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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

"I don't mind" is really frustrating.

162 replies

PleaseMind · 02/08/2022 14:25

AIBU to think "I don't mind" is often a really rude response? I find it so frustrating. When I ask DH what he wants for dinner I'm really asking him to help share the mental load. When I try to arrange a date with a friend and ask what date suits them Saturday or Sunday I hate getting I don't mind back. Does anyone else find this annoying? How do you cope with it. Took the teen in my life to the shop and gave them the simple task of choosing crisps they just stood there and said "I don't mind", fine no crisps then.

OP posts:
Movingsoon21 · 02/08/2022 15:13

hmm I say “I don’t mind” a lot to DH because I genuinely don’t mind but I know he will have a strong opinion so I don’t know why he’s asking me! If I do answer, he’ll be disappointed with it.

e.g. Him: “what do you want for dinner”. Me: “I don’t mind.” Him “you always say that! Why not say what you actually want?” Me: “ok, I fancy Chinese tonight” him: “oh, I really wanted Italian”. Me: “argh why didn’t you just say that then, as I genuinely don’t mind!”

if you’re going to be disappointed with the answer then just make the decision yourself!

Circleofshells · 02/08/2022 15:13

PleaseMind · 02/08/2022 14:25

AIBU to think "I don't mind" is often a really rude response? I find it so frustrating. When I ask DH what he wants for dinner I'm really asking him to help share the mental load. When I try to arrange a date with a friend and ask what date suits them Saturday or Sunday I hate getting I don't mind back. Does anyone else find this annoying? How do you cope with it. Took the teen in my life to the shop and gave them the simple task of choosing crisps they just stood there and said "I don't mind", fine no crisps then.

@PleaseMind it bothers me too, but I think we are both being unreasonable.

Chances are if you are asking people for their input, you’re trying to push forward a plan or arrangement you’ve decided needs to be sorted out now, on your timetable. That’s okay, you might suspect that if you didn’t push things forward nothing would get done and everything would be left to the last minute, but your inability to let go of that control means the whole situation is a “you” problem, not a “them” problem. They sense your impatience with them and they don’t want to indulge you.

For example, you can always just not make dinner (crazy- I know) just say you weren’t sure what to make so you just had a snack- not the end of the world. Or just make exactly what you feel like making with no consideration for what you know their preferences to be. Or if someone won’t choose a restaurant, you can always say, “will we just see what’s available on the night?” And leave it at that. So you don’t have the well thought out plan you’d hoped for, but maybe not worry about it you’ll end up with a more fun night. With the crisps, choose the ones you want, if you don’t want them, why bring it up? You put stuff in the shopping trolly you think you need and if you look like you’re about to leave your teen will soon make some suggestions of what else they’d like included. Or they won’t, and shopping will be quicker.

The reality is, coercing someone into a decision isn’t much fun for them, and they tend to passive aggressively dig their heels in. The are seeing your questions as a way of controlling the situation (like in a very low key way, but that’s still how it reads) and they’re just not that interested in joining you in your stress and urgency. You’re hassling them, we’re hassling them- relax and see what happens, maybe they’ll occasionally surprise you.

Allthecoloursoftherainbow · 02/08/2022 15:26

YANBU I had exactly the same conversation with DP about sharing the mental load. Now I just say 'youre in charge of dinner' I stead of asking what he wants.

Equally where making plans is concerned I've just learnt to be the decisive one. 'shall we say Saturday, around 2pm at the park then' everyone says yes, job done.

AllyCatTown · 02/08/2022 15:42

People are answering truthfully quite often. Like others say it’s better to rephrase it so you’re asking them to help choose.

I do agree that it is a load of work to always be deciding for others but some people think they’re doing you a favour.

PleaseMind · 02/08/2022 15:48

Interesting take @Circleofshells I see what you're saying

OP posts:
5foot5 · 02/08/2022 15:48

I find it frustrating but not annoying as such. I used to get it from my DM and also from PILs and in both cases I think it is because they don't want to be any trouble. Hence, being easy to please and not expressing a preference. But this leads to conversations like this :

Me: Would you like a cup of tea or coffee?
FIL: Yes please.
Me: Which would you like?
FIL: Either. Whichever is easiest. I don't mind.
Me: Well I am making coffee for DH and tea for DD so I am doing both anyway. Which would you prefer?
FIL: I don't mind....

