Have seen this several times on here of late. It usually goes something like this:
OP: I was at the supermarket the other day and I saw a little girl (about 6) shove a bag of crisps up her jumper and the mother just laughed and put her own stuff through the checkout. I was really shocked. Am I being unreasonable to think this was wrong and training her child very badly.
Respondent 1: What are you? The Tesco police? I suppose if it had been a tub of hoummus or a box of organic crackers, that would have been okay. YABU.
Respondent 2: YABU. You know nothing about these people. Maybe the mother has had a really really hard life and is living on benefits and suffers from a medical condition. And you grudge her one lousy packet of crisps.
Respondent 3: Actually, I sometimes let my dd eat a bag of crisps. Didn't realise I had to seek approval from all the other shoppers in the store first.
OP: No, no, sorry, maybe I wasn't being clear. It wasn't the crisps I was giving out about, it was the fact that she didn't pay for them.
Respondent 4: How do you know she didn't pay for them? Did you follow her all around the shop? Did you check her receipt before she left. YABU and need to learn to mind your own business.
Respondent 5: You sound like a total snob, not wanting to shop in a store with a chavvy mum who lets her kid eat crisps.
Respondent 6: This is why I hate shopping in supermarkets, with people constantly complaining about other people's children. Maybe I should leave ds at home in future so he doesn't annoy people like you.
Respondent 7: Well, I'm really sorry if children in supermarkets annoy you. Maybe we should only shop in the dead of night so you don't have to see them. I really can't stand these childhaters.
Respondent 6: Well said, Respondent7.
OP (horrified). Whaaat? Where did I say I hate children. I love kids, I have two of my own. This is ridiculous.
Respondent 6: Would you calm down. Who accused you of hating children? We're just pointing out that you need to be a bit more tolerant when using what is, after all, a public place.
Respondent 5: You sound jealous to me. Was the little girl prettier than your dd.
Respondent 4: Actually, I've just checked and this is only your second post and you have had the nerve to actually start a new thread . Are you sure you're not a journalist?
Respondent 3: Well, I've just checked the cupboards and they are bare. I was going to go shopping but I have a dd. Maybe it would be better if we all starved though, in case you're lurking around my local Tesco with your big judgy pants on, deciding what my daughter should and shouldn't eat.
OP: (Feebly) No, no, that's not....(voice trails away).
Respondent 8: Well, I wish other kids eating crisps was all I had to worry about. Try having a MIL who calls around and retiles the bathroom and puts the house up for sale when you've just popped out to post a letter. Honestly, that woman....
OP drops to knees, bangs head off floor and starts to weep quietly.