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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Is school run on a scooter really that embarrassing ?

278 replies

Confuseeeeed25 · 03/11/2020 21:21

Talking about what I wanted for Xmas and my upcoming birthday ( big 30 😭😭😭)
I asked for a scooter with very odd reactions from my DP and DS 🤣
I wanted it because mY DC ride their scooters to school and so thought I would join them !
They think it’s embarrassing for me and DC 🤣
Are they right ?

OP posts:
PoorMansPaulaRadcliffe · 04/11/2020 11:05

I inescapably think that adults who use scooters look like pillocks - I always think of Edina in 'Absolutely Fabulous'. Which may be unreasonable of me, but there you have it. It's a shame because you seem very sweet and I'd like to say it won't be embarrassing for you or them. But I fear it would be.

CheetasOnFajitas · 04/11/2020 11:09

@stellabluesky

Up to you what you do, don't worry about what others think but you do realise it isn't legal to ride it on a cycle lane or pavement. Anyone who does it committing an offence. They're classified differently to electric bikes as they go so much faster, e bikes are speed limited. This is certainly being enforced with crackdowns in our hipsterish seaside town where the prom and school runs water full of them. Also know one scooter rider who is being sued as they knocked someone down who ended up with a badly broken arm. They didn't hear the scooter rider. They're not insured and basically have been told they'll lose the case as they were undertaking an illegal activity
OP wasn’t talking about an electric scooter.
fashu · 04/11/2020 11:14

I have a scooter. I used to use it everyday to get to work in London.
Admittedly I do use it less now that I have moved up north, but honestly I don't care what people are thinking about me. I am exercising and getting from A-B quicker than if I walked.
I would prefer a bike, but a scooter is much easier to handle for short trips and much easier to store!
I've got an OXELO from decathlon, I've had it for about 6 years now and its still as good as new. It's got a cool little kicker on the front to close it up quickly if you are getting on a bus or something. I used to get on the tube with it and it was great.

CheetasOnFajitas · 04/11/2020 11:15

@Derelictwreck you may think I was being pedantic but that sort of “everyone says..” “everyone thinks” rhetoric is exactly the sort of phrase that bullies use to make their victims feel that they are universally mocked or hated and different from the norm.

Think about the abusive husband who tells his wife “everybody thinks you are worthless”.

Qwertywerty3 · 04/11/2020 11:20

This reply has been deleted

Withdrawn at the user's request

Trizzledizzle · 04/11/2020 11:21

As long as you're all using them in the roads or cycle lanes and not the pavements then go for it. If your children are, and you intend to, use the pavements, then that's both illegal and entitled behaviour.

Derelictwreck · 04/11/2020 11:25

[quote CheetasOnFajitas]@Derelictwreck you may think I was being pedantic but that sort of “everyone says..” “everyone thinks” rhetoric is exactly the sort of phrase that bullies use to make their victims feel that they are universally mocked or hated and different from the norm.

Think about the abusive husband who tells his wife “everybody thinks you are worthless”.[/quote]
Wow seriously? You're likening scooters to abuse? You can think someone looks naff without it being bullying or abuse.

And @SoupDragon where did I say I made fun of people? Or that I have children?

What is going on today.

Fifthtimelucky · 04/11/2020 11:26

I can't see that it is embarrassing at all. Go for it, OP!

Newmummy1234 · 04/11/2020 11:30

I’ve seen loads of parents doing the school run on them. Although I got the same reaction from my dad when I said I wanted one! X

TheTrollFairy · 04/11/2020 11:35

Loads parents on scooters around where I live, I have one and admittedly, a child of about 11 looked at me like I was a twat! Until it’s my own child looking at me like a twat, I will continue to use it

FenellaVelour · 04/11/2020 11:35

@Moistmolly

As opposed to the Boring Old Fart category...?

Anyone that doesn't play on a scooter is a boring old fart? Righto Hmm

I know, sweeping judgements are terrible, right... oh.
MilkTwoSugarsThanks · 04/11/2020 11:39

If you would expect your family to not deliberately embarrass you in public then you should not embarrass your family.

What anyone else thinks is irrelevant.

TheKeatingFive · 04/11/2020 11:44

then you should not embarrass your family.

Pretty well impossible with teens.

