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Original poster

Open mouth, insert foot

37 replies

Seafog · 23/04/2021 02:34

I had one of those moments today at work, where your mouth runs three steps ahead of the brain.
A lady was at the counter to pay for her purchase, and was rummaging in her purse for her wallet.
She said, "Sorry, I find it so hard to see with this mask." and without thinking, I replied, "Then you should try using your eyes!"

As soon as the words were out of my mouth, I was apologizing. Thank God she laughed!

In the moment, I thought I had just lost a great little jobBlush.

I wish I could say this is the first time my mouth has run away without me, and it will probably happen again, and it might not be with someone who takes it well.
Anyone else have a foot in mouth thing going on?

OP posts:
mdinbc · 23/04/2021 03:00

Strangely enough, I find my mask does impede my field of vision, especially looking downward. Good thing she had a laugh with you.
Smile

Hopdathelf · 23/04/2021 08:27

You’ve had a lucky escape. That wasn’t foot in mouth it was just rude.

someoneiou · 23/04/2021 08:30

Haha that's funny! But something to keep in your head obviously.

Rude when it comes out of your mouth.

Working in customer services is stressful. I never understood why people don't have their payment ready when they've been queuing. Like it's a surprise you have to pay at the till?!

EvilOnion · 23/04/2021 08:33

I'd have thought that was sarcastic/rude rather than a foot in mouth moment tbh. Not the same thing!

I struggle to come up with appropriate reactions/words sometimes and have had a fair few awkward moments as a result Blush

LaMarschallin · 23/04/2021 08:43

I just wouldn't have seen it as rude; I'd have assumed you were making a joke and been impressed that it was quite a quick retort.

At the risk of sounding like a tinkly laughing, head tilting MNer: did you actually mean to be rude or were you just making a joke?

PegPeople · 23/04/2021 08:48

@Hopdathelf

You’ve had a lucky escape. That wasn’t foot in mouth it was just rude.
I agree. It wasn't a foot in the mouth moment at all it was a really unnecessary and unkind retort.

I think it's quite telling that you admit you've done similar before and that you know you will make similar comments in the future. Surley you should be making a conscious effort to adapt your behaviour so it doesn't happen again?

LudoBear · 23/04/2021 09:28

I have adhd. This is me on a daily basis. I'm sure I sound rude but things either come out wrong or I say things I shouldn't. I try my hardest not to but its so difficult.

LudoBear · 23/04/2021 09:30

I once told a lady she could go home and "open her legs" instead of "put your legs up". I was working in a supermarket and she said she'd been on the go all day but was finally going home.

WonkyWhiteLavender · 23/04/2021 09:45

I once told a customer that I loved her.It was my last day in the job, and I had been daydreaming about going on holiday with my husband the next day. Luckily she didn't hear me.

the80sweregreat · 23/04/2021 09:55

My mask stops me talking , seeing or managing to walk in a straight line or even hearing properly , so I would have laughed too as it's true in my case! I don't hate wearing them as they are necessary, but I do struggle when I put it on. ( the hearing is probably old age to be fair)

the80sweregreat · 23/04/2021 09:57

@LudoBear

I once told a lady she could go home and "open her legs" instead of "put your legs up". I was working in a supermarket and she said she'd been on the go all day but was finally going home.
I would have laughed at that too!
pheasantlysuprised · 23/04/2021 10:13

I had ran into a supermarket once and grabbed a load of snacks for the long journey we had planned. I didn't use a basket (stupid really) and just had a huge pile of bits in my hands.

I plonked them down on the little kiosk and remarked how I didn't have enough hands... the man serving me looked me dead in the face and told me well he only had one ( he had two but the use of one )

I've never felt so awful, I ran out and told dh who explained the guy had a stroke or something similar years ago ( I can't remember the exact story behind it). He had worked there years ago whilst doing his night classes so knew exactly who I was talking about.

3 years later I still remember how much i wish I kept my silly comment to myself but I honestly hadn't noticed that the man only had use of one hand or I never would have said it!

KeepSmiling89 · 23/04/2021 10:16

Haha! I would've laughed at that...mainly because that's my DH's sense of humor and I'm used to it now.

Risky move OP but glad you got a customer with a sense of humour.

JackieTheFart · 23/04/2021 10:16

it was a really unnecessary and unkind retort

Confused really?! You wouldn’t have thought it was a daft ‘dad joke’?

