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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:
user1478939671 · 06/08/2021 22:41

I was standing on a park pathway and 2 women with large double buggies were approaching taking up the whole path. I was walking the dog and did not wish to stand on the muddy grass.
The women looked me straight in the eye with expressions that said 'Oi oik! You without kids MOVE!' My expression said 'Oi oiks! You with the kids. Get stuffed!' They literally came right up to my ankles before deciding that they could probably manage the few feet around me without walking parallel to each other. NEVER SURRENDER! Lol.

Mollymoostoo · 06/08/2021 23:13

@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

GrinGrinGrin
Imnothereforthedrama · 07/08/2021 07:16

Really your upset because someone said move ?

DdraigGoch · 07/08/2021 08:40

@illuyankas

I don't know, "coming through, I've got kids" sounds like she just wanted her kids to go in front of you, so they can see, not necessarily asking you to move away?
"Excuse me, I wonder if you could let these kids slip in front please."

Is a much better way of doing it.

saffy2 · 07/08/2021 09:01

@Goldenbear

'Dwarfed by 8 year olds'?? Come off it, what a loaf of rubbish!
You obviously don’t see many pre teens these days! My 11 year old has been taller than me for quite some years as are a few of his friends 😂
Barmychick · 07/08/2021 20:24

scotsy100 Entirely agree far too many people/children without manners it's really sad.

bluewanda · 07/08/2021 21:07

YABVVVU for supporting this cruel industry. Humans paying to gawp at caged wild animals is repellent.

SchrodingersImmigrant · 07/08/2021 21:54

Chester zoo is actually doing lots of preservation work... Without zoos aome animals wouldn't be here and millions of people would probably never realise how majestic the animals can be and how they need preservation

nocoffeenobooze · 07/08/2021 21:57

YABU for contributing to the animal slave trade. Simple.

nocoffeenobooze · 07/08/2021 21:58

@SchrodingersImmigrant

Chester zoo is actually doing lots of preservation work... Without zoos aome animals wouldn't be here and millions of people would probably never realise how majestic the animals can be and how they need preservation
Bullshit. Shall we breed you and lock your kids in cages? Would that be acceptable if the human race was dying out? Don't make me laugh!
SchrodingersImmigrant · 07/08/2021 21:59

Humans and animals are different, you know...

nocoffeenobooze · 07/08/2021 22:01

@SchrodingersImmigrant

Humans and animals are different, you know...
YOU know we are animals though, right? Mammals, just like Jaguars in fact. Or do you believe that animals don't crave freedom, like we (clearly far superior humans) do?
OhWhyNot · 07/08/2021 22:06

Entitled prat

Most people will move aside to allow little children forward if never found it an issue

I remember getting on the train with ds and my mum he was about three and my mum announced very loudly little boy getting on please step aside Hmm Blush I’m sure she wasn’t like that with me

memberofthewedding · 07/08/2021 23:15

I would probably have reminded her that as a single taxpayer I pay for her child allowance!

Original poster
Auxiliary016 · 08/08/2021 08:06

@boblemon It was in a very pronounced Liverpudlian accent, not breathy at all, a little bit nasal and quite "foghorn-y" if you can imagine that!

Nothing against Liverpudlian accents, BTW.

OP posts:
Ladylimpet · 08/08/2021 08:53

Just seen this pop up on FB, broadcast by Liverpool echo!

190190tnt · 08/08/2021 10:27

'That woman sounds like the kind of person the term Karen was invented for'

Time this was stopped

Madmama10 · 08/08/2021 11:18

I think it I would be annoyed by the entitlement in the woman's words. If the kids were smaller than me then I would probably offer if they were polite. The parent however has no free pass here.

ilovesooty · 08/08/2021 14:25

Made the Manchester Evening News as well.

riceuten · 08/08/2021 16:34

[quote SchrodingersImmigrant]www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/woman-upset-after-pushy-mum-21244937.amp?__twitter_impression=true[/quote]
Gawd, it must have been a slow news day.

riceuten · 08/08/2021 16:36

@ilovesooty

Made the Manchester Evening News as well.
Both Reach plc newspapers, I imagine that quite of their stable will have run it.
BettyL · 08/08/2021 18:30

YANBU - everyone should get their turn and not be pressured to move on almost instantly. Whilst it's nice to let children go to the front so they can see, they also need to learn to wait their turn like everyone else. The way their mother asked you to move was really rude. We were at Chester Zoo recently with my young daughter who is in a wheelchair and we patiently waited for our turn to look at things, but in a couple of occasions some kids came and stood right in front of her so she could no longer see the animal in question. Each time this happened I looked towards the parents who saw their kids push in front of mine and then they looked at me and carried on chatting as if it wasn't a problem. Says it all really!

NoProblem123 · 08/08/2021 19:34

@Auxiliary016 your thread made the North Wales Daily Post.

CrankyFrankie · 22/09/2021 21:12

There are knobs. And there are knobs who have kids (whose kids usually end up being knobs). I always find it irritating when adults jump up to give big kids seats on public transport, or a parent who expects an adult to stand so their small kid can have their own seat next to said parent (instead of parent’s lap). My kids can be the centre of my universe but I don’t expect them to be the centre of anyone else’s. In Aus, for example, kids need to stand up when necessary for adults to sit down. Quite right too Grin