Today, while working my job as a cashier, one of the customers that came to the register was a midget. As part of store policy, I had to ID him, and his driver's license said he was from Florida. So I asked, without catching myself, "How's the weather down there?" FML
I agree, your life sucks (20766) - you totally deserved it (31911)
On 05/09/2009 at 10:05pm - work - by Failoffel (man) - United States (Connecticut)
Auch! But that wasn't your fault at all, you couldve just continued talking about Florida,
Midgets would actually prefer if people didn't make a big deal of their height!
#1 - On 05/10/2009 at 3:05am by depechemode
I hope you didn't feel the urge to be like "...I meant your state, not your height!" 'cause that would not have been the smooth thing to do ;]
HAHA that sucks. You could have continued like #1 suggested but if you didn't and you became flustered... FYL
#4 - On 05/10/2009 at 3:07am by RedJester23
Umm, like #3 said, as long as you didn't get into that ramble, I don't see why it's a big deal? I doubt he would have taken it any other way other than "How's the weather down there"
Not a big deal...
#6 - On 05/10/2009 at 3:11am by UllNeverKnow
Step 1 - Open Mouth
Step 2 - Insert foot
Step 3 - Make him open the mouth (tried to make a junk in the box joke XP)
HAHAHAHA Oh my...poor little person xP
And #7...did you see the sequel to that video on SNL tonight? xD
I moderated this one. It's not really an FML. I honestly thought he was talking about Florida until I realized the guy was a midget.
#12--it's one of the oldest jokes in the book. If a really tall person is making fun of a really short person they'd say "How's the weather down there?".
Don't worry about it - Unless you were south of Florida, it was just a way of speaking. I always say stuff like, "I'm driving up to Maine tomorrow" or "I'm driving down to Kansas." It's really only an FML if you tried to correct yourself.
Education time:
"Midget" is a potically incorrect and disrespectful label. More important, most "little people", as they prefer to be called, are greatly offended by the term.
So you know for next time :)
This seems fake. Not as blatant as the "Dick's" one, but still pretty unlikely. As #5 said, who really asks about weather?
#13 how do I need a brain? Just because someone has a disability or was born a certain way you should treat them differently? No that's insane they want to be treated like everyone else. It becomes very annoying quickly when people treat you differently because you have a minor imperfection (physically). Everyone has them, but most of them aren't physically noticeable.
All I'm trying to say is don't treat people differently because you feel bad for them, because in most cases they don't even feel bad for themselves.
I used to struggle with a weight problem and hated when people treated me differently. They thought I couldn't do something because I was heavier than everyone else.
they're not midgets, they're dwarfs :0
midgets don't exist much anymore because of growth hormone treatments or whatever
(at least in the original sense of the two words)
#21 - On 05/10/2009 at 3:40am by organismal
Eh, you could have saved it. Stammered and said "in Florida." Not a huge deal.
#22 - On 05/10/2009 at 3:40am by nobodyno
#20..."these days"??
I'd say people are asking about the weather more than ever lately, cause it's been sooo crazy and the weather patterns in a lot of places have been changing drastically. So I really don't see how it would be out of the ordinary to ask someone, when making small talk, how the weather where they're from is if they live in a different state than you.
I honestly don't think that people who are different take offence as much as people think to these sort of unintentional comments. Even if they do you had no intent, your conscience is clear so why worry about it? :)
#25 - On 05/10/2009 at 3:45am by dirtyhippie
To those saying no one asks what the weather is like: Do you ever go out? I hear it all the time, even if the asker lives a few cities away. It's a pretty common question for small talk.
I do things like that, too. I hope you kept a straight face, then it'd seem like their stature never came across your mind at all--even after saying that.
The fact that you said that shows that you looked beyond his height. By asking him hows the weather down there you did what everybody wants us to do, treat all people as people. You treated your customer like any other customer and if the midget took offense then screw him because that just shows he abuses the fact that he can reek benefits out of people who treat him differently. Don't feel bad but instead feel proud that you have the ability to look pass this person's height and treat him like a normal human being.
#30 - On 05/10/2009 at 4:14am by ztc14gk
"Midget" is an offensive and disrespectful way to refer to a person of small stature. The proper term is "munchkin".
That's when you just quickly continue on so it's all one nice inconspicuous sentence. [;
"How's the weather down there in Florida?"
SEE. C'mon, people! Think on your feet!
#34 - On 05/10/2009 at 5:08am by ohschmoley
Hey, no problem as long as your intentions were straight ace. I'd say everything #30 did if I saw this thread first.
