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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think a grown woman....

405 replies

ToTheMax0 · 11/04/2023 22:28

Should be able to know how to operate a dishwasher?
New colleague didn't know how to do it. She stacked it correctly but was then standing around looking stumped. I had to intervene and help.
She is 41!

OP posts:
lionsleepstonight · 12/04/2023 08:48

What it was a grown man? Still started a thread?

newnamethanks · 12/04/2023 08:49

I've never had a dishwasher and won't be buying one. I've never used one. I'm much older than your colleague. Please feel free to mock and sneer at me as much as you like. And lay off your co worker.

OliviaPark · 12/04/2023 08:51

I’m 41. I have never had a dishwasher. Wouldn’t have a clue but would take a stab at it and hope for the best.

YABU.

Teateaandmoretea · 12/04/2023 08:53

I think yanbu.

I once when driving got stuck in a traffic jam with a work colleague who couldn’t read a road map. He was in his 50s and used to be in the army. It’s frankly staggering what basic skills are lacking.

Indecisivebynature · 12/04/2023 08:56

I’m 49 and I don’t know how to load or use a dishwasher! I’ve never had one!

cobblers123 · 12/04/2023 08:57

I've never had a dishwasher so I would be that woman who doesn't know how to use one. I do, however, know how to do the tyre pressures on my car as I know a large number of women drivers who don't. It's always their husband/ partner/father or brother who does it for them.

Think that's more useful to me as I drive than knowing how to work the dishwasher that I've never had or likely to ever have.

NameChange647 · 12/04/2023 08:58

Never had one until a couple of months ago. Had to get my stepdad to show me how to work it when he plumbed it in for me (second hand so no instructions). Well the buttons I didn't need help with as it's a small one with barely any settings but I had to be shown what to do with rinse aid etc. If it had been a bigger one with a lot of different settings I would have probably needed some help or I'd have just took a guess.

I work with an industrial dishwasher every day and when someone comes in who hasn't used it they have to be shown how to work it. Same as I had to be shown on my first day 🤷🏻‍♀️.

philautia · 12/04/2023 08:58

I'm 38 and never used a dishwasher in my life. I am the dishwasher.

I genuinely don't know how to use one or care to learn and I will never own one. They make glasses and plates unbearable to touch for me, I don't know why!

IAcceptCookies · 12/04/2023 08:58

You're right, OP, dishwasher operation is an important life skill. I'm surprised they don't teach it in school.Hmm

funinthesun19 · 12/04/2023 08:58

Teateaandmoretea · 12/04/2023 08:53

I think yanbu.

I once when driving got stuck in a traffic jam with a work colleague who couldn’t read a road map. He was in his 50s and used to be in the army. It’s frankly staggering what basic skills are lacking.

Loading a dishwasher isn’t a life skill though. People can get by perfectly fine without it.

VeggieSalsa · 12/04/2023 09:00

Every dishwasher is different? And there are a load of different settings? So unless you’ve used that specific one, then I’d expect to take a few mins to download the instructions online to figure it out… And I’m a masters qualified member of MENSA, so not unintelligent…

Teateaandmoretea · 12/04/2023 09:00

Loading a dishwasher isn’t a life skill though. People can get by perfectly fine without it.

I think she managed to load it, but switching it on stumped her.

If you say so, just like you can apparently survive the army without being able to read a map 🤷🏻‍♀️

AgnesX · 12/04/2023 09:02

Is this in a restaurant...if not then why should she?

Teateaandmoretea · 12/04/2023 09:05

Workplaces other than restaurants have dishwashers. As do holiday cottages, MIL’s house, friends’ houses.

Very weird thread based on people who clearly don’t go out much.

Furries · 12/04/2023 09:05

I’m in my 50’s and have never owned a dishwasher or a microwave. Amazingly, my life hasn’t fallen apart due to this!

There was a dishwasher here when I moved in, but had it removed and an extra cupboard built in its place which is much more useful for me.

I think the OP will be far too busy monitoring the dishwasher to return to this thread.

Silverbook · 12/04/2023 09:05

I'm 41. Never owned a dishwasher. There are only 3 of us in the house so I don't see the time/cost benefits.

thecatsthecats · 12/04/2023 09:05

Some dishwashers have weird as balls settings. The one at my work needed two buttons pressed simultaneously to start.

I failed to wash my clothes in an Airbnb last week because I couldn't for the life of me get the washer to start.

MarkWithaC · 12/04/2023 09:05

‘stacked it correctly’
There’s one correct way? Confused
You're clearly a dishwasher purist and would be displeased whatever she did.

Beezknees · 12/04/2023 09:06

Teateaandmoretea · 12/04/2023 09:00

Loading a dishwasher isn’t a life skill though. People can get by perfectly fine without it.

I think she managed to load it, but switching it on stumped her.

If you say so, just like you can apparently survive the army without being able to read a map 🤷🏻‍♀️

Learning to read a map is useful in case you get lost.

There is no emergency scenario where you'd ever need to use a dishwasher.

newyearsresolurion · 12/04/2023 09:08

You're definitely a dick

nettie434 · 12/04/2023 09:09

ShowUs · 12/04/2023 08:45

I don’t understand how it would use less energy than hand washing?

I get that it might use less water but your electricity bill would still be much higher using it.

It also depends on your family size.
1 person living alone isn’t going to use many dishes and will wash as they go.
A massive family will easily fill a dish washer every day.

Show quote history

In terms of cost, a lot depends on how you hand wash dishes. My dishwasher is broken at the moment and I am really conscious that I change the water a lot and use a lot of water rinsing. Other people are more careful about the amount of water they use. The key thing in terms of cost is to wait until the dishwasher is full:

https://www.comparethemarket.com/energy/content/how-much-does-a-dishwasher-use/

Re the actual thread, imagine a grown woman being so thoughtless to a new colleague, that she begrudged giving her a few minutes to show her how the dishwasher worked.

Sleeepdeprived · 12/04/2023 09:09

You sound so mean :( I’ve only recently got a dishwasher and wouldn’t have known how to operate one until I got mine.

Furries · 12/04/2023 09:10

Teateaandmoretea · 12/04/2023 09:05

Workplaces other than restaurants have dishwashers. As do holiday cottages, MIL’s house, friends’ houses.

Very weird thread based on people who clearly don’t go out much.

Ah, here we go with the usual insults “… people who don’t go out much” bollocks.

Teateaandmoretea · 12/04/2023 09:13

Ah yes, because most people have been lovely on the thread right? 🤔

It’s bizarre that mumsnet which is obsessed with rudeness thinks the only place you would ever have to load a dishwasher is a restaurant.

I can think of lots of situations where I have had to interact with dishwashers outside my own house. So bizarre to me that those on this thread have got into their 40s without ever touching one.

SleepingStandingUp · 12/04/2023 09:13

I mean god forbid she doesn't have one at home and washes up by hand, she's clearly not as awesome as you OP. Perhaps you could post some PA instructions on the front and make sure everyone knows she doesn't meet your requirements of a grown woman.

Would you care if it was a man?

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