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Relationships

Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

Did I handle this passive-aggressive FB comment well?

127 replies

Molotov · 13/04/2015 14:01

After we had been together for about 2y, DH used to work with a woman who he became very good friends with (they worked together for about 6y). I didn't really like how close they became: together all day, every day at work; team meetings/team lunches/boozy outings, etc, where they'd joke around - lots of banter, chatty emails to eachother, that kind of thing. I used to get so sick of hearing her name all the time.

My DH is a friendly bloke who is oblivious to other women finding him attractive. I honestly think this woman had a bit of a thing for him and would have taken things further had I not been on the scene (who knows, maybe DH would have dated her if he hadn't been with me).

After they stopped working together (several years ago now), they stayed in touch via email but their closeness seemed increasingly inappropriate to me and after a few months of it, I asked him to cut contact with her: which he begrudgingly did. It caused some tension between us as I think he thought I was being paranoid and petty.

About 18m later, she joined FB and rather than her creating more tension between us, I relented and 'allowed' (can't think of a better word, sorry) them to be FB friends. I also became her FB friend but this was really just to keep my eye on things.

After our dd was born I tried really hard to be friends with her and went on a couple of outings with her and her toddler. But I just don't really like her. I find that there's something I don't trust about her, which wasn't helped by her saying things like 'Oh! I can't believe Mr. Molotov never told you about that!'

She's been alright most of the time in the 2y since. An ever present member of our FB lives: constant 'likes' and comments from her, which have been harmless enough and I think DH is happy just having her as a FB friend. The intense friendship seems to have subsided.

Except the other week she wrote a passive-aggressive comment about my appearance in a photo. She compared my appearance to a fairly unattractive celebrity. I showed DH the comment and he didn't think she meant to be offensive. I said 'OH, COME ON!' and his response was that I shouldn't put photos like that particular one of myself on FB Hmm We didn't talk anymore about it.

Her comment and his reaction really pissed me off (I was silently seething all weekend) and made me remember everything that I dislike and distrust about her. I find her to be a pest. She's not my real, actual friend IRL so I've restricted what she can see on my FB account. I could delete her as a friend altogether, but this way I can still keep my eye on things.

I dunno. I trust my DH but their past friendship - and that I feel like I'm always the one who is made out to be unreasonable - makes me feel weird. I'd love her to just disappear from our contact altogether.

What do you think? Is my most recent reaction unreasonable? How could I react positively if the subject arises again?

OP posts:
shovetheholly · 13/04/2015 15:48

I'm sorry, OP - but it is very hard not to take your DH's position that you are being a bit paranoid and petty when you take something that is so obviously a compliment and twist it to mean something negative. I'm not attacking you, and I don't mean this in a horrible way. I have tendencies that way too, so I know how hard it is to keep yourself in check and not turn into the crazy jealous lady! However, I do think it's really, really important to maintain a division between 'fears' and 'things that are actually inappropriate' - and you haven't really given any evidence here of the latter.

It doesn't sound to me like your DH is untrustworthy. He pulled the plug on a friendship that you thought was inappropriate simply because it made you unhappy, in spite of him saying that you had nothing to fear. He has only had contact with this woman with your approval. That's actually pretty great of him. It sounds sensible to make her part of both of your online and offline lives, so that you feel more secure, and Facebook is a good way of doing that. Unless there is something you are not telling us, it sounds like you are looking for excuses to exclude her for good, for no real reason.

MadeMan · 13/04/2015 15:49

"I thought you were going to say Peter Beardsley or something."

Hahaha. Grin

MadeMan · 13/04/2015 15:50

Kate Bush has always looked good in my opinion and still looks good now; not at all unattractive in my eyes. Smile

RabbitIssue · 13/04/2015 15:52

Can see where op is coming from, if she'd straightened her hair then being compared to Kate bush isn't a compliment, the 'yet' gives it away 'oh you've straightened your hair it's still frizzy though you look like Kate bush'

shovetheholly · 13/04/2015 15:55

Or you could read it as 'You've straightened your hair! Looks fab - you are still so pretty though, you look like Kate Bush'

MadeMan · 13/04/2015 15:59

"Back in the day most men had the hots for Kate Bush."

loveareadingthanks · 13/04/2015 16:05

Try being compared to Mo Mowlem, like I was a couple of months ago.

tumbletumble · 13/04/2015 16:07

OP, my DH once had a similar friend at work - I trust him and I'm sure nothing happened between them, but I'm also sure it would have done if it had been up to only her (and probably would have done if DH had been single at the time). I was very glad when she moved jobs and they lost contact. I'm not a jealous person usually - I've never felt like this about anyone before, even though I've been with DH for 18 years and he has lots of female friends. I'd be really pissed off if they were still friends on FB and she was constantly commenting on stuff.