#33 Just... leave. The infinite and boundless internet isn't even big enough to support your insensitivity.
#35 - On 05/10/2009 at 5:12am by Headcase
No biggie. I wouldn't have noticed if I were him. I mean, the sentence makes complete sense without being derogatory.
#36 - On 05/10/2009 at 5:34am by hahayou12345
#7 just majorly failed at making a good joke. And you, OP, probably shouldn't call them midgets... XP
#37 - On 05/10/2009 at 5:47am by Yulia
#17, #39 - Midgets hate the term 'little people'. I know, I've talked to several and they can't stand the term 'little people'.
Why YDI? There's nothing wrong with asking "How's the weather down there." from someone from Florida.
#41 - On 05/10/2009 at 7:44am by MajorLeeScrewed
It's been pointed out before, but YDI for realizing that you offended someone with dwarfism and still called them a "midget" saying that YOUR life was f'ed.
Next time, try simply dwarf or little person. Let's try not to offend people, k?
#42 - On 05/10/2009 at 7:49am by mynameisnotjudie
that was so corny.
come on, you could just say "I meant in Florida" if he took it the wrong way
#45 - On 05/10/2009 at 9:01am by twilighter_644
atleast you didn't ask him about Willy Wonka..or why he wasn't orange..
just saying.
lol.
#47 - On 05/10/2009 at 9:26am by MmmHotWaffles
Can someone explain to me why saying the wrong thing is an FML?
#49 - On 05/10/2009 at 10:08am by save_me_08
lol I had to read it twice then i realized the Florida part lol, what did he do after that thats what FMls are missing after hand what happens.
Haha lots of people talk about the weather, I work in a grocery store and I do the same....and I LIVE in Florida, it's just always hot or raining :P at least at this time of year....and getting worse
How would he know anyway? He obviously wasn't in Florida at the time.
#53 - On 05/10/2009 at 10:53am by sierramascara
HAHAHA thats incredible man you rock
if he had any sense of humor he would have found that funny
#54 - On 05/10/2009 at 10:55am by JimboSmitty
haha #55
and um oh that's hilarious. seriously dude, classic stuff right there. i wonder how he reacted.
..watch out for the leprechaun mafia.
-FrayedxD
lolol. niceee. I do the same thing all the time, I let things like that slip without thinking about it. Dont worry too much cause you will probably never see him again neways
Don't think it's a problem if you sincerely meant Florida. If he reacted badly, you could have clarified what you meant and sympathize with him about the jackasses that don't mean Florida.
#58 - On 05/10/2009 at 11:21am by GrapefruitZoe
ONE using the word "midget" is offensive.
TWO you don't have to be hypersensitive to compensate. It's not a big deal that you said that, I'm sure he understood you weren't intending to be offensive.
don't make a big deal of it, just add "in florida" to the end.
if you make a big deal it's obvious you're uncomfortable with his height.
#61 - On 05/10/2009 at 11:50am by effyourlife_
I think it would have been slightly more of an FML if he asked: "How do you like it down there?" after seeing the customer was from Florida. My guess is the customer would've been more likely to think the cashier was referring to his height, rather than his residence in Florida.
Aldrasio, about 100 people mention the weather to me, every morning, at the refinery where I work.
#63 - On 05/10/2009 at 12:52pm by Consequences
Now I'll know yet another mistake not to make. If it says Florida, I'll just ask how's the weather down in Florida.
#65 - On 05/10/2009 at 1:20pm by egaonogenki
OMG thats crazyyyyyyyyy but you definitely didn't deserve it. i hope he wasnt angry
#67 - On 05/10/2009 at 1:42pm by hanananana
Ummm... #5... I used to work as a cashier, and I'd chat about the weather down where someone lives all the time. I'm from Canada, and I'd get the scattered American, because we're super close to the Montana border. Stop picking FML's apart... because really... who gives a fuck? I don't care if all of these are fake... I STILL get a kick out of reading them.
#69 - On 05/10/2009 at 1:51pm by ZuraLasgeon
uhm, fake or not, this isnt an FML. its a legitimate question to ask and if he actually had a problem with what you asked then fuck him.
Not an FML.
All you have to do is tack on "in Florida" at the end.
"So how's the weather down there?....in Florida"
#71 - On 05/10/2009 at 3:13pm by mehwhateverr
I think the OP meant in terms of rain and hurricanes. No shit Florida is hot, but there's other things to consider, too. >_>
My friend's cousin is a little person. Me, my friend and him and him were all in an Xbox Live party together when our mutual friend who didn't know the cousin joined, and he was so mad at Halo he shouted "I just want to pin down a midget and rape it!" They're friends now... True story. Point is that little people usually they have better senses of humour and higher self esteem than regular sized people.