Short of crawling behind a stone and dying.

Much better to model behaviour that shows security in the self and resistance to silly peer pressure.

Allington · 04/11/2020 11:45

There is a difference between doing something just to embarrass your family, and doing something that you would like to do but which happens to embarrass your family. Of course you should consider your family, but they do not control you and your choices.

LolaSmiles · 04/11/2020 11:45

If you would expect your family to not deliberately embarrass you in public then you should not embarrass your family
I agree with this. Why would I want to intentionally embarrass my DC at the school gates over something so trivial?

CheetasOnFajitas · 04/11/2020 11:50

Wow seriously? You're likening scooters to abuse? You can think someone looks naff without it being bullying or abuse.

No, I am pointing out that by expressing your opinion in terms of “everybody thinks that” you are behaving like a classic bully.

MilkTwoSugarsThanks · 04/11/2020 11:53

@Allington

There is a difference between doing something just to embarrass your family, and doing something that you would like to do but which happens to embarrass your family. Of course you should consider your family, but they do not control you and your choices.
Absolutely not. It is never OK to deliberately embarrass people you (allegedly) love and care for. Your existence might embarrass your teens but is not deliberate.

How about your partner flirting madly with other people in front of you "because it's something they would like to do"? Extreme example, but same principle.

KittyLuna · 04/11/2020 11:54

Grin I picked my six year old up from after school club the other week. Took her scooter with me as she had requested that morning.

She was really grumpy and halfway home she got fed up with it. I put it down to scoot on it myself (really just to try and make her laugh). Honest to god I have never seen a child look so horrified in my whole life. She was hissing “Get. Off. Someone in my class will SEE YOU”.

Six years old!

TheKeatingFive · 04/11/2020 12:01

How about your partner flirting madly with other people in front of you "because it's something they would like to do"? Extreme example, but same principle.

That’s inherently wrong though (according to the norms/morals of our society).

There’s nothing inherently wrong with riding a scooter.

Allington · 04/11/2020 12:01

Allington
There is a difference between doing something just to embarrass your family, and doing something that you would like to do but which happens to embarrass your family. Of course you should consider your family, but they do not control you and your choices.

Absolutely not. It is never OK to deliberately embarrass people you (allegedly) love and care for. Your existence might embarrass your teens but is not deliberate.

How about your partner flirting madly with other people in front of you "because it's something they would like to do"? Extreme example, but same principle.

So you allow your family to dictate what you wear? Whether you speak in public?

What if working outside the home 'brought shame' on your family? Or dating the person of your choice?

Wow.

My partner flirting with someone else would be a matter of trust NOT a matter of embarrassment. Very different things.

Other extreme examples, but I would rather DD grew up knowing that a degree of personal expression is completely acceptable.

Allington · 04/11/2020 12:03

That’s inherently wrong though (according to the norms/morals of our society).

There’s nothing inherently wrong with riding a scooter.

Well put, that was what I was trying to say!

Is that behaviour inherently against your values and beliefs? If so, major problem.

Is that behaviour harmless, but not mainstream? A matter of personal preference that everyone can choose.

Allington · 04/11/2020 12:05

She was hissing “Get. Off. Someone in my class will SEE YOU”. Grin

You know it is only going to get worse, for the next decade or so? On the other hand, if DD is being obnoxious I only have to threaten to hug her or call her 'darling' in public. Instant obedience Wink

CorianderBlues · 04/11/2020 12:07

Yes, it is tragic.

Unless you're wearing crocs, in which case crack on, things can only get better from here...

switswooo · 04/11/2020 12:12

So they just want you to walk along whilst they scoot? How selfish!

Derelictwreck · 04/11/2020 12:14

@CheetasOnFajitas

Wow seriously? You're likening scooters to abuse? You can think someone looks naff without it being bullying or abuse.

No, I am pointing out that by expressing your opinion in terms of “everybody thinks that” you are behaving like a classic bully.

Except I already clarified that I meant 'everyone I know'.

It is not bulking for multiple people to think something is daft. Otherwise great swathes of posters on any mumsnet thread asking for opinions would be bullies.

I have been bullied anyone in my life but great to know you are happy taking swipes at people online and using abuse as a trump card to try and win an argument. Shame on you.