Aagh!

GoldenOmber · 02/08/2022 15:50

Eto · 02/08/2022 14:58

Yes, it’s deeply frustrating. My mother is a chronic ‘I don’t mind’er, to the point where she thinks expressing the most minor preference is ‘rude’ — in restaurants, a waiter will be taking the table’s orders and will get to my mum, who will then look desperately at him/her and say ‘Ooh, it’s so difficult to decide!’ or ask the waiter to tell her ‘what I’d like’! It’s because she will not take responsibility for any decision, however tiny. It’s easier for her to go along with someone else doing something she doesn’t want to do — she lives with furniture chosen by my (aesthetically-blind) father, in a tiny, ugly, inconvenient house she married into and has always hated, and gave all her children names she disliked because she wouldn’t actually say ‘This is what I want.’

She drummed into her daughters that ‘I don’t mind’ is the only polite response to any request.

Oh that sounds familiar! I’m related to a chronic I-don’t-mind-er and it does seem to come from the idea that expressing any preference would be ‘rude’.

“Shall we all go out for dinner tonight, or stay at home?”
”Oh, I don’t mind, whatever’s best for you. I’m easy.”
”Let’s split the difference and get a takeaway then?”
”Yes, if you’d like that.”
”Indian? Chinese? Pizza?”
”I don’t mind.”
”okay, I quite fancy an Indian, shall we do that?”
”If you all want that then I don’t mind.”
”Here’s the menu. What would you like?”
Five minutes of looking at it later: “oh goodness I don’t know where to start. What’s nice? Just tell me what’s nice and I’ll have that.”
”Well the mild curries are nice, how about one of those? There’s this, or this, or this…”
”I really don’t mind. Whatever you think is best.”
JUST MAKE A DECISION ARGH.

I no longer even ask about tea or coffee, I just make the thing I know she likes anyway and hand it to her to shortcut all the “oh gosh, I don’t mind, whatever’s easiest really, only if it’s no trouble for you” etc etc etc faff before the water goes cold again.

princesssparklepants · 02/08/2022 15:51

What's worse is when they say "I don't mind" and you say " oh ok let's go here then" and it's "oh no I don't want to go there!"

LadyVictoriaSponge · 02/08/2022 15:52

You are definitely not being unreasonable! I have relatives like this, it’s like you have to do all their thinking for them and bare all the responsibility of the decision, I find it really rude and exhausting, have an opinion for goodness sake.

Just10moreminutesplease · 02/08/2022 15:55

PleaseMind · 02/08/2022 14:31

Ah see I tried that, I said can you get some crisps and got asked which ones! I've asked DH to cook dinner a few times and then he asks what I want him to cook!

So then you say ’I don’t mind’.

Funkyslippers · 02/08/2022 15:57

DDs friend drives me up the wall with this. She is shy, but she's also quite rude with it. It doesn't take much in my opinion to say thank you. I give them options for tea and she not only said I don't mind to me, she says it to DD too if DD asks her what she wants. She must have an opinion sometimes! Drives me mad

midgetastic · 02/08/2022 16:03

But if they really don't actually mind - you could argue that you are being rude by asking people to make choices you don't want to make

why don't you say ask " please suggest something for tonight's tea as I am tired of thinking"

Works would here - it's clear then what you mean

Allmarbleslost · 02/08/2022 16:21

This is rooted in childhood I think. Some people have had it drilled into them as children that they must never put anyone out or inconvenience anyone in any minor way at all. They're taught that they should put others first at every turn and that what they want matters least, so they're afraid to say what they want.

diamondpony80 · 02/08/2022 16:22

I hate this too. It also drives me crazy when I’m going to the shops and ask for some input on what to get for dinner. All of a sudden no one knows what they want to eat and all of the meal planning is left to me.

Mrsjayy · 02/08/2022 16:23

I do this and it drives poor DH nuts ! I'm quite laid back and honestly don't mind , maybe I should do better.