I really think most people would think it was a daft joke, I’m agog anyone would think anything else tbh.

Whinge · 23/04/2021 10:35

@JackieTheFart

it was a really unnecessary and unkind retort

Confused really?! You wouldn’t have thought it was a daft ‘dad joke’?

I really think most people would think it was a daft joke, I’m agog anyone would think anything else tbh.

A few others on the thread seem to think it was rude. I guess it depends on how the OP said it. It could be taken as a daft attempt at humour or a rude reply.
PegPeople · 23/04/2021 10:41

@JackieTheFart

it was a really unnecessary and unkind retort

Confused really?! You wouldn’t have thought it was a daft ‘dad joke’?

I really think most people would think it was a daft joke, I’m agog anyone would think anything else tbh.

From someone I knew like my dad sure I'd laugh but if the response came from me apologising to a stranger as outlined in the OPs post yes I would think it was rude.

I would probably say it was fine when they started apologising because that's what most people would instinctively do but that doesn't mean I wouldn't have thought it a rude and unnecessary comment.

MonkeyNotOrgangrinder · 23/04/2021 10:46

@pheasantlysuprised

I had ran into a supermarket once and grabbed a load of snacks for the long journey we had planned. I didn't use a basket (stupid really) and just had a huge pile of bits in my hands.

I plonked them down on the little kiosk and remarked how I didn't have enough hands... the man serving me looked me dead in the face and told me well he only had one ( he had two but the use of one )

I've never felt so awful, I ran out and told dh who explained the guy had a stroke or something similar years ago ( I can't remember the exact story behind it). He had worked there years ago whilst doing his night classes so knew exactly who I was talking about.

3 years later I still remember how much i wish I kept my silly comment to myself but I honestly hadn't noticed that the man only had use of one hand or I never would have said it!

I think it was him who should have kept his silly comment to himself, not you. Unless he was having a bit of a laugh with you? It's a common thing for people to say, that they need more hands or haven't got enough hands.
BrownEyedGirl80 · 23/04/2021 10:54

In the work staff room we were talking about kids and if we'd have any more "no chance I'm far too old" then remembered that my colleague had a dc at the same age 10 years ago.I felt awful and apologised sincerely.

wombatsandaplant · 23/04/2021 11:01

I was working as a hospital Porter. And had gone to collect a man from the vascular ward. We were transporting him in his bed and I said please keep your fingers in the bed so we don’t chop them off. He’d recently had his leg amputated. Awkward silence with me, him and the student nurse. Then I realised what I’d said. Yeah, oops.

SwanShaped · 23/04/2021 11:03

I would have thought it was a joke. A silly joke. Not rude at all. It’s a play on words.

Halo1234 · 23/04/2021 11:12

Someone made me laugh and as I was laughing I said "aww I love you" wtaf cringe factor was off the scale. I didnt love him no idea why I said that. He just looked at me and did a awkward nod. My mouth spoke with no engagement with my brian.

thelegohooverer · 23/04/2021 11:30

Makes me think of “use your open eye Frank” so I’d have laughed.

I put my foot in my mouth so regularly that there isn’t a single incident that stands out. But then I freeze, which makes it a million times worse. If I could just keep prattling it wouldn’t be so mortifying.

Clevererthanyou · 23/04/2021 11:44

After my dads funeral I was guided to stand by the family car outside the crematorium and receive people (I didn't know this was a thing and I was bawling my eyes out). My best friend gave me a cuddle and she was crying but she said "I'm so sorry Clever" and as we cuddled and cried I actually said "I'm sorry too". Tbf she's never said anything but it makes me cringe.

apalledandshocked · 23/04/2021 12:32

@Hopdathelf

You’ve had a lucky escape. That wasn’t foot in mouth it was just rude.
Surely the point is that its a play on words/taking the expression "with this mask" literally. As such it isnt patronising or rude - just a silly joke. But if the other person didnt get that then it comes across as rude - like she wasnt looking properly. I would have found it funny anyway or stared blankly and only realise the joke after I'd left the shop
nitsandwormsdodger · 23/04/2021 16:25

I think people are miss understanding the op
The customer said she was using her mask to see so op suggested she use her eyes rather than the mask
I can see how it could have been taken as rude

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