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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Was I rude..? And what to do next?

194 replies

BassPlayerWanted · 22/06/2024 09:12

For clarity, I don't think I was but I also don't feel comfortable about the situation two days later so I'm just looking for other perspectives.

I do an activity. The 'outing hobby I'm not going to name' 😉. There are four of us - me and three men. I'm close to two of the men. The other, I regard as a bit of a dick but he really wanted to be part of it and so I relented - that was my first mistake...

He has a partner of 3 years. Their relationship can be best described as something out of a 70s sitcom. It's all a bit she 'nags' him for being a bit useless; he responds pipe down woman. That type of thing.

Anyway, other people's relationships aren't my concern (but it's relevant) , so I'll get to the point.

The four of us met up for the activity this week. He entered the room criticising his partner in a 'lighthearted' way - she'd nearly kicked him out this week but it's OK because, "now she's back on her tablets now so she's happy again." 🙄 (this is also relevant).

So he'd already irritated me by this comment. Her medication is none of our business, neither is their shitty relationship and telling us she nearly kicked him out and framing it as a 'her' issue pissed me off. I made a comment to show I thought it was inappropriate but didn't challenge further (because not my business) and he left it.

Towards the end of the evening, I tried to say, "I'm going to be full on at work for the next few weeks so I won't be available," and to propose the next steps in lieu of that. That was it. I started to speak. The first two men looked at me to listen, he started fiddling with stuff, not listening to me and not paying attention and making noise it was impossible to be heard over. Both of the other men told him I was speaking and to stop what he was doing and listen but he carried on.

Anyway (I'll get to the actual point now!), I ended up raising my voice (over the noise so not shouting/angry but probably sounded frustrated because I was) to say, "John! (Not his name), can you listen?" I'd waited for a moment of quiet and started speaking 3 or 4 times by that point.

He turned to me and said, "Ooh, shall I get you one of Sue's (not her name) happy pills? Will that help?" With a 😁😁😁

At that point, I'd had enough of him and just saw red. So I turned to him and said, "John. Just fuck off." He replied with the usual it was 'just a joke'. I said it wasn't and that Sue might be ok with him making shitty sexist comments to her but he wasn't speaking to me like that. I packed away my stuff and walked out the room and went home. I can't remember the last time I felt that angry!

The thing is, I actually think I did do the right thing in standing up for myself but I don't think i've ever told anyone to fuck off in my life! And I just feel a bit weird/awkward about it... probably because he's likely even more convinced I need one of Sue's happy pills now! 🙄

I'm just not really sure what to do next.I didn't raise my voice and what I've recounted here is as accurate as it can be without cctv footage to refer to 👍🏻

YABU - you were rude. You should have laughed along - it was just a joke

YANBU - He's lucky that's all you said and he's twat. Get rid.

OP posts:
DrFoxtrot · 22/06/2024 09:14

YANBU definitely not!

cardibach · 22/06/2024 09:14

I think you were quite restrained…

Hankunamatata · 22/06/2024 09:15

He is the type of guy who will only listen when you speak harshly to him. You did the right thing

custardlover · 22/06/2024 09:15

YA absolutely NBU.

I bet the others were also delighted. John sounds like a tedious dickhead.

andtheendwasgone · 22/06/2024 09:15

Naaa you did the right thing

Don't give it another thought. Trust me he isn't. If anything he probably finds you telling him to fuck off quite funny

CelesteCunningham · 22/06/2024 09:15

custardlover · 22/06/2024 09:15

YA absolutely NBU.

I bet the others were also delighted. John sounds like a tedious dickhead.

Yes this.

Singleandproud · 22/06/2024 09:16

I would just tell the others he isn't welcome anymore and make arrangements without him. Those comments wouldn't be allowed in the workplace they shouldn't be in your downtime either.

When you left he probably made a comment about you "being on the rag".

BlueMum16 · 22/06/2024 09:17

Well done.
YANBU. He's a dick.

BassPlayerWanted · 22/06/2024 09:17

andtheendwasgone · 22/06/2024 09:15

Naaa you did the right thing

Don't give it another thought. Trust me he isn't. If anything he probably finds you telling him to fuck off quite funny

Tbh, I think he was probably

A) surprised I stood up to him

and

B) concerned his services will no longer be required

He might be right about that last point.

OP posts:
HereWeGoRoundAgain · 22/06/2024 09:17

Kick him out of the group and arrange the activity without him. He's a twat.

TheMixedGirl · 22/06/2024 09:18

He's a twat. Get rid. The other guys can do the hobby with him if they want. Find another group if that's the case. It may take time but I'm sure you're capable enough to do it

avocadotofu · 22/06/2024 09:18

You absolutely did the right thing. He sounds awful!!

BassPlayerWanted · 22/06/2024 09:20

Singleandproud · 22/06/2024 09:16

I would just tell the others he isn't welcome anymore and make arrangements without him. Those comments wouldn't be allowed in the workplace they shouldn't be in your downtime either.