BugsInTheBed · 02/08/2022 16:27

But by wanting the other person to choose aren't you also saying you don't want to choose?

Topgub · 02/08/2022 16:35

I have a friend like this.

What ever you think.

It drives me mental bit I've stopped asking her now. I just say we're doing x on y.

I have another friend who will not commit to anything and faffs about so I've stopped giving them the option not to commit. We're doing x on this day, I need to know if you're coming or not now.

Stop giving them the option of saying I don't mind

Lottapianos · 02/08/2022 16:45

'if you ask someone their preference, you have to be prepared for them to not have one'

Yes, this is a good point, but I'm afraid it drives me mad! My MIL was a dithery, 'I don't mind' type and it got right on my wick. She would actually say 'I don't mind, it's up to you entirely', probably thinking she was being 'helpful' and 'no trouble', but I hated it. A previous poster had it spot on - it's an inability to make decisions and to take responsibility for anything. I've become quite assertive over the years so I really struggle with dithering and being wet about decisions. Other people, maybe especially older generation folks, seem to think it's 'rude' or 'demanding' to express a preference

SnowyPetals · 02/08/2022 16:50

I have a friend who, whenever we're arranging to meet, always says "Oh, any day" and then proceeds to knock back my suggestions in turn, without just saying what days she can actually make. Drives me nuts! Even if I say "Please can you send over some dates as your diary is busier than mine,", she still replies with "Oh any" Gaaaargh!

SlickShady · 02/08/2022 16:55

Forthelasttime09 · 02/08/2022 14:39

Why not take them at their work.

cook what you want
grab the closest crisps to you

This would be exactly what I mean when I say I don't mind. Let's say if I sent one of my kids to the shop to buy some sandwiches I'd be totally like just grab any 3 off the shelf, really couldn't care.

The flip side of that is expressing a preference and having to deal with the hassle of the other party either not finding those flavour chips or having a different preference for dinner tonight.

PleaseMind · 02/08/2022 17:01

SnowyPetals · 02/08/2022 16:50

I have a friend who, whenever we're arranging to meet, always says "Oh, any day" and then proceeds to knock back my suggestions in turn, without just saying what days she can actually make. Drives me nuts! Even if I say "Please can you send over some dates as your diary is busier than mine,", she still replies with "Oh any" Gaaaargh!

Yes! What they really mean is you go first to save me the hassle of telling you when I'm free.

OP posts:
Sparklefish99 · 02/08/2022 17:10

MsTSwift · 02/08/2022 14:32

I lost it when travelling in my twenties with the most passive friend ever. Every response was “I don’t mind” so I basically decided alone where we visited / ate / accommodation. It was bizarrely maddening. Such a relief to meet Dh who is lovely and clear in his views.

I had exactly the same experience when I was travelling in my twenties, except that my friend, after saying “I don’t mind” to every suggestion, would then offer an opinion if the choice that I had made turned out to be a bad one. So, if a meal turned out to be a bit crap, she would say “I did think that the other place might have been better”. It drove me absolutely mad! Never went away with her again!

Goldbar · 02/08/2022 17:14

I agree @Enb76 . Quite often they do mind despite saying "I don't mind".

It's such a lazy response. I'll eat anything and usually genuinely don't mind where we go if meeting friends for a meal, but I usually reply when asked for suggestions "No strong feelings, but here's somewhere we could try unless anyone has any other ideas?"

Goldbar · 02/08/2022 17:15

Sparklefish99 · 02/08/2022 17:10

I had exactly the same experience when I was travelling in my twenties, except that my friend, after saying “I don’t mind” to every suggestion, would then offer an opinion if the choice that I had made turned out to be a bad one. So, if a meal turned out to be a bit crap, she would say “I did think that the other place might have been better”. It drove me absolutely mad! Never went away with her again!

Yes, that response might drive me to violence 😁. I can't stand people who never make decisions or plan events, but then criticise the efforts of those who do.

SaintHelena · 02/08/2022 17:20

Just cook whatever is easiest for you - if you are cooking - I used to do the meat and two veg etc - now it's often fish in the oven and veg or salad , maybe a baked pot.

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