# Small, but emotionally devastating social mishaps **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 1, 2004, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/small-but-emotionally-devastating-social-mishaps/253048 "2004-07-01T14:16:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![Silver\_Fire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@Silver\_Fire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Fire)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2004, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/small-but-emotionally-devastating-social-mishaps/253048/141 "2004-07-03T23:45:58Z")
So the other day I brought my brother’s girlfriend to the Veteran’s Home to visit her mother. While we waited for the elevator, two gentlemen in wheelchairs rolled up. Now, for some reason, it’s almost impossible to wheel yourself into an elevator; I honestly don’t know why, because I’ve never had occasion to use one. Anyway, this girl and I have been to this home many times, and we like to help people out. So we get these gentlemen into the elevator, facing the back wall because, apparently, it’s easier for them to get themselves back out that way. It’s just the four of us and my son, who’s in a stroller. The gentlemen tell us their floors, and I push the appropriate buttons. This girl says, “Okay, everyone ready? Yeah? No limbs sticking out [into the door]…” ## At which point she realizes that at least one gentlemen is short a leg… she looked like this :eek: until the elevator stopped. Me: Thank you for calling Wal-Mart, this is Sarah. How may I help you? Problem the first - at the time, I’d never worked for Wal-Mart. Problem the second - I was currently employed with a Wal-Mart competitor within a stone’s throw to an actual Wal-Mart. I tried, probably unsuccessfully, to convince the women on the other end that, yes, she must have dialed the wrong number and, no, this was not Pamida… even though it was. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![sperfur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9adbd/32.png) [@sperfur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sperfur)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2004, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/small-but-emotionally-devastating-social-mishaps/253048/142 "2004-07-04T00:38:07Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > I have a nagging fear that this will slip out sometime. > > Ivylad calls me at work, and after we’re done talking, we hang up with an “I love you,” “I love you too.” > > One of these days I’m going to be talking to someone in our New York office about a new client, discussing the flight dates and the length of the commercials, and I’m going to close out with an “I love you.” > > :eek: I have done this more than once. Luckily, its always been someone I work with a lot on the other end of the phone and they laugh and say “I love you, too.” > [@hillbilly queen](#): > > When you call someone to leave a message on their answering machine, but SURPRISE! they took a day off work. You really don’t want to talk to them because they’re longwinded, so you hang up. Then they call back because they saw you on their caller I.D. Done this before, too. Pretended I’d dialed the wrong number and hung up when I realized it. > [@Ross](#): > > For example, the sidestep shuffle where you can’t get past someone in a corridor… obviously your anxiety grows as the dance progesses, so eventually you may as well punch the dude. That increases your anxiety fruther, because after all, he’s your boss and future father-in-law. So your adrenaline levels increase. So whack him again. Down he goes. Repeat until you decide to try the other option, and run off screaming. Try to head for home, that’s what I always do, it makes it easier for the cops to pick you up. I _thought_ that this was the funniest thing I’d read in months. Then I read this: > [@Beelzebubba](#): > > See, my wife has brown hair, wears glasses, and at the time drove a green Ford Escort. Said friend was leaving the grocery store, and spotted a brown-haired bespectacled woman sitting in a green Ford Escort. > > Said friend ran up, plastered her face on the windshield, and proceeded to make silly faces. > > At some one she had never seen before in her life. > > Instead of sticking around to explain, she simply collected her composure (dignity having fled the scene) and walked away. > > I’ve often wondered what that woman thought… > [@OpalCat](#): > > Here is a weird thing: my cousin and my mom have a very strong family resemblance. It’s her brother’s daughter, so you wouldn’t think it was too strange that they look so much alike, right? Until you realize that my mom and her brother are both adopted. At different times. From different birth parents. It’s eerie. In one of our wedding pictures, **withaK** and I are standing with his 6-year-old niece. In that picture, she looks just like _both of us_. Its so strange to see that little kid, no blood relation to me, who looks like she could be our daughter. Needless to say, this particular niece is my favorite. (BAD AUNT **SPERFUR** , playing favorites!) Well, there are other reasons - she’s the only one that started calling me Aunt right away, she hugs me all the time and tells me she loves me, stuff like that. Besides, she’s adorable - she looks just like me! Please don’t tell the other three. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Harriet\_the\_Spry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e56c9b/32.png) [@Harriet\_the\_Spry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harriet_the_Spry)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2004, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/small-but-emotionally-devastating-social-mishaps/253048/143 "2004-07-04T01:15:48Z")
