Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2 3 4 5 6 ··· 12 13

Original poster

To be frustrated by people who are just oblivious

306 replies

Manyview · 15/10/2021 07:07

Nursery drop off queue - always a joy

Particular group of parents who just don't seem to have any grip on reality

Husband and I work hard in public sector jobs. They asked me how work is (for me social care) and I was like well pretty manky, big staff and money shortages, everyone's working v hard etc

Response : oh yeah I think I heard something about that last week...and covid is still about a bit isn't it apparently?? Did you hear that?

Is it just me? How can you be soooooo oblivious to real (and stressful) life around you? How can people be just so lacking in understanding of the genuine issues affecting real people?

OP posts:

GoodnightGrandma · 15/10/2021 07:10

They probably live their life on social media.

Dozer · 15/10/2021 07:13

So you’re annoyed that they don’t think about or understand what your working life is like?

arethereanyleftatall · 15/10/2021 07:13

I don't think they really did anything wrong. Just kept a potentially very negative chat, more lighthearted.

Dozer · 15/10/2021 07:13

What would you prefer them to say or do?

Theworldisfullofgs · 15/10/2021 07:14

Yep. Its one of the reasons why the country is in the state its in, lots of oblivious people.

FrankieDobie · 15/10/2021 07:14

What did they say wrong?

B229 · 15/10/2021 07:16

As PP said sounds like it was to potentially keep it lighthearted, drop off queue is more How's work "oh busy but fine" then a deep dive into how a sector is doing shit.

RedMarauder · 15/10/2021 07:17

@FrankieDobie

What did they say wrong?

Are you a new poster on MN? Nope? Then you know what is wrong.

TicTacHoh · 15/10/2021 07:18

Personally I’ve had to switch the news off periodically in the last 18 months for my own mental sanity. It’s not ideal not always knowing what’s immediately going on, but the other side of the coin was knowing too much and becoming obsessive.

I’m also not particularly looking to have an in-depth (depressing) conversation about the awful state of the world first thing in the morning in the nursery drop off queue. Everyone has their own problems, some just cope by internalising.

Pythonista · 15/10/2021 07:18

I think it may be you that is oblivious.

People ask how work is to make small talk - they aren't expecting a litany of complaints. And having received them, they don't know what to say

HomeSliceKnowsBest · 15/10/2021 07:20

It was a light exchange of pleasantries, not an invitation for you to unload. The polite response is 'busy, thankyou! And how are you?'

LawnFever · 15/10/2021 07:21

Do you have in depth knowledge about all the issues in their line of work?

Most sectors have their own problems, not everyone can keep up to date with everything that’s happening everywhere.

Mybalconyiscracking · 15/10/2021 07:21

Are you aware of the term “small talk”? Much derided but a useful social construct.
I would not engage in a conversation of the sort you seem to want with a stranger, my opinions are my own, I would not want to discuss them with someone if I did not know their politics or agenda.
Stick to the weather, the children etc. until you get to know people, identify those that you seem to have something in common with and then go for the meaningful conversation.

FrankieDobie · 15/10/2021 07:22

@RedMarauder

No I’m not new but I still don’t get what they did wrong, feel free to enlighten me though!

FawnFrenchieMum · 15/10/2021 07:23

It’s definitely small talk they are expecting not an actual run down of your work issues. The standard response is something like, yeah it’s crazy busy!

I would have had no idea what to say to that response on the nursery drop off. It would be different if it were a close friend over coffee where I could let her offload and have a full conversation about it.

HomeSliceKnowsBest · 15/10/2021 07:24

@RedMarauder Huh?

Pythonista · 15/10/2021 07:24

And if they really say things like that in reply, it's less likely that they actually don't know what's going on, they just don't want to get into an in depth conversation while you moan about work

SalsaLove · 15/10/2021 07:25

I agree with PPs that they really didn’t want to hear you complain. Nursery drop off, keep it light.

MargaretFaffter · 15/10/2021 07:25

Isn’t the right response to “how are you?” in these scenarios “fine thanks! You?”, to which they reply “yeah, all good!”?

MrsLargeEmbodied · 15/10/2021 07:26

actually i am sort of oblivious to the amount of covid about now,
it is no longer headline news.
we are meant to be living with it.
yet so many people not wearing masks - people have forgotten about it

Shouldbedoing · 15/10/2021 07:27

It's the Covid comment that sucks
I get you, OP

00100001 · 15/10/2021 07:27

So, please enlighten us about the issues that the responder has in their work life and how it affects them and the sector.

Shouldbedoing · 15/10/2021 07:27

Wishing Covid was gone, doesn't make it gone

Mondaynightnamechange · 15/10/2021 07:27

A lot of people are oblivious sheep, unfortunately.

SnarkyBag · 15/10/2021 07:27

Like everyone said they were engaging in chit chat. Not everyone wants to have a deep and meaningful at the nursery/school gates.

Just out of curiosity did you ask them anything about themselves or do you feel they’re not working as hard as you?

Flip

1 2 3 4 5 6 ··· 12 13

Swipe left for the next trending thread