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AIBU

To think this is rude

(84 Posts)
Oldwoman70 Fri 18-Jan-19 11:26:47

I often visit a friend (at her invitation). We always meet at her house - she won't come to me as "it is too far"! The last few times I have visited her cousin has also been there, which is fine of course. However, one of them will say something which causes the other to laugh and then tell me it is "a private joke" but they will then carry on the joke leaving me sitting there with no idea of what they are talking about. The last time it went on for so long I almost got up and walked out! She telephoned this morning and invited me over next week - I have told her I can't because I am busy all week.

Now I know families have private jokes but surely to continue a joke which seems calculated to exclude anyone else present is just rude!

GabriellaG54 Sat 19-Jan-19 12:03:54

If you don't tell her straight she will never know and never correct her behaviour which is, IMO, beyond the pale.

Riggie Sat 19-Jan-19 12:03:10

I think my comment to the "It's too far" for her to visit is that it's exactly the same distance for you.
Is there somewhere in the middle that you can meet for a cuppa?

sylviann Sat 19-Jan-19 12:02:38

If it's too far for your friend to visit you why she think it's ok for you to make the journey .As for a private joke she needs to be made aware of how uncomfortable you feel

TillyWhiz Sat 19-Jan-19 12:01:40

You know the expression "two's company, three's a crowd"? I have often suffered and noticed this when there are 3 women meeting up, one will become the onlooker. I would politely ask next time if anyone else (not mentioning specifically who) will be there then say that you'll let you enjoy her company and will arrange another date sometime. This usually works in the end!

inishowen Sat 19-Jan-19 11:56:00

It was very rude. Why not ask if her cousin will be there next time. If yes, say you'll give it a miss as they seem to be very close and you feel left out.

Camelotclub Sat 19-Jan-19 11:51:18

This reminds me of the sort of thing school kids or teens do! Grown women should know better. They are being excluding and are not worth your time.

red1 Sat 19-Jan-19 11:40:44

you opened your message with she wont visit you as its too far,is she disabled in some way? as for the laughing?! I would seriously rethink if it forms any basis for a friendship? over the past 5 years I cleared out 6 so called friends out of my life,who were simply hard work,what happened? new people came into my life that are worth holding on to.

sarahanew Sat 19-Jan-19 11:18:48

Tell her you can't, because, as she has pointed out, it is to far. Make her aware though, she is very welcome to come to you. - you are being polite and putting the ball in her court. Friends visit each other, you both put effort in. You'll discover if she thinks you're worth the effort and it won't be your fault if she makes the decision not to come

Urmstongran Sat 19-Jan-19 11:15:36

Years ago I used to meet lady friends & neighbours, several of whom worked for the same large supermarket. They shared a lot of in jokes and chatted at length about various work colleagues. I felt left out (and more than a little bored to be honest!). I just sat there with a polite smile.
Then one day I was brave and when a get together was arranged I said I’d come if they didn’t all sit there talking about * all the time. They were horrified and apologised and it never happened again. Some people have little self awareness.

NanaPlenty Sat 19-Jan-19 11:09:52

I'd ask if her cousin was going to be there and then tell her that their behaviour made you uncomfortable last time and that you won't put up with it again. We've been around too long to put up with uncomfortable situations and not say anything! Stand up for yourself - they are in the wrong and if she wants your company she needs to behave better.

ReadyMeals Sat 19-Jan-19 11:05:17

If you don't fancy a confrontation and also don't really want to stop seeing your friend, just load a kindle book onto your mobile phone, or take a magazine, and when they start up with one of their private jokes, get out your reading material. If they show an interest in your behaviour explain calmly that it can get a little boring when they're talking about something you don't understand. Otherwise, join in again when the subject has swung back to something you can enjoy. I am afraid friends rarely come without faults and irritating habits.

Annaram1 Sat 19-Jan-19 10:58:35

We used to take foreign students and I remember a mother and her 11 year old son lapsing into their own language, Polish. at the dinner table. When I told them to speak English the boy asked "Why?" I said "Because you may be being rude about us and we don't know." They both looked shocked and the boy said "No, we would never do that!" They always spoke English at the table after that.
Sometimes people don't know they are being rude and need it pointed out to them.

mabon1 Sat 19-Jan-19 10:50:06

Ill mannered

georgia101 Sat 19-Jan-19 10:30:38

I agree this was very rude and unkind behaviour. To be honest she doesn't sound much of a friend to me, more of a user. The distance between your houses is the same whichever house you start from, but this way it doesn't cost her anything to get your company. I'd look for a friend in some other place. Join a new club or course that involves your own interests and make new friends.

dragonfly46 Sat 19-Jan-19 10:04:08

You could ask if the cousin is going to be there and if she is say you think it is better if they catch up on their own as you have nothing to contribute.

dragonfly46 Sat 19-Jan-19 10:03:11

Yes it is rude and in a subtle way putting you down maybe deliberately.
You need to leave them alone for a while and keep away.
Maybe she will realise why.

4allweknow Sat 19-Jan-19 10:00:05

After a 30 year gap they won't have much to reminisce about. They will though have a lot to "fill in" with one another. You are right, just give them space to get reacquainted telling your friend that is why you are not visiting for a while. If she is really interested in you she will hopefully realise you too have to be included and able to contribute to conversations.

Aepgirl Sat 19-Jan-19 09:59:55

She needs a few lessons in manners. She’s not a good friend, so you don’t need her. She is obviously more in tune with her cousin, so you should say that as she has her cousin to joke with, you are not visiting any more.

Hm999 Sat 19-Jan-19 09:58:41

Mixing friendship groups is always hard work. You have different shared experiences.
Try meeting somewhere in the middle?

Ramblingrose22 Sat 19-Jan-19 09:55:40

I had a similar situation a few years back when I invited two couples round who knew each other better than I knew them.

The result was that they spent all evening talking to each other rather than me. They talked about teachers at the school where their children went, people they knew who I didn't know and so it went on.

Whilst I don't think they intended to be rude I felt like a "facilitator" and never invited them again.

On other occasions when I have been invited and someone they know very well or a relation drops in by surprise and takes over the conversation I have left straight away to make a point.

Madmeg Sat 19-Jan-19 09:49:46

I often wish I could be as assertive as some of the posters on here, but sadly lack the courage. I agree with them all, of course, that your friend was being rude and plenty of people would rightly have walked out, or said something there and then (and if that were me I would probably have dissolved into tears despite knowing that I was in the right).

I could probably manage something like "If its okay with you I'd rather come on day when its just the two of us so we can have a proper natter".

I definitely don't agree that friendship should be equal cos that's impossible to define or measure. My best friend needs a lot of physical help from her friends but is the best at listening and giving supportive advice. Good luck and try not to cut your friend off - just be a bit thicker-skinned!

Caro57 Sat 19-Jan-19 09:38:39

Very rude and thoughtless- if it happened again I think I would say they appear to not want her there and that you will see ‘friend’ when she has more time

Coconut Sat 19-Jan-19 09:22:36

She sounds quite selfish and in any relationship or friendship it should be equal, a 2 way thing. I would be inclined to say it’s her time to visit you and if she says it’s too far, point out it’s the same for you and ask why she feels it’s different for you. At the very least she should meet you half way. Ultimately what difference would it make to your life without her in it ?

PECS Fri 18-Jan-19 20:34:33

"in jokes" need to be explained to those not "in" on it or else dropped!

I am not sure I agree that something rude if someone feels it is rude! Sime people can be super sensitive!

Madgran77 Fri 18-Jan-19 19:56:37

I agree with Nonnie