The GOOD MORNING/GOOD AFTERNOON GAME. Working as a telephone customer service rep, I tried to greet each customer with a cheery Good morning/ Good afternoon XYZ Corp. But WAY too many times I said Good morning in the afternoon and Good afternoon in the morning. First I made myself a little sign to flip at lunch to remind myself. Then I gave up. A variation on that is with international conference calls. Depending on how many continents are represented, you might as well sign off with “Good luck!” The COMPULISVE READER. A lot of people will absentmindedly read roadside signs out loud when they are riding in the car. My grandma was a great one for this, as well as just generally reading headlines, cereal boxes, etc. Later in life she suffered brain damage. She could still read the stuff, but did not understand the meaning at all. She once sat in our living room and had picked up a copy of a younger relative’s High Times, and was treating us to a few headlines. I remember something about Willie Nelson and tax evasion … ---
**Author:** ![Wikkit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c0e974/32.png) [@Wikkit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wikkit)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2004, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/small-but-emotionally-devastating-social-mishaps/253048/144 "2004-07-04T02:33:10Z")
A few weekends ago I ran into one of my best friends from high school. I hadn’t seen him since then, about four years ago. For the entire conversation, I thought he was his older brother. Somewhat understandable, because they look a lot alike, but I still felt like a total idiot when I figured it out later. Thankfully, I probably won’t see him again for another six years. Hopefully he’ll have forgotten by then. I won’t, of course, because my subconscious likes to dig fun little memories like that out any time I’m in a good mood. ---
**Author:** ![Rdshooze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e9a140/32.png) [@Rdshooze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rdshooze)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2004, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/small-but-emotionally-devastating-social-mishaps/253048/145 "2004-07-04T02:45:07Z")
I was out dancing at a club one night when I noticed that a lot of people seemed to be watching me. It’s true, I thought, I do look especially fetching this evening. I decided to stay out on the floor for a couple more songs, just to make the most of my 15 minutes of fame. It was only when I turned to go back to my table that I noticed the long piece of toilet paper trailing out from under my skirt and onto the dance floor . . . ---
**Author:** ![medstar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f07891/32.png) [@medstar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/medstar)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2004, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/small-but-emotionally-devastating-social-mishaps/253048/146 "2004-07-04T02:45:20Z")
My pet peeve is walking to catch a bus or subway train. I walk quickly and decisively to the spot where I will get on the bus or train and inevitably, some space cadet will walk into me, suddenly wake up, and glare at me like it’s my fault. This space cadet is usually digging into a purse or briefcase, talking on a cellphone or otherwise being too distracted to watch where they’re going. I’ve even had people bump into me when I’m standing still and still get annoyed with me. ---
**Author:** ![Trillionaire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/aeb1de/32.png) [@Trillionaire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trillionaire)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2004, 10:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/small-but-emotionally-devastating-social-mishaps/253048/147 "2004-07-04T10:39:40Z")
**HAVING TO SAY A FINAL GOODBYE TO A FEMALE YOU DON’T KNOW ESPECIALLY WELL.** This is really for the guys only: I’m talking about that awkward situation where a girl (say in your office) is leaving for good, and you have to decide how to farewell her. Your not sure whether to give her a peck on the cheek, a hug, a handshake etc, so instead of risking embarrassment you keep your distance, give her a stupid grin and a wave and say something like “OK good luck, see you round…” If it’s another guy there’s absolutely no problem: you just shake his hand. Makes no difference whether its your best friend, your brother or some dude you only met that morning. