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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

What does Lots of ducks to feed mean here???

267 replies

cluelessbingo · 04/09/2023 21:44

I met a guy on online dating. He asked where I lived. I told him my whereabouts. He then responded saying 'lots of ducks to feed there.'
Does anyone knows what he means by this?

OP posts:
cluelessbingo · 05/09/2023 14:55

To address some things other PPs have raised yesterday:

  • No, he's not Marcus Rashford.
  • He appears English to me.
  • We already agreed to grab a coffee. It's very unlikely he'll just switch to suggesting we feed ducks. Are these activities congruent at all, coffee and ducks.
I can see how if a coffee date went well, we might lurk around a pond and bask in our new found love, but these things rarely happen in real life and we still won't feed ducks because I already established we're pro-environment and care about animals.
OP posts:
ThatSunCreamSmell · 05/09/2023 15:11

I would very much doubt he was suggesting you should go and feed ducks. I'm unclear what he meant but I don't think it's that.

WhatapityWapiti · 05/09/2023 15:14

How is feeding ducks anti-environment and harmful to them? I mentioned this already- many London parks sell bags of water bird food to ensure that the ducks are only eating nutritionally- balanced food. All other food is clearly banned.

Nobody is chucking in half a Hovis loaf any more!

ThatSunCreamSmell · 05/09/2023 15:29

WhatapityWapiti · 05/09/2023 15:14

How is feeding ducks anti-environment and harmful to them? I mentioned this already- many London parks sell bags of water bird food to ensure that the ducks are only eating nutritionally- balanced food. All other food is clearly banned.

Nobody is chucking in half a Hovis loaf any more!

Or knocking it out with an entire loaf and having to be bailed out by Hugh Grant when you get caught.

gannett · 05/09/2023 15:48

cluelessbingo · 05/09/2023 14:55

To address some things other PPs have raised yesterday:

  • No, he's not Marcus Rashford.
  • He appears English to me.
  • We already agreed to grab a coffee. It's very unlikely he'll just switch to suggesting we feed ducks. Are these activities congruent at all, coffee and ducks.
I can see how if a coffee date went well, we might lurk around a pond and bask in our new found love, but these things rarely happen in real life and we still won't feed ducks because I already established we're pro-environment and care about animals.

Yes? Takeaway coffee and a stroll round St James's Park seems entirely normal.

Not everyone knows or even agrees that you shouldn't feed ducks. Every time I'm at a pond with ducks in, people are feeding them.

FatherJackHackettsUnderpantsHamper · 05/09/2023 17:06

There is surelynow a parallel thread on dadsnet saying 'I sent a cute message to a possible date implying we could go and feed the ducks and she's replied asking me ducks or tossers... What could this possibly mean!!??'

"She's probably chatting about it with all of her mates on MN - those women are sex-obsessed on there; even have to make something as ordinary as walking around the pond in the park about sex!!!"

DatingDinosaur · 05/09/2023 17:56

I have a neurodivergent friend who comes out with strange stuff like this (his ducks comment). I’m forever asking him to explain what he means! (Usually me saying “eh? What you on about?”) It usually makes perfect sense once he’s explained.

I hope he replies with an explanation that makes sense OP. Just because he’s speaking in riddles doesn’t mean you’re at fault for not understanding.

MetalFences · 05/09/2023 18:10

ThatSunCreamSmell · 05/09/2023 15:11

I would very much doubt he was suggesting you should go and feed ducks. I'm unclear what he meant but I don't think it's that.

This blows my mind.

He says 'plenty of ducks to feed there' and you very much doubt he is referring to feeding ducks...but you can't think what he could have meant. But you are confident it's not feeding ducks. Even though he said feeding ducks...🤯

ThatSunCreamSmell · 05/09/2023 18:24

It's Westminster... there aren't plenty of ducks to feed 🤷🏼‍♀️

midlifecrash · 05/09/2023 18:51

There are 20 species of waterfowl in St James Park alone

RausageSoul · 05/09/2023 19:06

This reminds me of a guy I went out with in my early twenties who used a term 'case of the serious alligator' I never asked wtf he was going on about and regret it to this day. The context was never the same either!

SisterMichaelsHabit · 05/09/2023 19:14

GarlicGrace · 04/09/2023 23:20

The way he said it??

M: Whereabouts do you live?
OP: Westminster
M: Lots of ducks to feed there.

