NationStates Jolt Archive

Today I was afflicted with foot in mouth disease. I was "joking" around with one of my coworkers, who was talking about his mother's acupuncture. I made the unbelievably idiotic, stupid mistake of making light of it by asking if his mother was named "Star", implying she was a 60's hippy of some sort. He did not take kindly to it, and all but threw me out of his office. I apologised, but I don't know if he has accepted it yet.

Anybody else similarly afflicted? I can't be the only bigmouth here ... can I? Please? Somebody?

I'm usually the person who gives the dirty looks...so... :D

Nice move, ass.

Seriously, was that really necessary?

I'm usually the person who gives the dirty looks...so... :D
Thanks ... I think?

Nice move, ass.

Seriously, was that really necessary?
No, it wasn't. It was one of the dumbest things I've ever said. Speaking before thinking. "Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt".

Thanks ... I think?
No, I wasn't trying to make you feel better. I was hoping to give you the impression, you were the only big mouth here... ;) teehee

Ahh, a badly-crafted or delivered joke can certainly stir up trouble, but it sounds like a wee bit of an overreaction on your coworker's part. Perhaps other things are simmering on their backburners right now.

Personally, I'd walk right up to 'em tomorrow and make a bit of a fuss about apologizing, with a slightly concerned inquiry as to their wellbeing thrown in for good measure. Tempest in a teapot.

Buy 'em lunch, too. On Wednesday.

No, I wasn't trying to make you feel better. I was hoping to give you the impression, you were the only big mouth here... ;) teehee
I'm craving self-flagellation right now so - thanks anyway.

Ahh, a badly-crafted or delivered joke can certainly stir up trouble, but it sounds like a wee bit of an overreaction on your coworker's part. Perhaps other things are simmering on their backburners right now.

Personally, I'd walk right up to 'em tomorrow and make a bit of a fuss about apologizing, with a slightly concerned inquiry as to their wellbeing thrown in for good measure. Tempest in a teapot.

Buy 'em lunch, too. On Wednesday.
I've already written an apology note. Good idea on buying lunch, though, since he and some others of my coworkers often eat in our employee cafeteria together. Thanks for the suggestion.

He was insulted by someone calling his mom the name star? Is it me or does that not seem as offensive as this person seems to be taking it?

He was insulted by someone calling his mom the name star? Is it me or does that not seem as offensive as this person seems to be taking it?
I really don't get what the fuss is about, either.

Hey Selgin, are you sure you weren't projecting your own anxiety, perhaps?

He was insulted by someone calling his mom the name star? Is it me or does that not seem as offensive as this person seems to be taking it?
We're both Texans. I grew up in and around Houston, he grew up in Central Texas - very rural. He's about as far from a 60's hippy as you can get. In the Northeast it might be taken as a compliment, but not here.

I really don't get what the fuss is about, either.

Hey Selgin, are you sure you weren't projecting your own anxiety, perhaps?
No, he was quite emphatic - "I'll be civilized when we're at lunch, but don't come around me again". Or something like that. He did say that he "heard" my apology, but he was going to be upset for a while. Maybe I had bad breath?

You've done about all you can do, really. He'll get over it. Unless he's a real hater, of course.

You've done about all you can do, really. He'll get over it. Unless he's a real hater, of course.
Well of course he's a hater. Like me, he's from - TEXASSSSS - and, even worse - a REPUBLICANNNNN.:D

Today I was afflicted with foot in mouth disease. I was "joking" around with one of my coworkers, who was talking about his mother's acupuncture. I made the unbelievably idiotic, stupid mistake of making light of it by asking if his mother was named "Star", implying she was a 60's hippy of some sort. He did not take kindly to it, and all but threw me out of his office. I apologised, but I don't know if he has accepted it yet.

Anybody else similarly afflicted? I can't be the only bigmouth here ... can I? Please? Somebody?

Umm no I'm an ass too. Fortunately I work in a feild where functional results matter more than personal politics. So I can call hippie bullstuff hippie bullstuff and get away with it. Then again most people who work where functional results really matter could care less about hippie bullstuff.

Today I was afflicted with foot in mouth disease. I was "joking" around with one of my coworkers, who was talking about his mother's acupuncture. I made the unbelievably idiotic, stupid mistake of making light of it by asking if his mother was named "Star", implying she was a 60's hippy of some sort. He did not take kindly to it, and all but threw me out of his office. I apologised, but I don't know if he has accepted it yet.

Anybody else similarly afflicted? I can't be the only bigmouth here ... can I? Please? Somebody?
Everyone makes mistakes. That is what makes us human. You apologized and if he cannot accept it, then that is his problem not yours.

I don't know, but on the White Sox, All-Star 1st baseman Paul Konerko often has "foot in mouth" disease. He says dumb stuff all the time. I mean he claimed that Royce Clayton was the best SS he ever played with. Any fan knows that Royce "The Choice" sucked balls. I mean he batted below .200 and had **** for range on defense.

Umm no I'm an ass too. Fortunately I work in a feild where functional results matter more than personal politics. So I can call hippie bullstuff hippie bullstuff and get away with it. Then again most people who work where functional results really matter could care less about hippie bullstuff.
I work for a fairly conservative private company where merit is king as well. But you don't insult someone's family.

I pull that kind of shit all the time. Only, I don’t apologize like a pussy, I keep it up.

I work for a fairly conservative private company where merit is king as well. But you don't insult someone's family.

I'm building a hotel.

I pull that kind of shit all the time. Only, I don’t apologize like a pussy, I keep it up.
I have some friends from Sicily I'd like you to meet ... they have an offer you can't refuse ...;)