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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:
PuppyMonkey · 27/04/2017 13:39

I was going to post my opinion but then I saw the OP doesn't give a toss what I think.

HecatesBroom · 27/04/2017 13:40

@Increasinglymiddleaged

"To my everlasting shame I did nothing - I still wish I'd had the courage to dob both of them in.
You do not know that she hadn't genuinely lost the ticket so get over yourself!"

Yeah, like the bloke in the OP - and the dog ate her homework, too.
It's for the ticket inspector to decide whether passengers are free-loading or not - which is why we have tickets to show to prove we've paid.

user1484578224 · 27/04/2017 13:42

if you pay for a parking space and there is time left on it do you pass it on?

I do.

Increasinglymiddleaged · 27/04/2017 13:44

OK Hecates so no one has ever lost a train ticket Hmm

I for one have genuinely. So you can come up with all manner of stuff that may or may not be true to justify your own self righteousness but you will never know either way.

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 27/04/2017 13:45

Setting off fire alarms. I think its fair to say. You're not exactly The arch Angel Gabriel yourself
. Mind you to be fair. None of us are. We've all got our faults, I suppose.

Bluntness100 · 27/04/2017 13:46

For tomorrow you will need: a high viz jacket, a clip board and a railway issued pen. At each stop stand at the door, note who enters, a brief description of the person and if you can where they have sat. You can then perambulate with the ticket inspector and point them out. Satisfaction guaranteed

Yup, then when you're don't there, pop round to your local car park and make sure no one is using the parent and child spaces that shouldn't.

Oodles of self righteous busy body type deeds to be done. You don't actually have to be employed by the companies, you really can just go and do that shit for free. 😂

JustAKitten · 27/04/2017 13:47

I lose tickets all the time. I have ADHD. So Hecate stop being a judgemental arse

HecatesBroom · 27/04/2017 13:47

@Increasinglymiddleaged

Presumably you could prove that you'd bought one if you needed to (credit card slip, cheque stub, CCTV, witness): you'll be suggesting next that ticket inspectors are unreasonable to ask you to show your ticket in case you've misplaced it.

HappyFlappy · 27/04/2017 13:47

YANBU - commuters pay a lot of money for their fares, and often can't get a seat. Why should some tight bastard individual get away with riding for free?

I hope they fined the bugger!

JustAKitten · 27/04/2017 13:48

How could someone prove it? Hardly anyone keeps a receipt and if you've lost the ticket you've probably lost that too. And if you think inspectors are going to have access to station CCTV Grin

Increasinglymiddleaged · 27/04/2017 13:49

CCTV seriously?

I didn't say they shouldn't check tickets I said that you don't know whether the lady looking in her bag had genuinely lost her ticket or not.

BBCNewsRave · 27/04/2017 13:49

Increasingly So you are comparing murder to fare dodging really?

Hmm No. As was clear from the context of my post, I am pondering where the line is drawn between reporting something for good reason and "snitching". Because, as I said, it seems to get blown out of proportion to the extent that "telling tales" is seen as terrible in its own right, regardless of what the person did.
Majorgoodwinschickenbeatstrump · 27/04/2017 13:50

Why though? That could have been his last bit of money he was asked to fork out. He could have just been a miser too but who knows? Same if someone was stealing baby milk or food/hygiene basics in a big supermarket- none of my business. I care more about people than I do about train companies or huge businesses to be honest. There are plenty of horrific things happening in the world to get angry about. Someone not paying for a train ticket... meh

SnowinApril123 · 27/04/2017 13:52

Are you unreasonable for finding freeloaders annoying? No of course your not. I'm a commuter and also find it bloody annoying.

Would I dob someone in? Absolutely no way. You have no idea who the person is, why they haven't bought a ticket and how they will react. Personal safety ranks above morals imo and I wouldn't put my safety at risk for the sake of the cost of a train ticket.

MaidenMotherCrone · 27/04/2017 13:53

Tomorrow's headlines

Architect pushes smug busy body under oncoming train.

I hope he's not on your train tonight Op.

Increasinglymiddleaged · 27/04/2017 13:53

No. As was clear from the context of my post, I am pondering where the line is drawn between reporting something for good reason and "snitching". Because, as I said, it seems to get blown out of proportion to the extent that "telling tales" is seen as terrible in its own right, regardless of what the person did.

Well most people would use common sense I imagine. And application of common sense tells me that if someone is seen carrying a body around then it isn't 'telling tales' or 'snitching'.

AlpacaLypse · 27/04/2017 13:55

if you pay for a parking space and there is time left on it do you pass it on?

Yes of course. The parking authority has received the expected income for usage of one of its spaces for (say) 2 hours. If I get my business done more quickly than expected then I would happily pass on my ticket.

FuckyNell · 27/04/2017 13:57

You did the right thing and I would have too.

Bluntness100 · 27/04/2017 13:58

Because, as I said, it seems to get blown out of proportion to the extent that "telling tales" is seen as terrible in its own right, regardless of what the person did

I don't think anyone even hinted it was terrible to tell tales if someone murdered someone and dragged their body about in a bin bag. Confused

I'm genuinely don't think that the fact people predominantly wouldn't say anything or frown upon someone who does say something if they knew someone didn't have a ticket. because they were unsure of personal circumstance, is the same as not saying anything when someone murdered someone and drags their body about. I think you've taken it so far it's got a bit daft,,Grin

So, for me, no I would not report someone for not having a train ticket, I would frown upon someone who did, and i would report someone for murder and frown upon someone who didn't, still not sure of the relevance though,,,. Hmm

saoirse31 · 27/04/2017 13:59

Inspector is at fault for being too lazy to chk all tickets. I hope person you informed on wasn't down on his luck. When you are comfortably off it can be difficult to remember that not all have your advantages. Maybe he was a complete waster, maybe not. Amazingly his profession does not necessarily provide you with any information about his life.

DaisyQueen · 27/04/2017 13:59

Although morally you were right to dob him in I would never have done so. My personal safety comes before anything else, he could have reacted much worse than just calling you a bitch. I hope you don't have to share a train with this man in future.

user1489179512 · 27/04/2017 14:00

My God some posters are really really not of this world. You should not condone stealing whether it is from your grandma or from a large organisation. Some of you are unbelievable.

JustAKitten · 27/04/2017 14:01

As said User, big business steals from workers.

CreamCrackerundertheSettee · 27/04/2017 14:01

This thread is very odd. I've seen threads on here where people have accidentally not paid for an item when shopping and the majority of the thread has told them they'd be a thief if they don't crawl over hot coals and broken glass to return them.

Here someone is receiving a service they haven't paid for and we're giving them the green light because we don't want to be a snitch or we're ok with it because 'big business ' Confused

TheSnorkMaidenReturns · 27/04/2017 14:03

I wouldn't dob someone in as I'd worry about the personal consequences for me later, as a regular commuter on the line.

But fare dodging is wrong. It's theft and the people that ultimately pay are the other passengers. There have been enough stories about people in well-paid jobs who just gamed the system because they didn't think the rules applied to them and thought they were so clever they wouldn't get caught. They are thieves stealing from the community.

I'm aghast at all the pseudo-socialism about big corporations stealing from the workers and suggestions that it's OK to steal from a big company. Is it OK to steal from the state? Is it OK to steal from a medium-sized company? Where do you draw the line in this bizarre re-working of ethics?