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AIBU?

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Original poster

AIBU after being reported for apparently targeting a member of staff

504 replies

Vintageshirtsearch · 05/07/2026 21:25

OK no one is going to believe this to be true but I need to share it. I was spoken to today by my line manager as I've been reported in our 'call it out' policy. I made a member of staff feel targeted and picked on.
I bet you won't be able to guess what I did that made them feel so bad.
It's so crackers I actually thought my manager was joking.
Anyone want to guess?

OP posts:
bigboykitty · 06/07/2026 12:21

Vintageshirtsearch · 05/07/2026 21:37

During a coffee break, another staff member said they thought Taylor Swifts wedding was over the top and a bit ridiculous. I said "yeah I agree" the complainer said it was to keep it private and I laughed and said "in madison square garden" the other staff member said he didn't get the hype over taylor swift and I said I didn't either. End of conversation.
Apparently this deeplynupset the complainer as they love taylor swift and they felt mocked.

Fuck me. You are not wrong OP. It's absolutely ludicrous.

latetothefisting · 06/07/2026 12:15

NeverTalksToStrangers2 · 06/07/2026 07:48

I didn't say I personally was having difficulty with it. I'm not.

There's just a lot of commentary online. If you're not aware of it, that's great for you, honestly. A quick search will find a lot of hate. Some people are sensitive and take it as a personal attack.

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Some people are sensitive and take it as a personal attack.

But that is not a normal or healthy thing to do. Which is the whole point of the thread and why OP's colleague is in the wrong rather than her. If she wants to feel personally slighted by a comment that was not about her personally, that's fine. If she wants to complain to other swifties or bitch about OP when she gets home to her mum or partner, crack on. But it's completely inappropriate to raise a formal work complaint about it, exactly as if it would be if OP had said someone's preferred football team or band were overrated.

NoCommentingFromNowOn · 06/07/2026 12:13

italianlondongirl · 06/07/2026 12:05

I would also be offended that my manager had posted that she had "spoken to" me about it. That gives the impression that it was a reprimand of sorts.

In fact I would want it on my record that the accusation was completely unfounded, as opposed to "no action taken"

Agree with this really, in ten years time the accuser has left, you’ve got a different manager and HR team, and you want a reference. You need to be happy that this isn’t on there as there will be no one to say ‘oh I remember that, we had a chuckle about it in my office over a cup of tea and a chocolate biscuit or two.’

*other refreshments are available and I am not favouriting one over the other.

MotherJessAndKittens · 06/07/2026 12:09

I suppose it was a bit insensitive to be a touch sarcastic towards the person. Sometimes people who are confident speaking don’t realise that someone else feels got at. However definitely not something to be reported - that’s over the top. Being flippant can be hurtful.

MixedFeelingsNoFeelings · 06/07/2026 12:08

I thoroughly enjoyed your guessing game @Vintageshirtsearch ! The world's grim enough, I wish there were more people with a sense of humour.

italianlondongirl · 06/07/2026 12:06

Of course OP I'm not advocating that you actually complain to your manager, as in your workplace it would probably have further adverse repercussions.

italianlondongirl · 06/07/2026 12:05

I would also be offended that my manager had posted that she had "spoken to" me about it. That gives the impression that it was a reprimand of sorts.

In fact I would want it on my record that the accusation was completely unfounded, as opposed to "no action taken"

anothernewname6789998212 · 06/07/2026 12:05

This tickled me. Who knew being a Taylor swift fan is now a protected characteristic. Unless of course you’re about to drop the bombshell that Taylor Swift is in fact a member of staff at the same place and this person felt shit talking a colleagues wedding crossed the line…? 😂

On a serious note, the complainer should’ve been met with stern words about abuse of a policy designed to prevent people having to suck up workplace harassment, discrimination, criminal behaviour or unsafe work practices, and instead using it solely to try and get another member of staff into trouble.

JayJayj · 06/07/2026 12:02

I can’t believe they called you in to discuss it. Why did they not just tell her that other people have different opinions, and that just because it’s different to hers, does not mean it is personal!! Crazy.

mydogisthebest · 06/07/2026 11:59

Kalanthe · 05/07/2026 21:48

How were we supposed to have guessed something so specific 😂😂😂

Obviously it's ridiculous and the person reprimanding you knew this, but they have to follow the company policy. Next time be careful what you say and keep strong opinions to yourself if you work with snowflakes. Break chat is nice but work colleagues are not your friends, anything you say can backfire against you

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How is that a strong opinion. My opinion of the wedding is much stronger. It was a tacky show off wedding which cost an obscene amount of money and just who would walk down the aisle to their own song?

