AIBU?
To think people on pulic transport should be aware of how inappropriate some conversations are in the presence of children???
VictorianSqualor · 28/11/2007 16:36
ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
I get the bus four times a day, once full of school/college age kids, and never have I had to ask them to think about what they are saying whilst my almost 3 and 7 year olds are on the bus.
Yet today, getting on the bus with two young parents (who I actually smiled at when getting on the bus, it was nice to see the daddy with baby in a sling) I had to ask them to watch what they were saying.
I was sat right in front of them with DS, and their conversation was very graphic about how someone was going to get 'their fucking head smashed in' at first I gnored them but as the convo got more and more in detail I felt I had to say something.
So, nicely, I asked 'Do you mind saving that conversation for when we get off the bus' and was told to 'fuck off', I ended up in an exchange with them that went along the lines of.
'Do you mind saving that conversation for when we get off the bus'
'Fuck off'
'look, I'd prefer my child not to be exposed to that kind of talk, he doesn't hear it elsewhere, it's your choice what you say in front of yours, but please not in front of mine'
'If you've got a fucking problem, then move'
'Well, no, I shan't move, I've paid for my seat, I'm just asking you to refrain from that kind of talk'
'We've paid for our fucking seats so we'll say what we fucking want'
'Yes, you have paid for your seat but you haven't pid for the privilege to fill my childs head with the disgusting and quite frankly disturbing conversation you are having in his presence'
'I shouldkick your fucking head in you stupid bitch'
'Ah, such an intelligent retort, I assume you believe everything can be sorted with violence.'
After this there was not another word said, but I actually felt slightly apprehensive when I got off at the next stop.
I'm 26 years old, and was walking with my 3yr old son to get DD from school, and am shocked that anyone, especially two 15ish year olds(they were talking about the soon-to-be victim being in their class)could make me feel worried about my own safety in this way, I almost wished I hadn't mentioned it.
It has made me a great deal more aware of what elderly people must think, all that was going through my head was that I was 5 months pregnant, what if they punched my stomach? what effect would it have on DS if they were to get off and get agressive?
Was I being unreasonable in expecting them to be polite back and watch what they were saying? Or should I have moved?
beeper · 28/11/2007 16:40
In princliple you are not being unreasonalbe at all....but looking at the world as it is basically give up any hope of people who talk like that ever caring about who they say it in front of.
I am sorry that the guy was such a git to you and you were probably scared.
If I were you if future I would just move, I have done this in the past myself, I also turn over lads mags in tesco so my kid cant see them.
Its so sad the way the world is but thats just the way it is.
Thats why I dont use public transport and drive my car everywhere, I know people go on about climate change but does Gordan brown use public transport and have to put up with that rubbish...I dont think so... Gordon brown can put my carbon footprint where the sun dont shine.
CountessDracula · 28/11/2007 16:48
I would say that as they were clearly trying to brag to each other and impress each other about how hard they were, they were hardly going to back down when confronted by a woman with a small child.
Pick your battles tbh
Clearly they are half-wits who haven't a clue how to behave but you aren't going to change that by confronting them while they are in full flow about how f'kin hard they are!
littlelapin · 28/11/2007 16:48
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littlelapin · 28/11/2007 16:49
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FioFio · 28/11/2007 16:49
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peggotty · 28/11/2007 16:49
Did you actually use the word 'shan't'? . Hats off to you for usage of such a quaint word! But I would probably have moved, the gist of their conversation before you confronted them should have alerted you to the fact they were not going to be reasonable/well-balanced people!
SleeplessInTheStaceym11House · 28/11/2007 16:50
'I'm 26 years old, and was walking with my 3yr old son to get DD from school, and am shocked that anyone, especially two 15ish year olds(they were talking about the soon-to-be victim being in their class)could make me feel worried about my own safety in this way, I almost wished I hadn't mentioned it. '
SleeplessInTheStaceym11House · 28/11/2007 16:51
for the record you are by no means unreasonable.
i remember having to remind girls from a school i had just left having been pg with dd that i knew them and their teachers to get them to move for the buggy and stop the flilthy language coming out their mouth!
littlelapin · 28/11/2007 16:56
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SleeplessInTheStaceym11House · 28/11/2007 16:59
ah right i get it!
with baby in sling, cor.
anyway, they were out of order and you wereright to react, if we all ignor it it isnt gunna get better, although i know its intimidating.
I find it intimidating and im not even 21 yet. so their not much younger than me, i just cant relate!
SleeplessInTheStaceym11House · 28/11/2007 17:17
nowbring - i have a friend who was 1yr older than me when she had her ds, by 2yo he could reel off lists of swear words. she would always say she didnt know where he got it from.
until i spent a day with her, he would try to talk to her and be told to 'Fuck off, i'm talking!' or 'piss off you little shit and play'
yeah, right, thats how to talk to a child and not know where the swearing is coming from!
mummyloveslucy · 28/11/2007 17:47
What sort of low lifes are these people? It is disgracefull to use such language in front of you children let alone directed streight at them. When I think of the people I know who are batteling with infertility and would make fantastic parents, life isn't fair is it?
What hope do these children have ?
chocchipchristmascake · 29/11/2007 21:02
I live in the states now and when I come back to the UK I really notice how awful the language is, it is all the time swearing. Other countries aren't like this, why have we got so bad? Even the c word which I hate, it is so ugly, seems quite common now.
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