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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Ear stroking on tube - is it odd?

109 replies

Limpi · 02/02/2025 00:35

Travelling on the tube this evening and noticed a that a woman was stroking the ear of man sitting next to her. She was long away from him and her hand was vigorously stroking massaging the ear furthest away from her. This wasn’t gentle stroking but quite vigorous massaging. Both were impassive.
it found it quite unnerving ! No one else seemed to notice and neither of the passengers were making eye contact.
just seemed a bit weird or is it me?

OP posts:
GentianCoffee · 02/02/2025 11:19

They did it so that someone would start a Mumsnet thread about it.

KnickerFolder · 02/02/2025 11:23

Maybe she was giving him an accupressure massage because he had a headache, felt sick, something ached etc

NowThatYouSayIt · 02/02/2025 11:25

GentianCoffee · 02/02/2025 11:19

They did it so that someone would start a Mumsnet thread about it.

Though in terms of ‘weird things I have seen on the tube’, it doesn’t rate with the oddest, or anywhere near?

BringOnFebBankHoliday · 02/02/2025 11:34

spacepies · 02/02/2025 10:03

Did it hurt you.
Did it upset you.
Are you outraged.
Obviously not let people be.

Did the OP posting on MN hurt you? Upset you? Outrage you? Obviously not, let OP be.

Without threads on MN about random things we'd all be... a lot less entertained or maybe a lot more productive (me anyway 😆).

DeepFatFried · 02/02/2025 11:39

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 02/02/2025 11:18

I've seen just that same sort of behavoir in distracted Pirates.

Show quote history

Tell us more…

thehorsesareallidiots · 02/02/2025 11:43

All part of the rich tapestry of London life, innit. I would have enjoyed the show.

Definitely better than the worst thing (so far) which has happened to me on the tube. I'm a shortie and a guy on the Central line sneezed full force into my hair.

raralalala · 02/02/2025 11:44

I'm too busy trying not to make eye contact with people on the tube to notice something like
this! 🤣

ArtTheClown · 02/02/2025 11:45

Were they a pair of Ferengi?

Globalwalker · 02/02/2025 11:47

Fetish? Whatever rocks your boat and all that..

poemsandwine · 02/02/2025 11:52

I miss London.

NowThatYouSayIt · 02/02/2025 12:00

poemsandwine · 02/02/2025 11:52

I miss London.

Oh, me too. And not just world-class art and shops two feet from your flat where you can buy a mango, baklava and drain unblocker at 3 am, but just the quietly odd things on the tube, like someone sitting with a giant a Buddha statue on their lap, both apparently reading the Metro, or a blow-up doll apparently travelling alone on the Circle line.

Original poster
Limpi · 02/02/2025 12:01

thehorsesareallidiots · 02/02/2025 11:43

All part of the rich tapestry of London life, innit. I would have enjoyed the show.

Definitely better than the worst thing (so far) which has happened to me on the tube. I'm a shortie and a guy on the Central line sneezed full force into my hair.

Certainly made Sunday morning more entertaining reading these post!

OP posts:
Original poster
Limpi · 02/02/2025 12:01

KnickerFolder · 02/02/2025 11:23

Maybe she was giving him an accupressure massage because he had a headache, felt sick, something ached etc

🤔

OP posts:
KimberleyClark · 02/02/2025 12:02

ArtTheClown · 02/02/2025 11:45

Were they a pair of Ferengi?

I don’t think the man would have been sitting there impassively if they had been!

Original poster
Limpi · 02/02/2025 12:03

ArtTheClown · 02/02/2025 11:45

Were they a pair of Ferengi?

Not a pair

OP posts:
BleedingMeDry · 02/02/2025 12:05

One word: Oo-mox

MidnightPatrol · 02/02/2025 12:05

I once spent a very uncomfortable journey watching while the women opposite teased her partners beard with her fingers.

Truly revolting.

Original poster
Limpi · 02/02/2025 12:05

thehorsesareallidiots · 02/02/2025 11:43

All part of the rich tapestry of London life, innit. I would have enjoyed the show.

Definitely better than the worst thing (so far) which has happened to me on the tube. I'm a shortie and a guy on the Central line sneezed full force into my hair.

🤮

OP posts:
Motnight · 02/02/2025 12:08

SmugglersHaunt · 02/02/2025 00:39

It’s just it sounds a bit Piccadilly Line to me

Definitely not Victoria Line.

Lurkingandlearning · 02/02/2025 12:30

“he doesn’t like the sound of tube womens vigour,”. Thank you so much for that @Purrrrrfectpaws 😂😂

coralsky · 02/02/2025 12:38

I'm pretty sure I play with or stroke my partners ear at times. Never realised it looked so odd but thanks for the heads up!

LetMeGoogleThat · 02/02/2025 12:40

I've seen much worse than a bit of ear stroking on the tube.

Ohwhatfuckeryitistoride · 02/02/2025 12:40

“like someone sitting with a giant a Buddha on their lap” that may have been my sister.
When you say she was sitting far away, what are we talking? A foot? The next seat? Another carriage?

notprincehamlet · 02/02/2025 12:57

The Peccadillo line
Can we all just take a moment to marvel at the sheer beauty of this 😂
I'd have guessed Bakerloo - if it were a person it would wear a brown suit, work in accounts and have a freezer full of hitchhikers

thehorsesareallidiots · 02/02/2025 13:01

notprincehamlet · 02/02/2025 12:57

The Peccadillo line
Can we all just take a moment to marvel at the sheer beauty of this 😂
I'd have guessed Bakerloo - if it were a person it would wear a brown suit, work in accounts and have a freezer full of hitchhikers

It would also have a strangely shaggy haircut that would be a mullet if it weren't also hanging in its eyes.

The Central line, OTOH, wears a finance bro gilet at all times.