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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To ask for the question you always get asked, when the person saying it thinks they're the first person to say it.

583 replies

GetMeOffThisCycleOfMisery · 16/02/2020 18:22

Light-hearted.

Examples. As a teen I worked in a shop, sometimes something doesn't scan and the customer (if paying attention) without fail would say, "Oh, that's free then?" Followed by a chuckle.

I wear very high heels a lot, I get told all the time, "How you don't break your neck in those, I'll never know!"

The latest one, my DP is a head chef, people always say, "Oooh, I bet you get loads of lovely meals cooked for you!" I bloody wish, it's a Busman's Holiday for him, he doesn't want to cook after a day in the kitchen. 😆

OP posts:
HighlyUnlikely · 17/02/2020 14:10

Every time I tell people I'm from Birmingham, I have it repeated back to me in a really exaggerated accent.... without fail.

I'm pretty sure this happens to people from Liverpool, Somerset, Yorkshire, et al.

WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll · 17/02/2020 14:20

Every time I tell people I'm from Birmingham, I have it repeated back to me in a really exaggerated accent.... without fail.

Sigh. Even just saying 'The Midlands' will bring the idiots straight out. "Aaaaah, am yow from Beeeeeeeermingummmmmm?!" Even though you might be from Mansfield or Cheltenham. Even if you are from Birmingham, though, they'll invariably do their finest, strongest Black Country accent instead and then wait for hilarity to ensue as you find them just the funniest, most original person you've ever met.

ErrolTheDragon · 17/02/2020 14:22

It must be awkward with two people with the same name are quite well known - especially if the younger becomes more famous than the older version...I get the impression in this that some of the interviewers questions might fit the remit of this thread.

www.bbc.co.uk/bbcthree/article/9f23065a-eaa4-4a53-9865-327a7a5b7561

HighlyUnlikely · 17/02/2020 14:29

WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll

Ha, quite! I just never wanted to have a boringly lengthy conversation about the village I'm from just outside Brum that they've invariably never heard of...

I just say I'm from Warwickshire now.

PrettyyGood · 17/02/2020 14:34

'Are you ...... ......?'

I'm not famous but I'm well known in a certain area and lots of people know my name. I get asked it a lot - Over the phone and in person

Backtoreality1 · 17/02/2020 14:40

When I tell people I have an identical twin...

...'do you look alike?'

Well we would - she is my IDENTICAL twin - the clue is in the name!!

Sillydoggy · 17/02/2020 14:44

For the twin parents - I treasure the moment one of my twins came home with a momentous discovery- Mummy do you know that some people only have one baby at a time?

Blondie1092 · 17/02/2020 15:02

When I worked in a cafe and was cleaning the steel skirtings on my hands and knees
"Say one for me while you're down there! har har har har har!"

🧐 eh?

Vettyvetvet · 17/02/2020 15:06

I'm a vet. Three comments I almost always encounter

  • you must love animals then
  • have you stuck your arm up a cows bum
  • I wanted to be a vet when I was little but... (most common reason... I would cry all the time)

I'm not complaining about receiving these comments, though I must say the cow one is particularity old now...

ScarlettBlaize · 17/02/2020 15:11

"Where are you from?"
London.
"No, I mean where are you REALLY from?"
....London.

Welshwabbit · 17/02/2020 15:12

I have the same surname as a prominent family in a soap opera. It doesn't happen as much now, but for years I used to get asked if I was related to one particular (fictional!) family member - as in the character, not the actor. The really odd thing was that, although I was not related to him (obviously) or the actor playing him, the actor is the only famous person ever to have gone to my school. For one term.

Welshwabbit · 17/02/2020 15:12

PS I was once interviewed by the barrister named Harry Potter.

MummySharn · 17/02/2020 15:16

@HighlyUnlikely it is the most annoying thing ever!

thecatsthecats · 17/02/2020 15:20

I was friends with a pair of brothers called Anthony and Declan when i was growing up.

Anthony changed his name to Mark when he turned 18, which I think is a shame, because once you've left the family home, how many people really know your sibling's names unless you tell them? Poor bastard clearly had a hard time of it.

My sister's name is a soundalike to a famous song character. She gets it all the bloody time, even when she was accepting her degree certificate from Greg Dyke.

SnugglySnerd · 17/02/2020 16:04

Sillydoggy that's really cute Grin

SayNoToCarrots · 17/02/2020 16:04

I have a non-English first name that sounds like a surname if you mispronounce it (and everyone does). It's not spelled like the surname.

"What's your first name though?"

tribeleader · 17/02/2020 16:31

I have a few

Oh but she's so pretty! Then a sad face and head tilt - regarding my disabled child

Only special parents get special children - fuck off Mildred!

And on hearing I have 4 children - 'didn't you have a telly hahaha'

I always love to answer that one - yes but we didn't like the adverts or I don't know what happened, we only had sex 4 times, unlucky I guess Grin

Graphista · 17/02/2020 16:44

Sooo much sympathy for all of you with RA.

