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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Eye hospital dickface

154 replies

Helenahandkart · 10/05/2022 16:09

I’ve just come here to rant.
I had a five hour round trip to the eye hospital today, which involved waking up at 5.30am and receiving some upsetting news.

When I came out after my appointment I could hardly see anything due to eye drops/dilation. I rushed to the bus stop. I couldn’t accurately read the small clock on my phone but there was either a bus due any minute, or I might have to wait in the rain for half an hour in which case I may as well start walking home.

I politely asked a passing man if he had the time. He didn’t. My phone was in my hand so I held it up and said ‘Please could you read this? I’ve just been to the eye hospital and I can’t see it’. Before I’d finished the sentence he looked me up and down contemptuously and said with a sneer ‘I don’t have time for this. I’m in a dash’ and walked off.

What a dick.
It would have taken him one second to glance at my phone and tell me the time.

OP posts:
EarringsandLipstick · 10/05/2022 20:21

SirChenjins · 10/05/2022 20:14

So he stopped, said ‘it’s about midday’ and explained he was in a hurry and walked on. Yes it would have been nice if he’d stopped and looked at a strangers phone but I can understand his wariness at getting drawn into something he didn’t have time for.

I hope your eye appointment went well otherwise.

Exactly this.

OP, you are being massively over dramatic in relation to the man, and also the 5 hour round trip - that was really 30 mins!

PortalooSunset · 10/05/2022 20:21

If you have a smartphone you can (verbally) ask Google to tell you the time.
Surprised the eye hospital didn't recommend you having someone with you.

MarshaBradyo · 10/05/2022 20:21

SparklyLeprechaun · 10/05/2022 20:13

I had a guy ask me to show him some directions on google maps on his phone, when I looked he had a porn page open. He didn't even look suspicious, just your random middle aged bloke. I didn't vote because it was an unpleasant experience for you, but tbh I wold have at least been tempted to walk away as well.

yeuch

I’d be wary of looking at a random man’s phone as I can imagine this

EarringsandLipstick · 10/05/2022 20:22

Helenahandkart · 10/05/2022 20:20

Those of you who are fixated on my travelling time (as if that was the focus of the thread): I’m really really sorry that I’ve misled you all by failing to adhere to the dictionary definition of a round trip. I thought I had clarified and minuted exactly how I spent my five hours sufficiently well for everyone to be clear but maybe not.
Massive apologies.

Hate snide replies like this.

You posted incorrect information, it was picked up - no need to be an arse about it.

gobbynorthernbird · 10/05/2022 20:29

This whole thread makes me think that the OP potentially wasn't as polite as they are making out.

Poor fella, rushing so as not to miss the maternity ward visiting hours (or whatever) and he gets collared by the massive eyed OP who he suspects wants to talk to him about our Lord and Saviour/sign him up for a fun run/mug him.

MNHD · 10/05/2022 20:33

OP I hope you (and your eyes!) are feeling a bit better. I don't think for a second you were being unreasonable and I am very glad to still live in a world where telling someone the time and/or reading a bus timetable is still very much reasonable behaviour without the thought of being robbed/attacked!

LankylegsFromOz · 10/05/2022 20:35

I haven't read the whole thread OP, just a few of yours. But just so you know, I would have told you the time AND helped you on the bus if you needed it 🙂

EarringsandLipstick · 10/05/2022 20:44

who he suspects wants to talk to him about our Lord and Saviour/sign him up for a fun run/mug him.

Love this 😂 especially 'talk to him about our Lord and Saviour' 🤣

tibradden · 10/05/2022 20:44

Herejustforthisone · 10/05/2022 19:54

What is happening on this thread? He was rude AF OP. I’m sorry. I hope you’re ok and that you’re feeling ok after your diagnosis.

This. He was an asshole. OP. Hope you’re feeling better.

Original poster
Helenahandkart · 10/05/2022 20:44

You know how sometimes you have an interaction with someone and they’re clearly weird and unnecessarily rude? It’s very obvious in the moment that they are being unpleasant - the tone of their voice, the look on their face, their body language. Things
that are difficult to convey on an Internet forum.

The fact that you were treated unpleasantly doesn’t magically disappear just because you inadvertently used the wrong term to later describe how you travelled that day. 100 strangers on the internet projecting their own fears about drug addicts and muggers onto your experience doesn’t alter what personally happened to you. Strangers on the internet picking apart the exact facts and filling in their own details doesn’t change the actual facts of the event.

A man was rude and unpleasant to me today. He didn’t think I was a drug addict. He wasn’t having a bad day. He was just a dickface.

if someone politely asks you the time at the bus stop, maybe just give them the time.

