (I think that's what it's called) due to ear infections so I suppose it's a similar mechanism.

I still think it's a bit inconsiderate as you don't know if you're sitting next to someone who feels ill at the smell for whatever reason. I'll accept though that other people probably don't smell things as strongly given the link between that and migraines!

That's progress, yes Tali.

Also I think you have to realise that it's pretty rare so us eaters really aren't offending lots of people. Good luck with it.

Please see a doctor, Tali, what you describe is not normal and if you are modifying your diet like that you may be sabotaging your health.

I would see a doctor about it. Your children are going to get a very limited diet if cooking from scratch makes you vomit. Presumably anything with onion is out - and fish and any spices a complete no no.

Tali the thing is the vast majority of people are ok with it, if it were not ok you'd have a guard patrolling the eating of food or notices saying not to eat smelly food.

I do feel for you because I don't have your condition and it sounds unpleasant.

I would see the doctor as others have said.

expat I eat healthily, though I expect most people would say it's quite boring!

I will mention it next time I see someone, I didn't know a condition existed that can cause vomiting/illness as a reaction to smells until this thread. It does explain why some of you don't think it's a problem and others like me find smells awful

Mehitabel I'm actually okay with fish, onion and spices I don't usually eat or like the smell of. It does depend how it's cooked though.

It all goes to prove that we have different smells that we don't like. I love the smell of frying onions. I don't like cooking fish because the smell lingers- but I love fish to eat.

Please have a read of the above.

No.

Grow Up.

HTH

vod did you actually read that article?

He says its normal to eat on transport. And sites a burger as one of things it is ok to eat. It also says that people who get overly offended are equally Thatchers children as those eating left over curry.

On the whole, the article is, like most posters on this thread, pretty balanced.

You should consider others and not eat loudly or eat excessively messy food or food where the smell lingers long after the food has been consumed but similarly those who don't like people eating should consider that other people may be hungry and really need to eat.

I suspect it is commuting that is the real cause of the stress.

tali hope you get something sorted, migraines are grim. I get them too. Triggered by noise and or artificial lighting -but I don't expect others to live in silent darkness

You should keep a diary also to see if you smell sensitivity fluctuates with your hormones or other influences.

I know people find it annoying, but I still eat breakfast/dinner on the bus. I'm hungry. They'll deal.