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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To wonder if this text message accidentally sent to me was actually about me?

146 replies

NicoAndTheNiners · 27/11/2018 21:42

Step mum invited me and dd round for dinner this evening. My dad died a few years ago and we don't see each other often but do try and keep in touch. She married my dad when I was in my 30s so I don't know her that well but we've always got on fine.

So had a nice enough evening. Ate, made small talk and left. Did all the usual stuff of asking how she was, work, her mother, admired new extension, etc. I guess we don't have much in common so we don't get on like a house on fire but I think generally find enough to talk about.

About 5 mins after I left hers I got a gif text which said.

Bored
Bored
Bored
Bored
Bored.

Followed immediately by a text saying "sorry if I've just sent you an odd message, I can't control me new iPhone."

I'm paranoid she meant to send that message to a friend about me/the evening. She wasn't texting me about something else and clicked on a gif by accident as she'd no reason to text me.

OP posts:
twoundertwo54321 · 27/11/2018 22:17

You will never really know but for the sake of yourself and her I would try to take her at her word and forget it. Speculating will only leave you feeling crap and angry.

Ohyesiam · 27/11/2018 22:18

I’d msg back “ so should I polish up my conversation skills?” Because is want to know how she’d respond.

KarmaStar · 27/11/2018 22:18

If you think she is generally straight talking op,imho I'd give her the benefit of the doubt.She could have been replying to an earlier message from a friend and talking about life in general.She could be lonely/feel under valued or that life in general is passing her by.
I'd not take it to heart op,maybe a talk with her will get to the bottom of things.I'm sorry for you both losing your dad.Flowers

Wrybread · 27/11/2018 22:18

She probably opened messenger to have a play around with the gifs. Did she message you earlier in the day? I only ask because I accidentally sent something similar (saying I love you) to someone who is been messaging earlier in the day. Was very embarrassing Blush

He had the same first name as my dp and I'd not looked carefully. Plus I didn't even want to send it. I was just scrolling through the gifs and my finger must have been on it too long and it sent it!

Bryonee · 27/11/2018 22:19

Why don't you open the same messaging programme she used to send the gif, click on gifs and see what comes up as suggested. There will be a page of gifs that pop up as trending. If it's in there it could very legitimately be a mistake.

If not search "boring" etc into the bar and see if it comes up. If so it's a bit more suspicious and likely she meant to send it to someone else.

NicoAndTheNiners · 27/11/2018 22:19

She does have a boyfriend so maybe he'd texted her asking her how she was and she's was just replying meaning she was bored now she was alone?

I certainly wouldn't want to ruin our relationship and will give her the benefit of the doubt. I was just feeling a bit sad but maybe am being paranoid. Thanks.

OP posts:
Branleuse · 27/11/2018 22:19

If i didnt have any other reason to assume she'd found the evening really boring, id take her word at face value tbh and assume it was the phone
Did you think it was a boring evening?

TheBookThief · 27/11/2018 22:21

I dunno, I'd be tempted to give her the benefit of the doubt. I've sent and been sent all manner of weird gifs. My bloody phone has a life of its own sometimes and even though I think I've locked the screen several times it's sent christknowswhat to some random person as I try and shove it back in my pocket.

troodiedoo · 27/11/2018 22:22

When my dm first got an iPhone she asked me how to get rid of "all these yellow faces and get the letters back". So I think it's entirely possible that it's a genuine error.

SuperSuperSuper · 27/11/2018 22:22

I sent a face with big teeth to everyone on a work whatsapp group once. Luckily no one at work has big teeth, so no one took offence. It's easy to do silly things online.

Also, if she was bored by you she'd have sent a "bored" message to a friend during the evening when you'd popped to the bathroom or something, not after you'd gone home.

GunpowderGelatine · 27/11/2018 22:22

Does she come across as a GIF type person OP?

NicoAndTheNiners · 27/11/2018 22:25

No, she doesn't come across as a gif type person.

Yes, she'd messaged me earlier on in the afternoon confirming arrangements so I was possibly the last person she'd texted.

OP posts:
Beeziekn33ze · 27/11/2018 22:25

Difficult to forget it but try to put it behind you. Sure you're good company and have better things to do than dwell on a weird gif. Just ignore it and treat her normally next time you're in contact.
I don't understand gifs but sometimes my fat little finger attaches one when I'm using messenger, usually a cartoon cat!

sobeyondthehills · 27/11/2018 22:31

my mums phone does this to me a fair few times.

Either that or she is enjoying sending me a jumping sun 8 times

Chocolate50 · 27/11/2018 22:31

Naa don't get paranoid, just ignore it, not worth worrying about

lalalalyra · 27/11/2018 22:32

I would give her the benefit of the doubt. Especially if you're likely to have been the last person she text or if she was likely tobe texting you to thank you for visiting etc.

I'm forever sticking stupid waving cat gifs mid message as I've got fat fingers and they're too easy to hit on the phone

Mary1935 · 27/11/2018 22:33

I’m curious why she invited you both if she knew she would be “bored” she really doesn’t need to does she. I’d assume it’s a mistake but you know her better than we do.

mushlett · 27/11/2018 22:36

I have sent random gifs to people completely accidentally, honestly don’t get upset about it, it really could have been a completely random mistake

Bluerussian · 27/11/2018 22:36

No, I don't think she meant it about you or even that she meant to say "bored". I've had some odd texts in the past, and emails, and one or two went out from my phone which I didn't write. Weird things happen, think no more of it.

LongDivision · 27/11/2018 22:38

Unless she is an incredibly immature person, I doubt it was intended for you - she was probably bored after you left and tried to do a search for 'bored' on her phone.

mcmooberry · 27/11/2018 22:39

I sometimes can't get out of the gif screen on my iPhone and it is entirely plausible that she sent it accidently, I think it is highly unlikely she was sending a message about you to anyone but I can see how you might think it!!

neveradullmoment99 · 27/11/2018 22:39

Let it go. She very well may have sent you it by accident. Even if it was that she was bored, it doesn't definitely mean it was because she thought you were boring. She may be bored once you had left or just venting. Just ignore it and move on.

ShesABelter · 27/11/2018 22:42

Na I'd take her at face value. My mil does random stuff with her phone. Like send gifs or empty texts.

seven201 · 27/11/2018 22:44

I think it was an accident. I'm mid 30's and had an I-phone for a long time but gifs still confuse me. They're not like normal words as once you click (just to look) they send. The same as stickers. They just get sent straight off with no undo option. I think she was in a message to you and decided to look at gifs and it just went wrong! I think give her the benefit of the doubt.

Weathermonger · 27/11/2018 22:44

Honestly if I was bored enough by someone that I'd send a gif about it, I certainly wouldn't be wasting my evening inviting that said person over to dinner. Take it at face value, a genuine mistake that wasn't about you and don't let it bother you.