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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Asked to move out of the way in the zoo

232 replies

Auxiliary016 · 05/08/2021 14:45

Visited Chester Zoo today with my partner. All good - had a lovely time and admired the animals and quality of the enclosures (much more space than many I've visited before!).

I was really looking forward to seeing the Jaguars, and fabulously enough, one sat right near where I was walking, so I stopped just in front of the enclosure to admire it.

I was probably there for about 5 seconds when everyone started to crowd round, and suddenly this woman came out of the blue and said directly to me "Excuse me, coming through - I've got kids!", heavily implying me to move out of the way. I was shocked and so just moved straight away, but actually on hindsight I'm quite upset. Sad I don't have kids, but I have as much right to stand at the front as anyone else, surely? I paid for my ticket and I was only there for a few seconds. If people wait their turn, there is plenty of opportunity for everyone to get a good view.

AIBU to feel annoyed at this, and to have the right to stand at the bloody front for a few seconds if I want to?

OP posts:
Alltheprettyseahorses · 05/08/2021 16:20

YANBU, she was so rude! Children should be taught good manners and those involved certainly sound old enough to wait their turn. I didn't know the jaguar's were so hard to spot, we've seen them every time and once the black one did a full lion king slow walk and pose on that hill outside, so you should have enjoyed every moment.

AngryWhompingWillow · 05/08/2021 16:22

Urgh what a rude and cheeky woman! YANBU @Auxiliary016

I'm sorry if your day was ruined (or had a dampener put on it,) by this rude woman!

Mrsjayy · 05/08/2021 16:22

Oh god op you are Cheshire infamous Shocko

Tinkerbellfluffyboots79 · 05/08/2021 16:23

I have 4 kids so lots of us and my older 2 are quite a bit older than the wee ones. If I’d done that with my lot no one would see. Eh there is no need to be a twat out and about, she could’ve waited - it’s good for kids to understand they can’t do everything that second, that other people were first and they need to wait their turn. Can’t be doing with parents who think their kids are SO special they don’t have to wait and can do what they want.

She was rude op, next time speak up. Likely think it happened before you had a chance to think eh no why should I move by then it was over.

AngryWhompingWillow · 05/08/2021 16:23

@Teflondreams

www.cheshire-live.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/childless-woman-chester-zoo-upset-21235897?fbclid=IwAR3JWHyvbZl_jvzPROVbgHFFSDDBCnmu9DIpsvY-xTB6l6qXiBv7f5pZ8KU

You’ve made it to the local rag OP.
They have a standard of journalism that is usually based on asking inane questions such as ‘what is your favourite thing to have on a butty’ - so I guess it’s some improvement on that!

WOW! Lazy journalism! What a cheek!
Winemewhynot · 05/08/2021 16:25

Bloody hell that was quick 😂😂😂

Original poster
Auxiliary016 · 05/08/2021 16:25

@Teflondreams

www.cheshire-live.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/childless-woman-chester-zoo-upset-21235897?fbclid=IwAR3JWHyvbZl_jvzPROVbgHFFSDDBCnmu9DIpsvY-xTB6l6qXiBv7f5pZ8KU

You’ve made it to the local rag OP.
They have a standard of journalism that is usually based on asking inane questions such as ‘what is your favourite thing to have on a butty’ - so I guess it’s some improvement on that!

Thanks to the person for reaching me how to quote!

This is hilarious. 😂 My favourite thing to have on a butty is chips... Obviously!

OP posts:
Flomoon · 05/08/2021 16:31

She was rude, as you have said its one thing to ask politely if you'd mind letting them in front (even then she can just wait), and another to act like that.

MaMelon · 05/08/2021 16:33

Oh my - you're famous OP!! Well, an anonymous, online version of you is Grin.

I was going to say YANBU - unless you pressed yourself right up against the glass, arms and legs akimbo, shouting 'it's my jaguar, no-one else is getting to see it', in which case YABU.

Some parents are unbelievably entitled and ignorant. Stand back, wait your turn, and your kids will learn very valuable lessons on a)queuing, as we're famous for in the UK, b)waiting your turn, and c)not being a prat in public.

igelkott2021 · 05/08/2021 16:34

It's rude to demand that someone moves. However, if kids were there I'd let them in front if I could see in front of them. The mother could have given the OP the chance though, rather than just barging through with her "chosen ones".

However, I raise you the twit with an a who decided to push in front of my son at the Shard. I did have a go at him for it and two older ladies clapped and cheered me on!

