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anyone good with witty responses?

59 replies

winkslot · 22/09/2026 14:05

i have a disability that becomes obvious when you meet me. i don't really think about myself as a disabled person and i do everything everyone else does. It's something parallel to missing an arm but I am not missing any limbs, just a similar example. People are often curious and have questions.

I am a professional and am happy with any questions about it but i struggle with how to respond to well meaning but patronising comments.

"Good on you, never feel like you shouldn't be in the room. Keep showing up."
"You don't have to worry about that (being discriminated against?) at all, none of us here are judging you in any way"
"awww that's such a shame isn't it"
"Our team has just had diversity and inclusion training, so you're very welcome here"

i feel so normal that these comments really other me and are disempowering. I don't feel sad or insecure about my condition at all. But hate these sorts of comments.

I'm not looking to call them out or shame them. i am looking for some clever and witty responses that don't make the other person feel bad but also shut down the sympathy or hero responses.

OP posts:
squashyhat · 22/09/2026 14:11

In order
"OK then"
"Erm...thanks (I think)"
"If you say so"
"Jolly good"

I couldn't be bothered with witty. Just shut them down.

tarheelbaby · 22/09/2026 14:14

I agree with @squashyhat , just answer them blandly and actively move on to the task at hand.
'Umm, thanks. (give a little smile) Let's look at the spreadsheets now.'

humptydumptyfelloff · 22/09/2026 14:27

I would just look at them blankly and then ask if they meant to be patronising or rude 🤣

wannabeCali · 22/09/2026 14:29

You could ask them to explain themselves
what do you mean?
Can you explain please?

WhatNextImScared · 22/09/2026 14:32

squashyhat · 22/09/2026 14:11

In order
"OK then"
"Erm...thanks (I think)"
"If you say so"
"Jolly good"

I couldn't be bothered with witty. Just shut them down.

’Ok, then’ is the best: it’s not directly rude, but it’s also not warm. Shuts them down and gives them something to think about.

Arlanymor · 22/09/2026 14:33

"I'd rather focus on the job at hand, not on any perceptions around my disability."

winkslot · 22/09/2026 14:34

i do like the casual "great" and then move on. But alot of times, i am pulled aside for these comments. So there's no moving on to new spreadsheets. Like i'm filling my waterbottle for example.

I had someone this week give me a pep talk about how someone similar has no confidence to even come to work and that i am doing amazing, so inspiring, and never doubt myself. URGH. But i just smiled and said i'm quite happy being in any room and it doesn't phase me.

OP posts:
HesterLeggatt · 22/09/2026 14:41

I’d go with staring at them blankly, glancing down at your wrist and then screaming “OH MY GOD WHERE DID MY ARM GO?!”. They’ll leave you alone after that….. 🤣

When people ask me about DS’s disability the two we get all the time are “wow he doesn’t LOOK disabled”, and “what’s wrong with him?”. I used to grit my teeth and be polite, but mostly now I go with “what is a disabled person supposed to look like, exactly?” and “nothing’s WRONG with him, his brain just works differently to other people”.

excelledyourself · 22/09/2026 17:28

“I’m sure you mean well, but I don’t need any reassurance”.

Meandthegherkin · 22/09/2026 17:29

Me! No… ah, wait…

Beautifulsunflowers · 22/09/2026 17:33

Can’t believe no one had suggested the classic mumsnet
’do you mean to be so rude?’

but as pp has suggested ‘ok then’ works well

NameChangeScot · 22/09/2026 17:35

Look confused and say 'what do you mean?' they'll stumble and realise what and arse they've been.

If they say something like 'yourr very welcome here flip it and say gently 'why wouldn't I be welcome?'

For the 'keep showing up' type comments say 'oh yes, you too!'