#75 - On 05/10/2009 at 3:40pm by Mexistache
Lmfao. I'm sure he knew what you meant by that, unless he jus has a negative attitude.
#76 - On 05/10/2009 at 3:50pm by ButterFly_16
What else could you be talking about? That's not bad at all.
#77 - On 05/10/2009 at 4:44pm by uhoh303
Why is this even a FML. Why when I post mine, they get rejected, but crap like this gets on the site.
hahahaha i wish i heard what the midget said after that! poor little guy. and honestly some of u ppl are crazzyyyy this is sooooo an fml!
#81 - On 05/10/2009 at 8:59pm by suckishfather
....in florida! lol sucks dude should have been quicker
#83 - On 05/10/2009 at 9:48pm by condescending
#59 and others, are you the spokesperson for all midgets? how do you know what they like to be called? how do you know what they find offensive? i hate people like you who are so arrogant, they have to be politically correct when its not correct to do so.
See, this isn't really an FML. It's when people like you say that and immediately think "Oh it must offend them!" And apologize repeatedly that offends people.
In case you didn't get an answer, it's hot as hell and too damn bright. I went in the pool for an hour yesterday and was sunburned despite SPF 50 sunscreen. In a couple of weeks, it'll start raining every day.
awww im sorry that happened it sucks when stuff like that comes up. did you say sorry tho and clarify what that meant, cuz that might help, depending on the person.
#89 - On 05/10/2009 at 11:43pm by amandacullen1901
that's hilarious. I wish i would have been standing around there when you said that because i would have crapped myself laughing haha.
#90 - On 05/11/2009 at 12:59am by that_guy01
I know a midget. Nobody can stand her. And it's not because of her height, it's because she's ridiculously annoying and tries to blame all her problems on her condition.
#91 - On 05/11/2009 at 3:49am by jewelzgalore
#92 really? have you asked every single one what they want to be called? or did you just assume that based on your prejudice against people different than you? you think you're some kind authority on people born with this noticeable genetic defect? asshole
#93- Actually, 92 is right. They hate the term midget. Go online, it's like a racial slur practically. They prefer terms like little person. Nice try try ing to defend peoples' honor, but next time do the research.
You didn't deserve it. People shouldn't automatically take things offensively or think of them as a discriminative remark.
94- i honestly have no idea as to what they would like to be called, but i would trust #40 over you: someone who has a little person as an actual source as opposed to someone who only trusts the all powerful internet...
#99 - On 05/11/2009 at 7:27pm by lovemusic1694
You idiots, they aren't called midgets! A midget is a short person. They are dwarves. A dwarf is someone with a birth defect. An example of a midget would be a person in high school or up that is only like 5'4". Midgets look like you and me. Dwarves usually have a very short, somewhat stout body with short, stubby appendages.
#100 - On 05/11/2009 at 8:16pm by jeepreaper
I live in Florida -- the weather is fuckin' bipolar and I'm sorry about your choice of words.
#104 - On 05/12/2009 at 10:55am by CurdledMilk
No 104 Spokane Washington is bipolar. This is the week I had once in April. Monday 78 degrees and lots of sun. Tuesday 49 degrees windy cloudy and a lil rain. Wednesday 2 feet of snow that melts by the end of the day cause its 60 degrees out. Thursday 39 degrees and a terrible rain storm. Friday 59 degrees and sunny but windy as hell. Saturday snow again but melts away cause its still in the 50's. Sunday Rain and in the 40's in the morning the 75 degrees in the afternoon. That is bipolar weather.
#105 - On 05/12/2009 at 12:52pm by ztc14gk
I would have actually done this on purpose and when/if he got pissed pretended I was talking about Florida to cover my ass! :)
#106 - On 05/12/2009 at 4:28pm by sparda4355
hey #100 you do realize that most women are around 5'4" - 5'8" in height, right? or do you just come from a land where all of the women are inbred beasts that are like seven feet tall and eat the midgets of your land aka high school freshmen? FYL for being such a dumb shit.
They're called dwarves, #108. And who would eat one? Humans taste like crap.
#109 - On 05/13/2009 at 7:07am by jeepreaper
that sucks... sounds like something I would say without thinking
#110 - On 05/13/2009 at 8:22pm by omgitschristina8
Oh, goodness, that's funny. But an honest mistake, I'm sure, although it IS Florida. It's probably sunny.
Little person.
Jesus. Midget is only a politically correct term under certain circumstances. It's the condition the person has that decides it.