When you left he probably made a comment about you "being on the rag".

That's what I thought.

One of the other men is a really close friend of mine and it's him I'm spoken to. The first thing I said was, "You'd better not have apologised or made excuses for me!"

He said he hadnt and that nothing had been said. It was all very quiet. He'd explained what I was trying to say so the information had still been shared and John was very apologetic and kept saying he hadn't meant anything by it.

There was no blokey bonding piss taking. I also know the other man wouldn't have done that.

It's just John who's a bit of a dick!

And your first para is a very good point. Whilst it is only a hobby at this stage, it's very, very new and has the potential to be more. We're in the training period for paid work at the moment.

OP posts:
Lostworlds · 22/06/2024 09:21

He sounds terrible and sounds like he totally deserved it!

I wouldn’t think anymore of it, he’s not a nice person.

BassPlayerWanted · 22/06/2024 09:23

TheMixedGirl · 22/06/2024 09:18

He's a twat. Get rid. The other guys can do the hobby with him if they want. Find another group if that's the case. It may take time but I'm sure you're capable enough to do it

The other guys would stay with me.

That's not in any doubt.

OP posts:
MangoJojo · 22/06/2024 09:24

God, I can’t fucking stand John. And there are so many Jonhs. He probably will tell everyone you clearly do need the happy pills or maybe it was your time of the month. You can’t change his shitty personality but I would not apologise to him. Next time you see him I would just act totally as normal. If he brings it up then you get an opportunity to humble him.

Brefugee · 22/06/2024 09:24

BassPlayerWanted · 22/06/2024 09:20

That's what I thought.

One of the other men is a really close friend of mine and it's him I'm spoken to. The first thing I said was, "You'd better not have apologised or made excuses for me!"

He said he hadnt and that nothing had been said. It was all very quiet. He'd explained what I was trying to say so the information had still been shared and John was very apologetic and kept saying he hadn't meant anything by it.

There was no blokey bonding piss taking. I also know the other man wouldn't have done that.

It's just John who's a bit of a dick!

And your first para is a very good point. Whilst it is only a hobby at this stage, it's very, very new and has the potential to be more. We're in the training period for paid work at the moment.

Edited

Brilliant, OP. Perfect reaction.

Your friend should have made it clear to John that he owes you an apology. In your shows I'd be chatting to the other two making it clear that next time it happens they get to choose who stays in the group between you and John

Katrinawaves · 22/06/2024 09:24

Maybe the activity is relevant because your description of what happened makes you sound really bossy and domineering! Who cares if he wasn’t listening and fiddling with his stuff when you were telling the others you weren’t going to be available the following week. You sound like you behaved like a teacher chastising a child!

His comment about his wife was disrespectful to her but the way you have described behaving before he made it was rude yes. And your reaction to his comment was disproportionate. Unless the other two men in your group also dislike “John” I think you have unnecessarily created a situation and an atmosphere here and you may have blown up the entire group. You might need to prepare yourself for the possibility that the other 3 move on without you (bringing a fourth in if the activity needs 4) rather than that you move on with them sans John.

Screamingabdabz · 22/06/2024 09:26

John is a cunt and should’ve been told to get in his box long before now. Shame it’s always left to a pissed off woman to do it. Never the blokes eh?

Poor Sue. No wonder she’s on medication.

BassPlayerWanted · 22/06/2024 09:27

MangoJojo · 22/06/2024 09:24

God, I can’t fucking stand John. And there are so many Jonhs. He probably will tell everyone you clearly do need the happy pills or maybe it was your time of the month. You can’t change his shitty personality but I would not apologise to him. Next time you see him I would just act totally as normal. If he brings it up then you get an opportunity to humble him.

Oh I had no intention of apologising to him.

I feel I ought to apologise to the other man who will have felt uncomfortable. Not for telling John to fuck off but that it cut the night short? I don't know.

OP posts:
Screamingabdabz · 22/06/2024 09:29

I think leave it. You said it. It’s done. Own it and move on.

PuppyMonkey · 22/06/2024 09:31

As always, I can’t concentrate because I need to know what the hobby is. And am imagining John dressed up as a Viking.

burnoutbabe · 22/06/2024 09:31

Do you need John to get the paid work or can he be easily replaced? (I am assuming sone sort of musical act)

If he is unique and you need him then carry on. If you can do it less well as a 3 but it's doable then drop him.

LemonCitron · 22/06/2024 09:31

Well done OP! I don't know you but I am proud of you 👏

Gazelda · 22/06/2024 09:33

Screamingabdabz · 22/06/2024 09:29

I think leave it. You said it. It’s done. Own it and move on.

I agree.

John's had his chance. He now has the opportunity to apologise to you. Whether he does or not says a lot about him.

I'd be tempted to move on with the assumption that things are 'as usual' with him dropping the misogynistic attitude. The first time it rears its head, I'd walk and not look back.