Skip to main content
Skip to main navigation
Skip to talk navigation

Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Saved Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Flip

1 2 3 4

AIBU?

AIBU to take a vow of silence and never talk again? Why am I such an idiot?!

76 replies

BeauMirchoff · 09/07/2017 11:45

I had an induction day at my new job a few days ago. We had a buffet in the afternoon and some of my most senior colleagues attended. I do know most of them because I worked for them on temporary basis last summer.
As I was talking to two of them (very senior, both 20+ years in the job but very approachable and always up for a good laugh), another colleague approached. And as she did, she said something in French and the other colleague said "oh, I have no idea what you said there" and I, with my big mouth, went "oh, she's swearing at you in French!" It was supposed to be a joke and they did laugh but the colleague who said it didn't look pleased. She said "blimey, you need to sort this one out!" and pointed at me.
I was, and still am, MORTIFIED! Why am I such an idiot?! My big effin mouth i swear, next time I'm juta going to stand there and nod.
Please tell me I'm not the only one whose mouth always gets her into trouble?

OP posts:

Share

Report

fuzzywuzzy · 09/07/2017 11:47

It was a joke and taken as such by senior colleagues.

Why was other colleague speaking on French when nobody else did?

MeanAger · 09/07/2017 11:50

My guess is she was trying to exclude you by speaking French and then was mortified that you got the laugh from senior colleagues.

BeauMirchoff · 09/07/2017 11:50

Her job is to do with languages! I think she thought she was being funny... Seriously can't shake off the feeling of total embarrassment!

OP posts:

MeanAger · 09/07/2017 11:54

Yep she did, and was trying to do an "in joke" type of thing to make you aware of your place in the dynamic.

MeanAger · 09/07/2017 11:55

It back fired on her and she was fuming

MeanAger · 09/07/2017 11:55

You unwittingly knocked her back down a peg

Witchend · 09/07/2017 12:08

I think it was rather inappropriate on an induction day really. When you get to know people, and their dynamic, you can make jokes like that. But when you don't know them, particularly if they're senior and you're new it does come across badly.

MeanAger · 09/07/2017 12:10

OP worked with them last summer so there is an established relationship.

KingJoffreysRestingCuntface · 09/07/2017 12:10

You sound epic.

Come and work with me?

putdownyourphone · 09/07/2017 12:13

I don't think it's bad at all - it's funny! She just didn't like it.

sparepantsandtoothbrush · 09/07/2017 12:13

If she knew nobody else speaks French then she was rude before you were!

Just forget about it OP....but watch your back

LittleBooInABox · 09/07/2017 12:15

I'm sorry that's hilarious. Sounds like you put her back in her place!

BeauMirchoff · 09/07/2017 12:16

Witchend - I'm not asking whether what I said was inappropriate or not. Not asking for your judgement. I know perfectly well it was inappropriate since I already said that I feel embarrassed.

OP posts:

Timefortea99 · 09/07/2017 12:17

Really not so bad! Don't beat yourself up!

MikeUniformMike · 09/07/2017 12:21

Don't be embarrassed. Your colleague was a twat in assuming you couldn't understand her. She got caught out. Her bad.

Rachel0Greep · 09/07/2017 12:25

I wouldn't worry one bit about it, OP. Enjoy the new job.

CotswoldStrife · 09/07/2017 12:26

I don't think the speaker was swearing actually, the OP just said she was as a joke.

You'll probably get away with it as a one-off, but if you do have a tendency to 'chip in' with jokes like that you already know that it doesn't always end well!

bluebeck · 09/07/2017 12:28

I think it's really funny. If I had been the other woman I would have said "shhh" to you in a conspiratorial sort of way and laughed it off.

The fact she had the hump speaks volumes and makes me think PP are correct that she was threatened by you and trying to put you in your place. I would avoid her for a bit

FloatyCat · 09/07/2017 12:34

Do be embarrassed you caught her out, she shouldn't have been so rude.

FloatyCat · 09/07/2017 12:34

Should say 'DONT be embarrassed'!

IloveBanff · 09/07/2017 12:46

OP, can you just clarify something please? The colleague who spoke French wasn't swearing really was she? You just said she was as a joke, right? Because I think some of the previous posters think she was swearing and was annoyed you told the others.

Aeroflotgirl · 09/07/2017 12:49

Oh don't worry, the senior collegues did not understand it, she was the rude one. For all they know, she could have been swearing at them in French. Yes I think it did backfire on her!

BeauMirchoff · 09/07/2017 12:50

I don't think she was swearing! All we heard was "douche"
I might avoid her for a bit and maybe just limit myself to 10 words per day

OP posts:

BeauMirchoff · 09/07/2017 12:54

Thanks, bluebeck I would have done the same!

OP posts:

MrsOverTheRoad · 09/07/2017 13:01

She was doing it to exclude you. I saw something similar once. It's a twat's trick.

Flip

1 2 3 4

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.

Trending

Mumsnet Shopping

Sign up to continue reading

Mumsnet's better when you're logged in. You can customise your experience and access way more features like messaging, watch and hide threads, voting and much more.

Continue with Facebook Continue with Google Continue with Apple

Already signed up?