Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Mumsnet classics

Relive the funniest, most unforgettable threads. For a daily dose of Mumsnet’s best bits, sign up for Mumsnet's daily newsletter.

to think this couple are bonkers

754 replies

SlightlyJaded · 07/10/2010 10:40

So we have got quite friendly with this couple through school. They are both professionals lawyer/banker and seem to have shedloads of money and live in a beautiful house. But I have always thought they are a bit odd - a few strange random comments and slightly bonkers opinions on things, but I don't mind strange and DD gets on well with their DD.

They invited us round to supper at their big posh house the other night and DH and I made a real effort to 'scrub up'. Paid for babysitter, dolled ourselves up and spent more on wine than we ever would at home.

We get there - all fine and lovely. Glass of wine and chit chat - slightly odd topics (sex life of Nomads in Papa New Guinea and a less interesting 15 minutes on Chinese banking but still...), then we sit down at quite a formal dinner table and hostess serves starter of.... tinned soup. We know it's tinned because it's Heniz tomato soup and there are 3 empty cans in bin... That's ok, we like soup and chat away. Hostess starts laughing uncontrollably at something. Host doesn't think this is odd but sits back and wait for her to stop. We smile and ask what's so funny but she just carries on laughing. Then she stops and carries on talking as though nothing had happened. She then makes a bit to-do and hoo-ha about serving up main course of.... macaroni cheese. Not even baked in the oven, just macaroni stirred into a cheese sauce - like I make for DCs. And that's it.

DH and I eat it and try not to catch each others eyes. Nothing is said about the choice of main course other than 'I hope you like macaroni cheese' so I start to wonder if my expectations were too high? And then we get pudding which is a scoop of Neapolitan ice cream out of the tub.

As we leave, host pinches my bottom in full view of everyone and says 'that was fun' and hostess laughs her head off and says 'pinch punch first day of the month' - even though it isn't. And that's it.

DH says they are a bit quirky and to stop going on about it but I think they are mentalists. I'm right aren't I?

OP posts:
FairyArmadillo · 13/11/2010 23:26

Grin Just read the whole thread. Best thing I've read in ages. OP, please go to their country cottage.

floweryblue · 14/11/2010 21:07

Am I the only one to think mr and mrs slightly equally bonkers for googling wine value during dinner party?

MrsBonkers · 14/11/2010 23:30

popzie i think their choice of food is the least of their worries - have a read of the whole thread if you have a spare couple of hours!

flyingzebra · 15/11/2010 10:01

I feel really uncomfortable about this thread being in MN classics. I know I'm in the minority here, but I still feel I should say it.

Although this thread evolved organically from an AIBU thread and didn't originally set out as a concerted attempt to mock two RL people in front on an internet audience of hundreds, that is what it's now become.

I'm not sure this thread should really be permanently pinned to the classics page on a site where people often come to discuss how to teach their children that it's ok to be different, and that bullying is wrong.

I accept the 'humour' in this thread went right over my head. I don't see why it's funny to google the price of a bottle of wine given as a gift, or to create situations which can be smirked about later. If someone told me they were doing this in RL, I wouldn't laugh, I'd think they were cruel.

Hey ho, anyway, bringing my contribution on this thread to the attention of MNHQ as I'd like to know their take on this.

I'm sure it will be the usual "MN is moderated in a hands off way and MNers set the tone" kind of response.

I'd be interested to know how you'd feel if you were the couple in question and read this thread though.

misdee · 15/11/2010 10:10

i think the OP is equally eccentric tbh Grin which makes it so fab.

flyingzebra · 15/11/2010 10:29

I see the OP has posted on quite a few threads about her local area too. So it's not difficult to pinpoint the location of the couple in the OP.

StrangewaysHereICome · 15/11/2010 10:35

Oh dear I do worry sometimes. What's wrong with a lighthearted look at life? At times life gets way too serious and if I were Mr and Mrs B reading this I would be laughing too Grin. A bit of eccentricity makes the world go round Wink.

MackerelOfFact · 15/11/2010 11:19

flyingzebra I think the mocking tone of this thread is affectionate rather than sneering. I think most posters are sitting here wishing they had mad friends like Mr and Mrs B who they could invite over for delightfully unsophisticated food and slightly off-the-wall chit chat. I think they sound genuinely marvellous and I applaud their unconventional sensibilities.

