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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To have screamed down the phone at wrong information?

340 replies

SnotBlower · 14/08/2019 14:41

Last week I told my mother that DDog had worms. She spoke with her “know it all but knows incorrectly” husband and then rang me back telling me “Barry was saying, you need to get the queen out”. I said “what?” And she said “the queen worm, Barry was saying that there is always a queen and it’s a long white worm and until you get that one, you’ll never get rid of the babies”. Now ... I’m used to Barry’s bullshit ridiculous advice and I’m also used to my mum blindly believing everything he says and refusing the accept that he’s wrong, so to avoid the argument I just said “ok”.

A couple of days later she asked “did you manage to get the queen yet?”. Now ... catching me on a bad day I snapped “it doesn’t work like that with worms! There is no queen or worker worms or bloody soldier worms ... they’re all the same!” So she, as predicted said “no! Barry used to have a dog so he knows what he’s on about!! You need to get the queen worm out otherwise it’s no good, you’ll never be rid of them”. So I changed the subjected.

This morning she rang up and said “hows the worms?” So I said “good, all gone now” so she said “oh good! You must have got the queen then! Barry was saying it’s called the Tate worm or something ... “

So at this point I lost it and screamed down the phone. She started shouting “what’s wrong?!” Thinking I was being attacked and now she’s in a huff because I “worried her”.

This drives me mad, Barry comes out with the most ridiculous shit and she instantly decides he must be spot on and argues everyone else down - in turn making herself look as daft as him!!! It’s gone on for over 20 years and I’ve always tried to be polite and humour them but fuck it! AIBU to not go along with this shit anymore? He needs to be told!!

OP posts:
ShirleyPhallus · 14/08/2019 16:47

Sorry but the police needing to do a boxing match had me ACTUALLY lolling which really doesn’t happen often on MN

Just the image of 1980s bobbies with their really high hats and batons in a ring politely doof-doofing each other

DontDribbleOnTheCarpet · 14/08/2019 16:50

My parents are both Barries. Apparently, you catch worms by eating too much sugar. And pensioners are taxed on their private pensions because it's "unearned income" (they aren't able to explain why my very much earned income is also taxed, and just will not accept that INCOME is taxed regardless of how much effort it took to get it). And my favourite, women who can't conceive are always secretly taking the pill.
The fact that my mothers uncle had a fishing boat in the 1950's also makes it essential that they explain to my husband how to manage his boat (husband is highly qualified and has 50 years experience!). My mother knows two things about the kind of fishing my husband does (basking sharks don't actually eat people, and in the 1950's there was no real market for brown crabs!).
OP, I completely understand why you screamed, but you probably shouldn't have. Could you try just asking (repeatedly) for her not to share The Wisdom Of Barry, because you seem to have developed an unusual nervous response to it?

OMGshefoundmeout · 14/08/2019 16:50

I’ve been toying with the idea of possibly, maybe, one day, perhaps, getting a puppy. Reading this thread has grossed me out and changed my mind. My DH was very anti the idea and will be very pleased I’ve come to my senses.

hellenbackagen · 14/08/2019 16:51

the police boxing match is ace - and there was me just running the bleep test for all these years! i must update them next time i do personal safety training!

im going to have the music to rocky playing in the gym from now on to get me in the zone. Grin

downbutnotout2018 · 14/08/2019 16:56

You screamed down the phone at your mother. That's nasty and mean. YABVU. You could have just laughed.

CallmeAngelina · 14/08/2019 16:59

I know an Alan and a Brian, who are both Barrys.

RedWoollyHat · 14/08/2019 17:00

My DP has had to go into hospital and I'm alone stressing (but trying not to show it to the kids). This thread made me forget about it for a whole ten mins and laugh too, so thanks OP :)

Throckmorton · 14/08/2019 17:02

Awesome SnotBlower - I look forward to hearing all about Barry On Ticks :)

tomcatspray · 14/08/2019 17:05

Please keep posting Barry Batshit's world of wonder wisdom

user1473878824 · 14/08/2019 17:06

I’m laughing at all of this, but, are you going to apologise to your mum OP?

Nautiloid · 14/08/2019 17:06

Oh God! My parents can be rather like this. Drives me to distraction! Not yelled about it for years but have in the past so it's a YANBU from me. Grin
I do want an Ask Barry Anything thread.

MidweekObscurity · 14/08/2019 17:10

The police fitness test boxing match I really can't stop laughing! Grin Grin

Stinkycatbreath · 14/08/2019 17:11

But you didn't answer whether or not you got the queen Tate worm out??😁

YourSarcasmIsDripping · 14/08/2019 17:12

1.YANBU to scream. Years of that particular kind of frustration had to blow up sometime.

2.next time just tell her to Google it. Every single time she mentions something "sure mum,just Google it".

  1. The Queen is not gone she just moved from the Tate to the V&A, gathering her armies and plotting her revenge. Keep an ear out for small worm armour noises.
tomcatspray · 14/08/2019 17:13

Please ask Barry about the Irish backstop (I'm irish) and not getting any straight answers from anyone here. Bet Barry Batshit has the answer

Bookworm4 · 14/08/2019 17:15

@hellenbackagen
Can you fit some boxing gloves on your utility belt? And master getting them on quickly? 🤣🤣

Passthecherrycoke · 14/08/2019 17:16

Oh don’t worry @tomcatspray! My Barry can help with the answer to that. Just join Northern Ireland up with Ireland. Simple. I mean, Barry is happy so everyone else will be surely?

shushymcshush · 14/08/2019 17:18

Dear OP
I can see why you would scream. Some people are just so infuriating. I'd guess after years of this, we would all lose our rag at some point.

As therapy, set up a twitter feed of Barryisms, along the same lines as Very British Problems. Share the stupidity with the world. Call it "Barry Really Said" or something like that. You could make a fortune out of selling t-shirts with Barryisms on (Tate Worm for starters) and eventually a book of Barryisms, with illustrations of police boxing champs being called in to take on the Queen worm.

Much more positive outlay for your anger at Barry's total bollox.

Your welcome.

PancakeAndKeith · 14/08/2019 17:19

Do you think that sometimes Barry’s friends tell him shit to see if he will repeat it?

Spudlet · 14/08/2019 17:25

@hellenbackagen I have a vision of police officers everywhere insisting on Queensbury rules while arresting people Grin

Nannewnannew · 14/08/2019 17:26

I hear Google is getting worried that it will be taken over by Barry!

BuzzShitbagBobbly · 14/08/2019 17:28

I'm also checking in for the ABA thread. It might make my own Barry more bearable.

Can you ask him how to stop my cats jumping on my bed and miaowing in my face. I don't actually mind, but I just want to hear his expert advice! Tell him I live in an open plan house with no internal doors if you have to.

(And YANBU, I get it!)

Fluffycloudland77 · 14/08/2019 17:29

I can see how you snapped.

Inmyvestandpants · 14/08/2019 17:33

Barry sounds like the sort of person I try to find at boring parties, so that I can have my own private entertainment. It's fun winding them up.

Also, I'm sure the best way to get the queen worm out is to shove two bananas and a doughnut up the dog's rectum every day for a week. On the seventh day, forget the doughnut. Once the bananas go up, wait patiently at the dog's rear end with a hammer until the worm pops out to say "Oi! Where's my doughnut?" then wallop.

ohdearmymistake · 14/08/2019 17:33

Op I can totally understand why you screamed after 20 long years.

Loving Barry's pearls of wisdom, keep them coming.

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