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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Feel absolutely awful after encounter on train

458 replies

SoberOctober2025 · 14/10/2025 14:45

I feel awful, and I don’t know if I was or was not being unreasonable. I’ve had to travel by train today. I got on the first train and it was unallocated seating. Sat at an empty table with 2 seats either side. Plugged my phone in, took my coat off, got comfy.

Right before we were due to depart a large lady came huffing down the aisle. I only say this as I heard her the moment she entered the carriage. She stopped at my table and decided to sit opposite me. I smiled and went back to my phone. She was incredibly overweight to the point she had to really push herself in between the table and the seats and took up both empty seats across from me. She was sweating profusely, really out of breath and huffing and puffing, took out an inhaler and was gulping water. She was breathing really heavily on me and dribbling water on the table.

Not the most comfortable situation but whatever, fine. Then I started to get a smell. Can’t describe it really, BO but so much worse. I took out and ate an orange, spritzed some perfume on my collar hoping that would cover the smell. Didn’t work and after 15mins I decided I had to move. I got up and started getting my coat and bag and she said ‘Where are you going?’. I said ‘sorry?’, kinda shocked that I was being asked, and she repeated. I said I just realised I was in the wrong seat. She said that’s bullshit, there’s no seats, I’m a terrible liar and I obviously have an issue with fat people. I said I would feel more comfortable sitting elsewhere and she called me a body shaming bitch as I was walking away. Everyone heard and it was quite embarrassing.

Was I unreasonable here? Could I have dealt with this better? I feel bad that I made her feel bad, but she was also really rude to me.

OP posts:
EleanorReally · 14/10/2025 15:44

had there been an announcement that she missed and thought that is why you were moving?

MrsNadjaCravensworth · 14/10/2025 15:44

It sounds to me like she was waiting to be offended about something, and it just happened to be about you moving seats. She probably enjoyed her little outburst.

BreadstickBurglar · 14/10/2025 15:44

YANBU I’ve moved for similar reasons before, and also because of people making very loud phone calls or playing loud phone games etc. It’s a train you’ve not made a lifelong commitment to that seat. Move whenever you like.

SoberOctober2025 · 14/10/2025 15:45

Rightsraptor · 14/10/2025 15:42

My sympathies to you, OP, I regularly move seats on buses to try to get away from stinky people. I also hold hankies over my nose. If they think it's because of them, they're right.

I'm stunned that she had the effrontery to behave as she did & she was completely in the wrong. I expect her stink wafted around and reached the noses of your fellow travellers so they will have realised why you moved and admired your pre-emptive action.

Two great things I’ve taken from this post: 1) carry a hanky and 2) the word effrontery!

OP posts:
Redpeach · 14/10/2025 15:45

SoberOctober2025 · 14/10/2025 15:39

Well I’m glad it works for you. But I prefer to be comfortable at a table in order to get some proper work done.

I get 'proper' work done on a train, but maybe your work is more important and needs more space

EleanorReally · 14/10/2025 15:45

i find it hard believe, and if she was that fat why should she even want to squeeze herself into a space with a table?

sweetpickle2 · 14/10/2025 15:46

SoberOctober2025 · 14/10/2025 15:43

What? I was feeling terribly that someone thought I was being horrible and prejudiced against them when it wasn’t my intention.

I don’t feel terribly for anything I wrote on this thread. It’s factually correct.

What point are you trying to make exactly?

That you clearly do feel some kind of prejudice against fat people, even if you're not aware of it. People who do not notice other people's weight do not say things like "a large lady came huffing down the aisle. I only say this as I heard her the moment she entered the carriage."

Yes the woman was rude to you but you said you felt bad because you made her feel you were bodyshaming, I am saying perhaps there is some unconscious truth in that.

However if you're not interested in having that conversation and just came here tto whinge then fair enough, but lay off the cries of guilt.

tara66 · 14/10/2025 15:46

You could have said -
''I need to be facing Mecca / the Pole Star / due South (whatever) and this seat isn't right for me''
and dashed quickly away in her confusion.

SoberOctober2025 · 14/10/2025 15:46

Owly11 · 14/10/2025 15:41

I find 'what?' can be a useful catch all question when you are caught off guard by someone. If they have insulted you they have to repeat the insult, if they are about to pile a load of their shit on you like this woman it reminds them that you are a person minding your own business and don't have to answer their question. It also gives you time to think. If she repeated the question you can then follow up with 'is there a problem?' It puts the responsibility back on her and makes it difficult for her to dump her shit on you without it being blindingly obvious that she is the aggressive one.

This is really good advice, thank you. I’ll try and remember to simply say ‘what?’ when I’m caught off guard and give time to gather myself.

