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

They all know it’s batshit, OP. They just can’t admit it because they’r so cool.

@TicTacNicNak I didn't know this had a name. ugh the sound of people eating can be horrendous. My first memory of it bothering me was my brother chewing his cornflakes (coincidence) really really loudly. I was about 4 I told him to be quiet, he got louder, I threw up 😳

@capermum it is weird I wouldn't call it anti social but, not on really. Surely he could have a quiet breakfast option if he wanted to make the most of his commute time. Next time I wouldn't say anything apart from excuse me, leave for a few minutes, then come back. No explanation needed.
Where I trained one of the partners was a terrible person to eat near, when he came in I would always quietly leave putting my phone to my ear or something

He was in a rush so grabbed the cereal, a bowl and milk and ran out the door... not that big of a deal, no matter how faux annoyed you are

Why would you find that offensive? There is literally nothing offensive in that post. It's almost like people see something that they can semi relate to themselves and immediately decide to find it offensive for absolutely no reason. Oh you had to walk away OP? Well I have 6 legs and find it difficult to move so I find it offensive

*queue someone with 6 legs jumping on my post

I can't believe the thread has run this long without someone making a snippy comment about how aghast and nauseated they are by his gross lack of portion control. Everyone knows a serving of cornflakes is 35g, and it sounds as if he was barely bothering to measure the amount he was tipping into his massive bowl. Ugh. No wonder the country's going to the dogs with all these gluttons cheerfully eating themselves into an early grave, etc etc.

ANYWAY he was eating cereal. No worse than a packet of doritos. The lack of resilience of a brit in a public place is unmatched

Have you ever weighed that out? It's like half a heaped teaspoon!!!!! Upsets me every time I do it

Remember in my interrailing days ltalian families having full picnics on the trains with everything including the kitchen sink on board. I was just green with envy as l was always starving and poor.

My most awkward moment on a train was the man beside me was facing timing his partner, chatting away and she was chatting back while walking around her house stark naked. It was impossible for me not to see and he was completely chilled. She was just popping around getting ready to go out or whatever but l had to spend the time head turned looking out the window.

An entire box of cereal, slurped and crunched. Not fine

I doubt he was going to plough his way through an entire box of cornflakes 🤣

That would be quite entertaining- commuters would be cheering him on once he’d finished the fourth bowl, breaking into applause and shouting Go on mate in awe.

I once had a very drunk young woman sit in the aisle seat next to me. Not only did she pass out (drunken sleep), but she stank of alcohol. At my stop, several other passengers had to help drag her out of her seat so I could get off. Give me cornflakes and milk any day!

This would have sent me into a boiling rage. Misophonia, and I have a phobia of dairy products. The sight of someone munching away on a bowl of cereal makes me feel queasy. It's my perfect storm of seethe-inducing deviant behaviours. 😡

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”

This is where it gets weird

Me too I have a “soft” keyboard and trackpad for this reason x

I wouldn’t have been able to sit next to someone eating cereal with milk either. The crunching would bother me, but it’s the soggy stuff in milk that I find truly disgusting. Seeing it half-eaten, hearing it being masticated… Also, the thought of the crumbs of cereal invading my space.

Yes, I have some issues and I find train travel a trial.

I honestly don’t see how cornflakes and milk could be that crunchy, they soften up really quickly and are positively soggy by the bottom of the bowl. What would you have done if he’d eaten something genuinely crunchy like a packet of crisps?

I’m sorry op but your post made me chuckle. It sounds like an advert for Crunchy Nut Cornflakes.
It does sound gross though.

to read between the lines this is more a self diagnosis… apologies for offending

I think this may be a you problem, would you have the same issue with someone snacking on carrot sticks or crisps?

I was once on a bus where a strange man kept asking me to stroke his puppy.

Turned out he was hiding one in his jacket.

If he was a spoon-biter I don't think I'd have been able to restrain myself.

I have a sibling who not only used to bite down on the spoon with every mouthful, but they'd rattle the bowl like they were playing a bloody steel drum as well.

Cereal truly is the most antisocial of foods. Eating it in public should be a hanging offence.

This! I'm shocked people are 'whatever' about this.

Ah that’s all I meant ! At last a kindred spirit who appreciates my stupid humour

I bet this isn't the only times he's done it, he's clearly a cereal offender.

Premium brand mate.

I saw a woman get out a little plastic cup & a small bottle of wine & pour. Then she put the wine bottle away & replaced it with a small bottle of water. I thought she must’ve needed it.

Although I still can’t believe people walk about with a coffee, or bring one on the train. Eating food definitely shouldn’t be allowed. I always want to ask if they are really that hungry or thirsty that they couldn’t wait until they get to their destination. 🐷 🐖!

Jesus how ridiculously ott!!! If it bothered you that much a polite "excuse me please" would have sufficed instead of shaming him for eating breakfast on an early morning train!!!

My boss regularly eats crunchy nut cornflakes at work.. maybe it was him on his way to a meeting! I'll have to ask him