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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

Should I speak to my friend before visiting after her remark?

40 replies

FrancesLiz · Today 12:16

Hope it's OK to ask this here even though it's not a parenting issue. Long post warning.
I have an old friend I was planning on visiting soon when me and my husband will be visiting my home town. My husband has told me he is happy for me to see her but will not join me on the visit.
He then told me that, sometime ago (I'm talking years) when he had commented - he thinks in a friendly way - on one of her Facebook posts, another person had taken issue with his comment and my friend had responded " take no notice of him, he's a d**k". He thinks he told me at the time but I have no memory of it and I'm pretty sure I would remember as I'm feeling quite shocked now having been told/reminded about it today. He can't remember what the post was about and what he and the other person said.
I have to talk to her about this and my dilemma is whether to phone her now and find out if that is what she thinks of him or talk to her when I visit. If I speak to her and find out it's true I don't think I want to visit.
She's an old friend but I am fond of her. Part of me thinks her response was in character as she was always outspoken and part of me really hopes it is a misunderstanding.
Sorry for the long question but, if you were me, would you address this in advance by phone or face to face? TIA

OP posts:
MrTiddlesTheCat · Today 15:21

So at least 2 people thought he said something dickish. Yeah, he was being a dick and is still being a dick, holding onto a Facebook grudge for years, while pretending he can't remember his part in it.

MrsTerryPratchett · Today 15:25

My BIL constantly says dickish (racist, MAGA, sexist) things and runs crying to SIL when called on it.

I just talk to him about cooking IRL so I don't call him a dick to his dickish face.

TinyCottageGirl · Today 15:49

Any chance she was saying the person replying to your husbands comment was a dick?
Honestly why even bring this up beforehand, she pribably can't even remember ans you are totally blowing this out of proportion. If you must just ask her when you see her - something like "DH mentioned something on facebook x years ago, how funny, do you recall"?

likeitshard · Today 16:08

I would either not mention it as it’s ages ago and not that deep. It’s highly likely your friend was joking and won’t even remember.

Or if you feel you must , say it casually in person “dh mentioned you called him a dick on Facebook years ago , I said I have no memory of this do you? “
And see what she says

DraigCymraeg · Today 16:11

FrancesLiz · Today 12:16

Hope it's OK to ask this here even though it's not a parenting issue. Long post warning.
I have an old friend I was planning on visiting soon when me and my husband will be visiting my home town. My husband has told me he is happy for me to see her but will not join me on the visit.
He then told me that, sometime ago (I'm talking years) when he had commented - he thinks in a friendly way - on one of her Facebook posts, another person had taken issue with his comment and my friend had responded " take no notice of him, he's a d**k". He thinks he told me at the time but I have no memory of it and I'm pretty sure I would remember as I'm feeling quite shocked now having been told/reminded about it today. He can't remember what the post was about and what he and the other person said.
I have to talk to her about this and my dilemma is whether to phone her now and find out if that is what she thinks of him or talk to her when I visit. If I speak to her and find out it's true I don't think I want to visit.
She's an old friend but I am fond of her. Part of me thinks her response was in character as she was always outspoken and part of me really hopes it is a misunderstanding.
Sorry for the long question but, if you were me, would you address this in advance by phone or face to face? TIA

I'd wait until you are face to face. Then you can judge whether it was meant nastily or not.

BauhausOfEliott · Today 16:22

This is a non-issue, surely. It was years ago, you don’t actually know what the conversation was even about, you don’t even really know whether the ‘he’s a dick’ thing was truly aimed at your husband or the other bloke involved, and for all you know maybe your husband WAS being a dick. Just forget about it.

FruitFlyPie · Today 16:27

Obviously he didn't tell you at the time as you wouldn't have forgotten this. I'm guessing the reason he didnt tell you back then is he was embarrassed because he knew he was being a dick.

Now he thinks enough time has passed that he plausibly could have forgotten what he wrote, so he can bring it up.

Greengage1983 · Today 17:01

I'd let it go. Maybe he misunderstood her, and she said it in a jokey way. Or maybe she did genuinely think he was a dick. Maybe he was being a bit of a dick. Who cares? It was obviously a very minor thing and it was years ago. Just take the opportunity to have a nice catch up with your friend.

ScorpionLioness79 · Today 18:19

It's great to have a loyalty toward your husband, but I think you'd be going overboard in questioning her in this situation. It'd be a totally different situation if your friend was badmouthing your husband to you in a serious manner. Then, you could justifiably not want to see her again.

But as said by some posters, she could have been making a joke she didn't know would be taken in such a serious way. That's often the problem with texts and written comments. You can't hear the tone.

In your shoes, I'd meet with her and say, "I asked my husband not to come, as I thought it'd be nice for us to catch up one on one."

EmmaB1309 · Today 18:52

Depends on what he said and what was being discussed at the time ie whether or not he was being a dick.

Coconutter24 · Today 18:56

If I speak to her and find out it's true I don't think I want to visit.

What if it’s true because he was in fact being a dick?

Greenclass · Today 19:00

This is such a massive overreaction from you and dh
maybe he was being a dick - he can’t remember
maybe she was joking
it seems crazy that he didn’t address it at the time but cares enough that years later won’t be in her company, over a single comment.

why do you need to address it at all? Either she was joking or she really does think he’s a dick, and does it actually matter if this friend you hardly see doesn’t like your dh?
or are you addressing it to defend him? I’d just let it go.

JLou08 · Today 19:46

Are you sure she wasn't referring to the other poster who took issue with your DH? Unless your DH is a dick, surely he wouldn't have posted anything controversial that could have led to both your friend and some random person taking issue with the comment.

NullaEffugium · Today 19:53

No, you don’t have to talk to her about such a childish non issue. Your DH needs to grow up and not shit stir with ridiculous wah she made a slightly rude post, I bet him and his mates call each other worse names with a laugh and a smile.

pinkdyno · Today 19:56

Agree with everyone.

it’s a huge red flag, concern, re HIM.

Go and see your friend, if it really did happen it will still be there.

sounds much more like he has something to hide. Particularly as you don’t remember it at all.

I hope you are ok.

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