Make up on the train

[failingmammalian]

Is it acceptable to do your make up on the train .. Powder blush mascara and lip balm. Nothing gross like eyebrow plucking
I do get some funny looks. Isn't it normal/acceptable?
What's a girl to do?

I agree whole heartedly.

It would not bother me in the slightest , quite a shitty attitude that women should only put make up on in private lest someone see their bare faces. I think it's great if someone has the confidence to do it, I'd assume they were comfortable with their bare faces in order to make their face up in public .

I don't think anyone has expressed anything negative about not wearing any makeup. That's not a problem.

The issue is the perceived intrusion of being forced to witness an act that many people consider should be kept private.

Clearly the people who don't see it as a private act don't perceive it as an intrusion. Those who do, find it uncomfortable to watch.

For me, the problem is this failure to acknowledge that there are people who find it intrusive. That's disrespectful.

It is like having a loud phone conversation on the train. The people who do it just don't care that hearing their (often ridiculously) private conversation is intrusive and annoying to other people.

The sort of attitude that says, 'you know what I don't know these people and I don't care what they think, I'll do what suits me', is not being broad minded, modern minded, or demonstrating feminist inclinations.

In my opinion, it is ill-mannered, disrespectful and tasteless.

Vortex. No it's completely different. A loud conversation interrupts other people. It means their conversations between themselves are interrupted or if they are listening to music it interrupts that. Makeup application does not do this. It has no impact on those around you. Saying it is something that should be seen as private is sexist bullshit. I don't care if 'ruin the illusion' of makeup for men. I'm a human not a doll.

Vortex, but why should it be done in private?

But surely if you don't like watching, you can, er ... look away?

I get it. I'm bizarrely squeamish about earrings and piercings. I actually find it quite hard to look at those big ones that stretch people's ears. It doesn't mean I get to ban them from my train - I just look away.

You can't avoid someone else's loud conversation in the same way, which is why it is intrusive.

It's all a bit 'naice girls don't wear make up, isn't it?'

See, I'd buy the "respect other's opinions" line if it weren't for the fact that there are people on this thread genuinely comparing the act of putting on mascara to having a poo or pulling a blood-soaked wad of cotton out of your fanny. Which is just bonkers and frankly I think it comes under the heading of "issues" rather than opinion.

No scottishmummy I can't see much difference. I'm trying to understand what the issue is with it. You don't really seem to understand what your issue with it is either as you don't seem to be able to articulate it. You just keep repeating the same thing over and over again.

So it's nothing to do with the face people pull then, it's just that you feel the makeup might contaminate you then? Really unless someone is flinging powder all over the place it's not likely.

What about people eating or drinking on the train, is that acceptable? That smells more, and is more likely to produce crumbs that might get on someone else. Yet unless they're making a massive mess I doubt anyone would bat an eyelid.

So why is makeup on a train not acceptable? It seems to boil down to the fact that people seem to think it should be done in private. Well are we not back to the 1950s housewife here?

That's it Madbus. And even though I have said I would not go to the loo in front of other people I have been told I am the same sort of person .

And yes I think the failure to acknowledge that it's not like having a really loud conversation or cutting your toenails is the issue for the 'makeup is disgusting brigade'. I don't do things that are intrusive (eating, shouting, really loud music, invading personal space by spreading out over two seats) but putting on makeup is not intrusive. Just because you personally find it offensive doesn't make it intrusive.

trixy I've tried that approach with sm didn't get anywhere. I was just told I was whiny.

And now you know might understand why every time i do my make up on the train I think of sm (who is actually one of my favourite mumsnetters) and have a silent chuckle to myself.

None of makeup is scented. Some American makeup is but most UK makeup isn't.
Are you sure you couldn't just smell toothpaste on her breathe?
Perfume, deodorant, BO, food these are things that smell not makeup.

How do people feel about someone putting their contact lenses in on the train then??

I don't think it matters why people find it uncomfortable. The fact is that they do, and, so yes it does impact on them. Lots of people have said so. You can accept that (respect their perspective) or not.

Public transport is generally a pain and anything that anyone does that (however small in the grand scheme of things) is a bit self absorbed or inconsiderate makes it just a tad more unpleasant for everyone.

It is nothing to do with 'nice girls don't wear make up'.

But there is an element of lack of respect - both for themselves (they do look quite silly) and for others (who are being jostled/ forced to witness/ subject to smells... whatever) in women who do this.

Another one who couldn't give a crap. I'd much rather sit next to someone quietly putting make up on in their own space than the usual arseholes huffing and puffing, shivibg their bags into you, pushing their knees and elbows into you, giving you a headache with their awful leaky, tinny headphones or, my personal bugbear, texting the whole journey without having key sounds turned off. As other have said, putting make up on is way down the list of obnoxious commuter behaviour.

I don't get the hygiene aspect really either _ when I out eyeliner, lipstick or mascara on I touch my face with the sticks, not my hands.

The lack of ease about make up is about privacy. About things that are often/usually done at home being done in public. It is similar to the loud conversations. In both cases, we are made privy to behaivour that is usually done behind private doors. Toenail cutting is different because it leaves debris.

Ok vortex. Most makeup doesn't smell and I don't jostle anyone.
Why is eating food ok? Working on the train? Talking to a friend? Listening to music? Some of this might make me uncomfortable but I don't tell people not to do it because it's none of my business. It doesn't actually affect me so I act like an adult and leave them to it.

I hate it when scottishmummy joins a thread and takes over with incessant posting. I always stop reading when she gets going. It's a real shame as it's ruined quite a few interesting threads for me.

Vortex, it does matter why it bothers people. So far we've had-

Make up is smelly
It can contaminate you

It's intrusive

I have a phobia about an eye pencil going into someone's eye.

Applying it makes you look like you an having an orgasm.

It looks common

It's the same as going to the loo or changing your tampon in front of people.

Seriously? what a load of utter bollox!

Good morning Evie,any other point?or just to berate me for having temerity to participate
In fairness the other posters are more than capable of contributing and rebuking my pov
As I'd expect someone to do,that's the point..

I have read this thread and what has come across is that a lot of people have some odd issues - I'm not talking about the woman who apply their make up on the train.
What other hang ups do you people have - just the make up on the train thing because I suspect you have loads of rules, rules that most people would consider unnecessary.

Well,yes as thread illustrate it's polarising,that's why it's a perennial.gets folk going
And I'm not going to be disavowed of my opinion that image up on train is minging
Equally I don't expect someone else to say,hey all things considered you're so right sm

Mn is like a window of life,and opinion one doesn't routinely encounter. That's why it interesting.and often do heatedly contested

no shimmyshimmy i do not have loads of issues and 'rules', I just find people doing their make - up on public transport a bit vile.

itsbetter I'm not sure whether you are saying these things bother you or not? If they do, then I would agree people doing them should be considerate of that.

Most people on trains don't tell other people not to do the things that bother them. But I don't think we should have to. Everyone just needs to give a little consideration to the fact that there are other people around and they are not alone. This goes for eating smelly food/ playing loud music/ having loud conversations/ personal grooming... whatever the issue is.