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

Is this an acceptable thing to say?

53 replies

thisisthend · 21/03/2018 20:48

I don't know if I'm overreacting. I was waiting for my driving instructor. It was evening, at around 6. He came and when I got in the car he said "it is dangerous waiting on street corners. Getting into a car with a strange man. The neighbourhood will be talking about you." I'm not sure how I feel about this. It was probably a joke, but it made me feel uncomfortable. What do you reckon?

OP posts:
SpringNowPlease2018 · 21/03/2018 22:41

pp mentioned taking offence

That's irrelevant

The issue is, is this the guy who'll go for touching you up next? Yes. He's that guy. Why do you want to give him work?

Itsnotanthrax · 21/03/2018 22:48

I'd take it as a misfortune joke. And I'm a stunch feminist.

Itsnotanthrax · 21/03/2018 22:51

misfortunate

bluebell34567 · 21/03/2018 22:54

weird, creepy joke especially to a person you aren't close to.

Duck90 · 21/03/2018 23:03

What a crap “joke” it’s a bit of the Benny Hill style - which I can’t stand. Have you had many other lessons from him before?

Amanduh · 21/03/2018 23:05

Yes it was a joke

MyKingdomForBrie · 21/03/2018 23:06

Stupid comment but I really wouldn’t have even really registered it. I think ‘unacceptable’ things should be a hell of a lot higher bar in order to avoid the whole ‘thought police’ style scenario..

BertrandRussell · 21/03/2018 23:07

“I hate that people take offence at literally EVERYTHING these days.”

Do they? In my experience people only take offense at offensive things. Like men massively overstepping to boundaries of a professional relationship.

Grandadwasthatyou · 21/03/2018 23:12

It was just a joke. Why can nobody take a joke anymore?

BertrandRussell · 21/03/2018 23:21

OK. How would you feel if a 50 year old driving instructor said this to your 18 year old daughter?

Ruffian · 21/03/2018 23:22

Bit creepy - I would find another instructor.

steff13 · 21/03/2018 23:25

It made me giggle.

Belphegor · 21/03/2018 23:32

It was an extremely lame joke of the kind some men awkwardly make to younger women.

Fatandfrigid · 21/03/2018 23:45

A joke.

Not a big deal

SpringNowPlease2018 · 21/03/2018 23:55

Not to sound like Alice the Verger, but can someone please explain the "joke"? Can't see a structure or punchline.

WorraLiberty · 21/03/2018 23:59

Probably a joke?

Huh? Confused

Lalliella · 22/03/2018 00:07

It’s a joke. Get a grip and lighten up. The pp who said he’ll be touching you up next - really? Bit of a large leap.

steff13 · 22/03/2018 00:13

Not to sound like Alice the Verger, but can someone please explain the "joke"? Can't see a structure or punchline.

You only understand jokes if they're in "joke" form? That must make it difficult to enjoy sitcoms.

WorraLiberty · 22/03/2018 00:15

Exactly steff

Weird reply

Almost as weird as the OP saying it was 'probably' a joke.

DarkStuff · 22/03/2018 00:23

I'd find a new driving instructor ASAP. If I was feeling particularly brave I would phone him and tell him why too.

panetonnebraxton · 22/03/2018 00:44

It was just a bad joke. Move on.

SpringNowPlease2018 · 22/03/2018 00:53

Jokes from sitcoms etc will make a reference to stuff in the story

How is this a joke? To those who think it's a joke, please can you explain why it's a joke and what the funny bit is?

SpringNowPlease2018 · 22/03/2018 00:55

Worra
Why is it weird that the OP said "probably" a joke? She's confused, been made very uncomfortable by a man she barely knows and is now being told it was a joke by some posters.

panetonnebraxton · 22/03/2018 01:01

SpringNowPlease2018

Just because you don't find something funny doesn't mean it wasn't intended as a joke. Many jokes are not particularly funny.

It was clearly an attempt at humour. Every single other PP has been able to identify that.

1forAll74 · 22/03/2018 01:06

Sounds like a man joke, one who wants to sounds glib and amusing. And if you have had other driving lessons with him before, you, as a woman of the world, should be able to read into this.