To think street parties are completely awful?

[TheHuntingOfTheSarky]

So, our road is having a street party today. The road is closed and lots of people have been up and about this morning stringing bunting from every available place and setting up their BBQs.

Anyway, I hate it. I want to spend the day with all the curtains drawn watching Netflix, drinking wine out of the bottle and eating pizza. But I can't because it's "for the children" and my DDs have been looking forward to it for weeks and most of the activities (oh yes, there's a tug of war and everything) are happening right outside our house. So I am going to have to show my face (at least for a bit), make small talk with the neighbours and pretend to be enjoying myself.

I know, I know. I'm a miserable old cow. But I can socialise properly when I want to, I promise. I just like to do it with people I actually like rather than people I just happen to live on the same road with. Every time I tell friends how I feel they just laugh and say "oh don't be silly, it sounds like great fun, you'll have a lovely time" or think I'm joking and actually I can't wait until it starts. No one understands!

I'm probably BVU aren't I?

yes YABU, it's only a few hours out of your whole life. I'd prefer a street party to rows of neighbours who blank each other

We are having ours tomorrow and it's taken a lot of work to organise but we are hoping that everyone will have fun, especially the kids, and bring a feel of community.Stay indoors if you don't want to join in, ask some of the neighbour's who are joining in to keep an eye on your kids as they seem keen to join in.

I wouldn't want to go to one but I imagine kids love it and I'd love the opportunity to close my street to rat runners for the day

YANBU.

Come to Scotland. We don't have street parties. And it's raining.

Yes yabu. Come and live on my street where the miserable neighbours don't even say hello yet alone (gasp) socialise. Go out and enjoy it it once in a blue moon!

. Sweetie you beat me to it!

This is the 5th one we've had. Started with the Diamond Jubilee in 2012 and now it seems to be a "thing" regardless whether or not there's a reason to celebrate.

The girls do love being able to scoot up and down all day and I honestly don't begrudge anyone enjoying themselves. I am just super-awful at making small talk

There aren't any around here at all (I've googled several times) and both me and DH remember the ones in 1977 with great happy brilliant colourful memories.

I have loads of childhood memories of lovely events we used to hold where I grew up but my children have very few.

They would love to see some of that community happiness instead of the usual miserable gits complaining about kids playing/making noise etc

Yanbu

my dc wont go either, they are cool teens, so that is our excuse. i am quite sad about it, but then again I wouldnt go

I wish that I still lived in a neighbourhood that did this sort of thing, my estate is shit.

I can remember the 1977 celebrations and even though I grew up five minutes away from where I am now and there was real poverty, people were, all round nicer people.

Likewise I've lived in areas, where we'd get a swimming pool out, in the street and all pitch in with sandwiches etc.

'We've' got more income now, but a lot more discontentment and jealousy/dislike towards our neighbours.

YABU, what in gods name is the harm?

It's pissing down here!

YANBU OP.

YANBU.

I also hate that forced sense of community when 99% of the time neighbours either ignore each other or actively moan about each other. If your street actually communicates in this day and age and it's not some sort of twee attempt to be patriotic (see Royal Wedding, Jubilee, Olympics, most football tournaments) even though you want to rip each others faces off, then I can see the appeal (and would probably join in).

We've had decades of being told to "be suspicious" of people and now it seems that given half the chance, we're told by supermarkets and media that we should suddenly all come together to celebrate something most people couldn't give a shit about. I find it all a bit contrived to be honest.

Peeing down here.

There was a thread a while back about how awfully common it is even to sit outside in your front garden.

And drinking alcohol in the street seems to be frowned upon generally.

But it is okay to do the above if we are celebrating the birthday of a royal? Which was nearly 2 months ago?

I've never been to one or been invited to one. They're like mythical creatures - you hear of them but you never see them. Sounds quite nice, though.

Yanbu. Cringe. They're for the children really aren't they?

I'm wondering if you're my neighbour...

The worst part is on my road they don't even bother to ask anyone before applying to close the road and then they present it as a fait accompli.

YABU. I wish our little street ever had one. But won't happen as some neighbours are at war with each other

I don't mind the queen but when is her birthday going to end, it's a tad overkill.

And agree with pp, come to Scotland. Street parties are virtually non existent here.

I completely agree, why would anyone want a chance to get to know their neighbours and foster a sense of community? Bizarre

bibbity here it seems they're for the children and the adults who want to show off their expensive patio furniture, gazebos and fuckoff-sized BBQs.

I can't even start getting pissed yet because I have to pick DD1 up from an activity at 3:30