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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To have opened the door

299 replies

OnceuponaRainbow18 · 19/12/2021 20:28

Went to a restaurant this eve, was busier than I expected and all tables were randomly put together to form 2 king table so we were sat next to total strangers… wasn’t expecting that. So I opened up the door near us to get some fresh air in, checked with waitress they agreed. A lady went and closed it, so I opened it again and then she closed it again… so I opened it!

AIBU

OP posts:
Sparklingbrook · 20/12/2021 07:36

I wouldn't have even sat down knowing I would be sitting by strangers. And that's even without a pandemic on.

Sparklingbrook · 20/12/2021 07:40

[quote OnceuponaRainbow18]@Sparklingbrook

I meant half out of the 824 who voted here![/quote]
Oh, there are people on here who would just love to eat a meal inside with a door open in December presumably. Maybe you could all get together and go out. Grin

I wonder why they were less vocal though-interesting that they thought you were not BU but didn't manage to explain exactly why.

Original poster
OnceuponaRainbow18 · 20/12/2021 07:42

@Sparklingbrook

Well we have a private dining area booked for tomo eve for 14 friends and have all agreed to open the windows… so maybe I’ll stick with them for now

OP posts:
HunterHearstHelmsley · 20/12/2021 07:45

I would have spoken to the waitress and ask for the door to be closed. If it wasn't, I would have left. I wouldn't have paid as I was basically forced out.

Flashback to a few winters back pre Covid. A restaurant near me is in a converted barn and the heating was broken. I had to eat in my massive coat. I swore never again!

Sparklingbrook · 20/12/2021 07:45

[quote OnceuponaRainbow18]@Sparklingbrook

Well we have a private dining area booked for tomo eve for 14 friends and have all agreed to open the windows… so maybe I’ll stick with them for now[/quote]
Perfect, if it's private you can have all the windows and doors open presumably and you can eat in the cold in peace.

LlamaParma · 20/12/2021 07:50

It’s December! I’d have closed the door too, why are you letting cold air in?!

Original poster
OnceuponaRainbow18 · 20/12/2021 07:59

@LlamaParma

To make it safer….!!!

OP posts:
Stuffin · 20/12/2021 08:01

[quote OnceuponaRainbow18]@LlamaParma

To make it safer….!!![/quote]
It's not your right to decide what is safe or not for others.

You decided the restaurant in its current setup was not safe enough for you therefore you should have left. Impacting your idea of safe on others isn't fair but you won't accept that.

Onthedowns · 20/12/2021 08:03

Actually hospitality has to provide adequate ventilation just like schools except majority haven't been.

Seems its ok for kids to sit and learn in freezing classrooms but adults with a draught no 🤔. There's your covid situation right there

LlamaParma · 20/12/2021 08:04

[quote OnceuponaRainbow18]@aprilanne

I’m not particularly scared… maybe I’ve just saved everyone’s Christmas in there 😂[/quote]
How? Has someone told you that cold air gets rid of COVID in a person?

You just ruined their night. I can’t believe you thought it was ok because a waitress said so - she was probably just thinking “I will appease this bathshit customer rather than start the night being moaned at”.

LlamaParma · 20/12/2021 08:06

[quote OnceuponaRainbow18]@LlamaParma

To make it safer….!!![/quote]
Explain why making people sit in effectively outdoor conditions is safe for anyone?

Ventilation (possibly, we don’t really k ow) works in classrooms when it’s consistent throughout the day, people are moving about in between with masks on, and are spaced out a bit. TOTALLY pointless doing it in a squashed restaurant. Awful of you to push your anxiety onto others rather than just staying at home.

LlamaParma · 20/12/2021 08:07

You decided the restaurant in its current setup was not safe enough for you therefore you should have left. Impacting your idea of safe on others isn't fair but you won't accept that.

This! Unless you’re drip feeding and you’re actually the restaurant manager? If it it isn’t your place or the waitresses? I’m surprised no one said anything to you.

