Gransnet forums

AIBU

I know they were only trying to help but

(122 Posts)
kittylester Tue 25-Feb-25 13:55:42

There are men down manholes on our road doing something with Virgin Media cables.

I know because we had a chat before I got in the car.

As I backed down our drive 3 of them leapt out of their holes, one stopped traffic, one stood watching and one stood on the opposite side of the road so he could tell me when it was safe to proceed.

My car is new, has cameras and could probably track a satellite if I only knew how to do it.

DH went out 10 minutes later and was, apparently, left to cope on his own.

This happens quite often..

AIBU to feel offended

kittylester Tue 25-Feb-25 20:55:49

Probably, Merlot! grin

Crossstitchfan Tue 25-Feb-25 20:58:15

kittylester

Crossstitchfan - very judgmental.

Sorry! Didn’t mean to be

SueDonim Tue 25-Feb-25 21:27:33

I must remember to not do anything nice or be kind to anyone in future, for fear of offending someone.

kittylester Tue 25-Feb-25 22:02:22

Or being patronising.

dragonfly46 Tue 25-Feb-25 22:20:49

I have mixed feelings. I love the chivalry of it but would also wonder if they thought I couldn’t manage it alone.
I hate it when, at a crossroads, my DH tells me I can go or mentions there is a car ahead.

There is a fine line between being helpful and getting in the way.

Rula Tue 25-Feb-25 22:25:26

I'm offended that you're offended!

Polite, good manners.

It's sad that acts like this are received in a negative fashion.

nanna8 Tue 25-Feb-25 22:31:11

Were they good looking ?

Allira Tue 25-Feb-25 22:40:26

nanna8

Were they good looking ?

I was going to ask if kittylester took them tea and home-made cake afterwards to say thank you 😁
(Sorry, kitty wink)

LadyGaGa Tue 25-Feb-25 22:52:34

I’m with you Kittylester! ‘How could this poor old lady possibly reverse off a drive without our manly help?’
‘Were they good looking?’ ‘Did you make them a cup of tea?’ Flippin eck. I know it’s only light hearted, but what the ##$*!

merlotgran Tue 25-Feb-25 22:56:58

nanna8

Were they good looking ?

I get the feeling some of us aren’t taking this as seriously as others. 😂

Allira Tue 25-Feb-25 22:58:54

merlotgran

nanna8

Were they good looking ?

I get the feeling some of us aren’t taking this as seriously as others. 😂

😂

Oh dear.
Behave at the back of the class!

Allira Tue 25-Feb-25 23:00:40

There are men down manholes
That tickled me too 😁

You should rephrase that kitty:
There are gentlemen down gentleman holes

grumppa Tue 25-Feb-25 23:00:58

I am sure they meant well, kittylester, but I do sympathise. I have been reversing out of my front garden without incident for thirty years, but the other day a passing neighbour took it upon himself to guide me out with much waving of his arms - but he had placed himself in the direction in which I was least likely to look. It's a miracle I didn't flatten him.

Nevertheless, I gave him a cheery wave by way of thanks.

Whiff Wed 26-Feb-25 05:51:51

Being disabled I have faced lots of discrimination in my life.
But I treat people all the same I am always grateful if a car or other vehicle lets my across the road, or offers of help to get on and off buses and trains . If I need it that day I accept and always thank the person . Or if I don't need always thank them for their kind off. That way I like to think they will offer others help. I hold doors open for people and had doors opened for me . I have found the people of the north west kinder than where I used to live and had no discrimination in my 5.5 years of living here .

Saying please and thank you and accepting help when you need it or if you don't means that person or persons will help others. I help people where I can . Like waiting for a car to back off there drive and not expecting them wait until I pass.

It's nice to know we still live in a country that people want to help so if you need it even or if you don't accept it with good grace as it was well intented .

kittylester Wed 26-Feb-25 05:55:38

nanna8

Were they good looking ?

Well, one of them had a fabulous Geordie Accent.

I'm sure sure they meant well, grumppa just like the man who told me that he was surprised my husband let me drive such a big car as he waved madly behind me in a car park!

Pantglas2 Wed 26-Feb-25 06:04:33

I’m never offended when someone tries to be helpful and have had men explain the inner workings of gym equipment, combustion engines and all manner of things whilst Ive nodded and smiled.

I had one group of young lads silently watch me manoeuvre out of an extremely tight parking spot then cheer when I did it in three moves! (My Fiat Punto had city parking and could turn on a sixpence!)

karmalady Wed 26-Feb-25 06:20:33

Offended! Never, not in a million years. It is no nice to know that there are people who have common curtesy and kindness in them, enough to help others. I certainly would not be getting on my high horse about that and instead would be getting an uplift knowing that there are decent people out there

A man doffed his cap at me the other day, such a gentlemanly thing to do, he made my day and when the door is opened for me, I always say thank you with a genuine smile on my face

kittylester Wed 26-Feb-25 07:06:45

I just wonder how they think I manage when they are not there.

dragonfly46 Wed 26-Feb-25 07:53:13

kittylester

I just wonder how they think I manage when they are not there.

Exactly!

Astitchintime Wed 26-Feb-25 07:59:49

They clearly have an ulterior motive.......they obviously think the OP is far more likely to bake than her OH. Hence they went the extra mile to assist her in the hope of a slice of cake perhaps .

NotSpaghetti Wed 26-Feb-25 08:09:36

As Baggs (and others said, it is s because you had a chat with them.
I expect your husband didn't take time out to chat with them.

It's also possible that something had changed (that you didn't notice) between you leaving and him doing so. Maybe this was a car coming for example.

Nannylovesshopping Wed 26-Feb-25 08:11:30

I’d have said thanks very much, what are you doing later?😀

NotSpaghetti Wed 26-Feb-25 08:13:38

Great minds Allira... I haven't seen this advert and thought the same

Iam64 Wed 26-Feb-25 08:27:26

I’d be happy to have work men (or women) showing thoughtful, helpful behaviour. My drive is steep and I reverse out into an increasingly busy road. It’s a 30 limit but you wouldn’t guess that judging by the racers.

icanhandthemback Wed 26-Feb-25 13:20:53

I wouldn't be offended but I'd make up my own mind about the the manoeuvres I was going to make.