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

I hate it when people keep sitting near us at places we have only been to a couple of nt places , the Black Country Living Museum and an animal sanctuary(the animal sanctuary let 5 families at a time it was so quite and brilliant ), all were really quiet as you need to book and it’s easy to social distance , at the BCLM there were signs up saying only one family in a house at a time , constantly we had to tell people stop following us in , also we were listening to a talk with experiments and someone kept encouraging their child to stand right next our children, the child was taller than me she could easily see everyone else was keeping apart , it was so annoying ... also when we were at one of the nt places we set up a picnic no1 else was sat on this huge common area and a family started setting up with their blanket almost touching ours ! What’s wrong with people I told them to move away and their was plenty of room plus they had a massive dog that kept trying to help itself to our picnic , they laughed! They did move but were huffy ! I was so bloody cross .. im not a confrontational person but the amount of inconsiderate idiots out there is infuriating, we go to quiet places so we can social distance not sit in an empty common then have a family sit on my lap! I hate people 😂😂😂 x yanbu tell them to move next time ! X

We did move but it doesnt stop me thinking how rude these people were

Why would you then come here to tell everyone how rude they were? Why not just ask them to move away because you were there first?

I would hazard a guess that the majority of English people would NOT want a random family sitting on top of them when there is ample other space. It’s not normal.

Whoever says “this is Dave and Jean they sat next to us on a beach in 2005 we’ve been close ever since”. No One that’s who .

Our kids loved going crabbing when they were wee, all crabs safely returned to the water. One day dd didnt catch any, she was about 8, and a kindly boy also crabbing "shared" his and they played together happily. When we got home, I suggested she phone Grandma to tell her about her day. I heard her saying " We've been out Grandma and had fish and chips and I got crabs from a boy on the beach!" My mother said she hoped she wouldnt hear that conversation again in years to come.

😀

@dementedma hahahaha that made me laugh

@MsTSwift completely agree. I'm guessing those who are all for taking other's personal space are also those who take other people's personal space

@Fromthebirdsnest i just don't understand how people think it's okay to take other's personal space! I don't have family days out in hope I can make new best friends, we have family days out so we can spend time with each other

That would about me to, OP!

It is poor manners at the best of times but even worse in a pandemic.
Had a similar occurrence in a NT area. We parked in the overflow car park at midday and planned to have our lunch there before going on a walk in the woodland. Parked in an empty row, with nobody near us. A car with a couple then parked next to us ( there was lots of space in this field!) and proceeded to get out their picnic to have by their car.

We moved our car and started again! We had purposely chosen a quiet, non-scenic spot and have no idea why someone parked right next to us ( making it difficult to get a baby out one side as well!)

[quote Pupppps]@detachablehoof i find it incredibily rude and I don't understand posters saying "well you could have just moved" yes we could have and we did but my point still stands that it was rude and, as you said, pretty socially unaware[/quote]
This. Also irritates when posters say why go to a restaurant /theme park/shop etc if you're wary of Covid? You should be able to go to these places with the advertised or recommended precautions in place. The arrows and markers are not for decoration! It's bizarre.

Anyone else having their final food blow out this eve?

Oh totally wrote that in the wrong thread!

@OverTheRainbow88 😂😂😂

I agree with you. Rude at the best of times but whatever people's personal opinions of CV are they should respect others may have wanted to SD.

3 options I've found in these circumstances

A) just move yourselves
B) ask them to respectfully SD
C) start coughing lots

Of course its rude, but I find the solution of flouncing and deciding it was so upsetting that you just get an icecream instead of moving a bit and carrying on (or telling them you have a bad cough at the min... and hoping they shift), quite odd tbh!

It does seem to be a 'thing' though, that regardless of how much space there is, someoneone will come and basically sit on your knee when on a beach..very odd!

Regardless of social distancing, this is downright weird behaviour! We've had the same thing happen at the beach, I think it's people who don't know their own minds and are just followers. Similar to those weirdo's who will park right next to you in a completely empty car park.

They were unreasonable.
Also, I would like you to do ALL the diagrams on MN from now on please. Thank you kindly

I might look like the beach wally when I unload my festival cart from the boot and wheel it onto the sand.

But when my tents up, windbreaks are out and trolly is placed strategically and no ones sat on my lap - it's worth it

I would find this annoying even if social distancing wasn't an issue. I hate it (pre covid times) when I'm on a half empty bus and someone insists on sitting next to me. Or when I'm in a half empty coffee shop with at least half a dozen free tables and somebody plonks themselves down at my table. No asking if it's OK. For all they know,I could be waiting for someone to join me I tell them this even if I'm not

Yesterday I was sitting with my son in a huge park with at least 50 metres space all around us.

A family made a beeline for us and walked past within 1m while I was still trying to get my son up to move (he’d been stung and had shoes off otherwise I would have got away from them quicker).

It’s a weird passive aggressive bullying kinda thing. People are just rubbish sometimes.

I doubt they deliberately walked that close to bully you. 1m outside is fine; I’d be more worried about making my kid anxious about being near ish someone... they are back to school soon; will be way less than a m and inside.