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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Rude or just social unaware

197 replies

user1484493755 · 19/01/2017 22:10

I have a male friend. He's very loyal. He's very generous with his time. He's helped me with university work greatly and has stayed in close contact now for 6 years.

Generally we get on great. I've often wondered if he has very mild Asperger as he doesn't seem to always pick up on body language or seem to see certain situations are not socially acceptable.

He would visit our mutual friend who has a toddler at 7pm and doesn't seem to notice she's trying to put him to bed and now is not a good time until she told him and he stopped popping round.

I meet up with this friend every fortnight in town and we go for a meal. He's recently visiting his mum who is in hospital and he goes past my house on his way back so asks to pop round 'for lunch'. He arrives at 1pm every fortnight at lunch time and eats plenty of food.

I know I'm an absolute idiot for putting up with it but I do that because we've been friends for 6 years and he's been a very loyal friend. He never asks for any favours (except coming at lunch time).

I have now however, decided not to do it anymore. He warns 35k a year and him and is partner have a joint income of 70k a year. I have 13k a year and a child to provide for.

I would tell him to come late afternoon but it wouldn't make any difference he'd just not have lunch and expect it later.

I often wonder if he's just rude and stingy with money, or actually has some kind of autism.

I know you don't know him but do you think it's a little mean to choose not to see him at lunch time if I have to provide lunch for him?

My other friends bring me lunch when they come at lunch time. He never even brings some drinks!

When he goes to a house party he doesn't bring anything either.

And yet gives a card and present (not expensive one but it the thought) on my birthday and Christmas and would help you out in any kind of emergency.

He has been a reference for me many times as he was my boss at one point.

I have seen him with his mum who is a single parent and she doesn't seem to have ever taught him manners or how to be considerate. Something he seems to not have learnt in adult life either.

His partner is amazing. They've been together a year now and he's helped him so much and has taught him he needs to bring a present to a house party.

It's weird he's 30 and wouldn't know this already!

So I'm rambling now. AIBU to not see him if it means I've got to give him lunch? And does it seem like he's on the autistic specified or just rude?

OP posts:
Railworker · 21/01/2017 06:36

OP, yes YABU.

And your further posts are just mean.
You have built your own levels of frustration up, and are now over-reacting. You are indeed likely to 'devestate' your friend because you have allowed yourself to seeth, rather than be honest with him. How is this worse than not having a simple, grown up conversation? He is not a mind reader - he needs you to tell him, clearly and kindly, what the deal is. A person on the spectrum cannot know what you do not teach them.

You say you do like to see him and it is not the coming round that bothers you. Invest in your relationship with your friend then, for both your sakes and find the words!

TheDowagerCuntess · 21/01/2017 06:53

Yes, he's very obviously taking full advantage of you.

Yes, you are right to put a halt to that gravy train.

Good luck not feeding him.

ivebeenthereonholiday · 21/01/2017 07:15

It sounds like if you needed him he would be there for you, I really don't see what the problem is with a cheese sandwich twice a month.

user1484226561 · 21/01/2017 07:23

It sounds to me like you are the one who is socially inept, OP, not your friend

Ciutadella · 21/01/2017 08:14

"He's not socially unaware. He's just rude and selfish."

This does seem an odd description of him given that op herself says that he has helped her 'greatly' with university work and is loyal and generous with his time.

Anyway op you said you would never want to lose the friendship, so I would suggest he'll be far more hurt if he finds you've been discussing this with your mutual friends (as he is likely to do sooner or later, human nature being what it is) than if you spoke to him directly - and that might end the friendship.

To be fair to op I think it is easy to get a bit blase about food costs if you're not really squeezed for cash. But on the other hand it also seems to be the time and washing up involved that op objects to.

Thinnestofthinice · 21/01/2017 08:22

Make it your fortnightly takeaway treat day and split cost? If he has ASD trust me he will probably appreciate bluntness. Just say you can't afford if you really can't. Please don't fib and say your not in.

IMissGrannyW · 22/01/2017 00:09

I'm guessing this thread has not gone as the OP hoped it would.

And anyone other than me thinking that:
user1484926943 Fri 20-Jan-17 19:58:26
In absolutely no way are you being unreasonable.
Inviting yourself to someone's house for lunch is incredibly rude it's almost unbelievable.
No way would I make someone lunch at their request. And I'm not stingy or mean at all.
Who the hell does he think he is. He's not socially unaware. He's just rude and selfish.