Theantsgomarching · 15/11/2010 15:30

I don't see this thread as being nasty at all, never even considered it.

FairyArmadillo · 15/11/2010 15:39

No, this thread wasn't meant to be nasty. In fact the OP made me wish I had friends like this couple. Eccentric people make life more interesting.

flyingzebra · 15/11/2010 15:39

No, you and hundreds of other MNers don't consider it to be nasty, that much is obvious theantsgomarching. I not out to change any of your minds.

I would like to know MNHQ's take on this - as content owners, to what extent do they consider they should protect the privacy of people who haven't consented to playing the other party in a thread like this?

To me, this isn't like every other ranting SIL, relationship whatever thread, where people come on with a real life situation on which they need advice and yes, sometimes do disclose too much.

This is a calculated set up where two non-consenting people are being put into a situation largely for the entertainment of other mumsnetters.

I guess if you're the kind of person who thinks that Beadle's About or Candid Camera are the epitomy of good humour then you would find this thread funny. But, I'm assuming when people were the butt of the joke on those shows they consented to them being shown. The people on this thread haven't been consulted - despite the fact that they are pretty identifiable from the location and the details on the thread.

InGodWeTrust · 15/11/2010 20:02

flyingzebra don't be so utterly ridiculous. Our children, being third parties, don't consent to us talking about them on here, neither do our sister/mother/father inlaws from hell.

If you hate the thread so much go and myther somebody else about it. Take it to MNHQ, and they'll probably tell you to quieten down.

WE are entitled to write about whatever we like, within the law, and having two eccentric people round for dinner, and remarking on the obstetrics is perfectly legal. Do you write to every single COLUMNIST complaining that they are mocking this weeks politician/X factor contestant/their next door neighbour's dog?

You're annoying me because i have PMT you're being petty. Now go away.

flyingzebra · 15/11/2010 20:06

I have taken it to MNHQ, and they are yet to respond.

Why should I go away? It's ok for people to come on here and say it's funny, but it's not ok for me to disagree?

Who said it was illegal? Not me.

I said I find it uncomfortable that so many people are glorying in this.

Who are you to tell me to go away? I have as much right to an opinion on this as anyone else on this thread. If you don't like it, then you go away.

Shammalamma · 15/11/2010 20:08

its an interesting take on it I think
a lot of Mn threads are discovered byt eh" victim" and tbh its not a nice situation to be in

i think she makes a good point

daftpunk · 15/11/2010 20:12

Ingodwetrust.

How rude! FZ has as much right to post on this thread as anyone - you go away - and take your PMT with you...

InGodWeTrust · 15/11/2010 20:18

I think she's ridiculous and if she doesn't want to see a clearly humorous situation being posted then she should piss off and take her high horse of the moral variety with her.

flyingzebra · 15/11/2010 20:24

I won't piss off, but thanks for the invitation InGodWeTrust.

I suggest if all you have to offer are personal attacks and PMT then perhaps you should be the one who leaves the thread.

InGodWeTrust · 15/11/2010 20:32

Great. Good for you.

flyingzebra · 15/11/2010 20:35
Confused
StrangewaysHereICome · 15/11/2010 20:37

how to make a humorous and harmless thread into a knarkey (sp?) one! I am sure Mr and Mrs B would be touched by your concern FZ - but surely it's up to them to be offended or uncomfortable should they read it...

StrangewaysHereICome · 15/11/2010 20:38

where's the [pombear] emoticon when you need it Grin!!

flyingzebra · 15/11/2010 21:40

I haven't made the thread into anything strangeways, just pointed out how I feel about it.

Can I only contribute if I think it's funny?

deviladvocate · 15/11/2010 21:53

Wow flying zebra, how sad that you can't perceive this thread to be what it is - an incredibly funny anecdote! I went to a dinner party this weekend and we had such a funny conversation about this thread - life imitating art IMO...

So anyway my fb status now reads chopsy doesn't do fungus!

flyingzebra · 15/11/2010 22:18

Thanks devil, but I'm ok with not getting the joke. Really.

natandchris10 · 15/11/2010 22:25

flying zebra have a Biscuit and a [pombear] and calm the crap down...