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

Yes of course it was shitty of the other family.

Your DP needed to ask them to keep the full social distance.

They should have done that anyhow, but some people are just thick or selfish

Maybe be they were just being friendly. If you re worry is Covid then look at the statistics and guidance. The chance of someone healthy catching it whilst outdoors is minimal.

Bloody hell, why are you being ripped apart? Only on MN! OP, yes, in the real world, it's incredibly rude and strange in normal times. Covid times, it's batshit.

If you’re this freaked about by other humans behaviour you may as well stop going out.
Yes it’s potentially a little odd and maybe they have poor social skills Or maybe they’re what we used to call in pre-Covid days normal friendly humans?!

They were definitely being rude.

People tend to do that through- camping in an empty field and the next people that arrive will often pitch their tent next to your. Drives me nuts; but some people just seem to have an instinct to gravitate towards where others are.

It is very rude and I would have said something to them. I would not have had a go at them, but I would have made a comment to the parents.

The cinema example above is different - that’s totally beyond the bounds of acceptable because they were being rude and weird to sit right in front - the ops situation could’ve just been people being friendly. The kids were excited about crabbing and came up to a spot where crabbing was happening, the parents probably didn’t even think anything of it. It’s not like they were all trying to touch you or something!

It’s not quite the same, but I remember when I first bought my car, it was new and shiny. I parked in the Sainsbury car park on my way to work. Car park was empty as shop had just opened. An elderly man tried to park his battered old car next to mine. He was not very good at parking and managed to bang into my car, reverses and banged it into mine again, at which point I asked him what he thought he was doing. His reaction was oh is that your car. I said you have the whole car park to choose a space, why so near mine. So annoyed. So yes, I think personal space is very important too. (My car agrees with this!).

Can beat you, I was on an empty beach circa 1km long, perhaps 10 people on in including us and a very large seal - a approximately 6 year old boy decided the only bit of beach he would sit on was about 3m from us. The mother tried and tried though, but he was autistic at a guess and local, it's where he always sits. We didn't mind at all though, to be honest it was fun watching the kids play, beaches aren't the same when yours are grown.

Yanbu! Sod off weirdos!

Yep, that'd be annoying anyway but with covid they were batshit.

As said above, just as stupid as someone parking in the next space in an empty car park.

Before covid I went on several courses each year. Room full of tables. Time after time, some random dickhead would decide to come and sit right next to me despite lots of empty tables elsewhere. It drove me insane - just why would you do that? I can't be the only one because at some venues they had a row/section of single tables - they always filled up first so lots of other people wanted personal space too.

@TheFuckingDogs

If you’re this freaked about by other humans behaviour you may as well stop going out. Yes it’s potentially a little odd and maybe they have poor social skills Or maybe they’re what we used to call in pre-Covid days normal friendly humans?!

No, "normal" friendly humans would say a cheery hello as they passed to go and sit themselves further away to respect your space. They would have the common sense and self awareness to pick up on the signals as to whether you wanted to become their new best friends. Unfortunately lots of people don't have that and can't "read" other people nor understand people who aren't like themselves.

CBT944
I agree drives me insane on a large empty car park, got one park up next to me once in middle of about six empty rows and then huffing and tutting when she had to wait for me to finish getting out my car and close my door so she could open hers fully. Needless to say l have never taken so long to get out my car.
Thread on here some time ago about space invaders and this empty car park -twattery phenomonem and someone actually posted fessing up to doing this. Apparently it was because she can't line her car up otherwise without another car as point of reference. Others came on and admitted same. General consensus, mine too, was you shouldn't be driving if you can't judge where the perimeters of your car are.

No, "normal" friendly humans would say a cheery hello as they passed to go and sit themselves further away to respect your space.

Yes this.

It is really, really weird but I would have said so and also said there's enough room for everyone, please move along with social distancing arm gestures as I'm shameless.

Yes it was rude and bloody annoying. Even before covid I hated people coming and sitting really close. In a restaurant with tons of empty tables and they have to sit on the table next to you.

I don't get why people don't respect others' personal space. Now it is even more important and yet still people are idiots.

This happens to me and my family all the time. We will find an empty spot and low and behold someone will practically sit in my lap.
I actually have a whatsap chat with a friend who it also happens too and we share photos of imposing families . It always seems to be happen to us in France but I guess it happens everywhere. It's happened so often I find it quiet funny and I guess we are such an attractive family other people need to be really close to us

People do this all the time though pre Covid, have no concept of personal space. I am on a treadmill with no one else on the other 15 working treadmills but no, they have to use the one right next to me (and start talking loudly on their phone). Park in an almost empty supermarket car park, come out and some prat is parked right next to me.

These people need telling! They bluster through life making other people feel uncomfortable either through ignorance, in which case they need alerting to it, or they rely on your discomfort to make you not say anything, in which case they definitely should be questioned.
Too many people are concerned about being rude to others, when the others are the ones being the most rude!

I hate when people do things like this. I also hate being in an empty cafe and someone sits at the table right next to you, or go to a relatively empty cinema and people want to sit in the seats next to you . Weird!

A non issue. Just move and get on with your life.

Honestly you are just ridiculous. If you didnt do anything right then and there, what's the point complaining here after? We were not there so apart from saying yes they were rude what else are you expecting?

@Pittapitta, it's not a non issue. It's fucking annoying. It might be a non issue for YOU, but for the majority of people on this thread it's weird.

Thing is that if you move or don't engage with them, it's they who start the eye rolling and snide comments making out it's you who are rude!

I agree with the poster above, they need telling, otherwise they won't realise they're the ones in the wrong.

I’ve long called this empty car park syndrome! Humans are herd animals, so that is probably why, but still I don’t understand it and it annoys the hell out of me.