AIBU to think this is very rude

My DDs always look through the cards that we display - I think the principle is not to display any that you do not want to read by anyone else.

Birthday cards are not private if they are put out on display so I don't suppose they thought anyone would mind.

A lot of people do that. If the cards are on display I expect they thought it was OK to have a look...

Honestly NanKate I don't expect they thought it was rude, for the same reason as everyone above ie. they were on display.

Oh I do that as well . But probably only with family. I always look at the birthday cards at my daughters house. Then again, I wouldn't do it till they'd gone out [I usually babysit for them on her birthday].If it was my DIL's birthday I wouldn't look at her cards.

Some people think it is rude. Some not.
Some do it almost automatically.

I presume that they are either the brother or sister of your DH? I'd read my siblings' cards if they were displayed. I was "dying" to read the wedding anniversary cards my son and his wife had exchanged so I had a peek when they were out and I was babysitting.

I would almost go so far as to say it's hard to resist reading cards that are on display.

We all do it in our family, not that there`s ever anything outrageous in ours, not so far, anyway.

If you put them on display people assume they can read them.

I always write very little in DH's cards precisely because I know that people will automatically be picking them up and reading them.

We always read family cards too, I don't think it is rude, if they are on display.

I always read them. It just seems natural. I probably wouldn't do it in friends' houses, or not without asking first.

Oh dear, I hope it's not rude, because I often read cards that are on display. I wouldn't put a card on display if it had something very personal written in it.

I was, however, surprised at what my neighbour's 22 year old daughter did. She was invited to wait in our sitting room because she'd forgotten her key. I went in to the kitchen to get her a drink and when I came back she was clicking through the family photos on our camera which had been lying on the table!

Not rude. I expect they wanted to see who the cards were from. If a card is private, put it somewhere private.

Where was your DH at the time? You don't mention him as being present.

I would never write anything private to put on public display. A lot of people would assume that if displayed they are free to read.

I love to look at other peoples' cards...but I always say "ooo what gorgeous cards..can I have a look" ... I would imagine most people are only too happy to have their cards looked at and read...

I don't think it's rude, but personally would not do it unless invite to look. That's just the way I am.

Late MIL not only read them, but rearranged them so hers was at the front, or most prominent! x

Well I see from all your comments that it is the norm to read Birthday cards. I had not in fact put them on display my DinL had done that for my DH.

My comments to my DH were just a bit emotional and I should have realised that they were on public display and where open to viewing.

My DS and DinL put cards up to each at their home and I would never look at the messages they send to each other.

Heyho I realise my views are in the minority and to be honest I was quite surprised.

That is the good thing about Gransnet we see a whole myriad of views and comments.

Thatbags you asked where DH was whilst his DB and SinL were looking through his cards, well he was having a water pistol fight with our two GSs 4 and 2 in the garden.

My DH is a notorious hoarder and his DB mocks him for not clearing out the junk. Last time they came I found my BinL going into the side door of our garage to see what the state of it was. Another example IMO of them being bloody nosey.

I expect they will be going through the drawers next. As you can see they p*** me off.

Yes, I saw from the OP that you were pissed off.

When your daughterinlaw went to look in the garage side door, what had led to that, if you don't mind me asking? It seems an odd thing to do just out of the blue so I'm just wondering if there was a general milling about talking about hoards of junk in the garage or something, or whether it was just dil milling about on her own, in which case it does appear nosy, but harmless for all that.

Nice to hear your DH was having a water pistol fight with his grandkids on his birthday .

Did he mind other family members looking inside his birthday cards?

I probably wouldn't look in the cards but I don't think I'd mind if someone visiting did.

I've never really thought about this before but I can imagine some of my family being blooming nosey!

Thatbags it was my BinL who looked in garage. He was in the back garden with my DS and I heard him say 'Can I look in the garage to see if your dad has got round to clearing it out yet?' A moment later he had opened the door. I heard this from the kitchen. My son is oblivious to this bad feeling I have and I don't know if he responded.

I now lock the garage door when they come to stop this happening.

If it is rude, then I must stop doing it!! I am always reading everything I see. I usually ask permission first of course.