OP posts:
almondbran · 10/05/2022 20:46

5 hour round trip 😂. OP do you tell people your work commute is a 9 hour round trip?

Original poster
Helenahandkart · 10/05/2022 20:47

Thank you to everyone who can see that asking for the time is a perfectly normal thing to do.
Thank you to everyone who has shown concern for my health.
Personally I will continue to stop and help if someone asks me the time. It’s not much to ask really.

OP posts:
EarringsandLipstick · 10/05/2022 20:47

if someone politely asks you the time at the bus stop, maybe just give them the time.

He did give you the time, approximately.

What he didn't do, was read it from your phone.

I agree, he wasn't very helpful, and in his place, I probably would have done what you asked.

I don't think he was a 'dickface' (grim term), I think he was a bit thoughtless and probably focused on himself.

And I think you sound unnecessarily angry about such a small interaction

EarringsandLipstick · 10/05/2022 20:48

Helenahandkart · 10/05/2022 20:47

Thank you to everyone who can see that asking for the time is a perfectly normal thing to do.
Thank you to everyone who has shown concern for my health.
Personally I will continue to stop and help if someone asks me the time. It’s not much to ask really.

I think we all see asking the time is usual & normal.

Asking to read the 'very small time display' on your phone, a bit less so.

JenniferBarkley · 10/05/2022 20:50

Helenahandkart · 10/05/2022 20:47

Thank you to everyone who can see that asking for the time is a perfectly normal thing to do.
Thank you to everyone who has shown concern for my health.
Personally I will continue to stop and help if someone asks me the time. It’s not much to ask really.

I don't think anyone thinks you were unreasonable to ask him. Just that there are various reasons why he may not have wanted to engage.

gobbynorthernbird · 10/05/2022 20:50

TLDR: Man at hospital carrying a massive bouquet of roses (not a massive leap to think he's got stuff on his mind) didn't have the time or inclination to engage with the OP in the exact way they wanted him to.

BattenburgDonkey · 10/05/2022 20:52

People arnt saying asking for the time
is a strange thing to do (well one or two might be, but most arnt), people are saying that this guy wasn’t necessarily being a total dick for absolutely no reason. I think
you would have been better off posting somewhere else other than AIBU really OP, like chat, maybe you could ask for it to be moved if it helps you? You might get different replies going forward that are more what you are after. Because here it’s posted, with voting enabled to ask
if you were BU, you’ve literally asked for opinions on it, AIBU is always going to get opposing views, yet you clearly don’t want any that don’t agree with you.

BaaMoon · 10/05/2022 20:52

JenniferBarkley · 10/05/2022 20:50

I don't think anyone thinks you were unreasonable to ask him. Just that there are various reasons why he may not have wanted to engage.

Show quote history

Yes I dont think it was at all unreasonable of you to ask. Just unreasonable to get annoyed that he didn't want to help to extent you are calling him names.

Luculentus · 10/05/2022 20:56

If your sight was so bad, how could you tell he was looking contemptuous or sneering?

MichelleScarn · 10/05/2022 21:07

*You know how sometimes you have an interaction with someone and they’re clearly weird and unnecessarily rude? It’s very obvious in the moment
Yep, think people on this thread can get this....

Sirzy · 10/05/2022 21:07

Asking for the time is perfectly normal.
being anxious at being approach by strangers is normal.

as much as either you like to judge you have no idea what each other is going through

Nanny0gg · 10/05/2022 21:08

WhatIsThisPlease · 10/05/2022 19:52

No help whatsoever for this occasion but if you have an iphone you could have asked Siri for the time.

I wish people would read the OP's posts

It's really, really easy to do

Nanny0gg · 10/05/2022 21:08

Luculentus · 10/05/2022 20:56

If your sight was so bad, how could you tell he was looking contemptuous or sneering?

Ever had drops?

You can see reasonable sized things but you can't read any kind of text

OverCCCs · 10/05/2022 21:10

How can anyone anyone possibly believe your interpretation of his supposed contemptuous attitude after you admitted to dramatizing a one hour round trip into FIVE hours? You’re clearly an unreliable narrator and my guess is that man was not in the wrong.

Nanny0gg · 10/05/2022 21:12

Helenahandkart · 10/05/2022 20:47

Thank you to everyone who can see that asking for the time is a perfectly normal thing to do.
Thank you to everyone who has shown concern for my health.
Personally I will continue to stop and help if someone asks me the time. It’s not much to ask really.

God there's been some really arsey replies (just for the sake of it, imo) on this thread.

I hope your eyes get better OP. I know what it's like not to see clearly and it's really, really frustrating

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