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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Help me school this prat at work

334 replies

WobbleHead · 08/03/2018 20:19

IWD today, obvs, so one guy on our team work messaging chat (about 20 people on there) shared this pic. What banter eh.

I replied saying ‘sorry I don’t get it Confused - can you explain the joke’, and he’s said that he will explain to me tomorrow at work, the delight that he is.

Cue others on the chat offering to book a meeting room, film it, send a company wide invite etc so we can all witness his explanation.

I feel like just watching him squirm in front of the whole team won’t be enough, so I wanted to plan a line of questioning or whatnot that would maximise the enjoyment for all involved, except for him, and not make me look like a humourless fun sponge in the process.

Ideas?

Help me school this prat at work
OP posts:
Original poster
WobbleHead · 08/03/2018 21:48

Haha at this thread

OP posts:
Original poster
WobbleHead · 08/03/2018 21:49

Absolutely batshit

OP posts:
Original poster
WobbleHead · 08/03/2018 21:50

Love this: Ash him if it was ironed would he understand what was written on it and the meaning behind it better

OP posts:
MrMeSeeks · 08/03/2018 21:51

you think this is actually funny enough to laugh at, you’re probably one of those people who watches Mrs Brown’s Boys and thinks it’s cute that your DP calls child care “baby sitting”
Never watched Mrs Brown's Boys in my life Hmm

RainbowBriteRules · 08/03/2018 21:58

I laughed Confused. It’s not hugely funny but wouldn’t bother me. For the record I hate Mrs Brown’s Boys with a passion.

I would also be hugely unimpressed if people booked a meeting and wasted my limited work hours to ‘school’ a grown man.

Original poster
WobbleHead · 08/03/2018 21:59

I guess my biggest take out from some posts here is that as long as something is amusing then it gets a free pass to mock an oppressed group. Good to know.

I am contemplating taking in my ironing for him to do now. Will be an arse to get the board on the train though hmm.

OP posts:
Original poster
WobbleHead · 08/03/2018 22:00

Lol at people thinking I’m going to force people to come to a meeting!

OP posts:
CavoliRiscaldati · 08/03/2018 22:05

i think it's funny too.

And women suffering in the world doesn't mean we female are an oppressed group. Hmm

Eveforever · 08/03/2018 22:11

Give him a report card or an assessment. Base it on your work assessment if you have one.

Sense of humour 3/5 Comments: Stuck in the 50's
Grammar 1/5 Comments: Could of been better
Conduct 1/5 Comments: ...

Further comments: This explains why you're single/Your partner deserves a medal.

I have to admit I found his comment funny too. The only reason I can think that I wouldn't see the funny side is if I knew he was asshole and this truly was a dig and a case of laughing at women and not with us.

tumblrpigeon · 08/03/2018 22:12

I laughed too.

And your title is pretty condescending. You don’t get to police his humour

Original poster
WobbleHead · 08/03/2018 22:13

It was a dig. He has form.

OP posts:
bunbunny · 08/03/2018 22:14

For anyone depressed about all those who ask 'when is it International Men's Day/' it's worth reading this thread - Richard Herring (comedian) has spent the day on Twitter answering that very question and raising loads of money and awareness for Refuge in the process... (current total over £114K)

Richard Herring fund raising page with info on

Charolais · 08/03/2018 22:14

I laughed.

Original poster
WobbleHead · 08/03/2018 22:15

Oh so I should just shut up when someone is being a chauvinist?

Make him a sandwich too?

OP posts:
Garmadonsmum · 08/03/2018 22:16

On what planet are women not in an oppressed group?
It’s never a good idea to make a joke about a group of people unless you are a member of that group of people.

Eveforever · 08/03/2018 22:17

Side note, men that say they are babysitting when they are looking after their own children annoys me. They're not trying to be funny, they don't realise that this is actually an admission that they see childcare as being the responsibility of their partners and they are 'helping her out'.

Eveforever · 08/03/2018 22:18

If he has form and you know he wasn't really joking that is different.

CavoliRiscaldati · 08/03/2018 22:18

WobbleHead your attitude is exactly the reason why women struggle to be taken seriously.

RoomOfRequirement · 08/03/2018 22:19

You can see this on Facebook and find it funny.

You can not, however, share this in a WORK chat, with colleagues of the group you're offending, and expect no consequences. It's completely unprofessional and inappropriate, especially considering this attitude regularly holds women back in the workplace.

There's a difference.

CavoliRiscaldati · 08/03/2018 22:20

On what planet are women not in an oppressed group?

I am based in the UK, and was talking about women in my country, not the ones suffering worldwide. How can that not be clear to you.

SkaTastic · 08/03/2018 22:20

I laughed! Loads!

CavoliRiscaldati · 08/03/2018 22:23

he's wrong because a) his grammar b) he forgot that you mustn't make any joke in the workplace where you are guaranteed to offend someone, even if it's about a chicken crossing the road.

Otherwise, it's a funny joke. I saw jokes about car graveyards also being the symbol of the day. I laughed.

Garmadonsmum · 08/03/2018 22:23

I am in the UK, and have been discriminated against at work, due to pregnancy, and sexually assaulted, and subject to many acts of everyday sexism. Women in the UK are still victims of abuse by the male partners and -far too often - murder. This is not Saudi Arabia, this is the UK, and women are oppressed.

Eveforever · 08/03/2018 22:23

I think if you had mentioned in your post that he is forever making chauvinist comments and he isn't really joking, then the reponses to your post may have been different. It's not so much that the commenters are okay with sexism, it's more of a case that without context the 'joke' doesn't seem too bad.

tillytrotter1 · 08/03/2018 22:25

Have you or any other woman ever made what you perceive to be a funny remark at a male colleague? In my experience women expect to be able to hand it out but not to have to take it. It's little wonder that the cause of equality is belittled when this is considered offensive. There must be a huge pile of senses of humour by the door.
A sharp verbal put down if far better than a sulk.