I see, this is dripping with sexual innuendo 😏 He's probably a rapist, they're always messaging women about ... feeding ducks. 😂

@cluelessbingo, I would have answered something like "There are ducks & swans in the parks, but I don't pay much attention."

And maybe "What did you mean?"

I mean if you can't be bothered to read my two previous posts including the one I literally quoted in the post you quoted, that makes it clear that the first urban dictionary meaning posted by someone else isn't what he was getting at and that the one I linked made actual sense in this context along with the fact I'd seen it somewhere else earlier last night, then feel free to walk into situations blindly. 🤷‍♀️ Not my problem what you do in your dating life.

OP on the other hand has taken it on board and since she's the one with the situation that's really all I care about.

SisterMichaelsHabit · 05/09/2023 19:16

ThatSunCreamSmell · 05/09/2023 18:24

It's Westminster... there aren't plenty of ducks to feed 🤷🏼‍♀️

Exactly.

huggyhoo · 05/09/2023 19:28

I honestly would think it was a poor attempt at a joke, especially with the ! at the end.

Looking forward to hearing his response!

jallopeno · 05/09/2023 19:30

Is your username on the app something to do with ducks? Do you have a photo in which you are feeding ducks - does he?

cluelessbingo · 05/09/2023 20:21

Attention!!! I have an update (haha)

He responded to me a few hours ago, but I've been caught up in work. Here's what he said:

There are lots of ducks and squirrels there! And tourists now.

And then a few hours later, he sent another text (perhaps because he was worried I hadn't replied?):

In a middle of a bout of Covid so please excuse the random comments about ducks!
Making conversation is a challenge at the moment 😬

I have just replied (thanks to all PPs who chipped in lines):

I’m literal and do not always get idioms. Hence why I was checking.
Nice pondy parks and small creatures my way. We could go for a walk around sometime? :)
Poor you! I’m sorry you’re going through it. How’re you feeling?

It sounds like he knew or may have gone to find out that feeding ducks is a sexual innuendo.
What do you think? Former or latter?
Dear NT people, what is your assessment?

OP posts:
QuillBill · 05/09/2023 21:21

It sounds like he knew or may have gone to find out that feeding ducks is a sexual innuendo.

I don't think it sounds like that at all.

He's just saying that (he thinks) there are lots of ducks, squirrels and tourists where you live.

HoliHormonalTigerLillyTheSecond · 05/09/2023 22:02

I don't think he knows op.
How old is he?

HoliHormonalTigerLillyTheSecond · 05/09/2023 22:05

ThatSunCreamSmell · 05/09/2023 18:24

It's Westminster... there aren't plenty of ducks to feed 🤷🏼‍♀️

It's Westminster! There's a great big enormous RIVER there... full of DUCKS dude! 🙈🦆🦆🦆🦆🦆🦆

huggyhoo · 05/09/2023 22:20

I think he sounds okay. He's clarified without getting weird or defensive.

hev126 · 05/09/2023 22:24

I think he sounds genuine. I would give the benefit of the doubt and see how it goes.

It's also good that you've explained you don't always get idioms etc, great to be open and communicate about that.

Also the fact he has covid might he explain why he's asked you out for coffee but not made firm plans

TicTacNicNak · 05/09/2023 22:28

Nothing useful to add but made me smile when I saw the reference to ducks and then I noticed the comment count was 222.

What does Lots of ducks to feed mean here???
LordLetMeGlow · 05/09/2023 23:23

Great message OP!

You have to let us know how this goes

PrincessFiorimonde · 05/09/2023 23:44

Please try not to over-think this, OP. I think his messages sound fine. Just because some people might see a sexual innuendo in the expression 'lots of ducks to feed' does not mean that he knows that!
I'm NT, and I would take his messages at face value - i.e. he likes the idea of meeting up for a coffee, and wonders if maybe the two of you could have a stroll around a pondy park afterwards (or perhaps with coffee in hand). He might not have expressed this clearly, or sent a long message, because, as he says, he has Covid and Making conversation is a challenge at the moment.
I also think it's good that you told him you are literal and do not always 'get' idioms. That's you being upfront from the word go.
I hope you manage to meet up and have a nice coffee date (with or without any accompanying ducks, pigeons, squirrels, tourists or indeed wanker MPs).
Best wishes OP Flowers

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