To think this was weird?

[Goneback2school]

I was out earlier for a pub dinner with DH, Ds10 and Dd8. It's a local place we have been to many times. It was pretty quiet and there were only a few other people there. While dh was paying an old man got talking to dd as she was waiting close to us. What I overheard was him saying that he would take her away and keep her locked up in his house. I called her over and we left. So would you consider that weird or a socially awkward attempt to engage her in conversation?

You are being unreasonable- socially awkward but acceptable.
You are Not being unreasonable- weird and icky

YANBU

Are you 100% sure that is what you heard OP? Did DD say anything about it to you or DH?

Weird and scary. How did he say it? Laughing or in a serious tone?

That's a really creepy thing to say.

I would be seriously considering reporting that to the police. What does your DD remember about the conversation. Can you ask the pub owners who he was?

Things like that used to be said frequently to children, I thought that it had died out. It's now completely unacceptable.

very weird and creepy

Well, obviously it’s weird and unsettling if that’s all that was said. What else has your daughter told you about the conversation? She is plenty old enough to be able to recount it to you. Was the comment you overheard the only thing he said, or was it intended to be a jokey comment (however ill judged and unfunny) based on what else he said?

If you genuinely believed there was some ill intent in what he said, wouldn’t you be calling the police?

I would ask you what relevance does the man’s age have to this story? MNers are very fond of the trope that all old men are perverts, but age is no indicator of whether or not a man is a predator. Are you letting prejudice cloud your judgment?

What?!?! Where on earth did you live??

Come on Op, you really think that's ok?? You need to find out exactly what was said, and inform the police.

I'm 100% sure that's what was said. I was only standing a few feet away. I didn't hear how he initiated the conversation- it wouldn't have been her as she is shy I was with dh and was looking at the receipt but it would have only been a few seconds. None of us acknowledged it in the pub but we all walked out and I asked if he had really said that. Dh and dd confirmed.
I mentioned his age range to add context as like a Pp I have heard older people asking kids could they take them home with them etc. The locking her up thing was taking it to an extra level I've not heard before.

Think I would report to police as a precaution. This could be someone they have an interest in. Reporting it might help prevent someone elses child harm.

Liverpool. It was said mainly by men. There always seemed to be a power trip going on. I think it started to die out in the 90's.

When I was little an old lady on a bus said she'd like to put me in her pocket and take me home with her. I was quite worried, not least because my mother seemed to think it was a nice idea.

I think that's quite sweet @Manadou - but I can see why, as a child, you'd find it unsettling.

My lovely Mum used to say "I could eat you" - but, always with affection and as a term of endearment.

Chap in pub - definitely not right and a stranger saying they'll lock someone up is not going to make you warm towards them.

Ugh, who would say that to a young girl? Totally creepy amd disgusting

Not sure why the question, of course that's horrific.

Another time my grandma took me on her lap and said 'I'm going to murder you', I think after I'd been a bit naughty, (or maybe not?) and I ran terrified to my mother wailing 'Nanny's going to murder me!' Again my mother smiled.

Come the fuck on… you know that is weird you don’t need feedback on that. Why didn’t you say something to him at the time?