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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Could I have handled this better?

26 replies

Barbie222 · 10/06/2017 20:38

Today I was at a carnival / funfair thing with DH and our DCs. One of the rides was one of those rotating things with arms that come out and spin. Our eldest two (9 and 7) wanted to go on it so I stood at the side while DH waited a bit further back with the toddler.

There wasn't really a queue and there were three points to get on the platform where you could access the seats, so there was a bit of a dash for it when the riders changed over. My DCs both got on to same pod.

Now whenever I've got on those rides before there's always been 2 to a pod. Granted there was no sign saying how many could fit but it looked like everyone was paired up. Then a dad came on, looked around, saw there was no space available and pushed his two DC, about same age as mine, into the pod as well!

I said "hey, you can't have four, that's not safe!" but I don't think he understood me at all and just looked blank. I tried again to explain but he just walked away and his children wouldn't get out. I'll admit my tone was slightly panicky and abrupt but I didn't shout. I ended up taking mine off because I was concerned about them not being properly fastened in with four. Lots of disappointment all round. Was I being that parent or do you just not shove extra kids into a 2 space ride when someone's already on there? I'd already lowered the bar, he undid it to get them in.

OP posts:
Honeyandfizz · 10/06/2017 20:40

Surely there was an attendant making sure the riders were allocated safely?

TheWitTank · 10/06/2017 20:43

Why didn't you ask the person who was running the ride? They would have come round to check the latches on the bars and you could have explained?

Original poster
Barbie222 · 10/06/2017 20:49

He'd already been round to us and I was panicking that he'd start the ride before I could get his attention - probably not thinking straight though!

OP posts:
WhatToDoAboutThis2017 · 10/06/2017 20:51

I would have been pissed at his cheek and alerted the person who was manning the ride.

youarenotkiddingme · 10/06/2017 20:52

If an attendant didn't notice an adult approach a ride and add 2 extra children to it after safety checks then yes - removing your children was the right thing to do.

I don't get how he looked around at all pods and then decided that the one with your children in was the one to go for though? Surely all the other pods had 2 people in as well?

Original poster
Barbie222 · 10/06/2017 20:54

I know! I think because we were just the nearest to him and he was being cheeky. It was how easily he undid the bar that frightened me!

OP posts:
TheFirstMrsDV · 10/06/2017 21:16

You don't live in an area with a postcode beginning E do you?

I have heard quite a few stories like this today

EezerGoode · 10/06/2017 21:17

Could HE of handled this better YES...another entitled twat of a man

khajiit13 · 10/06/2017 21:20

Considering the attendant had already been round I don't think YABU

Original poster
Barbie222 · 10/06/2017 21:22

Mrs DV - no - am west of M25 - not good that it happens anywhere!

OP posts:
Ameliablue · 10/06/2017 21:23

I would have got the attendant to sort it out. If you took your children out, the attendant should still have been summoned to check the other children were secure.

TheMysteriousJackelope · 10/06/2017 21:27

Your children's safety takes priority over a bit of a disappointment over having to wait for a few more minutes. It was better to get them out of there rather than take a chance on the ride operator noticing and not starting the ride. It's annoying for your children, but at least you've taught them the importance of following safety guidelines on amusement park rides. Given the people who get killed at Disney by standing up or reaching out of rides it's a valuable lesson to learn.

SureJan · 10/06/2017 21:29

I'd have done the same OP, I always worry that funfair rides aren't very safe anyway so I wouldn't have risked it! Very cheeky of him to shove his kids on with yours, he obviously wasn't too concerned about safety!

Italiangreyhound · 10/06/2017 21:32

YANBU.

The man was totally wrong, and a git.

Hope they enjoyed the rest of the day.

Mrsmadevans · 10/06/2017 21:37

You did the right thing op at least your dc are safe , as for the other parent well he must be thick to not understand or did he bank on you removing your two , nasty behaviour however you look at it

Crunchymum · 10/06/2017 21:43

I remember being asked to 'duck down' on the Mary Rose type ride (massive swinging boat thing) at a fair so one extra person could fit it. Given we were on the end of the boat, there were only 4 proper spaces and if I had hidden it was me that was at risk of falling out I declined I was 13 and when the adult persisted - wanted to sit with his mate who was 4th seat - I got off.

So no OP you weren't being ott. The guy was being a dick.

Witchend · 10/06/2017 21:58

But you don't know it wasn't safe with 4 people, it may be he's been on before and been told it was fine.
I'd have called the assistant over and asked.

WhatToDoAboutThis2017 · 10/06/2017 22:02

But you don't know it wasn't safe with 4 people, it may be he's been on before and been told it was fine.

Then why didn't he say that when she confronted him instead of giving a blank look?

Italiangreyhound · 10/06/2017 22:15

Witchend whether the ride was for 2 or 4 people once the fair ground assistant has put the bar down no one should life it up again!

The other dad was wrong.

missiondecision · 10/06/2017 22:29

The Man was an a-hole to decide what was safe for our children.
I would have asked the attendant though.

KungFuEric · 10/06/2017 22:32

It seems pretty alarming how poorly attended the ride was. I think you made the right call not to go on, I wouldn't have used any other rides while I was there either.

lastcheesestraw · 11/06/2017 00:07

Better to err on the side of caution I think OP.

These kinds of rides are not exactly know for their safety and often there is only one assistant for the whole ride so they can't see everything, and as you say, he had already been round to check. Sometimes the noise is so loud that you cant attract attention or even communicate except via sign language, so you were right to go with your instincts I think.

The man was the odd one out by being pushy and ignoring safety checks.

Better safe than sorry :)

Ameliablue · 11/06/2017 07:53

I can't say I've ever been to a fair where the attendant wouldn't notice the whole length of time it would take for someone to open up a pod, add two children, close pod again, have a short conversation, then another adult come to open pod, remove two children and close pod again. It would seem a far higher than usual level of incompetence, so yes probably better not to use such rides but I would also be concerned for the safety of the remaining children, as no attendant checked they were secure. I'd also wonder at what stage was the ride paid for?

Littlepond · 11/06/2017 07:59

I think you definitely did the right thing, the ride sounds awful! No attendant to notice someone bringing extra kids on (without paying? Or do they pay at the gate? In which case the gate attendant should be looking to see if there are spaces before taking people's money!) then adding them into an already full pod? That's worrying! I wouldn't let my kids on a ride like that at all, what if something happened while the ride was going, I wouldn't trust suck a lax attendant to be able to deal with it. Honestly, I'd consider some sort of complaint, it all sounds highly unsafe and very worrying. Your kids safety comes first, no you weren't THAT parent, you did the right thing! Better grumpy kids than hurt kids.

TheStoic · 11/06/2017 08:03

I don't think you could have handled it any better. Sometimes you need to be THAT parent, whatever that means.