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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Do you find it funny when people trip over?

477 replies

Dresssos · 14/06/2021 17:46

I have friends that are, on the whole, generally polite. We are in our 30s. When it comes to a member of our group tripping over though, that all goes to shit and everyone thinks it's bloody hilarious! I remember being at school and if anyone tripped over, they would always be greeted by a "wheeyyyy" and a clap. I genuinely have never found it funny, but wondered what other people think?

OP posts:
SappysCurry · 14/06/2021 21:45

@XenoBitch
Sorry that you feel like that
Genuinely if you feel like that you need to get some professional help

IgiveupallthenamesIwantedareg0 · 14/06/2021 21:46

I tripped over in my own hallway on the way to the bathroom last Autumn - I smashed my hip and now have an artificial hip, I smashed my shoulder and now have a steel plate and screws from shoulder to elbow - do you all find tht funny?

TableFlowerss · 14/06/2021 21:46

Can be totally at times. One of the best memories I have with my best friends, is a time where we were at a restaurant and one of them toppled off their chair.

I was away as was one of our good friends. Howled and roared for about half an hour. Proper belly laughing, can’t speak, can’t breath laughing. The kind that’s good from the soul.

Always look back on that fondly, as does the girl who fell!

TableFlowerss · 14/06/2021 21:47

hysterical not “totally”

KeepingTrack · 14/06/2021 21:49

[quote Justme10]@XenoBitch isn't the only person who said they laugh and she's not saying she doubles over roaring with laughter while pointing. Also isn't the only person who said they wouldn't help but is the only person get a hard time from multiple posters.
[/quote]
Because as it happens she keeps stating how this is all normal so posters are answering to her.

But tbh I would ask the same questions to anyone who says they laugh and/or wouldn’t help.

Personally I would struggle to look at myself in the mirror.

XenoBitch · 14/06/2021 21:49

[quote SappysCurry]@XenoBitch
No because my friends are all quite well adjusted, ‘square’ and boring I guess

Beheading videos and dressing dead children - really ?

You sound morbid and a fantasist
Slightly snorting at people falling over Is the least of your worries[/quote]
Dressing dead children was part of my job. Someone has to do it. I would bet most people reading this could not.

KeepingTrack · 14/06/2021 21:51

Table that’s a bit like stumbling. I can see why in SOME circumstances it would be funny.

Nothing to do with someone badly falling over.

SappysCurry · 14/06/2021 21:51

Kittens kittens kittens😻

XenoBitch · 14/06/2021 21:52

[quote Justme10]@XenoBitch isn't the only person who said they laugh and she's not saying she doubles over roaring with laughter while pointing. Also isn't the only person who said they wouldn't help but is the only person get a hard time from multiple posters.
[/quote]
Thanks. Honestly, I swear there are people with flaming torches and pitchforks at my window. God bless AIBU eh.

CaptainThe95thRifles · 14/06/2021 21:52

People who think it's "cruel" to laugh at people tripping or falling are missing the point that a number of people on this thread prefer people to respond with laughter, or jokes, when they fall, even if they're hurt. People are different - they respond differently to things and they take comfort from different things too.

I bloody hate people being "kind" and simpering and sympathetic. I don't think they're unreasonable, but they're not helping me by being that way - they're just acting the way they think is right. People who respond with initial laughter, coupled to appropriate help if necessary, are no different.

Meggie2008 · 14/06/2021 21:52

Yes, it's terrible, I know.
Also extends to me. I slid in a dog shit rushing to the bank on the busiest street in my town at rush hour and skint my knee. A couple of people asked if I was okay whilst I was absolutely knotting myself laughing. I then had to stand in the queue in the bank with blood trickling down my knee and a rip in my jeans, and in the time I'd been in the bank, there was a convenient torrential downpour and the shit I slipped in wasn't there when I got back out.
I hope everyone that saw me got as much of a laugh out of it as I did, as it was bloody hilarious.

GrannieD · 14/06/2021 21:53

Wasnt feckin funny when I fell on Saturday in the middle of nowhere resulting in a bruised, cut hand and knee and a smashed phone screen. Not fucking funny at all !

Justme10 · 14/06/2021 21:56

@XenoBitch You don't need to explain yourself to anyone on this thread either, you snort if someone trips or falls it's hardly the crime of the century but as you say thats AIBU for you

XenoBitch · 14/06/2021 21:56

@KeepingTrack

I said I can't help. And I feel absolute shite for that. I am ex-NHS and a St John Ambulance First Aider... so a while ago, I did step up to help. Breakdowns got in the way and now I am an anxious mess who sometimes snorts air from my nostrils if someone falls over. I can think of bigger things to get worked up about.

Handsoffstrikesagain · 14/06/2021 22:02

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

Justme10 · 14/06/2021 22:04

@KeepingTrack so you questioned the poster on page one who said they pretend they don't see someone falling over to avoid embarrassment?

Xeno has said she would feel anxious about approaching someone she's not saying she's too busy laughing to help is she.

As I said it's a snort of laughter that for some of us is a reaction we can't help, it's not pointing and laughing with the purpose of embarrassing someone.

SappysCurry · 14/06/2021 22:05

As long as your arent injured that’s fine by me dear, otherwise it’s another sleepless night for me

Jahebejrjr · 14/06/2021 22:06

@XenoBitch has had the most godawful time on here by people who claim to be too kind to laugh at somebody falling over. The hypocrisy is just incredible.

XenoBitch · 14/06/2021 22:08

[quote Justme10]@KeepingTrack so you questioned the poster on page one who said they pretend they don't see someone falling over to avoid embarrassment?

Xeno has said she would feel anxious about approaching someone she's not saying she's too busy laughing to help is she.

As I said it's a snort of laughter that for some of us is a reaction we can't help, it's not pointing and laughing with the purpose of embarrassing someone.[/quote]
Laughter is a funny old thing. I remember being at my gran's funeral, and I saw my stoic old grandad break down for the first time. My reaction? I laughed? I was mortified! But I could not help it. That does not make me a bad person, or someone who needs therapy. The human mind is a funny ole thing.

CaptainThe95thRifles · 14/06/2021 22:09

[quote Jahebejrjr]@XenoBitch has had the most godawful time on here by people who claim to be too kind to laugh at somebody falling over. The hypocrisy is just incredible.[/quote]
Quite right.

43% of people on this thread find humour in people falling over...

SappysCurry · 14/06/2021 22:11

@Justme10

Just out of curiosity …how does someone who is ‘St Johns’’ feel anxious about helping someone in an accident
I would imagine that’s actually the job ?

Handsoffstrikesagain · 14/06/2021 22:12

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

Justme10 · 14/06/2021 22:12

@XenoBitch We all have different reactions to different situations, sometimes they are inappropriate but that's life.
Your not going out your way to purposely hurt or embarrass anyone.

CaptainThe95thRifles · 14/06/2021 22:13

Even St John's Ambulance volunteers can have breakdowns and no longer be able to perform their roles.

WeatherwaxOn · 14/06/2021 22:13

Not if it is a genuine accident. If it someone being a tool and they trip during the process that might raise a snigger or two.