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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Is this rude if you were a guest?

317 replies

Britishsummertime22 · 07/03/2025 23:36

If you were a guest in someone's house and they went up to bed without saying goodnight or telling you they were going to bed/not coming back downstairs would you think that was rude?

OP posts:
butterpuffed · 08/03/2025 08:32

Maybe they kept dropping hints as it was late and OP didn't realise so they gave up and went to bed .

Lovesacake · 08/03/2025 08:34

I’ve had this happen op, friend invited me to stay for a night - seemed v enthusiastic. She showed me to my room and said wait here while I have a quick wash, I waited ages, like 1.5 hours and in the end was so thirsty I went downstairs to get a glass of water. Found her down there watching tele! Felt quite awkward but said mind if I join you, we watched together for a bit then she disappeared and after a long time I realised she’d gone to bed. I was so baffled and uncomfortable so decided to head off straight after breakfast. In the morning I went downstairs to find she’d finished her breakfast, she said oh I’ll just pop upstairs and was gone an hour! After which I said right I’ll be off now and she seem absolutely stunned and disappointed that I was leaving!
it was all so odd. She’s since been diagnosed with adhd, don’t know if that has anything to do with it but it was the most peculiar visit.

DarkMagicStars · 08/03/2025 08:36

It’s so annoying when people go digging around previous posts trying to go trip others up.

ilovesooty · 08/03/2025 08:36

dutchyoriginal · 08/03/2025 08:17

You were not being unreasonable, and the troll hunting was ridiculous.

It was. The more persistent posters need to read the talk guidelines.

EdithBond · 08/03/2025 08:39

Catza · 08/03/2025 07:49

It really depends. I am friends with a couple and it's a very close friendship. I stay with them a lot. We don't have any ceremonies around each other. Most of the time someone will just peel off at some point in the evening without making a fuss about it. Sometimes there is more formal "right, I'm off to bed". But it's very fluid and I can't say I've ever questioned if it's rude or not. It's just a thing. It's what they do when they don't have any guests either, I'm sure. There is a saying in my language which roughly translates as "don't bring your scripture to someone else's temple".

It's what they do when they don't have any guests either, I'm sure.

Of course, but they do have a guest, who was left feeling very uncomfortable and wondering if they’d caused offence. Maybe they fart like troopers when they don’t have a guest, but presumably they amend their behaviour when they do have one.

IMHO it’s not formal to say ‘I need to go to bed, help yourself to anything you need, goodnight, sleep well’. It’s basic communication, which helps to put other people at ease, as they know what’s going on. Me and my adult/teen kids say goodnight to each other and we live together.

Handyweatherstation · 08/03/2025 08:40

Nothing like the OP's experience but it jogged a memory. Years ago me and my then bf were invited for dinner by a couple we knew quite well. We were all in the living room when the woman went out to the kitchen to check the dinner and he followed shortly afterwards. We sat for a while waiting for them to come back but they never did and the house was completely silent. After a good long while we quietly went home and made ourselves cheese on toast. I was so hungry by then that I was trembling and cut myself trying to slice the cheese. We eventually found out that they'd had an argument in the kitchen, but it was all incredibly awkward.

WhatFreshHellisThese · 08/03/2025 08:42

It's rude and weird in my opinion

RedHelenB · 08/03/2025 08:45

I'd have just gone to bed too and then said in the morning I didn't realise they'd gone up to bed.

RaininSummer · 08/03/2025 08:45

It's bloody weird and rude. Just say that you're tired and it's time for your bed. Job done. Leaving your guest there wondering what's going on and if you are coming back is thoughtless. I would have to say something in the morning such as I didn't know for a while if you were going to return.

snowmichael · 08/03/2025 08:48

Britishsummertime22 · 07/03/2025 23:36

If you were a guest in someone's house and they went up to bed without saying goodnight or telling you they were going to bed/not coming back downstairs would you think that was rude?

A hint you'd outstayed your welcome maybe?

LemonyFace · 08/03/2025 08:49

snowmichael · 08/03/2025 08:48

A hint you'd outstayed your welcome maybe?

