Thought this man was rude but AIBU

[Wowzaaa2020]

So just for context live on a large new build estate, the grounds are absolutely immaculate. We have an artificial grass garden which gives way to our own tarmac drive.

So me and DD(4) were playing football on the grass with bare feet. DD kicked ball onto our tarmac drive so we ended up passing the ball back and forth on the drive.

An old man walks passed staring so I gave a friendly hello, he said straight away “I hope there’s no glass about” and looked at DD feet. I explained that we had just came off the grass and I had asked if she wanted to put shoes on but she didn’t want to. He then turns around and says “monkey see, monkey do” looking at my feet! I said I beg your pardon he said “well monkey see, monkey do” I just said “how rude!” then turned my back on him.

I understand if you were being extremely picky she should have shoes on but it is our own tarmac drive which is absolutely immaculate and we had just come off the turf. AIBU to tell him he was being rude?

@ScorpioSphinxInACalicoDress

I have both "monkey see monkey do" and "not my circus not my monkeys" on the official list for English language exams (idiomatic expressions) that I teach. The kids have pointed out that the second one is a bit odd, as it's more likely to be "not my circus not my performing seals" etc.

I believe it’s a Polish saying, one I’ve taken to using at work as an alternative to “not my problem” 😁

CherryValanc if someone comes charging at you with an apology and a handshake, don't worry it's just OP. And her DH will be along shortly afterwards to make sure you're not an axe murderer.

I will be ready for I'm next on my way to the shops. Might even sleep with one eye open.

Literally can’t even write two legible sentences

Come now OP, play nicely.

Well, I can. I see you're focused on one small detail, magnified the significance and made it out to mean something it's doesn't.

However, it makes you feel better about your silly behaviour of focusing on something small an old man said, magnifying the significance and making it to mean something it didn't, knock yourself out.

You're welcome. Literally .

Biting my tongue

@Wowzaaa2020

Biting my tongue

Since you are so gramma focused, shouldn’t you be using full stops? Emojis are not a replacement for punctuation.

I don’t usually care about this as my gramma is not perfect but I feel you are being petty as it’s clear you’re unreasonable.

I'm still at you shaking this poor old man's hand. Ye gods.

You need to tone down your over-reactions, OP. You're ricocheting from rage at some old chap butting his nose in to racing out with a hand-wringing apology (both really over the top reactions) and then literally grasping an old man's hand during a global pandemic!

Even Trump has grasped we no longer shake hands.

The 'creepiest look you have ever seen'? Your dh says he might be dangerous? Wow.

Stop feeding the troll. I don't believe any of this actually happened.

You shook his hand in the middle of a pandemic? Wtf?

I don’t think he was being rude and I wouldn’t have said anything or been offended. It’s just some old guy talking shite .

I actually feel really sorry for this guy. This is the sort of thing my Dad would do, it cringes me inside out but he lives on his own since his wife died and he doesn't 'do' technology so no internet etc so he does occasionally try to engage with people he comes across. I'm sure he thinks he's being funny but people have changed...
He also loves to go for an evening walk after spending all day sat on his own in his bungalow watching tv. Sometimes he'll go in the evening if he fancies some wine gums or something...

He's an annoying bugger but he (and I) would be mortified to think that people assumed he was 'creepy' for starting a conversation with a neighbor whilst nipping out to buy battenburg!

(No faux grass where my Dad lives, btw < not envy)

Complete load of fucking bollocks. Its obvious OP was disappointed at the lack of replies originally so decided to revive the thread with "an update"

I'm guessing this will now run to loads of pages and OP will have what she wanted all along.

Who's up for predicting the next installment?

*Omg - the creepy stalker man has just appeared on the local news- he's wanted in connection with (insert more made up shit)

I knew I was right about him and am now shaking and in shock. I had a lucky escape...You lot are so mean not to have believed me*

Lonely old man making conversation.

@Wowzaaa2020

Literally can’t even write two legible sentences

I found significantly more than 2 sentences to be legible which suggests the problem is not with that poster.

Anyway, why on earth did you go out, ignore social distancing and shake the poor man's hand?

I expect what with him being "old" (we all know that on MN to be over the age of 60 and male, and making conversation has you automatically on some kind of register ) the OP thought that was the way you have to communicate. She probably called him "sir" as well.

If this is true, the husband's reaction was unpleasant too, and I hope the neighbour doesn't get a mouthful from him next time he leaves his house.

I would have said that running around in barefoot is one of the best things you can do as a child or an adult- did je want to join in?

Would have laughed it off but he was rude so YANBU

@GiddapGreyWaynesKeat

Glad your estate is immaculate though fake grass is an abomination

This. Sounds very Edward Scissorhands.

I think you are the most Overdramatic person on mumsnet. First of all he says something, and you can't get over it so you post on here because you're offended. Then you decide to apologise to him, which makes no sense at all, including shaking his hand. And now you think he's a stalker?

@Justmuddlingalong

DH now annoyed that I’ve been outside to talk to him without telling him while he was putting DC to bed and said I need to be careful as he could be a dangerous. That's weirdly controlling, no?

You OH thinks he might be a dangerous and is upset you went out without telling him. What's it like living in such a drama bubble 😱😱

I have read the OP's posts many times but still haven't seen him being rude.

It’s an incredibly common expression. I am a teacher - we use it all the time - it means kids copy - nothing else.