Gransnet forums

Relationships

Nasty friends of friends

(218 Posts)
Jaxie Sat 03-Nov-18 07:48:15

Last week I was invited to an informal celebration by a friend. There were three couples and myself. The conversation turned to tv. I said I could recommend a tv station that showed old, usually b&w films, and that I'd recently watched a favourite: The Winslow Boy. A man piped up and said that there was a newer version of this film. " Yes," I said, " but it's not as good; it's got that actor in Basil Rathbone's part, can't remember his name, he's rather ugly." This man said, "What do you mean? Ugly like you?" No-one said anything and later my hostess denied that she'd heard him, but we were crammed around a small table, and one participant tried to comfort me when he saw how upset I was as we walked home. The man who insulted me is an ex- policeman with a bullying manner ( here I'll say a close friend is an ex- policeman, to preempt comments from those who think I'm stereotyping). I am terribly upset. How do I deal with this man when I see him again? I live in a very small town and I dread how I shall feel to encounter him.

gillybob Sat 03-Nov-18 08:07:00

Ex policeman bully or not that was a very cruel and hurtful thing to say to anyone . I think if you see him out and about you should hold your head up high . It is he who should feel ashamed . Easier said than done I know but you have to try and rise above . I have had cruel remarks made to me over the years “ oh so you are the ugly sister” being one of them. ( from a close friend of my sister ) . It does hurt I know .

gillybob Sat 03-Nov-18 08:09:38

Meant to add Jaxie that denying she heard will have been a defence mechanism used by your host so as not to have to take sides . Something my sister does too . She wouldn’t want to confront/ upset her friend so pretends she didn’t hear .

kittylester Sat 03-Nov-18 08:12:17

I agree with gilly, he isn't worthy of note!

FlexibleFriend Sat 03-Nov-18 08:19:35

Sticks and stones etc. move on and tbf he was only using the same word as yourself. So ask yourself why that word's so hurtful when used to describe you but not the actor you couldn't remember.

mumofmadboys Sat 03-Nov-18 08:19:39

I'm sure he didn't mean it. It was probably because he thought you were rude to describe an actor as ugly. Forget about it.

mumofmadboys Sat 03-Nov-18 08:20:20

Crossed posts

jusnoneed Sat 03-Nov-18 08:25:50

Head up, keep walking and totally blank him. If you cannot avoid being with him just ignore him. Horrible man.
As for the hostess, she or whoever his other half was should of said something to him.

Maggiemaybe Sat 03-Nov-18 08:27:08

I’m afraid I can’t agree that calling someone ugly to their face is in any way the same as describing an actor, who isn’t there as such. How can it be hurtful in the second case?

It’s a shame none of the other people present pulled this man up, Jaxie. Try not to dwell on it, but I’d have as little as possible to do with him in future.

Maggiemaybe Sat 03-Nov-18 08:28:27

And yes, I would blank him, but some could probably rise above it.

oldbatty Sat 03-Nov-18 08:31:41

sorry but what an utter plonker. I'm quite sure you aren't ugly. He sounds ugly on the inside.

sodapop Sat 03-Nov-18 08:50:08

Words do hurt us though don't they. I have to say I agree with flexiblefriend it was the same word used on both occasions.

crazyH Sat 03-Nov-18 08:53:02

Not a nice remark for sure. But, I would just ignore it. Was he inebriated ....alcohol loosens the tongue.
I would try to avoid his company. And btw, I'm sure you are not ugly xx

LullyDully Sat 03-Nov-18 08:53:31

Just a horrible and very rude man. To be ignored; easier said than done I know.

The problem is a comment like this keeps coming back. Do try to ignore him . He probably thought he was being funny, some people have very odd senses of humour. My dear old Dad, who loved me, always said when I lost weight " Ah but she still casts a good shadow. " He thought that was funny!

I never believed that sticks and stones rubbish, so untrue. I still carry remarks said when I was young, however small. Take care and enjoy your true friends.

BlueBelle Sat 03-Nov-18 09:03:02

Not worth losing sleep over he’s not your friend it was a silly unfunny and hurtful remark but only you can manage how hurt you let it make you
Don’t let it mar your friendship or even your memories of a nice evening
Some people say things without thinking the word ugly was in his mind from you using it and he used it as a bounce back comment, playground stuff actually it was a silly tit for tat and says more about him than you put it in the bin where it belongs

MissAdventure Sat 03-Nov-18 09:10:09

What a horrible thing he is!
I hope someone did hear him (his wife?) and took him to task.

Oldwoman70 Sat 03-Nov-18 09:11:06

My guess is that he, and everyone else, has forgotten it. By constantly thinking about it you are reinforcing the memory. I know it's hard but try to put it out of your mind. If you find yourself thinking about it - switch the thought to something pleasant that happened that evening.

I know how hard it is because I sometimes dwell on things but realise when I do the only person who is hurting is me. flowers

gillybob Sat 03-Nov-18 09:23:43

I am a master at putting myself down (I use it as self defence) reading your post again in response to his “ what do you mean? ugly like you ?” I might have replied “well no maybe not quite that ugly” which might’ve created a laugh and defused the situation . I’m not saying putting yourself down is a good thing because it isn’t but it’s something I often use as a coping mechanism .

MissAdventure Sat 03-Nov-18 09:26:59

I would have said "oh no, far uglier than that. More like you!".
Of course though, I wouldn't really, because I would be so stung and hurt.
Horrible, nasty 'man'.
I bet he wouldn't have said it to another male.

Maggiemaybe Sat 03-Nov-18 09:39:27

Now that’s a comeback, MissA!

Thinking of his wife/partner, and whether she heard it... At least you don’t have to live with him, Jaxie.

alex57currie Sat 03-Nov-18 09:42:38

C'mon Jaxie. Time to hoick up your big girl pants.
I had this recently with a close neighbour of 25yrs.
In front of his wife and others in the street he dismissed
me rather rudely. My flabber was gasted. Angry, what?
I set myself to not acknowledge him whatsoever. Not easy.
Ignored him with my face set in what my Dh calls my "resting bitch face"
Why should I make him feel comfortable? He ended up really squirming at times.
Did I care? Did I what. Treat him with the contempt he deserves.
Oh you'll get those who say "be the bigger person for the sake of the friendship group"
I'm afraid one of the friend's need to take him to task. And you need an apology to move
on with this. If not, consider socialising with individuals if possible. You're going to
initially feel uncomfortable whatever. Your choice. flowers

Luckygirl Sat 03-Nov-18 09:43:29

How very rude indeed! The trouble is, as another poster has said, this will niggle with you and really annoy.

Close your eyes, visualise placing it on a train and watch it vanish over the horizon.

What a CF as they would say on Mumsnet - the first word is cheeky!

Buffybee Sat 03-Nov-18 09:46:30

He is a boorish, male chauvinist pig!
No gentleman would dream of saying something so rude to a female.
It says more about him than you!
Ignore the comment and forget it, some people can't help being an ar--hole.

Lynne59 Sat 03-Nov-18 09:48:03

Had he had much to drink?! He probably thought he was being clever or witty. Ignore it, and perhaps if he's at a meeting again, blank him. There's always one, and he's it.

Granny23 Sat 03-Nov-18 09:51:42

It is so annoying when someone does this kind of thing and an instant retort (e.g. You're no oil painting yourself) does not spring to mind until it is too late. Please try not to let this fester and prey on your mind. I am sure that the rest of the company and your hostess, were too embarrassed by his crass remark to come up with a suitable reply, so just ignored it. He will have gone way down in their estimation, whereas you will not.