Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

To think you don't ask a runner for directions

456 replies

Nocabbageinmyeye · 03/09/2016 17:52

I find this so annoying, out running this morning and a car stops to ask me directions, it's not the first time it's happened, I'm not the only one around, why would you stop the person clearly out for a run instead of someone clearly out for a leisurely stroll or go into the local shop. I stopped this morning as I was only into the second km but last time I was almost home after a 10km and the colour of a tomato so just said "ah come off it"as I kept running. Why would you do that, aibu to think it's rude? It's annoying anyway I know I'm not unreasonable in saying that

OP posts:
LittlestB · 06/09/2016 11:31

YANBU - I went for my first ever run not long ago. Was coming home, panting and bright red in the face, and a lady stopped to ask me for directions. Just held out a post it with a man's name on and said 'do you know him?'. I panted a bit at her and said I didn't as I'm new to the area and she proceeded to go on: 'well where could he live? Do you think it's around here? Etc etc'. Was close to passing out at this point! Had to just tell her I had no idea and stumble off! Confused

EvansOvalPies · 06/09/2016 11:37

Cabbage - you said it in you're OP. Quote: I'm not the only one around, why would you stop the person clearly out for a run instead of someone clearly out for a leisurely stroll

I also pulled you up on another comment, where you said, again, in your OP, that someone should go into a local shop. Yet in a post of yours further on, you said you were out in the wilderness somewhere, and I asked, how many shops there might be out in the wilderness. Not the exact wording, obviously, but the gist is there. And you didn't reply to that either. Perhaps you should read your own FT

wowfudge · 06/09/2016 11:44

Despite your protestations OP, your opening post insinuates what you are doing and your time trump the activities and time of others and that anyone wanting directions should not bother you.

You are not superior or special because you are running and common courtesy dictates you should have the good grace to help another person.

But hey, numerous posters on this thread have made the same assertion and you are disingenuously ploughing on.

As for the runner who stated they ignore anyone who deigns to interrupt them when they are running, well I hope you are never lost and need to ask anyone for help! Bloody rude.

DollyBarton · 06/09/2016 11:48

YANBU! I'm amazed at people who say you are. It's a bit like standing in front of a moving car to stop them and ask! A runner is not a suitable person to ask for directions while they are mid pace!

DollyBarton · 06/09/2016 11:49

Lol at the people making out that you obviously fundamentally feel you are too special to help people because you're a runner. Talk about a witch hunt!

wowfudge · 06/09/2016 11:51

If I needed directions and it meant flagging down a car or knocking on someone's door, then I would. Asking a runner is nothing like standing in front of a moving car. What a ridiculous analogy.

EvansOvalPies · 06/09/2016 11:55

Was just about to say similar, Fudge, but you beat me to it. It is absolutely NOTHING like standing in front of a moving car. A very silly comparison indeed!

EvansOvalPies · 06/09/2016 11:58

As a car driver, I've been flagged down. No-one has stood in front of me - that would be potential suicide. I have also waved at a car to stop to help me (out in the wilds of the countryside, for instance). So in that respect, it is the same as a person running along. I wouldn't jump out at a person running, any more than I would jump out at a car.

EvansOvalPies · 06/09/2016 11:59

'Witch hunt' Confused Oh, dearie, dearie me! How ridiculous can you get?

TheStoic · 06/09/2016 12:03

Runners: If you can, it would be great if you could ask someone else for directions. We'd really like to be able to concentrate on running when we have the chance.

Most people: Yes, of course. Makes sense. Not a problem.

Some other people: NO! Who do you think you are? You think you're so important, why do you think you're more special than me?? I'll ask who I want when I want! You should be bloody COURTEOUS TO ME DAMMIT. WHERE IS YOUR KINDNESS AND EMPATHY TO ME??

Nocabbageinmyeye · 06/09/2016 12:04

EvansOvalPies
Cabbage - you said it in you're OP. Quote: I'm not the only one around, why would you stop the person clearly out for a run instead of someone clearly out for a leisurely stroll - I know I said they were out for a leisurely stroll, I am not disputing that, I said it several times, I asked where I said their time was less important than mine?