Original poster
Auxiliary016 · 05/08/2021 16:37

I was going to say YANBU - unless you pressed yourself right up against the glass, arms and legs akimbo, shouting 'it's my jaguar, no-one else is getting to see it', in which case YABU.

This made me nearly spit out my tea - thank you Grin

OP posts:
ShitPoetryClub · 05/08/2021 16:39

I'm surprised you think that the animals at Chester zoo have a lot of space, it must have improved recently. The enclosures at Knowsley safari park are much more animal friendly.
We were told that the whole of Chester zoo would fit inside the rhino enclosure at Knowsley.

TheOrigRights · 05/08/2021 16:39

@Teflondreams

www.cheshire-live.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/childless-woman-chester-zoo-upset-21235897?fbclid=IwAR3JWHyvbZl_jvzPROVbgHFFSDDBCnmu9DIpsvY-xTB6l6qXiBv7f5pZ8KU

You’ve made it to the local rag OP.
They have a standard of journalism that is usually based on asking inane questions such as ‘what is your favourite thing to have on a butty’ - so I guess it’s some improvement on that!

Oh my, I've just been down some terrible Cheshire News rabbit holes. OP, I bet you get invited to cut the ribbon at the next opening of a new enclosure!
CrackersDontMatter · 05/08/2021 16:41

Missing the point but I don't even think there is a Jaguar. I've NEVER seen it 🤣

Original poster
Auxiliary016 · 05/08/2021 16:44

@CrackersDontMatter

Missing the point but I don't even think there is a Jaguar. I've NEVER seen it 🤣
If I was there long enough I would have taken a picture and posted it here! 😉
OP posts:
Thisismyusername1 · 05/08/2021 16:46

I think she was being unreasonable. Reminds me that last June when everything was just starting to open up I went to the local wildlife park with my five year old. He was pretty excited to see the meerkats when a man with a tripod and camera came rushing over nearly knocking him out of the way, before I could say anything my son turned to me to ask whether he was two metres away or not! He had been watching a lot of Boris in the lockdown and was very keen on “the rules”. To be fair, the tripod man did then look down and step back slightly but still don’t think he was two metres away!

Appreciate that we are no longer having to socially distance so this isn’t the same.

Goldenbear · 05/08/2021 16:46

'Dwarfed by 8 year olds'?? Come off it, what a loaf of rubbish!

Goldenbear · 05/08/2021 16:46

Load not load!

Goldenbear · 05/08/2021 16:46

Load

HarrietOh · 05/08/2021 16:50

It's like people on planes who don't pay for their kids' seats then expect other people who have paid to move to accomodate them.

Dotdotlineline · 05/08/2021 16:51

@CPDubs

I live half an hour away and spend a fair bit of time there with my 3 year old. Sounds about the usual behaviour from a lot of the patrons 🤣
I second this!
Ohcomeonitsrubbish · 05/08/2021 16:54

@NoProblem123

YABU

I’ve been to ‘The Spirit of the Jaguar’ enclosure many times (local) and STILL haven’t seen any Jaguars.

This is clearly a stealth bragging post Sad

Me too. We went to the zoo yesterday and the buggers were still hiding!

Mind you, it was insanely busy. There were an awful lot of incredibly rude and entitled people trying to push to the front of every viewing area. :(

chaosrabbitland · 05/08/2021 16:57

sadly many people think that because they have children it makes them more special than others . this plum sounds like one of them , i work in retail and iv come accross more than one of these , she wouldnt have had any luck with me though . id have been staying put until i was ready to go .

Dreamingofbeergardens · 05/08/2021 17:02

@MyDcAreMarvel

Clearly she just was just letting you know her small children would be standing in front of you ( below your line of vision) rather than them just appearing. She was polite , your reaction was bizarre.
Polite? How is it polite to say I have kids (would you like a medal?) and expect people to just move immediately? The OP says they would have moved to let the children see but the woman was acting entitled.
BlueMongoose · 05/08/2021 17:09

Some parents use their kids as an excuse for behaviour which is, in itself, a bad example for those very kids. She could have come up quietly, waited for you to have a good look yourself, and then said, excuse me, but my kids can't see, would you mind moving back a little so they can go in front of you? That would be an example to the children of how to ask for a favour, and using good manners.
The equivalent of her actual behaviour is those people with pushchairs who slam them into your ankles rather than say 'excuse me' politely when they want you to get out of 'their' way....