Boss called me an elephant at work

[feeIingaggrieved]

My boss made a comment at work today and I can’t work out if I’m overreacting.

We were having a fairly normal conversation when, out of nowhere, he called me an elephant. I must have looked a bit taken aback because he quickly tried to laugh it off and said something along the lines of, “Oh, but elephants are the most intelligent creatures in the animal kingdom, they’re emotionally intelligent etc.”

A colleague who was there quickly changed the subject, and I just sort of let it go in the moment.

But the more I think about it, the more uncomfortable I feel. I’m struggling to see how comparing me to an elephant in front of colleagues is appropriate.

AIBU to be annoyed by this?

In what context was this said?

Were you remembering niche bits of information from yonks ago before that comment?

Context is everything here. Was he saying it in relation to memory, size, speed, maternal instinct, ear size…? All would have very different connotations.

Weight? Very upset.
Saying you never forget things- would depend if it was a dig or not.

There is someone in my work affectionately referred to as the elephant as she has been there longer than anyone else and has an encyclopedia level knowledge of what we do. I wonder was in meant in a complimentary way but delivered very clumsily.

What’s the context? Were you talking about the weather and he shouted elephant? How did this come about?

It wasn’t “out of nowhere”, op, don’t be so dramatic.
Why won’t you say what the context was?

Have you large ears?

Elephant = never forgets
Elephant = fat / large
Elephant = As in elephant in the room, saying what others fear to say?

Which one?

Does your nose touch the floor?

Just how big are your ears????

Yeah, we definitely need more context, to decide how he intended it,

Also to know in what way you have taken it?

Are you touched on the solid side or do you have a memory of an elephant??

I know how I would have taken it because my memory is shocking and I'm definitely overweight! 🐘

Really, context is everything. Because the first thing that springs to mind for me is 'an elephant never forgets'. So I can see a circumstance where the boss says something, you correct him or add some detail and they say something like 'feelingaggrieved is like an elephant!'. On its own it sounds bad, hut if they just meant you remember everything......

Would you describe your back as hirsute?

To be honest im that sort of person that would still be laughing about.
A laughing in his face off how stupid it is knowing i find the funny in everything.

'An elephant never forgets'- I'm another that thinks this was probably a jokey compliment, unless there's a drip feed here. I'm waiting to hear the context.

Eh?

It was just a silly comment. I would say forget it but I know you'll find that impossible....

Waiting for the context. If you're a ballet dancer, then it's rude, if you're a long serving librarian it's probably not.

Do you have knees instead of elbows, large ears or an extremely long nose?

Are you overweight? If so then I'd take that personally in a bad way. If not then it's probably a compliment. Context would be nice though.

I'm sure you weren't just discussing the week's sales figures or discussing team dynamics and he just shouted elephant at yiu.

Context would help.

Is your name Nellie?

Have you just said goodbye to the circus?

What's with all the threads every night that give no context?

Pointless.

Have you got massive incisors?

Post and disappear, too.