Oddly enough, I posted a thread yesterday about a job I was recently fired from for the most part for saying things that offended people and making my supervisor nervous about what I say in front of clients (even though I am very ethical when it comes to clients).
The reaction I received in that thread ranged from "you've had this problem in the past" to "you deserve to be fired", so it is obviously something people here feel strongly about. It's also something I have to be cognizant of in the future. The place I worked for was 99% women, and the field I am going into ranges from 50% or higher women.
A few of the things I said that offended people - I was talking with my supervisor and she mentioned a client who had a restraining order against his teenage son. I said, sardonically, "where can I get one of those?". She looked at me quizzically and said "you wouldn't be able to see your son". I had to explain to her that I was just joking, and really do want to be around my own son.
Another time I was talking about a client who told me, when his child was misbehaving that in his country he would spank his son. I said to coworkers, jokingly, "you want to spank your kid, go right head!" They laughed, and I immediately explained that I was joking, and I didn't really say this. My supervisor overheard the comment, and it was brought up on several occasions and she flat out refused to believe I didn't really say this despite my constant denial. According to her "you told everybody you really did say it", which was not true.
Later on, the comment that I'm convinced led to me being fired, I was sitting with girls from my team and my supervisor. A couple of women were pregnant and talking about their pregnancy. Someone said to one of my team mates, who has told me on several occasions that she never plans on being pregnant, "wait until you end up pregnant". I said to the lady who made the comment, clearly smiling and joking, "she doesn't want to be pregnant. I don't think she likes boys", followed by "I'm joking of course".
This lead to several scoldings from my supervisor about how "you don't talk about coworkers sexuality". Which is ironic, because at my last work place, one of my higher ups joked constantly about me having "a gay man's taste in clothes", meaning I dressed nice everyday.
A little bit after that the girls were talking about how ugly stretch marks are and how much they are dreading them. I said to them "I don't know what you are talking about. I think stretch marks are attractive".
This lead to another scolding about how "you don't talk about what you find attractive at work". My sup then told me I "say stupid things without thinking about it".
So, a point to end this rant, watch what you say at work! :-) It can and will get you fired. Even if no logically thinking human being could possibly be offended by what you say and any person with a semblance of self worth would have laughed it off and forgotten it. People will, whether out of spite or self-righteousness, make trouble for you!
In fact I've inadvertently done so in this very forum. When it happens I feel awful. There's very few people on this board who'd feelings I'd want to hurt or sensibilities I'd like to offend.
Seriously? You can't stand up for yourself without being aggressive or offensive? You can't say to someone, "Look, we have to work together. If you have a problem with me, we don't have to be friends. But let's agree to be civil."