On night one of a 3-night stay? Doubt it.

ladymammalade · 08/03/2025 08:51

Who are these people? Friends/family? It's weird whoever they are but just wondering if it's normal in their house to just up and go!

rainbowstardrops · 08/03/2025 08:53

Very rude of them! As others have asked, how well do you know them/what's your relationship with them?
I'd have to say something. Just a jokey, 'I didn't realise you'd gone up to bed last night. Hope I was being a bore!' See what they say.
Also, were you all sitting chatting, or watching TV or something?

Catza · 08/03/2025 08:54

alwaysdeleteyourcookies · 08/03/2025 08:24

How is saying goodnight being formal?

The definition of formal is "in accordance with convention or etiquette". How is saying good night not formal?
Also note me using "more formal" which indicates a sliding scale between not formal at all (going off without saying anything) and doing a ceremonial "good night" dance in black tie. "I'm off to bed" would sit somewhere right of saying nothing at all which would make it more formal.

FriendlyEeyore · 08/03/2025 08:59

Have some people got nothing better to do than go trawling through a poster's history looking for a gotcha moment.

MN attracts the sort.

alwaysdeleteyourcookies · 08/03/2025 09:03

I would probably find somewhere else to stay. I'd feel uncomfortable and unwelcome and certainly not want to stay for several nights.

TheseCalmSeas · 08/03/2025 09:04

I reckon they’re going through something or arguing. Bizarre one would disappear then later followed by the other.

I’d be heading home & avoid awkwardness

MumonabikeE5 · 08/03/2025 09:06

I’d suspect that I had missed their multiple subtle indicators that the evening had come to an end and that they were withdrawing.

so I would be embrassed that I had caused my host awkwardness

repellingmnvipers · 08/03/2025 09:07

Vaxtable · 07/03/2025 23:58

It’s really rude. I would be going to bed now, then getting up early and going home. Leave a note saying you do t know what you did, but as they were so rude as to disappear like they did you are assuming they don’t want you to stay

then stop having any contact

You would fit sine one out for not saying good night? You wouldn't want to discuss and see what they say first?

alwaysdeleteyourcookies · 08/03/2025 09:07

Catza · 08/03/2025 08:54

The definition of formal is "in accordance with convention or etiquette". How is saying good night not formal?
Also note me using "more formal" which indicates a sliding scale between not formal at all (going off without saying anything) and doing a ceremonial "good night" dance in black tie. "I'm off to bed" would sit somewhere right of saying nothing at all which would make it more formal.

Alright. But they didn't say anything at all by the sounds of it. Just disappeared. That's rude.

NotbloodyGivingupYet · 08/03/2025 09:08

Newfoundzestforlife · 08/03/2025 06:53

Aren't jokes meant to be funny?

I laughed..

Diningtableornot · 08/03/2025 09:09

Britishsummertime22 · 07/03/2025 23:51

I'm just wondering whether I should say something tomorrow

I think you should say you weren’t sure they were going to bed and ask if anything was wrong. Keep it light. There may be an innocent explanation. Eg one went up to the loo, found a worrying message on their phone, the other one came up and they started discussing it and forget they hadn’t said godnight.

repellingmnvipers · 08/03/2025 09:10

SnoopyPajamas · 08/03/2025 00:21

I'd probably just laugh it off with them in the morning. "I didn't realise you'd gone to bed! I hope I wasn't keeping you up. What time do you usually turn in?"

If there were any hints you missed that's an easy way to set expectations for the next two nights

I would approach this situation the same way. Suggestions from PP to go NC are extreme!

repellingmnvipers · 08/03/2025 09:14

Halloumiheaven · 08/03/2025 00:35

To be honest this is the sort of thing my DH would do (undiagnosed Asperger's)

My sister in law possibly would too (doesn't seem to love socialising)

But I think it's rude yes. Very rude actually.

How does your DH know it's specifically Asperger's and not just ASD? Just curious how you distinguished as I am undiagnosed and suspect some form of ND but I couldn't pin point without diagnosis?

BunnyLake · 08/03/2025 09:14

MumonabikeE5 · 08/03/2025 09:06

I’d suspect that I had missed their multiple subtle indicators that the evening had come to an end and that they were withdrawing.

so I would be embrassed that I had caused my host awkwardness

But she’s an overnight guest isn’t she? Why do you need subtle indicators for that? You just say, well it’s been a lovely evening but I’m going to bed now, i’ll see you in the morning? Or words to that effect.

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