OP posts:
UnctuousUnicorns · 14/10/2025 15:47

SoberOctober2025 · 14/10/2025 15:45

Two great things I’ve taken from this post: 1) carry a hanky and 2) the word effrontery!

My nan used to carry a small pack of lemon scented wet wipes in her handbag, this would have worked well, I'd have thought.

BerryTwister · 14/10/2025 15:48

Productiveam · 14/10/2025 15:00

45 mins until the next stop???!!! What line is this?!

@Productiveam I'm guessing you haven't done much train travel, except in one area. I live in the midlands and when I go to London the train goes straight there and doesn't stop for an hour.

QuickPeachPoet · 14/10/2025 15:48

Don't feel bad OP. She is bat shit as well as fat and smelly.

Chairity · 14/10/2025 15:49

This is perhaps a good time to ask if anyone remembers the pomander thread ...

ChillBarrog · 14/10/2025 15:49

sweetpickle2 · 14/10/2025 15:46

That you clearly do feel some kind of prejudice against fat people, even if you're not aware of it. People who do not notice other people's weight do not say things like "a large lady came huffing down the aisle. I only say this as I heard her the moment she entered the carriage."

Yes the woman was rude to you but you said you felt bad because you made her feel you were bodyshaming, I am saying perhaps there is some unconscious truth in that.

However if you're not interested in having that conversation and just came here tto whinge then fair enough, but lay off the cries of guilt.

How do you not notice someone's weight when they're massive?

Redpeach · 14/10/2025 15:50

Rightsraptor · 14/10/2025 15:42

My sympathies to you, OP, I regularly move seats on buses to try to get away from stinky people. I also hold hankies over my nose. If they think it's because of them, they're right.

I'm stunned that she had the effrontery to behave as she did & she was completely in the wrong. I expect her stink wafted around and reached the noses of your fellow travellers so they will have realised why you moved and admired your pre-emptive action.

Hankies?

MrsNadjaCravensworth · 14/10/2025 15:50

I once moved carriages to get away from a table of 2 couples bitching about teachers and schools. No-one seemed to notice or care though...

Kattley · 14/10/2025 15:50

ChillBarrog · 14/10/2025 15:49

How do you not notice someone's weight when they're massive?

Noticing is fine. Writing about them in such a dehumanising way isn’t,

sweetpickle2 · 14/10/2025 15:51

ChillBarrog · 14/10/2025 15:49

How do you not notice someone's weight when they're massive?

Obviously I see it, I have eyes. But it doesn't register with me any more than "that man has red shoes on" and "her hair is in a plait". I certainly don't use it to illustrate a story several times over.

SoberOctober2025 · 14/10/2025 15:52

Redpeach · 14/10/2025 15:45

I get 'proper' work done on a train, but maybe your work is more important and needs more space

Honestly, with all the things people have taken issue with here, I can’t believe you’re so bemused that I would take a seat at an empty table to get some work done 😂 And shock, I’m now on train number 3 and have also taken a seat at an empty table. How rude and selfish of me not to consider a hypothetical group who may or may not arrive and want to use a table 🤣

OP posts:
SoberOctober2025 · 14/10/2025 15:53

EleanorReally · 14/10/2025 15:45

i find it hard believe, and if she was that fat why should she even want to squeeze herself into a space with a table?

I genuinely have no idea, it did not look comfortable in the slightest and can’t have helped her breathing issues being squished in like that.

OP posts:
Lobas · 14/10/2025 15:55

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Rumpledandcrumpled · 14/10/2025 15:55

Goodness, i think you hit a sore spot op in regards weight. Can’t beleive how much you’re being attacked.

i cn see why you feel awful, i would too, just embarassed really, and you did nothing wrong. I think id have said something like i need to take a call in private and moved carriages.

as for the odd posts on the seats, I also will sit at a table of four to work, and like you often people sit in the other seats..

BerryTwister · 14/10/2025 15:55

sweetpickle2 · 14/10/2025 15:32

She was very rude, but I don't think she's totally off the mark saying you have an issue with fat people. I lost track of the references to her size or consequences thereof in your post. You could have told the entire story including her BO without mentioning her size once, it would have been the same story.

@sweetpickle2 but the woman accused OP of having an issue with fat people and body-shaming her. If OP hadn't mentioned that the woman was overweight, that part of the post wouldn't have made any sense. The woman's size is the main point of the story. OP moved because of the woman's smell, but was accused of moving because of the woman's size.

Needtosoundoffandbreathe · 14/10/2025 15:56

Productiveam · 14/10/2025 15:00

45 mins until the next stop???!!! What line is this?!

The West Coast mainline for starters on some routes. If you don't believe the OP then report, don't post disingenuously.

QueenieBeeSmith · 14/10/2025 15:57

I would have waited till we emwere near a station and then got up and left.