YourAmberExpert · 22/09/2026 17:35

humptydumptyfelloff · 22/09/2026 14:27

I would just look at them blankly and then ask if they meant to be patronising or rude 🤣

Neither clever or witty tho

lcakethereforeIam · 22/09/2026 17:40

'Until you mentioned it, I didn't feel unwelcome.'
'Well, now I do feel like a diversity hire. So, thanks for that.'

akkakk · 22/09/2026 17:43

"Good on you, never feel like you shouldn't be in the room. Keep showing up."
Why thank you - I have never had that feeling - should I have done?

"You don't have to worry about that (being discriminated against?) at all, none of us here are judging you in any way"
I think the need to comment is a judgement don't you?

"awww that's such a shame isn't it"
Not really, I love being commented on - tells me a lot about other people.

"Our team has just had diversity and inclusion training, so you're very welcome here"
And so are you...

I would though tend more to sarcasm!

persisted · 22/09/2026 17:45

Thank you. I find it’s handy to be brighter than I look, better than looking brighter than I am. Must crack on.

It’s a garbled quote from a James Bond film. DH and I use it all the time.

AliasGrape · 22/09/2026 18:02

"Good on you, never feel like you shouldn't be in the room. Keep showing up."
Either the straight ‘ok then’ or ‘why wouldn’t I?’ Or repeat back ‘keep showing up?’ in a puzzled tone.

Or full sarcy, lay on the patronising faux concerned voice and say ‘ahh thank you, and you know, you too! Keep going, honestly you’re doing fine’ etc etc

"You don't have to worry about that (being discriminated against?) at all, none of us here are judging you in any way"

Wow, am I supposed to say thank you?

Judging me for what?

Why would I be worried?

Shame I can’t say the same hey?

No of course, I’ll be the one doing the judging here. (If you think you can be jokey about it, I can see a context where you could be like ‘no but just so YOU know, I’m a total judgy bitch so I can’t promise the same’ but obviously that’s very situation dependent!)

Oh it’s not me that needs to be worried ….

"awww that's such a shame isn't it"

What is?

That the document didn’t get approved/ we didn’t win the business/ they’re no longer supplying hobknobs in the staff room? Yeah it is.

The patronising remarks? Yeah but I’m used to them.

"Our team has just had diversity and inclusion training, so you're very welcome here"

Cool, keep going with the training - almost there!

You needed training so that disabled people would be welcome?

Really? What would you have said without the training do you think?

Id have hoped to be welcome either way really.

wow, so this is the improved version? Good to know ….

3ciLop · 22/09/2026 18:04

For the 'keep showing up' type comments say 'I say the same about you! With a large wink

Redheadedstepchild · 22/09/2026 18:21

"Everybody has got something."

winkslot · 22/09/2026 18:25

this week i had someone ask me if i've had therapy for it. It threw me so much because no-one has ever asked me that before. I said no. He really recommend it because it helped him so much with his childhood. I was taken aback. I don't mind the personal question if its genuine but didn't like the unsolicited advice that followed it. I just told him i was in a good place and felt confident and dind't need it.

OP posts:
Brightbluesomething · 22/09/2026 18:25

The comments you’re experiencing sound like micro aggressions. If you google how to respond to them there are lots of websites with suggested phrasing to remain neutral and help people see how their behaviour is impacting you. If it doesn’t resolve then this is a HR issue. Don’t just accept it.

winkslot · 22/09/2026 18:27

i'm a contractor whose freelance so these people pay me, i need to not wind them up.

OP posts:
CopiedMyBlottingBook · 22/09/2026 18:31

"I was feeling fine until you said that!"

senua · 22/09/2026 18:37

"Our team has just had diversity and inclusion training, so you're very welcome here"
"Thank you. I'm glad we've got the awkwardness out of the way. I'll let you know if I need any accessibility adjustments. Meanwhile, shall we crack on?"

(Thank you because you want to start with a positive and diffuse the situation, not because you necessarily mean it!)

GrannyAchingsShepherdsHut · 22/09/2026 18:43

Have you tried just 'Pardon?' in a confused tone of voice?

DM does a great 'I don't understand?' 'I don't get it, can you explain?' while looking very ernest and confused, it's surprisingly effective. I can't pull it off, my face betrays me! 😂