Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Was I unreasonable to dob someone in?

391 replies

VulvicMineralWater · 27/04/2017 11:38

NC as this might be quite outing.

I commute to work on the train. I get on at stop A and off at stop D, both of which have ticket barriers. I always buy a ticket when I travel.

Stops B and C don't have ticket barriers.

A man got on at Stop B. The inspector came around asking for anyone who got on at Stop B. The inspector was very visible and called out "Stop B passengers" loudly enough for everyone to hear. The man didn't have headphones in. Yet, the man didn't show his ticket.

So, as the inspector passed I pointed out the man and said he'd got on at Stop B. Inspector then went to check his ticket and what a surprise the man didn't have one.

The man called me an interfering bitch. Meh, yeah, that's pretty accurate but it fucks me off that people feel as though buying a ticket is optional. It's not. You're using a service, you need to pay for it.

So was I unreasonable to dob this guy in?

OP posts:
RebeccaWithTheGoodHair · 27/04/2017 12:04

*one

Original poster
VulvicMineralWater · 27/04/2017 12:05

bluntness I laughed at him when he called me a bitch.

OP posts:
Awwlookatmybabyspider · 27/04/2017 12:06

I bet you're the type that would dob in a single mum for earning an extra £30 per week to put a decent pair of shoes on her child's feet.

Kaybush · 27/04/2017 12:06

I can't quite believe you did that!

Flimbo · 27/04/2017 12:06

I just laughed at him

Oh dear.

MaroonPencil · 27/04/2017 12:07

This "oh you don't know his circumstances" thing is just nonsense. How far does it go? Are you allowed to shoplift if you are desperate and everyone should turn a blind eye? It's the same thing, stealing.

Would those berating the OP be fine with some kind of "people in need get free tickets on trains" system that is paid for out of tax money and/or other people's ticket money? Because that is basically what you are suggesting, and in fact would be better than "oh let's just turn a blind eye because he might not be a freeloader, he might just be having a bad day."

CreamCrackerundertheSettee · 27/04/2017 12:08

The chances are the man isn't down on his luck but is trying to avoid paying to get to work - and does it every day!

I wouldn't have to nerve to dob someone in but I don't have any sympathy for the man.

An acquaintance goes by train every day and hides in the toilets or keeps moving down the train for 20 minutes to avoid the guard. He is a teacher and a freeloading bellend.

Original poster
VulvicMineralWater · 27/04/2017 12:09

Maroon Exactly, that's my point.

Plus, I think this guy is an architect so not down on his luck.

OP posts:
Thebookswereherfriends · 27/04/2017 12:09

Such weird double standards on mn. It does affect the op because freeloaders make the fares go up. I think that all stations should have barriers though, so that it isn't necessary for jo public to feel like they should have to 'dob', or the inspector should simply ask to see everyone's tickets.

Pinkheart5915 · 27/04/2017 12:09

I give zero fucks what other people think of me Hmm so why the thread for people to pat you on the back? Surely if your a tale tit you just do it and go about your day not inform mumsnet

Setting of the fire alarm at school, OOH you rebel what a life 😂

Lweji · 27/04/2017 12:09

Clearly, the ticket inspector should have checked everybody's tickets. He should be sacked for doing a half arsed job.

Grin
Bluntness100 · 27/04/2017 12:13

Yes why don't you email the company and dob in the inspector as well? Really round uour morning off.

SumThucker · 27/04/2017 12:13

I do totally understand why OP is pissed off that she's paying and some chance their arm.

It's the snitching I don't like, it's just...Confused

1nsanityscatching · 27/04/2017 12:13

I would never have dobbed someone in and I'd think less of you if I saw you tell on someone than I would of the person who hadn't bought a ticket. After all I'd always give the other person the benefit of the doubt but I'd judge you as a busybody at best and probably as downright nasty after I saw you laugh.
They need to put a better system in place so that what you did was unnecessary.

BouleBaker · 27/04/2017 12:14

Of course YANBU. You did what a decent citizen does and made sure that someone who was effectively stealing was caught.

Those of you that think it's ok and that maybe the guy needed a break, why don't you try handing out £5 notes at the train station to everyone in case any of the passers by are down on their luck?

This attitude of it being OK to steal from big business stinks.

RebeccaWithTheGoodHair · 27/04/2017 12:14

How is it snitching? She didn't follow the ticket inspector out of the carriage and whisper it sneakily. She said it out loud and in full hearing of the thief!

Chickenagain · 27/04/2017 12:15

YWNBU. I would have been too shy to have dobbed him in, but seethed inwardly. Would have been quietly cheering you on OP. Bloke was being an entitled twat IMO.

RebeccaWithTheGoodHair · 27/04/2017 12:15

downright nasty after I saw you laugh

even though the man called her a bitch? You'd think she was the nasty one?

JustAKitten · 27/04/2017 12:15

This attitude of it being OK to steal from big business stinks.

Big business steals from the workers all the time. It's how they get their money.

Pinkheart5915 · 27/04/2017 12:17

If the ticket inspector done the Job properly and asked for all tickets instead of trusting people to be honest about when they got on then nobody would be traveling without a ticket

Email the company OP and tell them that, round your day of nicely

SumThucker · 27/04/2017 12:18

Snitch...Grass...Dobber inner?!...Tale teller...

RebeccaWithTheGoodHair · 27/04/2017 12:19

God without having to draw you pictures Kitten businesses tend to get their money by selling goods and services. They generally don't make huge profits by defrauding their staff.

MaroonPencil · 27/04/2017 12:19

I'd think less of you if I saw you tell on someone than I would of the person who hadn't bought a ticket.

They need to put a better system in place so that what you did was unnecessary

That is insane. So what the man was doing was wrong (because there should be a system in place stop him doing it) but it is even more wrong to point out that someone is doing wrong? I genuinely do not understand this, and would really like to know: at what point is one allowed to point out wrongdoers? Is it immoral for example to point out a shoplifter to a security guard? Does it depend what they are stealing? (leaving aside questions of whether you would be scared to do so, I am talking about the ethics).

scrabbbling · 27/04/2017 12:20

I wouldn't do it as although I always buy a ticket I don't think the huge prices are fair and the companies make massive profits- I would also be worried the person who hadn't bought their ticket was on the breadline and trying to make ends meet to get to work. Obviously that may not be true but I know so many people struggling I would never do that.

bigbluebus · 27/04/2017 12:21

I'm not sure I'd have had the nerve to dob him in, but good on you for doing so OP. If you use a service you should pay for it.

It always astounds me though, on the rare occasions that I use trains, that the inspector relies on the honesty of passengers. I use a line where there are no manned stations so most passengers get on without tickets. The 'train manager' still just shouts out for passengers from the last station so quite easy to avoid paying if you don't make eye contact.