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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be peed off that some people can be so rude.....

46 replies

MumGoneCrazy · 01/07/2009 16:52

I took DD1 (4) and DD2 (2.9) to Macdonalds today as i was craving a big mac after having had my glucose test (im 28wks pregnant today) and unusually DD2 was in a very good mood considering the heat (she's fair and a redhead so cant take the heat it makes her grumpy and tired)

On the bus stop she said Hiya to the 2 people already there and only one said hello back
she was even nice enough to pick a daisy for each of my DD's
then on the bus DD2 said hello to a woman in her late 20's and her mother who both ignored her
and i know they heard her as they were staring at her
Then in Macdonalds a little boy of about 5 was staring at DD2 so she said hello to him
he did a little giggle and hid his face in his fathers arm who then turned to look at what his son was hiding from and got a hello as well to which he gave my DD the weirdest look like she'd done something wrong

Does it really take too much effort to say hello to a toddler who is polite and smiling at you??

OP posts:
HecatesTwopenceworth · 01/07/2009 16:54

I think it's a sad sign of the times when it seems odd to some when someone they don't know says hello.

edam · 01/07/2009 16:56

Some people are stupid gits.

nickytwotimes · 01/07/2009 16:56

Some people are such miserable bastards.

Tillyscoutsmum · 01/07/2009 16:59

I feel like this as well. DD is very smiley and chatty and will say hello to anyone (and she's utterly gorgeous and very cute obviously ). It amazes me how many people completely ignore her, or worse, give me/her a dirty look like we've done something wrong

MIAonline · 01/07/2009 16:59

It takes no effort at all, some people are just miserable.

Tamarto · 01/07/2009 17:01

On the flip side of the coin some people are funny if you talk to their children, whether they have initiated it or not, sometimes you just can't win!

Ripeberry · 01/07/2009 17:03

Weird! Sorry you met all the miserable gits today

Original poster
MumGoneCrazy · 01/07/2009 17:05

I love it when people take the time to talk to my DC they then get to see how cute, bubbly and funny they are and it makes me proud to hear strangers complimenting them

Not that i expect everyone to compliment them or expect it everytime i go out

OP posts:
FenellaFudge · 01/07/2009 17:11

This infuriates me too.
DS (3.3) is the sweetest little thing on legs, utterly adorable and always says hello, coos over babies, shows random strangers his car/ teddy/ ball etc and most people love it and respond really nicely, I'm not expecting pople to go out of their way, fi it was me and I wasnt in the mood I'd just smile and turn away, thats fine but lots of people react as you describe, just staring at him like he's, I dunno, wierd I suppose.

I think a lot of people are so suspicious and insular that they even apply their wariness to little children

Its really sad but I do take comfort from the fact that although theres plenty of them about, they're very much the minority.

What really gets me is the other kids who are ike this, he'll go and say hello to another child n the park, offer them a twig or somesuch and they look at him like he's a loon.

I'm trying to stop the world from kicking that sweetness out of him too soon.

BoysAreLikeDogs · 01/07/2009 17:26

I refer you to this thread for a reason why - you would be pitchforking if the person had spoken and you weren't in the mood

Confuzzeled · 01/07/2009 17:28

My dd always says hello to people and most people will at least smile back. I think people must have been grumpy today.

I do think it's funny when my dd says hello to someone and they ignore her, only to find she starts waving and giggling at them saying hello, hello, hello....

lemoniee · 01/07/2009 17:31

YANBU , odd people

I would definitely smile and say hello and think what a nice child !

Also, if I happened to be in a bad mood for some reason,I know a hello from a little person would make me feel a bit better !

Your daughter seems utterly delightful.

Laquitar · 01/07/2009 17:41

Maybe they are mnetters and after read some threads here they are too scared to speak to dcs

But YANBU

Eve4Walle · 01/07/2009 17:44

My DS always waves and says hello to people and I am always astounded by the amount of people who ignore him, the twats! It upsets me to see my darling boy extend his charm to these nasty, ignorant people.

YANBU.

fufflebum · 01/07/2009 17:44

We have this all the time. My DD, who is 4, is always very chatty with people. Most people respond but there are always a few who do not. My DD is completely oblivious to this and even followed one lady and kept asking her the same question again and again that I think in the end she HAD to acknowledge her!

It is so frustrating when people ignore children or are rude in other ways. All too often children are criticised for their behaviour but tbh sometimes I think my kids have got better manners than many adults!!!!

FenellaFudge · 01/07/2009 17:48

Bald - are you saying that someone who ignores a child saying hello to them may be doing so for fear of being branded a paedophile?

Well then, not only are they a miserable arse but imo it is their own preoccupation with such ridiculousness, no one elses.

Just as the man-waving-from-the-bush should not necessarily have the label of paedophile projected into him, the parent of a friendly child should not have brander-of-pitchfork projected onto them.

Too much thinking.

Original poster
MumGoneCrazy · 01/07/2009 17:49

Fufflebum my dd is the same she repeated her hello 8 times to the man on the bus stop before giving up and trying it with the lady

OP posts:
Original poster
MumGoneCrazy · 01/07/2009 17:53

I wasnt in a brilliant mood today due to being heavily pregnant in this heat, being in pain with spd and being very hungary because of not eating much in last 14 hrs due to glucose test but i would never be rude to anyone or think anything of anyone because they said hello to one of my DD's

OP posts:
MummyDragon · 01/07/2009 17:53

YANBU to feel a little peed off on your DD's behalf. It's hard to resist chatting to a friendly young child and she sounds very cute!

But look at it from the other side. If a stranger said came up and said hello to your daughter, would you expect her to respond? I wouldn't. It's a mad, sad world we live in sometimes, but it's called "stranger danger" for a reason. Perhaps the adults don't want to encourage their kids to talk to strangers?

My DD is also exceptionally cute and for some unfathonable reason, when we are walking the dog she often gets old (and I mean OLD - in their 70s and 80s) men coming up to her and talking to her. They bend down and get right in her face. She absolutely hates it and usually cries and screams. I have asked more than one of them to not speak to her and to step out of her personal space as they are scaring her, and they always say that I am being paranoid/silly/words to that effect, without seeming to give a feck that they have scared my daughter witless. You just can't win!

screamingabdab · 01/07/2009 17:56

Some people are uncomfortable when a child talks to them in public (notably young women IME).

I think it's hilarious to watch them squirm however, so would never dissuade my DSs from embarrassing talking to such a person

claricebeansmum · 01/07/2009 18:02

I love it when little kids start chatting to me because my own DC are the at stage when they either ignore me or grunt to it's nice to have a proper conversation with a little person about whatever is floating through their mind!

I lived in London all my life and it has taken a while for me to adjust to country living where everyone says hello all the time when walking dog etc. Taken a while to adjust but generally like it!

dawntigga · 01/07/2009 18:08

On the other hand maybe they just don't like children. Not everyone does and why should they have to say hello?

dxx

piscesmoon · 01/07/2009 18:08

'If a stranger said came up and said hello to your daughter, would you expect her to respond? '

Yes-I think they could manage 'hello'-unless very shy.

screamingabdab · 01/07/2009 18:10

dawn Don't like children ?

Granted, I am not very keen on children who drop litter in front of me, or who stab each other, but a little kid wanting to say hello ??

piscesmoon · 01/07/2009 18:10

I think we are bound to have a big thing about stranger danger now and you will see why people don't respond! Sadly they are scared to get involved. I always respond.