Sparklingbrook · 20/12/2021 08:15

@Onthedowns

Actually hospitality has to provide adequate ventilation just like schools except majority haven't been.

Seems its ok for kids to sit and learn in freezing classrooms but adults with a draught no 🤔. There's your covid situation right there

Well I’m not sure I can compare sitting in a restaurant for an hour or two eating a nice meal to all day in a classroom with 30 children TBH.
Whammyyammy · 20/12/2021 08:17

[quote OnceuponaRainbow18]@LlamaParma

To make it safer….!!![/quote]
Hero 😇

drawacircleroundit · 20/12/2021 08:21

YABU to not have asked the other people on the table, "Do you think we should open the door to ventilate?"
What is it with people not using words to communicate. So many action-based hissy dramas would be avoided if people just exercised their vocabulary rather than their indignation.

Sparklingbrook · 20/12/2021 08:24

If this thread is anything to go by even if every single other diner objected that door was getting opened regardless.

Clawdy · 20/12/2021 08:28

If you are so unhappy about being in an unventilated room, you should have stayed home. No pleasure sitting in a cold restaurant. YABU.

Justheretoaskaquestion91 · 20/12/2021 08:28

What I don’t understand is the bizarre and quite attention seeking game you played of opening/shutting the door with the other woman. Surely you would say “before you arrived the waitress agreed to open the door for ventilation. If you are cold I’m sure they will seat you further away”.

Simple. Not childish. Also ventilation is fine but there’s a difference between an open window and an open door. The virus is airborne from the other diners regardless of proximity as the air is circulating around. If you’re not happy with it then don’t go out/go to places with more spacing and ventilation.

gogohm · 20/12/2021 08:34

If you don't like the table arrangements leave. Making others cold won't prevent you from getting covid (you need a through air flow not one door!)

CeibaTree · 20/12/2021 08:36

[quote OnceuponaRainbow18]@melj1213

No one was half way through a meal, we arrived at 5pm as had my 2 young kids with us, I saw the layout, asked the waitress they said yes! But about 5.30 there were more people, who arrived and sat down whilst seeing the door ajar.

Also it’s much better for the staff- she seemed genuinely happy at the idea.

Every office I walk into at work I open a window, as that’s the policy. Touch wood I am yet to get covid and that’s whilst teaching in a school of 2000 kids! Fresh air is key, and reduced the viral
Load.

Restaurants are about to be closed so they are clearly an issue- if only people would support them by putting on an extra layer and not complaining about keeping everyone else as safe as possible.

Just like at school, people desperate for their kids to be in yet moan about a bit of cold[/quote]
Ah don’t you love it when an OP comes back after most comments say they were being unreasonable and drip feeds how actually them were being so reasonable because of x, y and z. You originally just say the waitress agreed now she was ‘genuinely happy’ you were originally sat next to strangers, now the restaurant was empty when you arrived and everyone else arrived after you propped the door open. Just accept you were wrong and selfish in this instance.

MajorCarolDanvers · 20/12/2021 08:43

If you didn't like the seating you should have gone there. Those already there and happy with the seating we're entitled to be warm whilst eating.

ThinWomansBrain · 20/12/2021 08:44

You should have left before ordering, or requested to move to a table outside.

colourfulpuddles · 20/12/2021 08:46

YABVU. It’s the middle of December, it’s far too cold for that nonsense and I would have shut the door too.

If you ain’t like the table configuration, go elsewhere and leave everyone else happy and warm.

Why should everyone else have to be cold because you’re scared and paranoid?

MrsSkylerWhite · 20/12/2021 08:46

If you’re worried about contact with strangers, would suggest eating out probably not the wisest move just now.

GiltEdges · 20/12/2021 08:47

@DartmoorChef

You should have left the restaurant if you were unhappy with the seating. Those who didn't mind the seating are entitled to eat without sitting in a freezing draught.
This