To think that postbox toppers are an aberration and those who produce them should be shot at dawn (I should say 'light hearted' here but it goes against the grain)

[IrateAndUnhinged]

That really.

Postbox toppers. Those crocheted monstrosities decorating every postbox within a 500 metres of GAILS bakery.

Why?

My AIBU is am I unreasonable for thinking they add no value to life and represent a huge drain on resources that could be better put to work creating reusable string bags.

@jays is it working? But actually I was asking if I was unreasonable to dislike them and then I got a lot of people saying 'I like them' which doesn't really answer the question.

And yes there's no shame in Mumsnetting when you are bored @ShanghaiDiva

But it does affect me as I pass multiple versions as I walk through the streets in my locale.

Ah! I understand! No, there is zero shame in hating them and on an off day I probably hate them too and don’t even realise, I’m fickle, contrary and at the mercy of my hormones right now! Hate on my friend!

I love a good post box topper, even saw a bus stop topper for the coronation last year in Havorfordwest.

However was first time Gails this morning and a women was allowing her toddlers play with a big balls in the middle of the floor, where the staff where trying to bring trays of coffees out. Is this typical Gail's parenting!

Someone did a topper in my town when King Charles took over. Why would any sane person do this? I mean, not only are you wasting yarn, it doesn't look good after it rains.

<nods sagely>

There is a GAILs in Windsor so I dare say there's a crocheted topper somewhere nearby as well.

Do you own shares in Gail’s, op?

The only positive I can think of is, its better than what some arsehat has been doing here. They decided to try and be Banksy to commemorate various things by creating a stencil and spraying over it on walls. There's one celebrating the Queen, one for Nelson who went to a local school, one for remembrance day and one directly opposite my front door for a peasants revolt. Every single one has a tag from some enterprising dick added since. At least a topper can be removed easily.

WotNoUserName · Today 12:12

Are you jealous OP? As well as irate and unhinged?

I don't pick any vibes up which would indicate the OP is jealous???? Odd? The old MN chestnut: you express dislike for something/someone = you must be jealous.

I hate these things - I'm not jealous. I think the point is, when things are randomly placed in public spaces without any kind of consultation or agreement they will cause a reaction, and that's OK. Surely OP's point is that it's an imposition on everyone by a very small minority and if you don't like that sort of thing it IS mightily irritating. It's really not about jealousy.

I for example hate cartoony images, Disney included. I would hate it if these were scattered all over the shop so that I couldn't avoid seeing them in my everyday life. Jealousy wouldn't enter into it - red mist and rage might, though!

Bain Capital who own them are a private company so as far as I understand it's not possible to invest.

However I'd have to sell a few shares to afford their cinnamon buns so I'm going to stick at complaining about the hinterland that their presence has nurtured.

I like them.

Don’t be such a miserable git 😜.

And I give you: 💩 on a caramel coulis

We don’t get them where I live but saw one yesterday driving through Hampshire and thought it was a voodoo doll at first. I can’t imagine getting worked up about these.

I’ll swap you our fly tippers for your postbox toppers.

How is it a waste of yarn? What do you think yarn is made for?

That doesn't "affect" you, anymore than walking past an untended garden or a house with curtains you wouldn't choose yourself affects you.
Do you get irate and unhinged when one of your neighbours paints their front door a colour you disapprove of because you can see it when you pass by? you probably do

There’s a serious gap in understanding here.

If someone says ‘I like ‘em and they bring everyone joy’ - that’s a clear understanding that these toppers affect them in a significant and positive way.

Alternatively, someone saying ‘I don’t like ‘em and lots of people hate them too,’ shows the toppers affect them in a significant and negative way.

It’s daft if you can’t even acknowledge that they could affect anyone negatively.

Insisting to someone who doesn’t like them that it doesn’t affect them doesn’t make it true.

Similarly ‘do something nice’ is doing a lot of heavy lifting here. They think they’re doing something nice. It’s not the same thing!

I’m not miserable or jealous, they’re being imposed on our communal spaces and I don’t like the fact of that or the objects themselves.

It’s daft if you can’t even acknowledge that they could affect anyone negatively
I don't think not liking something "affects you negatively" in the true sense of the word. Does it affect your well-being, passing something in the street you wouldn't choose to look at?
Your head must explode at the outrage of a misplaced wheelie bin or an abandoned Lime bike.

I think they're a bit like buskers, who would be top of my Room 101 list. Even if they're good, I want to have the choice to hear them, not be forced to just because I'm out in public.

UGH.

Wow, op. That 💩 topper is quite something. This may be a silly question but what is it supposed to be? Surely not actually 💩? I will concede that it is a particularly ugly topper with no aesthetic merit.

Bee hive?

You are not being unreasonable. They are hideous. I would consider them a form of vandalism and can't understand why they would make anyone smile.

Wow! I would never have guessed that. I wondered if they were flies on the 💩!!!

If someone says ‘I like ‘em and they bring everyone joy’ - that’s a clear understanding that these toppers affect them in a significant and positive way.

Alternatively, someone saying ‘I don’t like ‘em and lots of people hate them too,’ shows the toppers affect them in a significant and negative way.

I think 'affect them in a significant way' is seriously over-egging it in both the positive and negative cases tbh. I'd just look at one and think 'that's nice!'. If toppers are affecting you in a significant and negative way, that seems like a concerningly strong emotional reaction to a woolly decoration.

People have strong reactions to lots of things: LTN's, Anthea Turner and mosquito bites spring to mind but there is myriad stuff that winds humans up.

Are you suggesting that the postbox toppers should come with a little tear off slip that signposts you to the BBC Actionline?

You're the only one claiming to be significantly negatively impacted by spotting one of these as you mosey down the street.
Do you think you need therapy? You're the only one to suggest that too, fwiw.
Interesting.