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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:
Luculentus · 10/05/2022 21:13

Nanny0gg · 10/05/2022 21:08

Ever had drops?

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

Show quote history

But OP said she could read the bus timetable?

Nanny0gg · 10/05/2022 21:13

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.

She included the appointment, if you'd bothered to read it properly.

So your 'guess' isn't that accurate either.

Sirzy · 10/05/2022 21:16

“Round trip” to me is travel time. Ds has an appointment this eeek that is 45 minutes away so it’s an hour and a half round trip (if the m6 play nice) and then the time in the appointment is on top of that

EarringsandLipstick · 10/05/2022 21:21

She included the appointment, if you'd bothered to read it properly.

She did later. In her OP & initial posts she just said I had a five hour round trip to the eye hospital today without making it clear this included the appointment.

It turns out she had a totally standard 30 minute trip there, and 30 minute trip home. So the 5 hour round trip was excessive drama. As is her outrage at the passing man

Herejustforthisone · 10/05/2022 21:36

Sirzy · 10/05/2022 19:57

Those flowers could have been for a dying relative for all your trying to justify your judgement

Show quote history

Oh my god.

OP, you must have terrified the poor, soon-to-be-bereaved-yet-smiling man with flowers, by asking the time. Hang your head in shame.

Herejustforthisone · 10/05/2022 21:38

This thread is fucking horrible.

MichelleScarn · 10/05/2022 21:42

Herejustforthisone · 10/05/2022 21:38

This thread is fucking horrible.

Why? Because its not full of posters saying 'yes, yes op, that man is a total dickhead for not answering you exactly as you wanted' oh and so your journey wasn't actually 5.5 hrs but 30 mins each way? Why is that horrible?

MarshaBradyo · 10/05/2022 21:43

Herejustforthisone · 10/05/2022 21:38

This thread is fucking horrible.

Really?

seems a bit dramatic

melj1213 · 10/05/2022 22:10

OP YABU

Would it have been nice of him to stop? Of course, but he is not obliged to.

If someone on the street asked me the time and I was wearing a watch I'd give them the time, but I wouldn't be taking my phone out to check, nor would I be getting close enough to read the "small" clock on some random person's phone that they're brandishing at me in the street ... you never know what will be on the screen or if they're just trying to get you close enough to pickpocket.

I used to live in Madrid and have seen a very similar scam - a "tourist" asks you for directions from a map on their phone, you get close to see the screen and they rifle through your pockets/bag while you're distracted.

Gagaandgag · 10/05/2022 22:46

DoNotGetADog · 10/05/2022 16:23

Being realistic, the man just had a random stranger with massive pupils come up to him in the street and ask him to read the time off her phone. He probably thought it was done kind of trick and you would rob him or something, or that you were a drug addict.

Obviously it would have been nice if he’d helped you, but I can understand what he may have been concerned about and that he decided to have nothing to do with it.

Oh I’m so
sorry this really made me laugh.

But I agree OP - awful manners. Where has politeness gone? 😢

Somanysocks · 11/05/2022 02:40

Just to address the flowers to dying relative in hospital thing, I think flowers aren't allowed these days.

And aren't bus timetables on an overhead lit display now, not the little printed board of the past?

milkyaqua · 11/05/2022 02:47

Thank you everyone who has asked whether I’m ok 🙂 His behaviour was the final straw and made me cry at the bus stop, but I caught the bus home eventually. It just made me reflect on how easy it is to spoil someone’s day with a second’s worth of unkindness.

I'm just so glad you caught the bus! Eye problems make you feel very vulnerable, and the dilation is spooky. Wash that prick out of your mind.

Sunnytwobridges · 11/05/2022 04:41

almondbran · 10/05/2022 20:46

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

😂

How bizarre to include the appointment time in the trip time. I’ve never heard of that before.

Fireleap · 11/05/2022 07:12

My god, you people are weird.

OP he sounds like a cunt, your right about kindness and the need for more in the world, even online.

MarshaBradyo · 11/05/2022 07:34

Fireleap · 11/05/2022 07:12

My god, you people are weird.

OP he sounds like a cunt, your right about kindness and the need for more in the world, even online.

.. like this post

people are being oddly dramatic and aggressive

londonrach · 11/05/2022 07:39

If near the hospital he running late for appointment or seeing someone in hospital. I'd have given it no thought and asked someone else. You making this a big thing about nothing. Hope you feeling better soon. Yabu.

Heronwatcher · 11/05/2022 07:48

You were not unreasonable to ask but I don’t think he was that unreasonable not to engage to the level you expect (especially in London I’ve had some pretty uncomfortable experiences after being drawn into a seemingly innocuous opening conversation), plus you are being a bit dramatic. After the first interaction I probably would have just waited for 10 mins for the bus and then if it didn’t turn up assumed I was late and walked home. Or asked Siri in the first place (appreciate you don’t have an iPhone but it might be a good idea to borrow one if you do this again).

AchatAVendre · 11/05/2022 08:08

I don't engage with anyone who stops me in the street and asks me for anything other than directions. I once had a man ask me if I had a cigarette, and when I said I didn't smoke, he asked me for money and followed me along the street. Its a personal safety thing. I think the person you approached might have thought you were trying to sell him something or sign him up for a charity.

BaaMoon · 11/05/2022 08:10

Somanysocks · 11/05/2022 02:40

Just to address the flowers to dying relative in hospital thing, I think flowers aren't allowed these days.

And aren't bus timetables on an overhead lit display now, not the little printed board of the past?

No, depends on your bus stop.

BaaMoon · 11/05/2022 08:11

Fireleap · 11/05/2022 07:12

My god, you people are weird.

OP he sounds like a cunt, your right about kindness and the need for more in the world, even online.

How is your post kind?!

Yerroblemom1923 · 11/05/2022 08:13

I'm guessing this is Moorfields eye hospital in London, no one speaks to anyone in London. Fact.

shrunkenhead · 11/05/2022 08:18

I think there are so many scammers out there that people are v wary about engaging with strangers. Sadly this means that those in real need of help don't receive it. You may have been better off getting a lift home from your husband/partner or a taxi.

Sirzy · 11/05/2022 08:39

Fireleap · 11/05/2022 07:12

My god, you people are weird.

OP he sounds like a cunt, your right about kindness and the need for more in the world, even online.

And calling a random stranger that is kind how exactly?

most people have empathised with the situation the OP was in while at the same time being able to look at things from his POV to understand that he may have had reasons to not want to engage.

Lolllllllllllll · 11/05/2022 08:41

I'm intrigued why you had to get up at 5:30 for a half hour journey?
Your appointment must have been very early.⏰

Anyway my guess is that casually strolling, smiling man had crap vision and wouldn't have been able to see your phone.
He was rude but I'm not sure I'd have been upset enough about it to cry.

when people behave like he did I tend to assume they are having a bad day. You never know what’s going on in peoples lives. I also know some people come across a lot ruder than they mean to.

This thread is funny. Some posters make up hilarious 'facts'

SagittariusDwarf · 11/05/2022 09:06

Yerroblemom1923 · 11/05/2022 08:13

I'm guessing this is Moorfields eye hospital in London, no one speaks to anyone in London. Fact.

Well that's not true. I live in London and get asked for directions by random tourists practically every day. I help out if I know the way to where they are trying to get to.

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