A lesbian from a conservative state recently took to Reddit for opinions after a run-in with a judgmental religious coworker at a bar. Here is her full story.
On Her Guard
OP is a lesbian who recently started a new job. She has experienced lots of ignorant and prejudiced behavior in other work settings, so she’s on her guard.
She Has Trouble Hearing
OP has hearing damage in one ear and occasionally struggles to hear things clearly with the impaired ear.
This condition can lead to difficulties understanding conversations, especially in noisy environments.
The Joint Was Hopping
Not long after starting her new job, OP had an opportunity to socialize with her coworkers for the first time.
They went out to a crowded bar, where the atmosphere was loud and bustling.
He Was Tough to Understand
After a few drinks, OP was enjoying talking with her fellow employees when an unfamiliar man approached her at the bar.
Because of the noisy surroundings and her bad ear, OP only caught fragments of what he said.
Someone Had an Issue With Her
Even so, OP sensed a negative undertone to the conversation.
After a while, she decided that the guy was suggesting someone at work might have an issue with her sexual orientation.
He Had Some Advice
The man advised OP not to talk about her homosexuality in the workplace. This was no surprise to OP, who had benefited from “whisper networks” at new jobs before.
A Level Playing Field
Since they lived in a conservative state, new co-workers would often approach OP to share information about potential bigots or problematic individuals so she would know what she was dealing with.
She Appreciated It
OP assumed the guy at the bar was doing her a solid by providing that sort of warning. She appreciated the gesture.
Who Was It?
But OP struggled to hear the name of the person that the stranger mentioned.
Despite multiple attempts to clarify, she couldn’t catch the name due to her hearing difficulties and the noise.
She Was Going to Let It Drop
Feeling embarrassed and insecure about her hearing impairment, she hesitated to ask the man to repeat the name for the fourth time.
They Were Both Fed Up
Sensing OP’s lack of recognition, the man became visibly surprised and agitated, expecting the name to be instantly recognizable.
OP, growing frustrated, questioned the guy about the name one more time, emphasizing that she was under the impression it was a coworker at the bar.
He Was Hostile
The man refused to provide any additional details, and his demeanor became increasingly hostile and confrontational, expressing anger towards OP for her apparent ignorance.
She Had Him All Wrong
Eventually, in a heated moment, the man raised his voice and declared that the individual in question was Jesus Christ.
This revelation was a crucial turning point for OP, as she realized that the man was not attempting to protect her from a bigot but, in fact, held prejudiced views themselves.
She Wanted to Laugh
OP found the situation ironic and somewhat comical, given the revelation of the person’s bigotry.
She Made Him Look Foolish
As a way to diffuse the tension and assert herself, OP made a lighthearted comment, telling the man that there was no need for him to use profanity when responding to her inquiries.
He Stomped Off
The man became further infuriated by OP’s response, storming off in anger.
She Spilled the Beans
Afterwards, OP returned to her coworkers and recounted the encounter, expressing confusion about the whole situation.
She relayed the man’s suggestion of concealing her sexual orientation at work.
They Thought She Should Report Him
OP’s coworkers advised her to consider reporting the incident to Human Resources if the person continued to cause trouble.
They emphasized the importance of creating a safe and inclusive work environment.
Now She’s Conflicted
OP is conflicted about reporting the incident. She knows she provoked the guy at the end of their encounter, even though her little joke didn’t do anything to cause his bigoted attitude.
Redditors not only overwhelmingly support OP in the way she handled the situation, but most think it was a stroke of genius.
Several commenters express how humorous they think it was that she was able to turn the table on her co-worker.
Some advise her that going to HR would be the right thing to do, though they also acknowledge that might make her feel uncomfortable at work.
So, what do you think of this story? Was OP right for “playing dumb” in order to get under her coworkers skin?
Or would she have been better off to confront the man head-on about his attitude?
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The post She Pretended Not to Know Who Jesus Is to Make Him Even Angrier first appeared on Career Step Up.
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Source: Reddit