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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU or is this mad behaviour on a train?

304 replies

capermum · 05/12/2023 20:38

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

OP posts:
ilovesooty · 05/12/2023 21:07

It's a bit strange but total psycho?

Really?

Original poster
capermum · 05/12/2023 21:08

Thanks, Good to know I did wonder

OP posts:
Original poster
capermum · 05/12/2023 21:09

ilovesooty · 05/12/2023 21:07

It's a bit strange but total psycho?

Really?

Irony darling

OP posts:
HappyMavis · 05/12/2023 21:09

Blimey OP, reads like a mediocre short story - what an experience!!

SmileyClare · 05/12/2023 21:09

Fellow passengers are quite annoying on public transport - they make noise, have conversations, children cry and tantrum, people snore, eat food. I’m fairly tolerant and resigned to ignoring it.
Eating breakfast is fairly acceptable in my view.

I definitely wouldn’t have stood up and declared “I can’t bear it!” over someone eating cereal. It takes about 5 minutes.
Unnecessary drama.

Take ear phones next time you travel!

Catza · 05/12/2023 21:09

The weird bit is where you felt compelled to give him a lecture. A simple “excuse me” while changing a seat would have sufficed

pictoosh · 05/12/2023 21:11

SmileyClare · 05/12/2023 21:09

Fellow passengers are quite annoying on public transport - they make noise, have conversations, children cry and tantrum, people snore, eat food. I’m fairly tolerant and resigned to ignoring it.
Eating breakfast is fairly acceptable in my view.

I definitely wouldn’t have stood up and declared “I can’t bear it!” over someone eating cereal. It takes about 5 minutes.
Unnecessary drama.

Take ear phones next time you travel!

Yep. I wouldn't refuse to sit next to someone eating cornflakes...how daft are you? And you went back! What a performance.

Original poster
capermum · 05/12/2023 21:11

SmileyClare · 05/12/2023 21:09

Fellow passengers are quite annoying on public transport - they make noise, have conversations, children cry and tantrum, people snore, eat food. I’m fairly tolerant and resigned to ignoring it.
Eating breakfast is fairly acceptable in my view.

I definitely wouldn’t have stood up and declared “I can’t bear it!” over someone eating cereal. It takes about 5 minutes.
Unnecessary drama.

Take ear phones next time you travel!

would you put a bowl of cereal on your lap top though? And mouth open crunching … just sayin

OP posts:
BitOutOfPractice · 05/12/2023 21:11

So you were worried he might spill something. But he didn’t. His bowl was a bit big. YABU. Do you not travel on public transport very much?

ActDottie · 05/12/2023 21:12

It’s pretty common knowledge that certain people can’t stand others eating. I can’t be in the same room as my husband when he eats cereal (cereal is the worst cuz it’s crunchy and slurpy!!)

I had someone sit next to me on an empty train once and proceed to open up his takeaway dinner. Not even a table seat. I immediately said “excuse me can I get out please” and made it really obvious when I sat in an empty two seats a few rows in front. It was so strange.

Londonrach1 · 05/12/2023 21:12

Tbh you sound more strange than him.

Bridgertonned · 05/12/2023 21:13

I'm more confused about the logistics of carting around a bowl and big box of cornflakes for the day. I can understand getting a breakfast from a shop where the packaging is easier to manage on a train.

Worst one I encountered was someone doing their nails (as in varnishing them) on a train. Hadn't realised how strongly nail varnish and remover smelled in an enclosed space, but it was bad enough the conductor told her she had to put the items away otherwise she'd be made to leave at the next stop. Make up doesn't bother me but that was awful!

ilovesooty · 05/12/2023 21:15

capermum · 05/12/2023 21:09

Irony darling

Show quote history

I'm not sure you know what it means.

Original poster
capermum · 05/12/2023 21:15

Londonrach1 · 05/12/2023 21:12

Tbh you sound more strange than him.

😎

OP posts:
User1775 · 05/12/2023 21:15

I once sat next to man who got out a banana and ate it, fine, then an apple and ate it, fine, then a peach. I told him it was a "dangerously soft fruit for public consumption" and he laughed a bit then went to take a bite so I left. The slurping, jesus, have some dignity.

CaramelMac · 05/12/2023 21:15

I was once sat on a train opposite a man who had a porn mag open inside his newspaper.

Mrsphilmiller · 05/12/2023 21:17

But… the crunch only lasts a minute, after that the cornflakes go soggy. So how was he crunching away for so long?? I wanna know

Original poster
capermum · 05/12/2023 21:17

ilovesooty · 05/12/2023 21:15

I'm not sure you know what it means.

Show quote history

an ironic overstatement makes something insignificant sound like a bigger deal than it is to highlight how minor it is. Statements like these are figurative language and are the opposite of their literal meaning.

OP posts:
TortolaParadise · 05/12/2023 21:18

IveOnlyEverHeardOutwithONHere · 05/12/2023 20:56

I’d probably find that more amusing than annoying, although I spend a lot of time on public transport having things crunched in my earhole. Sitting next to somebody eating a cheese and onion sandwich was pretty grim. I’ve inhaled many a stinky meal, been subjected to many a cruncher, lip smacker, open mouth chewer and pig at a trough eater, plus your usual perfume sprayers, shoe and sock removers and general stinky pbastards. Just today I told a bloke on the train not to stand next to me because he stank, and my God did he stink.

Oh no! What is wrong with perfume sprayers? Is this a no no. Intrigued 😏

MarilynBoo · 05/12/2023 21:19

I'm with you OP, that's bizarre behaviour! 😱

ilovesooty · 05/12/2023 21:19

capermum · 05/12/2023 21:17

an ironic overstatement makes something insignificant sound like a bigger deal than it is to highlight how minor it is. Statements like these are figurative language and are the opposite of their literal meaning.

Show quote history

So it was pretty minor then? Not worth creating a drama about?

Cyclebabble · 05/12/2023 21:19

I had a particularly long commute for a while and I used to eat cornflakes on the train every day. I did not think it was anti-social TBH.

Desecratedcoconut · 05/12/2023 21:20

Well perfume is a big asthma trigger.

keye · 05/12/2023 21:20

You have to let me out! I have to move while you eat, this is so antisocial and I can’t bear it”

Could you not have just said 'excuse me'?

YouveGotAFastCar · 05/12/2023 21:21

I watched someone file their feet on the way to London once. Just got on, shoes and socks off, and went at it with a metal file. There was a gross pile of foot dust in front of them and it was horrific.

Other people are just odd. I’ve just been forced to spend an hour and a half next to a woman who was getting increasingly drunk on cans of gin and tonic, talking to a man who didn’t want to talk to her, and asking other passengers questions, like why one woman couldn’t stand, and why a Hindu lady had “a spot” on her head. Then she started eating prawns. It still smells of them.

I’d take laptop man over that 😆 I don’t think it’s uncommon to eat cereal on trains, I see a lot of people do it on early morning trains. And a lot of people with procecco and small bottles on afternoon ones!

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