AIBU about a family coming and sitting right next to us on a beach.

[Pupppps]

DP and I took our DS (15) and DD (9) to the local beach for crabbing. It was quite quiet in terms of lots of space about. And plenty of spaces to crab as it is known as a crabbing spot.

We had been on the spot for about half an hour and DC were enjoying crabbing even though they were struggling to actually get any crabs.

Anyway, DD got bored so we played catch on a quiet section just up from DP and DS who were continuing to crab.
Anyway, about 5 minutes later, 2 young boys about 8 run up to DP and DS asking if they caught any crabs. DP was polite and said "just a few".
The mum then started walking towards the boys and laid her bads and crabbing equipment right next to DP and DS and she sat down.
I could see DP and DS looking uncomfortable.

About 2 minutes after that, the dad showed up and sat next to the mum. And then two teenage girls (about 15) came to sit by them so basically DP and DS looked like they were part of their group.

There were loads of other spots on the beach so I found this rude. I'd find it rude even if coronavirus wasn't about considering the beach was quiet and there were loads of spots - another family came a couple of minutes after and set up a good distance away so I don't understand why this family thought it was okay to surround DP and DS.

DP and DS packed up and said they didn't feel comfortable continuing crabbing there so we just went to get ice cream.

But AIBU to think this is rude?
I'll draw a diagram to show how close it was

that diagram was so unnecessary

Couldn’t you have added the crabs to the drawing?

@ShirleyPhallus there is nothing wrong with adding colour to a thread

Covid or no Covid it’s always driven me mad when people crowd me for no reason, particularly when there’s plenty of space to spread out. It probably doesn’t occur to the children who do this, but it’s up to the adult to steer them away. Some people have absolutely no concept of personal space. I would have edged away myself though - begrudging if I’d found a good crabbing spot!

Either move or ask the family to move. Your DP could have just said, “ You’re getting a bit close”
In a polite way

People are insane. Especially now. Almost empty shopping centre car park? Park right next to my car. Completely empty self-serve checkouts? Bound up and start unloading next to me. God forbid you should leave some space in a, you know, pandemic, or your car might get lonely. Same thing used to happen in cinema, pre Covid: entire empty cinema to sit in. Fuck orf!

I hate it when people do this. Even before the necessity of social distancing it just shows a lack of social awareness.

cbt944

People are insane. Especially now. Almost empty shopping centre car park? Park right next to my car. Completely empty self-serve checkouts? Bound up and start unloading next to me. God forbid you should leave some space in a, you know, pandemic, or your car might get lonely. Same thing used to happen in cinema, pre Covid: entire empty cinema to sit in. Fuck orf!

Totally agree with you. Why do people do it? We used to use CL sites when caravaning. There could be only us in a massive field but someone would pole up and park their caravan right next to us then put their tv or radio on full blast. So irritating.

I would hate this under any circumstances as I hate crowds and enclosed spaces, but whereas normally I'd accept that other people have smaller personal space requirements and take the initiative to move myself, at the present time I would expect other people to exercise common sense and back off. I would have just said, 'Do you think you could give us a bit more space/some elbow room?' If they were pissy, I'd probably have added that it was for their own good as we weren't feeling very well. Or given them a whole public health lecture til I bored them to death.

People are rude, though. I wouldn't have let my kids do half the stuff when they were growing up that other families clearly thought was fine. You either need to learn to be assertive or you need to find a way to let it blow. If it upsets you this much every time, you're going to give yourself a stroke eventually.

I did not know that crab could be a verb 🤷🏻‍♀️

But YANBU. I hate people who have no fucking self-awareness

I'd be "WTF?!" too. I think most people would be whatever they claim on here.

@Pupppps

Yes definitely people can!
Anyway all, i'm off to sleep and probably will not really come back to thread,
So goodnight xxx

@YgritteSnow i know, I dont know anyone who would really think "oh boy! A lovely family have planted themselves next to me. Let's bond over crabs"

I prefer rock pooling. It’s crabbing without intent.

What do you do with the crabs?

15 is quite old for crabbing. Not a criticism - I mean it sounds fun and I hope that my kids enjoy such innocent pastimes at 15 (and not drinking jk the park).

I’m a bit perturbed that none of the figures in your diagram are wearing bathing costumes. Was this some kind of perverted nudey beach where crabs are taunted with dangly whim whams? Disgusting.

I have just upset myself, I googled crabbing and saw a detailed description, including making sure you clean them while they are still alive or they release toxins so you cant eat them. It sounded awful for the poor crab....sorry gone off on a tangent here, but it sounds quite cruel.

No need to get crabby OP it’s a free world for all crabbers.

That would have pissed me off, too, op. I can't bear my personal space being invaded in normal times, let alone post-coronavirus. Why should you have to move when you were there first? It's like being the only person on a bus or in a train carriage, and someone coming to sit right next to you. Not against the law, but bloody peculiar.

Hey OP, that diagram is no good because it doesn't include scale.

Also, it doesn't count because it's not about parking
Also it has to be a line drawing, not coloured in.
And you can't volunteer it, that's the rule. Lots of people have to ask for it first and you have to be pressured into giving the diagram.

Just so you know.

It's ridiculous that people do this anyway...never mind during a time like this

I live in Australia and the beach is part of everyday life..it winds me up so much that on a MASSIVE and mainly empty beach, some twat will follow where I've sat and set their crap up next to me.

WHY!??

Are people such sheep in life?

Doh !!! YANBU at all. Its only respectful to give others space.
And what do people STILL not get about social distancing? Even when out on a beach - do it everywhere til it becomes habitual.
If we were all careful, so less possibility of lockdowns, the more likely we are to get the economy going and keep people in work.
There are too many people about who don' t give a shit....unless of course one of their relations/friends becomes seriously ill.

I fucking HATE this shit. I gvie people a super hard scowl and most of the time they move away (because they think I'm crazy)

Sorry that this has made me laugh, OP. Covid aside, it’s one of the most ‘British’ threads I’ve read in a while. It’s like someone coming to sit at your table on a train when there are empty seats elsewhere- the horror! Love the diagram, although agree there should be more crabs on it.

FortunesFave I was just about to post that. I live beside a bloody massive empty beach and go there all the time. Almost every time some twat will plonk themselves RIGHT in front of me. It drives me mad, miles of empty sand, why sit so close!

Some people are very sociable and extroverted. My husband is the type who would rather sit next to someone and have a chat than sit by ourselves.

He once suggested a couples holiday with a group of 10 people. I would rather throw myself out of the window.

Mn is full of more introverted people (imo), so of course they will mostly say yanbu but if it bothered you, you could just have moved.