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AIBU?

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Original poster

To have told a woman with her kids to mind her own business

455 replies

Woolythoughts · 10/09/2018 08:38

Travelling on a train, sat at a table of four seats. Opposite me was a woman with one of her kids and her other one was next to me. Once next to her was a toddler and the one next to me probably about 6/7.

I was happily sitting there watching a box set on the ipad with head phones in. US drama with bits of violence (guns, shooting, fights etc) and a bit of sex (Homeland for those who know it).

She asked me if I could turn it off as it was unsuitable for her son sitting next to me to watch it. I think he'd been watching the screen and made some comment to his mother from what I could gather when I took my headphones out.

Told her not a chance as it was not my problem.

Then, about 20 minutes left to go, was killing time playing candy crush - again with head phones on.

This time she asked me not to as her kids wanted to play it and she didn't allow it and it would upset them.

At that point I politely suggested she pay more attention to what her kids were doing and less to what I was doing and I'd do what I wanted.

She seemed to think I should modify my behaviour because of her parenting choices.

OP posts:
whosafraidofabigduckfart · 10/09/2018 08:41

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pasturesgreen · 10/09/2018 08:42

That was fucking ridiculous, YANBU!

Well done for standing your ground.

MissusGeneHunt · 10/09/2018 08:43

If I was the mother (and I could also see you screen) I would have told my son (of that age) not to watch it, not asked you not to watch it. Alternatively I would have swapped seats so the toddler was opposite me and still manageable and the boy was next to the toddler.

Also, if I was you I would have tilted the screen more away from the child, but you probably did this, and frankly, she was the one who was being HIGHLY unreasonable, especially with the Candy Crush - what's the world coming to....??!!

BlueThesaurusRex · 10/09/2018 08:43

I can understand the Homeland thing (although I think she should have just told her kid to stop watching) but the candy crush thing is insane! Good thing you weren’t having a beer 🍺

Eeeeek2 · 10/09/2018 08:44

The first one I was a bit unsure of because if the same thing happened on board a plane where I couldn't move seats I'd be a bit frustrated (on a train I'd just move or ask if the person could angle it slightly away)

Candy crush the woman is being ridiculous and I'd of just laughed.

whosafraidofabigduckfart · 10/09/2018 08:44

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MsHomeSlice · 10/09/2018 08:44

any particular reason the woman was not able to swap seats with her six year old?

She sounds a pita tbh, I wouldn't have changed what I was doing.

Lockheart · 10/09/2018 08:45

YANBU at all about the candy crush. Her son needs to learn he can’t have a go on random people’s phones / iPads.

But I think you’re being a bit U about the tv show. If I had a child sat next to me who was watching my screen I’d avoid violent and sex stuff. And the same goes for books and papers - no Fifty Shades of Grey or page 3, for example.

ElainaElephant · 10/09/2018 08:47

I think the woman wbu the second time to even bother asking because you clearly didn't give a shit about a child seeing the inappropriate stuff you were watching.

I think ywbu not to make more effort to shield what you were watching from a child.

Otterseatpuffinsdontthey · 10/09/2018 08:47

Going to shops for popcorn.

heartsease68 · 10/09/2018 08:47

First one you're being a twat.

Second one she's being unreasonable.

gingergenius · 10/09/2018 08:50

Nope yanbu.

cannotmakemymindup · 10/09/2018 08:50

YABU about watching a programme rated 15/18 next to a 6/7 year old - sound or no sound especially on a Ipad it's not like a tiny phone screen.
I would tell my child to try to ignore however it's not a suitable show at all.
She was U about candy crush however.

AssignedNorthernAtBirth · 10/09/2018 08:51

I'd have turned the TV show off myself, but she was several miles beyond mere unreasonableness to ask you to switch the candy crush off.

WorraLiberty · 10/09/2018 08:51

This time she asked me not to as her kids wanted to play it and she didn't allow it and it would upset them.

Oh come on, REALLY?

Leesa65 · 10/09/2018 08:52

All you saying she is a twat (OP) .
WHY ?
Kid should be told not to bloody look then !!

ThreeAnkleBiters · 10/09/2018 08:53

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LoisWilkerson1 · 10/09/2018 08:55

Call South Yorkshire Police on her.

NonaGrey · 10/09/2018 08:56

In her position I wouldn’t have said anything but would have swapped seats with my child.

In your position I’d have angled the screen away/changed programme as soon as the child sat down.

The candy crush thing is ridiculous though, I agree.

CherryAide · 10/09/2018 08:56

I've watched things on the train before and I turn violent or sexual shows off even when an adult sits next to me. People naturally look at things like iPads. It think it's just the respectful thing to do. I absolutely would have turned it off in front of a 6 year old. I think YWU not to turn it off in that case.

The candy crush thing is weird. I would probably have laughed at that one...

RedSaidBread · 10/09/2018 08:57

Agreed the Candy Crush thing is out of order but watching any kind of content on public transport that's got sex or violence in it is extremely anti-social.

deepsea · 10/09/2018 08:57

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SlartiAardvark · 10/09/2018 08:57

But then again I’m not a dick

Really? Your post would suggest otherwise....

CherryAide · 10/09/2018 08:57

It seems a bit odd to me that if you already said you wouldn't stop watching a violent show that she would then ask you to stop playing candy crush. (I'm wondering if the second bit really happened).

Yes quite...

deepsea · 10/09/2018 08:57

Sexual