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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to think that it's antisocial to paint your nails on the train?

141 replies

pasturesgreen · 14/12/2019 16:19

Currently on a long distance train journey, fairly empty coach. Across from the aisle there's this woman who is painting her nails. I loathe the smell. Now, I realise this is a minor annoyance, and that I can move to another empty seat, but just for the sake of passing the remaining 3 hours on my journey: AIBU to think that personal grooming (nail painting, applying full face of makeup, extensive hair brushing etc.) is best reserved for behind closed doors?

OP posts:
Expo · 15/12/2019 11:50

This whole thread is hysterical. Do people really get upset about minutiae like this.

Rosebud21 · 15/12/2019 11:50

The smell of nail polish in a public place is revolting. YANBU

Today is my first time applying my make while sitting on a train (I was the only person in the carriage). I'd have missed my train if I'd put it on at home, trains are hourly. YABU

dorisdoughnut · 15/12/2019 12:02

@tulips77 drinking Pataks out of a jar Grin

rattusrattus20 · 15/12/2019 12:19

i get annoyed by stuff that's a bit like this [e.g. playing music on a phone's speaker, rather than headphones, on public transport that's beyond the pale to me], or i used to have a colleague who'd quite often eat a cooked breakfast at his desk, that infuriated me, but nail varnish, seriously...?

Vulpine · 15/12/2019 12:22

Expo - so i can sit and fart next to you can i?

LipUpFattyReggee · 15/12/2019 12:35

Vulpine I don’t know if you’ve ever been to any exercises classes, but someone usually farts in 9/10 classes (while participants are already struggling for breath). It’s not pleasant, but certainly not worth getting hysterical over.

And I agree with expo, this is a hysterical thread. Sure, some people may have reactions to nail polish and I can understand why it’s upsetting to them, but getting upset because someone is applying make up is ridiculous.

JasonPollack · 15/12/2019 12:36

Fucking mumsnet, what the fuck are people allowed to do on the train?!

Wavescrashingonthebeach · 15/12/2019 12:40

Makeup has no smell but nail varnish does and can aggravate asthma.

museumum · 15/12/2019 12:45

MN people are so weird about eating on trains. There’s a buffet car and a trolley going up and down, of course it’s not anti social to purchase and eat food! In first class there’s even plates and cutlery and full cooked meals. Are all these MN anti-food people really sitting harrumphing at anyone who accepts the offered meals 😂😂😂

LolaSmiles · 15/12/2019 12:49

Fucking mumsnet, what the fuck are people allowed to do on the train?!
Apply their common sense I would guess like most people do.

Eating and drinking - fine, common sense says that you'd not have anything really smelly though

Personal grooming - a bit of makeup or putting your hair up probably ok, cutting and painting your nails, flossing your teeth, popping spots, probably not

Taking a phonecall - a quick one that's quiet and unobtrusive, fine as long as you're not in the quiet carriage / loud one obnoxiously trying to sound like the most important guy in the coming saying "yeah yeah Jason, I'm on the train for my 11:40 so if you tell Tim to send me that invoice... Yeah yeah..." Then you're a knob.

Children playing and chatting - at their table at a reasonable volume, fine / running and screaming, not fine

Tablets/music - using headphones, fine / no headphones, not fine

It's all common sense for most people. Do what you like as long as you're not being an inconsiderate arse.

Arthritica · 15/12/2019 12:52

Geez, do calm down. Journeys are dull and someone’s using the time. Chill out.

Berrylove · 15/12/2019 12:55

I think doing your make up and hair etc is absolutely fine, some people are really pushed for time and you have to respect that, however I think doing your nails is a bit unreasonable just because the smell of it travels far.

astralweaks · 15/12/2019 13:03

It is ill mannered.

Expo · 15/12/2019 13:17

@vulpine no you shouldn’t fart. That’s rank. Hahah. But if somebody quickly applied their nail varnish I would be like damn - clever them - my nails look rank (single full time working mum of 3) - wish I had thought of it!

Somanysocks · 15/12/2019 13:35

I would prefer the smell of nail varnish any day than sitting opposite or next to someone who's just had a fag. Envy not envy

Leighhalfpennysthigh · 15/12/2019 13:38

I've got to go somewhere by train tomorrow. I'll make sure I get a lovely stinky bacon roll and coffee for breakfast, then I'll put my make up on and brush my hair whilst listening to a loud and inappropriate film on my iPad with no headphones. On my way home I'll obviously have to get the famous Leon chicken satay and have a few drinks before getting on the train and spending the journey talking loudly on my phone.......just in case there are any mumsnetters present.

Alsohuman · 15/12/2019 13:38

It’s not allowed on aeroplanes, the smell is bloody nauseating

It most certainly is. I’ve done it.

SimonJT · 15/12/2019 13:46
  • No need to eat on public transport, even on a long commute. It's just become a habit for people to do as they please.*

Hopefully the above isn’t a bold fail.

I’m in the forest of dean at the moment, some arsehole stole my car recently, it’s a four hour train journey that had six connections. We left home about 30 minutes before the first leg. Our longest leg was 55 minutes so we had lunch on that one. When we got to our final train destination we had another 40 minutes getting a taxi. Thats five hours.

My son is four, he got peckish in that time. I have type one diabetes, I don’t particularly fancy low blood sugar or the dangerous complications it brings.

MaxNormal · 15/12/2019 13:50

Alsohuman i reported someone for painting their nails on a plane and the cabin crew looked horrified and rushed over to stop them. They also kindly found me a seat far away from the fumes.

MaxNormal · 15/12/2019 13:52

I don't care what people eat or drink or if they apply make up. I'd rather they didn't play things loudly without earphones but I'd survive. I don't even care if people fart.

FruitcakeOfHate · 15/12/2019 14:09

Fucking mumsnet, what the fuck are people allowed to do on the train?!

Read Chomsky, in paperback only, and pen letters. You must sure to have freshly showered and washed your hair, using only unscented, environmentally-friendly products, and wearing all freshly laundered clothes, including bra. Or you smell, are ill-mannered and vile.

FruitcakeOfHate · 15/12/2019 14:17

The clothes must all have been laundered in unscented washing liquid or powder, too, otherwise they reek and knock out everyone within a 1-mile radius.

easyandy101 · 15/12/2019 14:18

YABU in regard to makeup - how does odourless & mess free makeup application effect you? Also what exactly is “ extensive hair brushing”hmm

Make up really does smell. I'd rather smell the thinners in nail varnish than the chalky kinda fatty smell of make up

I couldn't really give a fuck about either but make up really does have its own smell

Rachelfromfriends1 · 15/12/2019 14:54

@easyandy101 ok, the cheap shit might smell if that’s what you use - but my high end products certainly don’t. I would only use lipstick, brow pencil & compact powder on a train so I’m not quite sure how any of my those products would produce a pungent odour.

Marellaspirit · 15/12/2019 14:59

I don't have a problem if people want to do their make up but nail varnish crosses a line IMO as the smell gives me a headache. Though I do admire anyone who can successfully paint their nails or apply make up on a mining train! Once in a train from London to the North East, I watched a girl do a full face of make up and straighten her hair. Kept me entertained for the full journey, I was fascinated by her!