2001-06-06 - Mum's The Word

Foot In The Mouth

I have made a serious effort lately to not make comments about people, either in my head or out loud. Yes. I admit (and that's the first step to recovery) that I most likely criticize others' appearances, etc. to make myself feel better. My friends have even noted my improved behavior. For example, someone will walk by with the most awful hairdo, and I wont say anything, and a lot of the time, I won't even THINK anything. Go me.

However, today at work, a lapse in my efforts could have resulted in a very embarassing situation. For one of our projects, we need to recruit participants to observe and so we put up posters in 3 buildings that accomodate more than 10,000 people. Well, the first guy who emailed us to help out had quite a funny name. I read the email and said the name out loud and slightly made fun of it with my tone of voice.

I then go back to my "office" and my friend comes by about 5 minutes later with a terrified look on her face.

"Do you know where he works?", she asks.

"Nope. Where did he say?" I say.

"JT 3 B3", she says.

OH MY GOD. Her office, really a cubicle is RIGHT BESIDE THAT. He SO would have heard us talking....they SHARE A PARTITION. So, imagine a 26 year old woman, tip toeing around the corner to see if he was there in his office....*phewf* .... he's wearing headphones. I would have felt SO terrible.

Anyways, a long story with a short moral. SHUT UP ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE. One day, it could come back to haunt you. I've learned my lesson.