A friend of mine has suffered very badly with this since she was born to the point it’s led to her having “twisted” hands and feet and struggling to move her legs/arms.

She too has had lots of ignorant comments over the years like “are they (the EXPERTS in her condition!) sure that’s what it is I thought only old people got it”

“Have you tried...” and yes all the fish oil etc suggestions. She’s actually a hcp herself plus she’s been dealing with it all her life, pretty sure if there were some “miraculous” treatment or even cure out there she’d be right on it!

Idiots!

@rainbowstardrops dd and I both also naturally curly. Dd far more than me and yes we’ve had umpteen comments of “is it natural” and yes I’ve felt like yea right I’m gonna get up crack of dawn JUST to curl a toddlers hair! Took ages to just get it relatively tame anyway! And it never lasted as dd was a disaster for staying tidy!

I’ve mentioned on here before the school photo where I’d sent her in neat and tidy hair tied up in 2 plaits, by the time she got the photo taken she’d taken one side out and it was wild! But I love the photo as it perfectly sums her up at that age!

She straightens it herself now (she’s 19) but only for nights out. For work she tends to tie it back or even put in a bun, but she wore it natural for Halloween works night out (forget what she was dressed as now) and they were stunned! Lots of envy too (it is gorgeous as is she).

Hers is SO curly it’s almost Afro style. But my ex is the same so I think it comes more from him.

I’m more waves and ringlets and I can easily straighten just by fierce brushing while I dry mine.

“But you don’t look ill.” Omg yes! Dd and I HATE This one. We usually get it when we’re about to use disabled loos (both have invisible - for now - physical disabilities) dd is naturally quite shy/introverted but even she is now quite assertive when it comes to needing to use certain disabled facilities - she also uses disabled changing rooms if she’s bad as she needs the bars/handles to stand up again, hard to do in completely flat walled normal changing rooms.

“But don’t you WANT to work?

You need to get out more.

Why don’t you join a group?

What are you doing to get better?”

Ugh! Yes yes yes!

Even on here!

Yes I’d LOVE to be able to work.

I’m housebound by agoraphobia caused by ocd I wish I wasn’t I hate it

I have but haven’t found them very helpful

Quite a lot actually every single day is a battle against constant physical pain, exhaustion (I don’t sleep well at all), anxiety, depression, fear. It’s also filled with exhausting rituals and the difficulties of negotiating a world that seemingly even with all the modern tech that SHOULD make it easier, cannot seem to cope with the nature of being housebound and having no support network.

Eg today I’ve received a refund in the form of a cheque. I can’t get to the bank and I have nobody who can collect it and bank it for me.

Regarding the sleep alone EVEN on here on a thread about insomnia some smart arse came along thinking they were a genius by suggesting “sleep hygiene” to us! A whole thread full of people with serious insomnia...no we’d NEVER have thought of that! 🙄🙄🙄🙄

@JustForTheTasteOfIt - same! I’ve even tried fake tan a couple times mainly out of curiosity - I don’t look tanned I look weirdly jaundiced! Nothing wrong with my skin colour thanks.

Jellybeansincognito · 17/02/2020 16:55

I’m so sorry you’re going through HG @WarrenNicole

In 2013/2014I believe a study was published regarding the relation of blood sugar levels and HG.

I had HG in my first pregnancy (couldn’t even keep anti sickness tablets down) and the only thing that eased the sickness was eating skittles.

Not to be annoying but honestly it’s worth a go. Sugar yourself up!

Hope you feel better soon!

Missillusioned · 17/02/2020 16:56

@Graphista you can bank cheques on banking apps now. You just have to photograph it with your phone when directed on the app. My HSBC app does it, do I assume others do.

Whatisthisfuckery · 17/02/2020 17:05

When I say I’m from the Black Country I get ‘is that Birmingham?’ No, it’s the Black Country. ‘But that’s Birmingham isn’t it?’ No, it’s the Black Country. Or, ‘the Black Country, is that Yorkshire?’ Do I sound like I’m from bloody Yorkshire?

Whenever I carry my guitar I get, ‘what have you got in there, a machine gun?’ Yes, a machine gun, you got it.

Sparklingbrook · 17/02/2020 17:08

I grew up in a suburb about 8 miles from Birmingham and worked in the Black Country for many years and it's true that a lot of people think it's all the same thing. Confused

PixieRabbit · 17/02/2020 17:18

Graphista

Last time I received a cheque I posted it on to the bank, along with my account details. It got paid in.

(It was quite a big thing for me to go to the post box. Aaaargh.)

Flowers for you. It’s bloody hard just being alive isn’t it?

Missillusioned ‘s idea is better though!

Rainbowsparkle · 17/02/2020 17:30

My initials are ET. Every time someone clocks it I get asked oh do you phone home?
I’m 35 I’ve heard it far far too many times

GeneticTest · 17/02/2020 17:31

I’m married to an MP.

Any problem in my life, any petty gripe, & people say ‘you should write to your MP about that!’ And think it’s a) hilarious, and b) they’re the first person to have said it.
Apparently happens to many MPs wives.