Strange situation on the train with parent

[Chips098]

It's not a massive deal, just slightly odd from the (presumed) parent. I was sitting opposite a boy who looked around 12 and a middle aged man.
The boy was eating sweets with his mouth wide open, I know some children don't always eat with their mouths closed, especially toddlers, but the noise it was making was so loud and it was like he was opening his mouth for the dentist every time.
It wasn't nice manners really, I know it's not my child or my business. I probably looked at him a second longer than I should've done, I didn't have any earphones to put in and train was packed out.

The father must've seen this because he asked the kid for a sweet, then proceeded to eat it in the exact same mouth wide open manner, staring at me. I understand i shouldn't have looked at the kid but the Dad knew what he was doing, and I found it a bit intimidating. Does this sound odd or was i in the wrong?

I think you're confusing me with other posters in regard DSs jaw misalignment, but there we are, we can't expect everyone who uses a public forum to read properly.

Would you have liked my son, and other children/adults with additional needs/medical conditions to always wear a sign round their neck informing you of their disabilities? Would that be better for you so you know who to judge and who not to judge?

You seem to place such a high importance on strangers sharing their personal information with each other to placate perceived rudeness, so maybe that's the solution that you'd prefer in order to avoid confrontation.

Alternatively, it's none of your business why my DS couldn't chew with a closed mouth and the prolonged judgemental stare would have provoked me to address it in some way. As it's draining to have to deal with judgemental pearl clutchers every flipping day.

You can usually tell the difference when someone is chewing obnoxiously and when someone can't help it though. It's normally quite obvious isn't it? You can tell by watching someone if their struggling to eat or struggle with their mouth/jaw and you can tell when someone's doing it on purpose too

Exaggerated chewing, definitely.

You wouldn't have known DS had a problem. He didn't struggle to manipulate his jaws. He just couldn't close them.

From how I read the OP, I don't think they could distinguish either, although I may be wrong in reading that from the post.

Uuuuurgh that made me want to run just reading it.

I'd have yeeted them both out the nearest window.

The chav apple doesn't fall far from the chav tree.

my DH is a noisy eater and it drives me round the bend.

I dont tihnk he knows he is anti social n this regard and I dont tihnk he knows he is doin it. I try to tell him.

Surely you have more important things in life to concern yourself with. Honestly FFS!

Why? She was right to show her disgust. Poor boy, no idea how to behave.

They sound like neanderthals. At the end of the day don't let it bother you. You probably won't see them again.

Dragged up.

You are a very patient and understanding person OP!

You weren’t unreasonable at all. Of course you can look at a kid if they’re doing something anti social.

The dad is an utter dickhead. As others have said this is a micro aggression- a man trying to intimidate a woman because he can.

My DS sometimes chews with his mouth a bit open because he needs a brace for quite a big overbite but doesn’t have all his adult teeth yet so has to wait.

I would definitely be telling him to chew with his mouth close in this scenario not trying to intimidate you! I would have told him long before you needed to give him a look. He can close his mouth it’s just more difficult iyswim

I would have started picking my nose while he stared at me with his noisy open mouth.

Says everything you need to know about them.

who is to say the OP isn’t ND and cannot abide the sound of people chewing with their mouths open? I’ve seen half a dozen threads about that!

why does the dad get to judge and intimidate the OP ?

Congratulations on getting in early with your 'misandry' bullshit.

Nope, no adult gets applauded for acting like a dick.

I've been trying to do this for fifty years...any tips? 🙂

And yet, as I mentioned in my earlier comment, my autistic, 23 year old DC has always eaten this way, despite daily reminders that other people find it unacceptable.
It's not a one size fits all and you of all people should be aware of this.

Maybe try get him to not eat on the train then?

I don't recall reading or commenting on your comment? The dads reaction shows it was an obnoxious thing and not SEN

Well he got that right. Would've been an ideal chance to correct his behaviour

Now we know why boy had no manners . Some people are ridiculous

I agree the dad's reaction was totally unnecessary.
I commented a while back saying exactly that. I also mentioned my own DC's eating habits.
This comment was in response to @HowBizxarre stating that she's Autistic and knows to eat with her mouth closed so therefore Autism isn't a reason for the kid to be eating with their mouth open.
And that's just not true. Autistic people vary just as significantly in their habits and behaviours as Neurotypical people.

It’s possible that the child had additional needs and the father didn’t like you staring so was making a point? I agree though, bit strange.

Unfortunately his is the Great Britain we live in.

Full of idiots. It's a wonder he didn't get his phone out and post it on Facebook.
I feel sorry for his son.

And you were right to post this on GN.
Well Done!