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AIBU?

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Original poster

Boss called me an elephant at work

129 replies

feeIingaggrieved · 29/03/2025 21:12

My boss made a comment at work today and I can’t work out if I’m overreacting.

We were having a fairly normal conversation when, out of nowhere, he called me an elephant. I must have looked a bit taken aback because he quickly tried to laugh it off and said something along the lines of, “Oh, but elephants are the most intelligent creatures in the animal kingdom, they’re emotionally intelligent etc.”

A colleague who was there quickly changed the subject, and I just sort of let it go in the moment.

But the more I think about it, the more uncomfortable I feel. I’m struggling to see how comparing me to an elephant in front of colleagues is appropriate.

AIBU to be annoyed by this?

OP posts:
TimeFlysWhenYoureHavingRum · 30/03/2025 00:31

Do you have a trunk?

MrsTerryPratchett · 30/03/2025 00:19

ASD2023 · 29/03/2025 21:18

There is someone in my work affectionately referred to as the elephant as she has been there longer than anyone else and has an encyclopedia level knowledge of what we do. I wonder was in meant in a complimentary way but delivered very clumsily.

Quite. But looks like OP won’t be back…

LasVegass · 30/03/2025 00:15

I wouldn’t go to a meeting in a tutu and balancing on a ball.

MrsWinslowsSoothingSyrup · 30/03/2025 00:07

. . . . . off she went with a trumpety trump,
trump, trump, trump 🎶

Mistyglade · 30/03/2025 00:05

Pretty sure someone’s tusking us around.

HotAsSatansBalls · 30/03/2025 00:05

Did you cause a disturbance on Blue Peter in 1969?

UpUpUpU · 30/03/2025 00:02

Dumbo? Is that you?

Dillydollydingdong · 30/03/2025 00:01

OP is not going to give us any more information about the conversation. To call her an elephant may have been a compliment, may have been an insult...we'll never know!

LardoBurrows · 29/03/2025 23:58

Is your name Nellie?

2JFDIYOLO · 29/03/2025 23:57

Post 'n' ghost 🤷‍♀️

QS90 · 29/03/2025 23:38

If you weren't that bothered at the time, and can't decide whether or not you're offended, then you're probably not. I wouldn't go trying to find things to be upset over tbh.

Blameitonthedog · 29/03/2025 23:37

Have you left footprints in the butter in the staff fridge?

MrsWinslowsSoothingSyrup · 29/03/2025 23:32

EveryKneeShallBow · 29/03/2025 23:12

You’re an elephant!

No you're an elephant!

gillefc82 · 29/03/2025 23:29

So I’m assuming that if he’d compared you to an elephant in a private 1-2-1 with no colleagues present there wouldn’t be any issue??

I’d suggest promptly reporting him to HR so he gets pach(yderm)ed out of the business pronto!

Livelovebehappy · 29/03/2025 23:21

Talkwhilstyouwalk · 29/03/2025 22:25

Could he have Tourette's?

Exactly what I was going to say! We had a young guy in our office who used to shout donkey randomly - he had Tourette’s.

Letmecallyouback · 29/03/2025 23:20

I suppose context is the elephant in the room here.

AthWat · 29/03/2025 23:20

TeapotTitties · 29/03/2025 21:49

What's with all the threads every night that give no context?

Pointless.

It's the internet.

They know if they do this, 500 people will reply, and at least 100 will tell them whatever it is they want to hear.

The rest they ignore.

ArmySurplusHamster · 29/03/2025 23:13

Is the OP white?

Or pink?

EveryKneeShallBow · 29/03/2025 23:12

You’re an elephant!

iamnotalemon · 29/03/2025 23:07

Tarantella6 · 29/03/2025 21:59

Did you come crashing down the stairs and everyone heard you 5 minutes before you got there? I may have been referred to as a baby elephant before...

We used to call my sister this for the same reason and still would if someone was stomping.

JasonTindallsTan · 29/03/2025 23:00

Was it because you packed your bags and said goodbye to the circus?

Mansionscoldandgrey · 29/03/2025 22:48

Do you travel to work in a jumbo jet?

Mnetcurious · 29/03/2025 22:46

Impossible to give an opinion without knowing the context and exactly what he said.

TeapotTitties · 29/03/2025 22:45

MrsWinslowsSoothingSyrup · 29/03/2025 22:43

Op, you're never going to forget this are you

I think that's irr-elephant.

MrsWinslowsSoothingSyrup · 29/03/2025 22:43

Op, you're never going to forget this are you