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Original poster

Grotto Argument

92 replies

applesauce1 · 18/12/2019 11:07

Firstly. The DAILY MAIL ARE WANKERS.

Took my son to see Father Christmas today at a lovely grotto. There were craft activities and an animatronic festive trail with Christmas music in the background. I went with my mum.

While walking through the animatronic trail, showing my son the (somewhat disturbing) dancing reindeer, a man gets on his phone and starts having a really loud conversation about his Sunday football lineup. My mum was cross as it was spoiling the atmosphere. After around 5 minutes, mum asked him to kindly hang up so she could enjoy the Christmas music. He started having an argument with her about how it was an important work call, and that she was spoiling the atmosphere by having a go at him. My mum then suggested that he spend less time on his phone and pay attention to his child. The wife/partner also got involved and a raised voice altercation ensued between the three of them.

Honestly, I hate conflict so I became very very engrossed in the dancing penguins, talking at length to my baby about how they really do go up and down.

Him being on the phone so loudly for so long was annoying, but I personally would have just tried to ignore him.

Oh and the experience cost £15, if that’s relevant.

Who was being unreasonable?

OP posts:
Cremebrule · 18/12/2019 12:35

He was clearly being a knob. Good on your mum. I’d have probably silently seethed and said nothing. Maybe if more people did tell people how to parent they’d be a bit better at it...

Let’s be honest, most calls could have waited. A quick ‘I’m visiting Santa can I call you back in 10’ would be fine I’m 99% of situations and if It was so important, he should have stepped out to concentrate anyway. And yes I think it is sad if someone can’t give their child uninterrupted attention in a grotto.

Sagradafamiliar · 18/12/2019 12:42

Why would the DM think your grotto spat was news fodder? It's not like the man was having loud phone sex and then Santa came out and called you all cunts.

PhilSwagielka · 18/12/2019 12:45

YANBU, people like that are really irritating.

hellsbellsmelons · 18/12/2019 12:46

Why would the DM think your grotto spat was news fodder?
Because they are lazy fucking journalists who steal all sorts of odd things from this site and call it 'news'!!!!
Dick heads.
There are so many 'real' stories out there but they can't be asked.
So they lazily steal anything and everything!!!!! Including something like this!

Original poster
applesauce1 · 18/12/2019 12:47

Gosh, I’m really sorry for the DM comment and for any offence caused by it!

OP posts:
WorraLiberty · 18/12/2019 12:51

It's not 'lazy' journalism, it's modern journalism and no-one has stolen anything.

It's a public forum.

WorraLiberty · 18/12/2019 12:52

Gosh, I’m really sorry for the DM comment and for any offence caused by it!

Haha! "Offence" Grin Grin

Mummyoflittledragon · 18/12/2019 12:53

He was an idiot. Unfortunately he decided to ruin the moment for his family and everyone else. Unless the slots were time sensitive, he could have left and returned or missed the visit to Santa if the call was that important.

Damnloginpopup · 18/12/2019 12:56

"Honestly, I hate conflict so I became very very engrossed in the dancing penguins"

I love this. Even more than if you had snapped and farted.

ThreeAnkleBiters · 18/12/2019 12:57

It's not 'lazy' journalism, it's modern journalism and no-one has stolen anything.

It really is quite lazy it's just somehow become acceptable to repeat a possibly completely made up story from a forum into a national newspaper. Journalists do it because it's cheap and easy.

Scoobydoobywho · 18/12/2019 13:00

I had this kind of thing the other day, not at Santa's Grotto but at the cinema. I had to ask a lady in front of me if she could switch off her phone as I kept getting distracted by the late light from the corner of my eye. The ironic thing was that there was an announcement about phones only a few minutes before.

WorraLiberty · 18/12/2019 13:00

It really is quite lazy it's just somehow become acceptable to repeat a possibly completely made up story from a forum into a national newspaper. Journalists do it because it's cheap and easy.

So are they supposed to ignore the invention of the worldwide web and take to the streets with clipboard in hand?

This is 2019 Grin

Sirzy · 18/12/2019 13:00

He was a prat but then your mum wasn’t much better turning it into an argument.

WotchaTalkinBoutWillis · 18/12/2019 13:11

Firstly. The DAILY MAIL ARE WANKERS.

That made me actually lol - yeah, that'll totes stop 'em lifting the story if they want to (not) Grin
Kind of on the fence a bit here - I get he was annoying being on the phone but it sounds like your mum was the confrontational one causing a scene in the grotto line up rather than him

Original poster
applesauce1 · 18/12/2019 13:13

@WorraLiberty

(b)Haha! "Offence" grin grin(b)

Haha, now that really is embarrassing!

OP posts:
WotchaTalkinBoutWillis · 18/12/2019 13:14

I agree that it does deter DM. Writing 'please do not repost this' is utterly useless, but 'DM are wankers' is always worthwhile as I've yet to see them write a post which then links to a thread insulting them

As if! Grin
You do realise that they could "lift" the story and just use quotes, right?

ForalltheSaints · 18/12/2019 13:18

Your mum was in the right I think, and indeed had the man been reasonable and gone to a quiet place it would have been better for him to listen to the call.

As for The Paper that Supported the Blackshirts, I am sure that they can edit out the bits that are critical of them.

Samsmam2 · 18/12/2019 13:18

He had time to deal with it like a grown up before she spoke. It’s a pity some of the other adults there didn’t back up your Mum. She was left to deal with it on her own, and that’s not fair. Weren’t there any staff there? For £15 you’d expect some semblance of order. I’d be complaining to the organisers.

And a very Merry Christmas to applesauce 1’s Mum.

rhubarbcrumbles · 18/12/2019 13:18

Well done to your Mum.

Henhophouse · 18/12/2019 13:20

Don’t be embarrassed, some MN’ers think they’re in charge of the site, when actually they’re sanctimonious twits.

Redglitter · 18/12/2019 13:23

I've never seen them lift a story from here that begins, "The Daily Mail are a bunch of wankers"

Or perhaps the people who post the ridiculous disclaimer dont have as interesting a story as they think they have.

namechangetheworld · 18/12/2019 13:23

Your Mum was rude. How is the man talking about his football line up on the phone any different than talking about it with the person next to him? I can't imagine all of the young children there were standing quietly listening to the music Hmm

BluePheasant · 18/12/2019 13:24

Good for your mum. Unfortunately self entitled people like him will never think they are in the wrong or at least admit they are. Maybe it will make him think though. Feel sorry for his children if he can't even pay them attention during something he actually paid to do with them.

AlessandroVasectomi · 18/12/2019 13:24

I am troubled by the increasing tendency for people to be inconsiderate in situations such as this and then to go on the offensive when challenged about it. I don’t know, but it seems that a couple of generations ago, the offender would have said sorry, been concerned that he was annoying others and modified his behaviour. Not these days though; it’s an “I should be entitled to do what I like” attitude and it makes my blood boil. Good for your mum!

NewName73 · 18/12/2019 13:27

YABU to think the Daily Fail would be remotely interested in this story.