Berated for buying a bottle of water

[BackInTime]

Went for a day out with another family yesterday and I stopped on the way to buy some water as I had forgotten to take mine from the fridge. I spent the rest of the day being lectured to by my friend about plastic use and the environment, all of which I am fully aware of and do my best to limit plastic use but this was a one off and I did recycle the bottle/ Then I was chastised for eating meat (packed ham sandwiches) as her family have all gone vegetarian to save the planet, although her DD said it was because some celebrity said it helped with weight loss

I didn't like to point out that her avocado salad probably wasn't as green as she thought, having been flown half way across the world in plastic packaging and was possibly responsible for deforestation in South America. This is the same person that thinks walking and public transport is for peasants and makes the even shortest journey to the corner shop in a Range Rover. The same person that takes several long haul trips a year.

AIBU to not want to be lectured to about the environment by hypocrites like this?

[timshelthechoice]

Get rid! Seriously, just get rid of people like this in your life.

[EKGEMS]

Honestly if your so called friend stopped her lecturing that would help reduce global warming significantly

[LadyRannaldini]

Smile sweetly and say 'Tell me, just how do you spell sanctimonious?'.

[Lovemenorca]

Smile sweetly and say 'Tell me, just how do you spell sanctimonious?'.

.
Yes because that how people communicate in real life.
No, that’s just sitcom speak

OP - either question her stance when she does so much to suggest she’s being hypocritical. Or sit there and seethe

[firstimemamma]

@kitk plastic 'recycling' in the uk gets shipped abroad where it ends up dumped or burned. Even if plastic does get recycled, it can only withstand the recycling process once or twice.

Op yanbu though, your friend sounds crazy!

[Geraniumpink]

It’s so boring and rude of people to behave like this. I was brought up in a very environmentally aware household (in the 80’s, so unusual for the time), but would never comment on anyone’s choices. Also, being thirsty for too long isn’t healthy.
But I do wish shops would hurry up and do that bottle deposit return scheme - it’s been running on the continent for years.

[Merryoldgoat]

I suggest getting comfortable telling people like her to ‘fuck off’.

[berlinbabylon]

Buying bottled water is a really poor choice, considering we live in a country with clean water coming out of the taps. I wouldn't say something to a friend who decided to buy water on a day out. But I'd be judging her/him for not bringing a refillable bottle from home

This is getting silly. I have been really thirsty and not bought a drink because I don't want some virtue signalling idiot (who probably drives a 4 x 4 (not an electric one)) having a go at me for forgetting my plastic bottle.

Also, you can't always get a refill. You're supposed eg to be able to get refills from Costa, which is owned by Whitbread. Yet I was in a Premier inn a couple of weeks ago (also owned by Whitbread) and was unable to find anywhere at breakfast where I could fill up a bottle (or anywhere else). DH bought a couple of plastic bottles from a non-judgey corner shop.

[berlinbabylon]

Agree about the bottle deposit scheme.

And if you are willing to refill people's bottles please put a big sign up - or even better, leave out a jug of water!

[Geraniumpink]

If people want to be truly environmentally friendly then the complete demise of the human race would be by far the most beneficial thing.

But of course that is an unacceptable solution.

The humans still living have to pragmatically balance paying attention to the current threats to the environment whilst still taking part in whatever current society they inhabit.

It’s really hard, and quite complicated.

It makes everyday living a bit of a minefield.

[FamilyOfAliens]

I’m always amazed at these stories and how many people seem to say such inappropriate things to their “friends”.

I’ve never known it to happen in real life, just on Mumsnet.

[LillithsFamiliar]

It's also only on MN that people to really dislike their 'friends' and their 'friends' dislike them. I'm glad in RL that I like my friends and vice versa.

[Franklyyes]

She probably thinks Meghan is amazing - barefoot and not having loads of kids... sadly they don’t get the point of private jets around the world .... do what I do ...

[bluegirlgreen]

@BackInTime Of COURSE single use plastic is shit, and we - as a country - are trying to combat it. But I would imagine you'll chuck it into the recycling right??? Like MOST people do!

Your 'friend' is a pillock!

It's all very well saying 'use tap water.' And many people do, most of the time - me included. But when TAP water has been in a bottle for more than 20 minutes or so, it's vile. Tastes of lime. Proper minging.

So I shall have a bottle of mineral water ta. I mean, I WILL reuse bottles as often as poss But if I am out and I am thirsty and I need some cold water, I will buy a single bottle...

These virtue-signalling bores almost always have a car, (sometimes several in their family,) and fly abroad once or twice a year, (then come out with the classic, laughable line that the most stupid of stupid people say .... 'well the plane was going there anyway!'

Ignore her. She sounds like a twit.

[cakeandchampagne]

Your “friend” is rude. Maybe the next time something like this comes up, you will tell her to stop the lectures.

[Jellybeansincognito]

You should have jokingly said ‘before you berate me for my plastic usage, you should do some research on your carbon footprint, especially when we have traveled here unnecessarily, you are eating avocado and use air travel yourself more than once a year’.

People like this need witted facts, then they shush.

[minibroncs]

I’m always amazed at these stories and how many people seem to say such inappropriate things to their “friends”.

It's also only on MN that people to really dislike their 'friends' and their 'friends' dislike them. I'm glad in RL that I like my friends and vice versa.

Depressingly, I've worked with enough people who either behaved like this or described incidents and "friendships" falling into those categories to believe this could easily have happened.

It baffles me why people would call someone a friend who's unpleasant to them when they meet up and about whom they spend their time bitching. Terrified of being alone perhaps?

[InionEile]

I’ve know people like this in the past, one Swedish friend in particular stands out. All holier than thou about me occasionally driving my car and sanctimonious about her bike and vegan diet - but unimpressed when I pointed out that her long haul flights to the Caribbean, Morocco, Canada, South Africa etc were probably much worse for the planet than me driving my car 20 miles a week.

I support being as green as possible but unless you practice what you preach, why preach at all? Most of the eco types I knew lived off parents money anyway so rarely had to make practical choices for work’s sake.

[RogerBannister]

The rest of the day? She spent the whole entire rest of the day talking about it? Like, from when you went out until when you got home she talked about it the entire time?

[cardoon]

I have "friends" like this - I see a lot less of them now

[BackInTime]

@cardoon That's also my plan

[Kplpandd]

I had a friend like this who used to lecture me about breast feeding as I chose to bottle feed. I'm not a confrontational person so just used to put up
with it. Got rid after a few Brexit lectures mind.

[maddiemookins16mum]

If she’s ever used disposable nappies then she has no say in what you do.