LovelyCrocus · 06/07/2026 11:52

However... sometimes it can be very difficult to be a Taylor fan

There is no version of reality where this is a sane statement.

Ohwhatfuckeryitistoride · 06/07/2026 11:45

Tryanalogue · 05/07/2026 22:05

I’ve worshipped Gene Vincent for 55 years, but he was an alcoholic and mentally ill and probably just bad.

How much trouble am I in?

Let’s not talk about Chet Baker, please.

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Oo oo, derailing the thread, but an old colleague's mum got asked out by Gene Vincent when he was playing our town. He turned up on a motorbike and her mum chased him off.

Catpuss66 · 06/07/2026 11:43

PenelopeJoanSterling · 05/07/2026 22:52

im sat weeping thinking of good old stilton cheese on toast, the horror

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Wow never had Stilton on toast. Had it on steak with a port jus, & in a salad with pear & walnut. Now going to have to try it on toast. Thanks

toiletpaperthief · 06/07/2026 11:42

Your line manager should have politely told your stupid coworker to sod it off and to come back next time with a proper complaint, she should know better.

Beachtastic · 06/07/2026 11:37

Vintageshirtsearch · 06/07/2026 11:01

I take your point but I do think that if some people can't cope with this level of opinion ion, they need workplace support

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Being a member of any cult that makes you unhinged should actually block you from employment in the first place!

tothesea · 06/07/2026 11:26

Yup! I was a bit perturbed but had plenty of work pals so her not speaking to me didn’t affect me.

I was brought up with the phrase ‘wouldn’t the world be boring if we all liked the same things’. Perhaps these wet lettuce types are brought up with ‘If anyone disagrees with you it means they HATE you’

Original poster
Vintageshirtsearch · 06/07/2026 11:22

NoCommentingFromNowOn · 06/07/2026 11:18

‘Making the thread a guessing game’

It was 12 minutes.

If people posting after about 15 minutes didn’t read what OP had posted then that’s on them really 🤷‍♀️.

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Also there are a number of threads on here where we start like that, just for a bit of fun. Must've missed this pp

OP posts:
NoCommentingFromNowOn · 06/07/2026 11:20

tothesea · 06/07/2026 11:12

This was years ago but a colleague once commented how much she fancied Michael Ball and I did a kind of snort laugh ..I genuinely thought she was kidding..she reported me and never spoke to me again. I was gobsmacked.

and never spoke to me again

That’s a good result then 😆.

NoCommentingFromNowOn · 06/07/2026 11:18

LightlyRoamingOcelots · 06/07/2026 08:47

Yabu for making the thread a guessing game. It's not like the scenario is remotely guessable. You must be a very tedious person so probably have form at work for being tiresome and the complainer's tolerance level is therefore unusually low, but there was nothing intrinsically wrong with your conversation about Taylor Swift.

‘Making the thread a guessing game’

It was 12 minutes.

If people posting after about 15 minutes didn’t read what OP had posted then that’s on them really 🤷‍♀️.

pictoosh · 06/07/2026 11:17

Vintageshirtsearch · 06/07/2026 11:01

I take your point but I do think that if some people can't cope with this level of opinion ion, they need workplace support

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Lol. Yep, I agree. Not to diminish it either...but I reckon there's some good material for a sitcom there.

TheIdlerReturns · 06/07/2026 11:16

Beware the Swifty!

tothesea · 06/07/2026 11:12

This was years ago but a colleague once commented how much she fancied Michael Ball and I did a kind of snort laugh ..I genuinely thought she was kidding..she reported me and never spoke to me again. I was gobsmacked.

Triskellion75 · 06/07/2026 11:08

I'd be tempted to report her right back, saying you're distressed at being targeted for expressing a harmless opinion.

Original poster
Vintageshirtsearch · 06/07/2026 11:01

NeverTalksToStrangers2 · 06/07/2026 10:57

That's what I do. And what i did earlier.
I'm merely pointing out that not everyone can cope with it very well. That is all.

Genuinely, I give up.

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I take your point but I do think that if some people can't cope with this level of opinion ion, they need workplace support

OP posts:
Triskellion75 · 06/07/2026 10:57

That's absolutely pathetic and makes a total mockery of what Call it Out is supposed to be about.

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