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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

I didn't like a 'tell-tale' when I was younger and I still don't

281 replies

LittleMonkeysWideAwake · 30/04/2018 09:08

Those kids that tell on the teacher all the time, or tell you off in a high and mighty way. I didn't like them as a kid, and I don't like them as adults now!

This morning another parent at sons school told me off for my inappropriate parking. I was of course in the wrong! And said so, and apologised. But I'm fuming inside!!! I can't stand busy- bodies who go out of their way to tell me off!

Grrrrrr

Just a rant!

Are you one of those parents? (and we're you one of those kids?) and why do you do it?

OP posts:
Original poster
LittleMonkeysWideAwake · 30/04/2018 09:09

*were

OP posts:
Rinoachicken · 30/04/2018 09:10

My son does this. He has ASD. He’s simply stating a fact when someone has done something that’s against the rules.

Imstickingwiththisone · 30/04/2018 09:10

Because I really hate shite parkers.

Original poster
LittleMonkeysWideAwake · 30/04/2018 09:13

By the way - while my parking wasn't great (and I do admit I was wrong how I parked), I didn't park anyone in, and said parent walked from quite some distance away just to tell me what I already knew (that I shouldn't have parked where I did!)

grrrr... we all make mistakes! Do stupid things from time to time! Why tell me off!

OP posts:
Original poster
LittleMonkeysWideAwake · 30/04/2018 09:14

Fair enough 'Imstickingwiththisone'!

OP posts:
Glumglowworm · 30/04/2018 09:14

If you don’t park inconsiderately then nobody will need to call you out on it will they? Problem solved.

systemlakeland · 30/04/2018 09:15

They just need to feel superior by admonishing others. It's annoying, but I wouldn't give them too much headspace.

MorelloKisses · 30/04/2018 09:17

Do you think knyiu May be more likely to park with more considertion from now on?

I call people out who I see littering. It’s a horrible, unecessary practice and I’d like them to change their ways. It does not mean I’m perfect in all areas, just that I would like them to think more carefully and not litter.

charlestonchaplin · 30/04/2018 09:17

It wasn't a mistake though. You knew what you were doing.

ittakes2 · 30/04/2018 09:17

You might have jump to a conclusion they were ‘telling you off’. They might have just been trying to let you know, as they thought you didn’t know, and were worried you might get a fine.

Nikephorus · 30/04/2018 09:17

If you don’t park inconsiderately then nobody will need to call you out on it will they?
This ^^ And just because you know you did wrong doesn't mean that everyone in your position would have done. Plenty would carry on doing whatever they wanted regardless of others and so need telling.

MorelloKisses · 30/04/2018 09:18

Oh and this is not ‘telling tales’. Telling tales would have been directing a parking warden your way or calling the School office.

This was calling you out.

ImNotMeImSomeoneElse · 30/04/2018 09:22

Talking to you about something you did wrong isn't being a 'tell-tale'.

Maybe they were trying to be helpful, for future reference kind of thing?

But I find it amusing that you don't like being told you did something wrong - but you are happy to tell the world about the other person's 'wrong-doings'.

chockaholic72 · 30/04/2018 09:22

It's not telling tales - it's just correcting.

I'll tell someone if they've parked inconsiderately, dropped litter, or pushed into a queue. I don't like people taking the piss.

africanprincessinscotland · 30/04/2018 09:22

Because it's raining, and clearly children dissolve in the rain, there was a line of cars parked on the double yellows and zig zags outside our school this morning. I considered going and telling them that they should be more considerate (and not break the law), or take a photo. But I didn't because previous experience has sadly shown me that all I'll get is a mouthful of abuse. But if they don't get called out in it then they'll keep doing it, and keep putting mine and other people's kids at risk.

So in some circumstances you absolutely deserve to have your behaviour called out Angry

ShatnersWig · 30/04/2018 09:22

In other words, you're pissed off for getting caught doing something you shouldn't and prefer to blame the person who caught you rather than yourself.

Original poster
LittleMonkeysWideAwake · 30/04/2018 09:24

Morellokisses - yup you're right! But my experience is that it is the same type if people that tell you off and tell on you! I'm a grown adult! I don't need other parents 'calling me out' or telling me off! And as a kid I fared the no-it-all that would tell on me or tell me off! I'm sure these annoying kids turn into the annoying parents like the one I met today!!!

And actually, I know what I did today was wrong! (It wasn't unsafe or inconsiderate by the way! But was wrong!) andcwould try to avoid in future! But this parent has almost now made me want to rebel and do it again!!! (I won't if course! Unless things go tuts up as they did thus morning!! But I just hate these know-it-alls! 'teachers pet' types!

OP posts:
Theknacktoflying · 30/04/2018 09:25

I call out bad behaviour as much as I would help if someone needed it ... and take it as it is dished

Pick up your dog turds, park sensibly, obey traffic flows ....

It isn’t tattling ... no brownie points or getting one up on anyone ..

specialsubject · 30/04/2018 09:28

there are websites and facebook pages where people like you get their cars photographed and laughed at.

btw that playground dont sneak mentality means you dont report crime, so suck it up if you get burgled. no sneaking to the cops, now..

LaurieMarlow · 30/04/2018 09:28

If you don’t park inconsiderately then nobody will need to call you out on it will they

This.

You were in the wrong. She called you out. That's not telling tales. Grow up and take it gracefully.

Springnowplease · 30/04/2018 09:28

I admire people who do this. It's the responsible thing to do. Over important issues, obviously.

Tawdrylocalbrouhaha · 30/04/2018 09:29

I do it because I am turning into my mother, and the process is too advanced to be stopped.

Yesterday I returned a discarded burger box to a confused teenager, with a cheery "here! You dropped this!".

Original poster
LittleMonkeysWideAwake · 30/04/2018 09:30

Gosh mumsnetters are harsh!!! :)

I know I was wrong!!! And ok fair enough, I deserve to be called out on it! But I'd never do that to anyone! I can see people at school struggling. If someone does something wrong - surely it's because they r having a bad day, stressed, running late, etc etc.... why make it worse by 'calling them out' when it's none of your business?

i fear my point is being lost !!! Or maybe you were all that kid at school! Wink

OP posts:
Tawdrylocalbrouhaha · 30/04/2018 09:30

I also would have rated him out to the authorities in a heartbeat, if there were any authorities.

I can't help myself.

Claire90ftm · 30/04/2018 09:31

So basically you don't like people who point out when you're in the wrong? And people who go to tell the teacher, I would say that's the safest thing to do when you have a problem. That's what they're there for so, in my view, people who get annoyed by that have done something wrong and don't want to be punished. Also that's often the stance of a bully- not that I'm saying that you were a bully - but they often call out their victims for being tattle-tales when they expose the bully's behaviour.