I also pulled you up on another comment, where you said, again, in your OP, that someone should go into a local shop. Yet in a post of yours further on, you said you were out in the wilderness somewhere, and I asked, how many shops there might be out in the wilderness. Not the exact wording, obviously, but the gist is there. And you didn't reply to that either. Perhaps you should read your own FT I didn't see that comment at all so didn't realise I was being "pulled up", I never said that I ran in the wildnerness, I said that part of my run was through a private estate type place with gardens and the other part a village. It is a small village that runs just over half km with two shops, two pubs, a credit union, a chemist and a church, from my house I run 1km through the village, into the estate for another 5km and then back through the village for another 1km. So definitely not the wilderness but still quite a rural/village setting, is that ok? I had no reason to ignore that and not answer only I didn't see it Confused

wowfudge You are not superior or special because you are running and common courtesy dictates you should have the good grace to help another person - I am not superior or special, I did help the person that stopped me the other day, I am actually blue in the face from saying I am not special, not more important, I KNOW THIS, but I am also not a cunt, or a thug or a rude ignorant twat, there are however many people on this thread that could be described using any of these words!

OP posts:
101handbags · 06/09/2016 12:08

LOL @ 'and share it on Facebook even though nobody cares' - can any runners explain this one to me? Cyclists do it too. I know you want to keep track of your times & distances etc. but you can do that privately in an app. I go to dancing classes but I don't put it on facebook every time I do my chosen form of exercise. Just wondering why cyclists and runners do?

devilinmyshoes · 06/09/2016 12:09

Strava posts things on FB until you unravel the mysteries of how to stop it doing that.

wowfudge · 06/09/2016 12:10

Which begs the question, why post at all?

shovetheholly · 06/09/2016 12:16

YANBU.

Not least because running can put you in a strange emotional state. I was once pegging up a hill and a group of three Chinese girls suddenly filled the pavement in front of me. I didn't really understand what was going on and tried to go around them and one of them grabbed my arm very suddenly. I was so startled I really, really screamed at the top of my voice and they looked terrified and apologised in very, very broken English. It was only then I realised they only wanted directions. Blush

Nocabbageinmyeye · 06/09/2016 12:19

wowfudge To see if other people agreed to with me, I wondered if I was alone in my thoughts on the subject, aibu would be a quiet place if that wasn't ok to do. I can also take comments on board, reasonable ones, like some have said people just don't think and its not done out of rudeness, thats fair enough. I am only repeating myself because people are saying I said things that I did not say. I did not however post to be called a cunt, thug, twat, self important etc etc however it is clear from this thread that some people are just looking for a reason to be nasty

OP posts:
NavyandWhite · 06/09/2016 12:23

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

EvansOvalPies · 06/09/2016 12:24

Cabbage - just to be clear, I personally have not, at any time called you a Twat, Cunt (I never, ever use those words either online or in RL) or a Thug. However, in your opening post you did insinuate that your time is more important than others out for a 'leisurely stroll', therefore it follows that you are being self-important. You didn't say it, but the insinuation was most definitely there. You cannot, repeat: CANNOT start a thread on AIBU without a fight. It is not a quiet place! Grin

EvansOvalPies · 06/09/2016 12:25

Even other, very experienced runners on the thread have thought you to be unreasonable.

alrightarekid · 06/09/2016 12:30

"You are not superior or special because you are running and common courtesy dictates you should have the good grace to help another person."

That's the point though isn't it wow fudge, common courtesy. The person asking should have had the common courtesy not to interrupt a person in the middle of something.

What don't you understand exactly?

wowfudge · 06/09/2016 12:30

I've just realised you yourself refused to help someone asking for directions OP. You deserve all you get with that attitude. No need to repeat other posters swearing by the way, certainly not twice.

alrightarekid · 06/09/2016 12:31

Thestoic - nail on head! Thread over.

OP - YANBU

wowfudge · 06/09/2016 12:35

arekid everyone out and about is in the middle of something - whether it's strolling to the shops, or running.

I understand perfectly when I see a superior attitude being demonstrated.

CoteDAzur · 06/09/2016 12:37

What TheStoic said. Exactly Grin

Stevefromstevenage · 06/09/2016 12:38

Yep Thestoic pretty much sums it up and explains the difference between MN and the rest of the world at the same time.

Swipe left for the next trending thread