Is the OP????

SheRaaarghPrincessOfPower · 22/01/2017 00:16

God.. I'm sure this has already been said..

I'm fucking SICK of people thinking that rude arsehole = aspie/ASD

Get to fuck.

BorrowedHearts · 22/01/2017 00:59

I'm sorry but since seeing your update I feel incredibly sad for your 'friend' you really sound like since you are done needing his help you are done with him. Please tell him how you actually feel and let the poor guy go free and don't use him anymore.

hmcAsWas · 22/01/2017 13:28

Some sort of collective lunacy taken over this thread Confused

BadKnee · 22/01/2017 14:25

Sorry , I think that you sound mean. How much does a jacket potato cost? Or a bowl of plain pasta with butter and a smattering of grated cheese? 50p? £1? Or a sandwich and a cup of tea? Once every two weeks.

Tell us how much is actually costing.

Anyway - ask him to pick up a pint of milk or a loaf of bread or a couple of sandwiches next time he calls.

Secondly, how long do you think it takes him to write a reference for you? Or help with university work? Calculate it at minimum wage. How many lunches does that buy? (Or did you pay him?)

Do you visit him? Do you get fed? Do you pay transport to visit him?

By all means manoeuvre things so that you don't have to feed him or be out when he calls but that is also not the way to treat a friend.

Friendship is swings and roundabouts

BadKnee · 22/01/2017 14:27

Oh and agree that suggesting he is ASD or Aspie is just rude and stupid and utterly ridiculous.

I would do exactly the same - especially if I had helped a friend considerably in the recent past.

Toomuchginger · 22/01/2017 14:46

Oh and agree that suggesting he is ASD or Aspie is just rude and stupid and utterly ridiculous.

Rude and stupid?! Why? It isnt an insult!Angry

Katy07 · 22/01/2017 17:18

I can just imagine someone trying to insult me:
Them: "God, you're such an Aspie!"
Me: "Thank you! That's the nicest thing anyone's ever said Grin "

What I find rude is when the OP starts by saying that she thinks he might have Asperger's and then decides that actually he's just rude and greedy.

Still, I may write the sequel to "The Tiger Who Came To Tea" - it'll be "The Tiger (Who Might Have Asperger's But Is Probably Just Rude) Who Came To Lunch And Ate Several Sandwiches And A Piece Of Cake". It'll be a best seller Grin

MommaGee · 22/01/2017 19:44

Toomuchginger. Rude and stupid?! Why? It isnt an insulting!*

I think they meant it was insulting to people with ASD to assume someone has ASD just because you think they're rude and ignorant

Blueskyrain · 22/01/2017 20:37

I'm not sure if you are being rude or socially unaware. Given that we've all told you that you are being unreasonable, I'm going for plain old rude.

I know you want to know if he's the rude one, but actually its you.

PussInCoutts · 23/01/2017 01:23

Katy07 lol

IME it's pretty bitchy that you have discussed this with all mutual friends and not the actual person in question.

It seems like you have betrayed your friend just to have a bitch and a moan, and to perhaps humblebrag a little bit about how incredibly generous you supposedly are.

It's mean spirited. Why not just bring it up with your 'friend' Although sounds like you're not exactly a friend. I would certainly want someone explain to me and not go behind my back - and I have AS.

Isetan · 23/01/2017 07:27

For all this man's supposed faults, you seem completely unaware of your own shortcomings. I don't know which is more egregious, your contradicting diagnosis of him, your martyrdom or your pathological reluctance to be part of the solution.

It sounds like maintaining your role of victim is more important to you than maintaining this 'friendship'.

ConvincingLiar · 23/01/2017 08:09

When you cut the sandwich stealer loose, suggest he posts about it on aibu for support?

LoveDeathPrizes · 23/01/2017 08:18

Your lunches are too good! Make something crap.

Ohyesiam · 23/01/2017 13:28

What did you give him when he wrote your references?

IamtheDevilsAvocado · 24/01/2017 18:36

What bad knee said.... ++

I recently (willingly ) tutored a good family friend..... They have always been very lovely to me...did I charge them? , about 800£ of tuition... No! ... As they are good friends and have more than returned the favour in years passed...

Then there's the other friend whose son I am always writing detailed references for...

It's all swings and roundabouts...

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