AIBU to have given an old lady a piece of my mind?

[JoesMummy09]

I was travelling on the bus today to meet up with some other mummies.

There were 3 buggies already on the bus when I spotted a lady with a pram trying to get on (I realised later it was actually a friend of mine - I'm a bit short-sighted!). The driver told her it was full so she thanked him and joined the back of the queue to wait for the next one.

The horrible old cow old lady sitting in front of me loudly said "I don't know why they can't just walk".

Well, I was not having that! Her comment was down right rude, thoughtless and unneccessary. So I gave her a piece of my mind!

I should add that when I got on the bus carrying DS in a sling and carrying 2 bags she hadn't moved her bag so I could sit down, despite it being a seat for "those less able to stand". (Perhaps I am being unreasonable there and her bag needed the seat more than woman carrying 3mo child and shopping??!)

I don't normally do this kind of thing but I just lost it. AIBU? Would you do the same?

I was once in a shop with DS1 in a pram. It was a cookware/homeware shop with displays with pans,glasses, crockery etc. After I was served and leaving the shop assistant said quite clearly "I hate it when they come in here with their prams." !!! I so regret not doubling back and saying "I'm sorry, did you actually just say what I think you said?"

expat OK, that's a bit emotional. But they don't get a brilliant deal when it comes to equal rights, and general attitudes towards ageing and older people are quite bad.

I am not a nasty person and don't like to discriminate against any groups of people but have to honestly say the most rudeness I have experienced on public transport has been perpetrated by women of 60 plus.

Roobie - She was addressing the bus, so I thought she awas fair game. I mentioned the bag as didn't want to drip feed. I think it's a bit anti social but there's always the chance it was just thoughtlessness. Her comment however, was deliberate.

I don't know if it matters that she is old - think I would've said something if younger too.

awas?? was

there are rude people everywhere.

And tbh I find peopel with buggies equally objectionable as they seem to have a sense of entitlement.

Ok, didn't want to do the old bashing so perhaps I'll adopt Junglist's term "rudes"

If a rude (whether old, young, pushing a buggy, whatever) makes a loud offensive comment about someone else, what is the best retort you've used/wished you'd said?

JoesMummy I am RUBBISH at retorts, so I will be watching with interest .....

What always springs to my mind is (said in a Joyce Grenfell voice) "If you haven't got anything nice to say, don't say anything at all"

That would really work in London

wen ds2 was 18months old he was having a tantrum on the bus ,and one old lady said to me if that was my dc in my day id of smacked they legs ,so i said oh yes smack him on the bus ,dont think so and mind your own ,also we had a new pram once and dh was having trouble taking it of the bus ,as it was not folded down right and said in a loud voice ,get the bloody pram down we want to get off ,i cant say what my dh said ,also you get rude people everywhere ,in supermarkets etc ,

Oh come on, old people can be dreadfully rude And I like them!

Serendip Yes, but they have earned the right to be rude .

Personally, having spent so much time trying to be nice, and fair and reasonable, I'm going to bloody well let rip when I am in my 80s

Exactly screamingabdab I can't wait. I kind of love their rudeness in a way, it makes me laugh that they really don't. give. a. fuck.

Bring it on

"How many of these nasty old crones charming old dears have bought theirs?"
Have some respect, when she was young maybe she walked ffing miles with her kids. Also after years of work maybe she had deserved having a free bus pass certainly after 60 odd she would have the right to free travel.

no expat, they are an oppressed majority.

ElenorRigby I will give respect to those who deserve it. She hasn't shown it so IMO she does not deserve my respect. That said I wasn't rude to her, just pulled her up on her nasty comment.

Respect is earnt, not a right. Although I do think until you have evidence to the contrary you should be respectful to people.

Yes she is travelling for free. That does not entitle her to be rude/take up two seats. Incidentally my (paid for) ticket does not either.

Lupusina yes, I believe that is true

Here is a link to the Help the Aged website

www.helptheaged.org.uk/en-gb/Campaigns/

For anyone who is interested in Older People and their wellbeing.

Aah, now I've read screamingabdad and SerendipitousHarlot's comments it has just occured to me that perhaps old dear was baiting me and I fell into her trap!

I may have inadvertantly made her day

Have some respect, when she was young maybe she walked ffing miles with her kids. Also after years of work maybe she had deserved having a free bus pass certainly after 60 odd she would have the right to free travel.

Does that give anyone the right to be rude to some one for using a public service which they have paid for? I don't think so!

I was stood waiting for a friend in town 2 days ago, I have a buggy (the fold up, umberella type) and DS was stood next to me, leaning agianst the wall. It was quiet, being a tuesday afternoon, in a large, pedestrian area, with about 5 feet between me an the bus lane. No one else walking past. An elderly lady with a shopping trolley walked passed and said,

"You got enough room, girl?"

Seriously, there was room for 3 old bags and their shopping trolleys to walk past at once without rubbing shoulders!

I said "I'm sorry, what did you say?" but (shocking) I got no reply!

WHY! Really, why?

Message withdrawn

Why do italics never work for me on this site.

I used to ask when people but their bag on a seat, 'Is your bag tired?'. I now very rarely travel on the buss as rather cycle to avoid those annoying people

VinoEsmeralda. That's a good one.

It's true JoesMummy! It's Baiting of the Frazzled Mother, a well known technique