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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To have refused to remove our coats from free chair in the pub

257 replies

user1498921160 · 19/08/2017 15:14

We were out earlier in a local pub for lunch. There was five of us sitting around a table, with our jackets, cardigans, elderly person's walking stick etc on the sixth chair.

A family of four came in and went to a table for four behind us. The daughter, aged about six, put her stuffed toy on one of the chairs and then kicked off that there was no seat for her.

Mother then came over to our table and asked us to move our stuff off the spare seat so her daughter could have it. We pointed out that there was a spare seat at their table and she said 'oh the giraffe is using that chair'. We replied that our coats etc were using our spare chair and she went off in a huff.

WWBU. Obviously, if the seat had genuinely been needed we would have moved all our stuff.

OP posts:
innagazing · 19/08/2017 16:13

I really can't believe that anyone could think that there's any other alternative answer to this request, other than "No".

ChinkChink · 19/08/2017 16:13

Pick up coats. Plonk on top of giraffe. Job's a good 'un.

Did you know that giraffes were once referred to as cameleopards?

Addley · 19/08/2017 16:16

Chair use priority:

1 Person who is sitting on the chair
2 Person who wants to sit on a chair
3 Random stuff that's already on a chair
4 Random stuff that isn't already on a chair

Barring people who need to sit down due to disability and where the chair-owner can happily stand (i.e. not in the middle of a meal - obviously I would stand up in the middle of my meal if there were someone on the verge of collapsing), that's how it goes.

If I'm already sitting on the chair, people don't get to take it for themselves or their stuff.

If my stuff is on the chair, they get to ask for the chair for a person, if there aren't any free chairs nearby.

If their stuff needs a chair, it can go on an empty chair, unless it's fairly obvious a human being is going to need the chair soon (so, busy restaurant/cafe). My stuff is already on the chair so takes priority over yours.

squoosh · 19/08/2017 16:17

Did you know that giraffes were once referred to as cameleopards?

I did not but I love little factoids like that.

TheFairyCaravan · 19/08/2017 16:19

I wouldn't have moved my stuff. I use sticks. It's a bloody nightmare to find somewhere where they won't fall over, get in someone's way etc when we go out to eat.

Silly woman. I bet that kid rules the roost.

spaghettithrower · 19/08/2017 16:19

Absolutely ridiculous. YWNBU.
What I can't believe is that there are several people on here who think that 5 people should have to move their belongings/walking stick in order to accommodate a flaming bloody stuffed giraffe. For crying out loud.
The OP said they would have moved the coats if a person needed the chair. A person did not need the chair. The bloody stuffed giraffe could have sat on someone's knee.
If the need of the child was so great that it was absolutely essential for the giraffe to have a chair (ie. if the child did have autism as someone quickly suggested at the beginning of the thread) the family could have explained this or talked to members of staff who could have organized a chair for it.
There have been some ridiculous things on Mumsnet recently but I think this takes the biscuit.

PeapodBurgundy · 19/08/2017 16:20

If they were asking for an empty chair then fair crack if it means the child is happy and everyone (including yourselves) gets to eat in peace. Asking you to move your belongings to accommodate the giraffe is faintly ridiculous. I can't believe she asked!

I'd probably have moved my coats, given them the chair, then silently fumed over it because I'm spineless.

WorraLiberty · 19/08/2017 16:20

YANBU, apart from the fact you seem to be fretting about this non issue.

Was the pub really that packed out, that there wasn't a single other seat available for her?

squoosh · 19/08/2017 16:21

There have been some ridiculous things on Mumsnet recently but I think this takes the biscuit

Only if that biscuit hasn't already been allocated to a cuddly toy.

Mumteadumpty · 19/08/2017 16:22

Surely giraffes stand to eat anyway?

WorraLiberty · 19/08/2017 16:22

squoosh!! Grin Grin

VforVienetta · 19/08/2017 16:25

I imagine the reason Cheeky Fecker Mum was so pissed off you refused is that she had already lowered herself to asking for a chair for a stuffed giraffe, and to be refused just magnified the sheer ridiculousness.

YANBU in the slightest. Obviously.

AnUtterIdiot · 19/08/2017 16:27

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

kittybiscuits · 19/08/2017 16:32

^ This

Bizzysocks · 19/08/2017 16:32

If I can take a minute from my day to make someone else happy, I will, it's just kind.

If it was too much trouble for you to move the things (it would have only taken one person from the table to move the things) fine your not wrong, it's just not what I would have done and you asked opinions.

MaisyPops · 19/08/2017 16:32

You were NOT unreasonable. There were 4 chairs at their table for 4 people. Children need to learn that the world doesn't revolve around their every whim and demand.

I'm still stunned that some people seriously think a whole meal should be interrupted because a child wants to sit a stuffed animal on a chair. Shock

Viviennemary · 19/08/2017 16:33

The giraffe could have been asked if it wanted to sit on top of the coats.

ButchyRestingFace · 19/08/2017 16:33

If I can take a minute from my day to make someone else happy, I will, it's just kind

Even if the other person is being a numbnut?

Nomoreboomandbust · 19/08/2017 16:34

Ffs giraffes don't sit down!

You were right to say no it's a wild life lesson. Wink

Kid spoilt and indulged yeuk

maxthemartian · 19/08/2017 16:35

I'm also always happy to take a minute from my day to be kind.
I won't however indulge nonsense.

Jg1 · 19/08/2017 16:35

she said 'oh the giraffe is using that chair'

Like you do....... GrinGrin

Wonders71 · 19/08/2017 16:36

If i was the mother I would of told the child to sit on the chair with the bloody giraffe...ffs

Bizzysocks · 19/08/2017 16:38

butchy yes.

Admittedly I wouldn't ask someone to move their stuff for my child's toy, but if it was important enough to the mum to come and ask for it, I would let her have it.

ButtHoleinOne · 19/08/2017 16:40

Yanbu and if the giraffe needed a chair the mother could have provided hers. Hmm

Slimthistime · 19/08/2017 16:42

YANBU and I'm a vegetarian Grin
And crying wth laughter at some of these responses.