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2004, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/small-but-emotionally-devastating-social-mishaps/253048/148 "2004-07-06T20:01:33Z")
> [@Ferret Herder](#): > > I had someone do that to me on a plane. I checked her ticket when she showed it to me. I said yes, you’re in seat 29A - but you should be on a plane to New York. This is a plane to Washington DC. I used to fly the same route every Monday morning and had the schedule timing down pat, arriving just before it’s departure. One Monday, some guy was in my seat but, so as not to delay the plane’s take-off, I followed the stewardess’ suggestion and just grabbed an empty one. We taxi and then the announcer gives some instructions, followed by “… and we hope you have a pleasant flight to New Orleans.” I turned to the guy next to me and said “Heh, she said New Orleans.” He goes “Yeah, so?” They’d changed gates for the flight departing to Dallas but the ticket attendant, me and the stewardess all missed the fact I was getting on the wrong freakin’ flight. The worst part was having to call my coworkers and tell them why I was calling from a pay phone in Louisiana. ---
**Author:** ![AngelicGemma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/439d5e/32.png) [@AngelicGemma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AngelicGemma)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2004, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/small-but-emotionally-devastating-social-mishaps/253048/149 "2004-07-06T21:02:19Z")
> [@Maastricht](#): > > **THE PAINFUL COMPLIMENT** > > “Oh! I can see the family resemblance !” > > “That’s my stepbrother.” I’ve had worse. “Oh! I can see the family resemblance!” “That’s my boyfriend.” Yes. My boyfriend has been mistaken for my brother. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![the\_Lady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bb73d2/32.png) [@the\_Lady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_Lady)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2004, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/small-but-emotionally-devastating-social-mishaps/253048/150 "2004-07-06T22:09:55Z")
> [@Thaumaturge](#): > > I have a slight problem with saying you’re welcome to people that said thank you. I say thank you back at them when I mean you’re welcome. In a similar vein, I hate, hate, HATE it when I say “you’re welcome” when the other person hasn’t said “thank you” And I do it all the time! ---
**Author:** ![the\_Lady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bb73d2/32.png) [@the\_Lady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_Lady)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2004, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/small-but-emotionally-devastating-social-mishaps/253048/151 "2004-07-06T22:18:34Z")
> [@Antigen](#): > > How about the dreaded **GENDER-VAGUE NAME MISHAP**? > > …I dial the number, and a woman answers in French. Not surprising, since I’m in Quebec and all. “Hi, may I speak to Madame Michelle Whatever?” > > Silence. A long, odd silence, convincing me I’ve done something very wrong. Then a snotty voice asking “you mean \*Monsieur **Michel** \* Whatever.” > > Danielle/Daniel, Michelle/Michel, René/Renée. Enough to drive you mad I’m on the other end of that. It’s really not that bad. Y’see - my name is Jocelyn. To many French speakers, this is a man’s name. (Jocelyne or Jocelynne is the female version) I never had problems with this, until I married and took my husband’s French last name. If I know I’m writing to somewhere where French is spoken I’ll sign Jocelyn Random-French-Name (Mrs.) I’ll admit it offends my vaguely feminist sensitivities, but probably saves the occasional person from embarassment. ---
**Author:** ![Chastain86](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Chastain86](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chastain86)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2004, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/small-but-emotionally-devastating-social-mishaps/253048/152 "2004-07-06T22:28:12Z")
[The newest addition to the Chastain Stupidity Hall of Fame.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=265148) #8,047 of an ongoing series. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![delphica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9a140/32.png) [@delphica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/delphica)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2004, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/small-but-emotionally-devastating-social-mishaps/253048/153 "2004-07-06T23:54:26Z")
