AIBU or is this mad behaviour on a train?

[capermum]

So today I have a meeting the other side of the country today and I get an early train, guy in my seat when I arrive but shifts over for me (it’s a table of 4)
I’m window forward facing
he’s aisle forward facing

But THEN! The guy reaches down into a carrier bag on the floor and pulls out a large bowl which he places on top of his laptop, then reaches down again and retrieves a box of cornflakes that he tips into said massive bowl and then pulls out a big bottle of milk, pours it on the flakes and proceeds to munch away while watching iplayer though headphones like munch munch munch right in my effing ear, it’s not first class or anything so the seats are very close to each other.

I wouldn’t even sit next to my DH to eat cereal that close let alone a stranger!!!

After about 2 mins of this I interrupted his viewing and say “You have to let me out! I have to move while you eat, this is so antisocial and I can’t bear it”
“But I’m nearly finished” he says agog
“But I can’t bear to listen to another mouthful!”

So i do indeed leave while he finished and read my book further down the train where I can, in fact, still bloody hear him munch-munching away…

Then when it’s safe I return to my seat and get back to work

Oh yeah and when I’d arrived I get out my laptop and set it up to work, he reaches right across me an plugs into the socket that would have been closest to me, before I have a chance to, the passenger across from me notes this and offers me his socket with a knowing look, so is this further proof he’s a without doubt a total psycho?

I think in the end I made him as uncomfortable as he made me by calling him out, so I guess we are quits (for now)

It’s quite out of character for me to confront anyone ever, so tell me, is this totally antisocial or am I being over sensitive? and if I’m you think I’m being too soft then, please tell me what’s the worst outrageous antisocial behaviour you’ve witnessed on a train?

My colleague just told me she watched someone clipping their toenails once with those clippers that fling the nails every which way. So that’s probably worse

Hell is other people.

The last train l was on a very well spoken man started pacing erratically up and down in the carriage talking very loudly about how bad things happen in life. Then he started going on about spontaneous combustion before telling us all he had murdered his father who was a horrible man.
It was very unnerving to say the least.
Luckily at the next stop he got calmly off and just disappeared into the crowds.

This is what the British transport police exist for.

If he'd delved into his bag and pulled out a stinky KFC or McDonald's then that would be anti-social (and unreasonable).

But calling a man a psychopath for eating cornflakes and using the wrong socket? I think that makes you the unreasonable one, to be honest....

I don't take trains anywhere. But my worst experience was on a bus. When I got on it was me and the driver. It was a larger bus so could fit about 40 plus people. Had my backpack in the seat next to me as there was no need to hold it as I was the only passenger. Next person to get on sat right next to me almost on top of my bag that had my computer in it. Spent 6 stops listening to him rant about how horrible a morning he had getting drunk with a friend that called the cops on him, then jumping out the window, him pointing out he had a "bump on his head" with dried blood going down the side of his face, complaining how he lost his job with the postal service, and then him berating an airman for being the weakest of the military forces since he served in the superior branch the army. Mind you I wasn't even 20 yet and didn't know how to handle the situation I didn't want to aggravate him as I had no clue if he was armed. So once we got to the metro I made my excuse and bolted even though I normally waited till the 2nd metro stop. Which would've been an additional 15 min bus ride. Most annoying, terrifying trip I have ever been on. It even top the trip I took where I had to take shelter and got left alone with a 6 week old and it's disabled grandma when 3 tornados were circling the house we were in.

He sounds thoughtless and annoying, but honestly you sound like you were rude and condescending. Then on here to make fun of him. Not great

You flashed looks at some young girls who were laughing? Seriously? Maybe you should just stay at home and let people live normal lives…if people eating and laughing annoys you, get earplugs or headphones. The problem here is you.

I’d hate that. Also I hate people putting on make up in public.

I don't think it was worth making a song and dance about but I agree it's weird to eat cereal on a train. Too messy and what did he do with the wet, dirty bowl? Stick it in his bag? Yeah it's odd. I'll quite happily eat a sandwich on a train. No food that's slurpy or sticky though.

