Accidentally said someone wife and daughter didn't look like models

[eedon]

I fully accept I might of been very rude, judging this in words when it was just a flipant remark that I said without thinking.

Just at work, I needed to get some more paper. Accidentally knocked over someones family photo. It was clearly one of those white background studio photos that aren't my cup of tea but anyway I picked it back up and said "they almost look like the people that come free with the frame". He gave me funny look and said nothing, so I just replied " if only they were a bit more model-ly I'd be fooled". He gave an even stranger look and just said thanks.

Should I apologise to him? He must know I was just being friendly? Was this offensive?

You fucking serious ? If that's your idea of friendly I'd hate to be near you when you're being a bitch!

That doesn't sound friendly imho. It sounds sneery. Sorry OP

As I said it was an off the cuff thing without thinking. I was trying to say a complement. But when he didn't understand this I said something silly in a split second.

So you knocked over something, insulted the style of the photo, and then, in an attempt to dig yourself out, insulted their looks.

Good work.

And no don't try and apologise. I'd imagine you'd only make it worse.

What an odd thing to say.

Wasn't there a thread recently about compliments that are actually insults? This one might fit in there nicely.

Oh dear.
Ill-judged but I sympathise as I have brain does not engage before opening mouth syndrome.
In the past week I told someone you need to stroke potential interviewees. I meant their egos but that's not how it sounded

I can't believe you have to ask. That doesn't sound friendly at all. All you needed to do was pick it back up.

Oh dear! I know we've all made mistakes with a slip of the tongue but you really dug yourself a big hole there. I'm not sure bringing it up again would be the best thing to do really...

If that is typical of the "flippant remarks, without thinking", then you need to start to think before you speak, as being positive/nice/friendly/non judgemental/non opinionated, obviously doesn't come naturally to you.

Why? Just say I'm sorry, I can be so clumsy sometimes. Smile and leave it there.

It's not a nice thing to say about someone's family photos. You must know that.

I didn't insult the photo to him.

I just was trying to give a complement to be honest, but spoke over a silence without thinking. Now I feel awful

I think apologising now would make matters worse, just leave it be.

Why did you actually feel the need to comment?

Why not just apologies for your clumsiness and put it back on his desk?

You DID insult the photo to him!

It was quite clearly a family photo and you said "they almost look like the people that come free with the frame"

Hardly a compliment.

Ill-judged but I sympathise as I have brain does not engage before opening mouth syndrome.

Thanks for that. I like your stroking the interviewees, at least no one was personally offended by that one.

And you insinuated he did not have a family, he was just trying to show off that he had, by putting an "empty" frame on his desk!

You DID insult the photo to him!

I really didn't, he must like that kind of photo.

I'm willing to bet you're just like me. Say something and only realise after it may have come out completely different than what I had intended.

Of course he likes that kind of photo, he has it on his desk. Am I missing something here?

Yes looking back at it I should of just said sorry, but its easy to judge these things not in the moment!

You are missing the point, to him it was not really any "kind of photo" but his family, people he loves!