JohnFarleysRuskin · 13/04/2015 16:11

Kate Bush is so universally acknowledged to be beautiful/sexy etc, frizzy hair or not, I don't quite get how you could be offended!

And yet, its horrible to have this sort of thingy/undercurrent going on in your life, so yes, I would hide your news from her.

Preminstreltension · 13/04/2015 16:12

Kate Bush provided an education, shall we say, for many young men back in the day.

Try being compared to Deborah Meaden - I've had that from two male acquaintances. She is an ordinary looking celebrity if you want to put it that way. She's also a decade older than me. Hmm

BerylStreep · 13/04/2015 16:21

I can see it from the OP's point of view. It is the fact that this person feels they are in a position to make comments about the OP's appearance. The fact the Kate Bush is actually v pretty is irrelevant.

I've seen first hand the sweetness & light tactic that some predatory women adopt.

We tell people to listen to our guts, yet when someone does, they are accused of being petty and paranoid.

Nayville · 13/04/2015 16:23

Very true beryl

StupidBloodyKindle · 13/04/2015 16:25

ahh I like Deborah Meaden, great on Strictly,hasn't she got a toyboy?
OP it sounds like you were threatened by a potential emotional affair/one sided crush.
The correct facebook response was: Kate Bush? Wow. Thank you.
Or wow wow wow wow wow wow unbelievable.Grin
Yes she may have been catty with the yet you...inferring she finds Kate too unkempt... but really? Kate Bush unattractive? KATE BUSH?!! Heresy.
Kate Bush is the one woman I have a serious crush on. She is legend. Just beautiful.

MadeMan · 13/04/2015 16:28

"Try being compared to Deborah Meaden"

Actually I've thought she's quite attractive whenever I've watched Dragon's Den.

Preminstreltension · 13/04/2015 16:32

Actually I've thought she's quite attractive whenever I've watched Dragon's Den

Really? Ok, feel better now!

I still would have preferred almost any other vaguely blonde celeb in her 40s

awaits list of unattractive blonde celebs in their 40s

StupidBloodyKindle · 13/04/2015 16:35

Ooh! I'll play!
You look like Amanda Redman.

StupidBloodyKindle · 13/04/2015 16:37

Omg! She's 57! Grin She is amazing for 57. sorry minstrel Blush

StupidBloodyKindle · 13/04/2015 16:40

Glynis Barber is 59!
Samantha Womack 42?
Sarah Hadland 44?
Who would play you in a film of your life preminstrel?

Momagain1 · 13/04/2015 16:41

I think 'Oh! I can't believe Mr. Molotov never told you about that!' could also be taken for her not realising Mr. M had to/has to censor himself re: discussing her with you as all these feelings about crushes and potential affairs are all in your head, and not at all in hers, and only in his because you keep banging on about it.

It could also mean that you were too busy being jealous and sick of hearing her name all the time to actually listen to what he was saying. i suppose hide in plain sight is a tactic for covering up an affair, but generally, if there is anything to hide about a relationship, people don't discuss it constantly, they hide it.

ChristmasName · 13/04/2015 16:43

How about your DH posting 'Yes, Molotov is gorgeous isn't she'

winkywinkola · 13/04/2015 16:49

Kate Bush is hot. Lucky you and your lucky dh.

However, perhaps their previous friendship was too intense and that's why you're prickly towards her.

I would just ignore her.

Why don't you trust your dh? Has he ever given concrete reason to not trust him?

Stealthpolarbear · 13/04/2015 16:50

all this game playing and 'keeping an eye' must be exhausting
decide if you trust your oh or not then get on with it
you're not at school (else the other girl wouldn't have heard of kb :o)

DadOnIce · 13/04/2015 16:53

I was thinking you were going to say Paul Daniels or Kathy Burke! Being compared to Kate Bush is not an insult!

Spell99 · 13/04/2015 16:57

Id be wary of showing your DH unfavourable comparisons between you and her. She is being deliberately (and obviously) nice and you seemingly twisting everything, being negative, paranoid, controlling etc. Just a thought.

Neverknowingly · 13/04/2015 16:57

I'm sorry - I'd take it as an insult.

Kate Bush can carry off Kate Bush hair because she is Kate Bush.

For most normal people being told that their hair makes them look like Kate Bush would not be a compliment. It would be being told that their hair is a frizzy, well, bush.

The thing is OP lots of people on here see you as being unreasonable and your DH saw you as being unreasonable. People like this can be pretty clever at getting under your skin and making you appear unreasonable. You do need some different tactics to deal with her. I would also meet passive aggressive comments with sweet obliviousness and just ignore her as much as possible. You brought her to your DH's attention this time by not just ignoring her comment, allowed her to create tension between the two of you and succeeded in looking quite unreasonable. Massive own goal.