Ran my mouth

[PoliteBoy]

I have a really bad habit of letting my mouth run its course

I end up saying something stupid, unintentionally insulting or just plain gobbledy-gook.

The other day I was checking in a guest and doing the security pre-authorisation. I told him about the cash option, so we went ahead.

During pre-authorisations, I tend to retell this story a while back about how a group of guests made off with the bedsheets in the room.

I think the guest misinterpreted this as me suspecting them of being thieves. They really let me have it when they checked out and even called out the policy as unethical. Went a bit further on the review online.

Just to clarify, the security deposits are more of a deterrent than a guarantee that the guest won't incur any incidentals or damages. Even so, I can see why it's inconvenient to the guests.

Anyway, I'm gonna stop telling that story from now on (Plus my supervisor showed me that review). Gonna have to learn to know when to stop.

Have you ever had a slip of the tongue or just said something you never were supposed to?

[Pixelated]

The first thing that came to my mind was when, as a newbie reporter, I phoned a house number and asked the woman who answered if "Mr X" was home.

"Oh, my dear, that was my husband and he died six months ago."

Me: "OMG I'M SO SORRY blahblahblah ..."

Luckily, she was very kind and assured me that there was no way I could've known (which was true).

Yeah, the problem with telling stories like the one you told is that you didn't mean it to be taken personally ... but there are always people out there who will do so.

[Mental_Mouse]

Have you ever had a slip of the tongue or just said something you never were supposed to?

All the effing time. It's a usual hazard of being on the autistic spectrum....

[Racket_Man]

The first thing that came to my mind was when, as a newbie reporter, I phoned a house number and asked the woman who answered if "Mr X" was home.
"Oh, my dear, that was my husband and he died six months ago.".

I did that also but off the job. I posted about it in the Off Topic section.

Tried to call a "friend" (8 hours distant) that I had not seen for several years. His wife answered the phone and I asked for friend. "sorry he died 3 years ago" I immediately apologized and talked to her for a bit because I did want information about the guys younger brother but I kept apologizing to the Wife through the whole conversation.

[Food Lady]

I think the guest misinterpreted this as me suspecting them of being thieves.

That right there is not you. It's customers who make everything about themselves. Easily offended=self-centered. I think their relatives are the ones working in my job's quality control department. They take stuff as offensive that don't even phase the customers. Some people are just like that.

[MoonCat]

I remember once calling a customer back to see if they wanted to re-run their ad. A woman answered, and I asked if I was speaking to Mrs. Jones.

In this frosty, highly-offended voice, she said, "There IS no Mrs. Jones."

OK, bitch, sorry I didn't ask for just Ann Jones or whatever, but there's no need to be snarky.

[telecom_goddess]

That happens to me sometimes, I get a call in from someone who isn't the credit card holder, then I ask if the card holder is available. Oh no they died recently! Sigh.

[Mental_Mouse]

"Oh, they died recently" is awkward but really, that's not on you.

Assuming a "Mrs." on the other hand, that's on you! Any unfamiliar woman should be "Ms." until and unless they tell you otherwise. Obvious children can be "Miss", but be careful with apparent teenagers....

[TheWolfEmperor]

I almost got into a fight with an assistant manager over something relatively minor. It was something I started and I wisened up well before I would have been in any danger.

In my case it was another one of those, "Get a fucking hobby before tedium costs you your job" scenarios. Self-sabotage, basically.