> [@Moody Bastard](#): > > I’ve recently developed a rather moronic variation on this, and that is- > > **NOT RECOGNIZING SOMEONE YOU’VE MET SEVERAL TIMES AT LEAST, AND REMAINING CLUELESS AS THEY PROCEED TO GREET YOU WARMLY** I’ll see your **NOT RECOGNIZING SOMEONE YOU’VE MET SEVERAL TIMES AT LEAST, AND REMAINING CLUELESS AS THEY PROCEED TO GREET YOU WARMLY** , and raise you a **THE LIGHT DAWNS, AND THEY REALIZE YOU HAD NO IDEA WHO THEY ARE**. I have no poker face, none. I can usually do a fairly decent job of pretending I know who the person is, by making random small talk, like “so, any big vacation plans this summer?” At that point, I’m hoping I don’t figure it out, because when I do, I get this big wide eyed, jaw dropped look going on, and the person says “You didn’t know who I was, did you?” Naturally, I can’t lie to save my life either. Speaking of vacation, I’m also a champ at **MY MOM’S FUNERAL WASN’T A VACATION** , which is where I assume that someone who has been out of the office was on vacation. Especially if it’s around, say Memorial Day or some other time when people take vacations. “Hey Jim, how was your trip? You look great! Where’d ya go?” Jim of course replies “I was at my mom’s funeral.” Oh. Sorry about that. I now overcorrect for this by refusing to acknowledge anyone’s vacation unless I was personally on a beach with them, which makes me seem even more rude, but at least it beats telling people that they seem to have gotten a lot of sun when Grandma kicked the bucket. My example of this next one is rather specific, but a broader concept is underneath, I think. The ol’ **TRYING TO EASE SOMEONE ELSE’S MORTIFICATION BY SAYING A COMPLETELY INAPPROPRIATE THING**. A few times I have been out with my brother, and we have been mistaken for a couple. Well, we are a couple OF PEOPLE, but not, ya know, a romantic couple. Waitress: You two are so cute together! Us: Uh, thanks. Waitress: It’s always nice to see people enjoying themselves on a date. Young love! Me & Brother: (in our heads) Ack! Ugh! Dog germs! Ack! Me & Brother: (out loud) That’s my sister/brother. Waitress: Oh! I’m so sorry! How embarassing! Me: Oh no, don’t be! I would date him! Um, I mean I would date him if he wasn’t my brother. What I mean is, I know he’s a great boyfriend. Well, I don’t _know,_ obviously. Ha. Ha. But I imagine he’d be a great boyfriend. Not that I’ve given this much thought. For someone who wasn’t me, that is. Or someone who wasn’t related to him. Like other people. Again, people who aren’t his sister. (I’m saying all this because all the circuits in my brain get fried when I’m faced with someone else’s mortification) Waitress: (silence) Brother: She was dropped on her head as a baby, you know. I also offer up **NOT KNOWING SOMEONE’S NAME, AND LETTING THIS GO UNTIL IT’S MUCH, MUCH TOO LATE TO ASK**. We have a vendor we’ve used for years, and I somehow missed one of the rep’s names. I kept thinking I would eventually pick it up from an order form, or phone message or something like that, but it’s never happened. I’ve seen this guy once a month for SEVEN YEARS (I’m not even kidding). How can I ask now? ---
**Author:** ![Eats\_Crayons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/278dde/32.png) [@Eats\_Crayons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eats_Crayons)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2004, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/small-but-emotionally-devastating-social-mishaps/253048/154 "2004-07-07T00:39:02Z")
> [@the Lady](#): > > In a similar vein, I hate, hate, HATE it when I say “you’re welcome” when the other person hasn’t said “thank you” > And I do it all the time! I’m Canadian, so I’m, y’know, pathologically polite. I got pulled over at a radar trap on the way out of a teensy rural town that is on a backroad alternative to my then-commuter route. I wasn’t going super-fast, I just had that rural-road-no-sense-of-speed thing happening. (Lucky for me they didn’t catch me coming _into_ the little town at Mach 10). Cop handed me a ticket, and as he turned to walk away I said a chipper “Thank you!.. Er, well, not ‘thanks’ but…” Cop answered “I know what you mean…” …I think I now actually say “thank you” instead of “goodbye.” ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2004, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/small-but-emotionally-devastating-social-mishaps/253048/155 "2004-07-07T00:49:11Z")