Well said! There’s some really strange people who frequent this site who seem to get the ‘ick’ and ‘grossed out’ over the most trivial things that seem perfectly normal to the rest of us!

He Was munching crisps out of a packet?? Seriously - what do you expect him to munch crisps out of?? Would you have preferred it if he’d put them on a plate and used cutlery to eat them with??
And what’s the issue that he was 4 seats away? Isn’t someone who sits 4 seats away from you allowed to eat now?

Some girls cackling and giggling? Oh boohoo poor you!!! FFS

Sorry but I cannot believe what I’ve just read! Ridiculous!

Some people on here really do need to get a life.
Some are pathetic, needy, entitled, stupid or morons who really should be shielded from life in case they are offended.
'Flashed looks' at some girls who were laughing, really? I doubt they noticed or really cared. If I caught someone looking at me in a funny way I'd ask them what their problem was.

To choose to move, you were not being unreasonable, to tell him off you were being unreasonable. He was having his breakfast, a lot of people used to do this on the train when I commuted.

"Well said! There’s some really strange people who frequent this site who seem to get the ‘ick’ and ‘grossed out’ over the most trivial things that seem perfectly normal to the rest of us!"

Agree. Also those who announce that they can't cope with the sound of other people eating, like it matters. Fuck off then. Sit somewhere else. Put in ear phones. The rest of us are getting on with our day.

Well I was all prepared to eat humble pie and acknowledge my behaviour as bizarre but mumsnet has spoken ! 51% voted that my behaviour was reasonable ! Wow wasn’t expecting that. Oh thank you fellow misphonia sufferers and sympathisers my stand was for all of you, and to the other 49% please hear us… we don’t want to hear you. Trains are for travel and sandwiches - (we don’t want you to go hungry ffs)

Over and out

I also imagine many, like myself haven’t even voted at all so I wouldn’t take that as fact 🤣
Oh and I will eat whatever I like on a train, if anyone tells me off because they ‘can’t bear another mouthful’ I will simply tell them to fuck off

Well, the final result after 1300 votes is a majority view that OP is not being unreasonable, so yes, it is a fact.

^I was thinking this, and then you came back for more 🤣 I would’ve wanted to move too, but damn I ain’t going back!

Like I said, I didn’t vote and probably many other people haven’t. But the general impression from people who have replied to this thread are that OP is being unreasonable. Also most people have said that the guy eating cornflakes was probably a bit odd and unreasonable which I kind of agree with to an extent. But I do NOT agree with op’s ridiculous overreaction to how she handled it. Most people would have left him alone and probably thought ‘how strange’ but wouldn’t have said anything

In fact the people who probably voted in favour of op are probably the ones like one of the pp’s who gets the ‘ick’ from a couple of girls giggling 🙄

Oh wow, I laughed when I read this this morning! What a smug response, as though the whole of society should change because a mumsnet vote went 1% in your favour 😂

And I also didn’t vote yesterday either.

I am ND and have severe sensory processing issues but I would never expect other people not to behave in certain normal ways just to suit me. The arrogance of saying people are allowed to eat sandwiches in your presence!

People are on trains for a long time or at inconvenient times. They’re allowed to eat and drink, it’s not against the train rules. You need to invest in headphones or some earplugs and climb down a rung or two - you’re part of society, not the queen of it. Jeez.

Next time I get the train I’m taking crisp sandwiches, I hope I get a seat next to you.

Also op, I do not care if you want to hear us or not, I will continue taking food on the train! So will 100s of other passengers! Most people who travel long distance eat on trains anyway so I doubt anyone is going to care if you want to hear us or not! 🤣

Where do you buy bottles of milk nowaday?

I don’t think you understand how percentages work. It doesn’t matter how many people voted or didn’t vote, OP has been voted as unreasonable. Just the facts!

And what was OP’s ridiculous overreaction, sitting somewhere else? Big whooppee.

Do what you like but next time you sit in a train with a massive bowl, carton of milk and big box of cereal, know that everyone is laughing at you.