A few days ago, I was corresponding with my friend G about moments where social faux pas were committed. I realized, to my horror, that I had enough of them for an entire post...
1. I used to volunteer as an ESL teacher. One class, I had a co-teacher who was right out of college, going into grad school to be a professional ESL teacher. He showed up and said, "I brought my bag of tricks!" And I blurted out, "What, from Spartacus?" (a local porn/sex toy shop.) We were teaching class in a church. AND he had no idea what I was talking about. Luckily that was the last class for the term.
2. At an editorial board meeting, when I was a reporter, I walked in and saw one of my contacts from a federal agency who I hadn't seen for a few months. Since then, he had changed his hairstyle from something relatively mundane into something that looked like one of the Everly brothers. I was so taken aback that I blurted out (in front of a bunch of federal officials and my boss), "Ed! I haven't seen you since the new hair!" I meant hair style, but it sounded like Hair Club for Men, didn't it? He just looked at me and said, "Same hair." Somehow I recovered my balance and we had the meeting.
3. At another newspaper where I worked, my executive editor, who had a relatively foul mouth and fun sense of humor, announced to the newsroom, "My wife is pregnant again! I'm getting too old for this! Cancer doctor told me we couldn't have any more!" So I blurted out, in front of a dozen people, "So this was a surprise?" Later I brought in a cake to celebrate and he told me, "I'm surprised you didn't have them put little squiggles on it."
4. Comparing notes on spam at work one morning, I told my boss that we were all rich, since I had won a Nigerian lottery. He said even better, we could all get discounts on viagra. I said, "So let's go party and stay up all night!" TOTALLY DID NOT REALIZE WHAT I SAID. He gave me a funny look and I ran off to a meeting. Fortunately that kept me out of sight for a few hours.
I am embarrassed to tell you that I have many, many more, but this post is too long already. Don't ask me why most of these seem to happen at work. Wait, I know...a faux pas is defined as "a violation of acceptable social norms." I suppose we don't have many of those at home.
15 comments:
I wouldn't say "faux pas". Instead, I would say, "perfect comedic timing."
Still doesn't quite match up to my blog post about stuffing envelopes though.
Fortunately, for the longest time I was never the victim of social faux pas, but instead a person to whom faux pas were thrown at on a daily basis.
I thought these were funny, but I'm the sort who likes this sort of humor.
Come on and admit that these were strategically planned:) Often your life does seem a comedy routine.
So funny - lol over here. :)
G: Yes, yours was superior...I like "perfect comedic timing."
M: I am, too...when they happen to someone else!
GA: It does feel like that sometimes (the routine.) But no, these were totally spontaneous. Obviously I did not consult my brain before speaking.
L: Glad you enjoyed!
Oh, Chica, you crack me up! The first two are priceless, and I would love to hear the ones you can't post on blogger! E-MAIL ME!! lol
those things are always better when unexpected.
Regarding the unexpected pregnancy...just be glad you did not say, "Oh, it must be someone elses"...
How come none of what you wrote here surprises me? :D
I've always though the Everly Brother's hair was pretty tame!
L: Check your e-mail ;)
Darth: I wish I would have thought of that!
Joey: It surprised me, because my brain didn't catch anything on the way to my mouth ;)
Why does this not surprise me at all? lol
H: I wonder ;)
haha, the viagra one was hilarious! its a good thing that the people you know seem to have a sense of humor about it :)
then again, those are the best ppl to work with.
These are all hilarious, but it's the last line of the post that really cracks me up!
Haha. This was fun. Considering how they might light up the room, in laughter or embarrassment, am I allowed to say More power to the Faux Pas? :-)
AZ: Yeah, they are!
MZ: Thanks ;)
Anil: Yes, you are!
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