I have done the ‘not knowing your name’ thing and got caught so bad. I was working in three different restaurants at the time. That’s a lot of busboys and dishwashers in addition to the clientel. At some point I gave up trying and coasted a couple of months on ‘Hey, how’s it going’ and the like. It was a chef, who caught on, and when I was next in the kitchen, he leaned across the line and asked, " You don’t know my name do you?", I blushed and hurried out. I thought he might leave it between us, but nooooo. Every time I went into the kitchen, to get food, all night, he’d point to a dishwasher or whoever was there and demand, “What is his name?”, and they were universally stunned and offended I did not know. It was a crushing shift to work through, I will never forget it. Offending your friends mother, also done it. I’m in Singapore, some friends I’m staying with, we’re headed to Grandma’s house and grand-daughter keeps refering to her as ‘amah’, the way we might say Nana. Anyhoo, I’ve heard the gdaughter do this several times. So, innocently, as we are exiting the car to “amah’s” house I use the term. A pregnant pause ensues and I know immediately it was wrong. As she comes around the car I ask my friend if I just now called her mother a maid or servant? She smiles and says yeah, pretty much, intonation is everything in chinese my friends. I burn with shame whenever I think of it. I can’t believe no one else has yet mentioned the crying on the plane humiliation. I don’t mean the tearful goodbye to friends or family at the gate as you board. No, I mean after that, after you’ve calmed yourself all down from that while you were waiting to board. And you board quietly and all seems well, and as the plane taxis down the runway you just burst out in tears. I was leaving someone dear to me but I was an adult, it was my choice, I was going a long way home, I’m not sure why, I was so startled when it happened. Tears and humiliation in one. My poor husband, caught entirely off guard. And the stewardesses were very concerned, when they enquired he replyed, ‘She’s going to miss her friend, is all.’ There it is, the tribeca of humiliation. I’m gonna go now cause I’m a little embarassed to be honest… ---
**Author:** ![bughunter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aeb1de/32.png) [@bughunter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bughunter)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2004, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/small-but-emotionally-devastating-social-mishaps/253048/156 "2004-07-07T01:35:02Z")
Well, I’ve invented several, it appears. First is the **Malingering Anal Vapors**. I was in Nordstrom’s at Santa Anita this spring, preparing to take the escalator up. I knew that I was likely to vent my colon before reaching the top, and so I stopped and let the other people board first, out of consideration. Halfway up, sure enough… a silent but deadly escapes me. But there was still no one on the escalator behind me. Good. I reach the top and head for the store exit, forgetting about the incident. Until I’m halfway to the doors, when I hear from behind me “Auugh!” “Ewww!” “Oh Sweet _Jesus!_” and I turn to see a small crowd of people stumbling off the top of the escalator, glaring at me. "Oops. Sorry. " 😃 Second is the **Red-handed Eavesdropper**. My wife and I are both incurable eavesdroppers. If we are in public and we hear another interesting conversation, ours will stop and we will listen in. We even have a signal, for “are you listening to that?” (It’s the smoothing out the eyebrow gesture.) But sometimes our victims are too savvy. Or we’re just not slick enough. And the conversation stops and we get a glare or two from the other party. “Oops. Sorry.” 😃 Third is **Not Expecting to Meet You Here**. So once, many many years ago, I was at the local video store, you know, that one that has a back room with a curtained entrance, and a sign reading “No one under 18 allowed.” And I emerged from said room bearing an armload of boxes bearing titles like “Ass Bonanza,” “Girls Who Love Their Toys,” and “Zoophilic Lesbian Midget Shemale Gangbang 23.” (Just curious, you know.) And Lo and Behold, there’s my bosses’ wife, with her two school-age children, renting Disney movies. And the encounter starts with “Oh, Hi bughunter!” and then she notices what her children are staring at: my selections. “Umm… well we have to run.” And it ends with me stammering, “Oh… hello… there, Stella.” 😃 Fourth is similar, titled **Not Expecting to uh… Meet… uh… what was I gonna say?**. I had just started at my first job out of college, in a small town in Ventura County, and I was living in a corporate apartment while finding my own place. So I get off work, go home, smoke a bowl of some real dank bud, get the munchies, and wander down to Vons for some chili dog fixins. While browsing the aisles, I hear “Hi-diddle-o, Bughunter!” Turns out, half the damn staff lives in that same apartment complex, and the nerdiest, squarest, most Ned Flanderish guy at work has to find me standing in front of the Fritos trying to make the monumental decision between regular and chili cheese flavor. Worse, I am so stoned I can’t even make eye contact, much less talk. And he wants to have a friendly conversation. At least I still had my sunglasses on. “Oh. Hi, Ned.” 🆒 And finally there’s, **They Remember but You Don’t**. I had my bachelor party on a Thursday night at the Gordon Biersch in Old Town Pasadena. They have a meeting room up stairs behind the bar. My friends got me rip roaring drunk. And brought in a stripper. And the room has a picture window looking out on the patio of the ritziest restaurant in Old Town… so they had to rig up curtains. And it got worse. Let’s just say that eventually I decorated three bathrooms and the patio outside with my dinner and an entire liquor cabinet worth of spirits. I barely remember it. Except for the vomiting parts. (Woo hoo!) Anyway, it’s also one of my wife’s favorite places. And she was unaware of what had transpired there. So a few months after the wedding, she wants to eat at Gordon Biersch. I figure, hey it’s been long enough, right? But I forgot it was a Thursday. As soon as we get there, I can tell the hostess recognizes me. “Oh, Hi Mr. bughunter.” Mrs. bughunter glances at me sideways. “Oh. Heh. Hi.” 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Fionn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Fionn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fionn)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2004, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/small-but-emotionally-devastating-social-mishaps/253048/157 "2004-07-07T02:54:05Z")
**The Mental Block** For whatever reason, certain pieces of information just will not stick in my brain. Usually, these are small things-a rarely-seen tattoo on a someone’s back, a friend’s middle name, what a coworker’s SO does for a living-but I hate asking the same question on multiple occassions. “So, what kind of tattoo do you have?” “We’ve had this conversation.” “Right.” “So, he works at a doctor’s office?” “He’s a waiter.” ---
**Author:** ![Skully](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f04885/32.png) [@Skully](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skully)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2004, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/small-but-emotionally-devastating-social-mishaps/253048/158 "2004-07-07T03:56:26Z")
\*\* Running away when you do not know the answer to something. \*\* When someone asks me a question I don’t know (at work) I say hold on a second and just leave and never return. \*\* When the excuse is that he does not want to die \*\* I hate it when I get legitimately mad at someone for being late and it turns out they are a diabetic who had to stop for lunch. “I’m sorry to keep you waiting but if I don’t eat I can’t take my insulin, and if I don’t get my insulin…” you would die, I know. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2004, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/small-but-emotionally-devastating-social-mishaps/253048/159 "2004-07-07T04:03:52Z")
> [@delphica](#): > > I also offer up **NOT KNOWING SOMEONE’S NAME, AND LETTING THIS GO UNTIL IT’S MUCH, MUCH TOO LATE TO ASK**. > We have a vendor we’ve used for years, and I somehow missed one of the rep’s names. I kept thinking I would eventually pick it up from an order form, or phone message or something like that, but it’s never happened. I’ve seen this guy once a month for SEVEN YEARS (I’m not even kidding). How can I ask now? AAAAHHHH!!! THIS is the worst! And it happens to me far too much :X ---
**Author:** ![Dignan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f07891/32.png) [@Dignan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dignan)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2004, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/small-but-emotionally-devastating-social-mishaps/253048/160 "2004-07-07T04:25:53Z")
> [@Ashes](#): > > I was out with friends right before we’d all be going on vacation for a couple of weeks. We were all standing around, saying goodbye and hugging before we left. It was all such a whirl that I managed to hug an innocent by-stander-- full-body, two-armed, and a kiss on the cheek. His wife didn’t look pleased. > > I’m not a very huggy kissy person as a rule, but I’ve done this twice-- once at work! I hear you! When I was 12 or 13 I was at my grandparents’ house, visting with my folks, and my grandparents had some friends over. I was playing a game on my dad’s laptop, when the older woman friend came over to me and leaned down, putting her cheek right in my face. I paused for a second, and wasn’t sure what to do; was this old woman expecting a good bye kiss from me? That is what old people do, right? Kiss good-bye, and they expect the same from kids too, right, right? Wrong. I leaned in and laid one on her, to her astonishment I’m sure, and mine when she pulled away (probably in terror). I apologized and said I was sorry, I thought that she was leaning over because she wanted me to kiss her good bye. Nope, she just wanted to see what game I was playing. :smack: ( \<-- I bet this smiley is getting a workout in this thread.) I felt like an idiot, and either no one else saw it, or they didn’t say anything, and I’ve never seen the woman since, so that makes things better. She probably figured my hormones were raging that I was going to try to get some action from one of my grandma’s friends, when in reality, I just didn’t know how people older than middle school acted in social situations. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/small-but-emotionally-devastating-social-mishaps/253048.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/small-but-emotionally-devastating-social-mishaps/253048.md?page=9)