Today, I was interviewing a woman for a job. She told me that she may need days off because of her artistic son. I jokingly replied, "Does he color on the walls or something?" She then stared at me with a weird look on her face. Autistic, her son is autistic. FML
Collection
College Life
Packed lecture halls, a sketchy roommate and frat parties: welcome to college, the real thing.
Today, while at my friend's house, I noticed her brother had a bit of an accent. I laughingly said "Is it me or does your little brother have an accent?" She stared and replied with "No, he has autism." FML
Today, a girl I'd been crushing on for a little while and I were talking about autism. Some of the last words she said were "I try to not find autistic people so fucking annoying, but I can't help it. But can you blame me?” I'm autistic. FML
Today, I had to deal with a lady who claimed her son was autistic to try and skip the queue. Even her son was saying he’s not autistic, and she was screaming in his face that yes he was. I happen to be genuinely autistic. Security threw her out, and I was jealous that I didn’t get to do it. FML
Today, my wife, in all seriousness, told me she believed I am autistic. With all due respect to autistic people out there, WTF? FML
Today, I was at the park with my autistic son when I noticed a teenage girl imitating him by flapping her hands and walking on her toes. Fed up with children mocking my son, I went over and sternly lectured the girl's mother. Turns out, her daughter is autistic too and will be in my son's class. FML
Today, a guy at work pulled me aside to tell me that I probably shouldn't be working a job where I have to interact with customers, because of my autism. I don't have autism. FML
Today, I was shopping when I overheard a woman telling an employee that she was buying an iPad for her 5-year-old son. Annoyed, I turned around and ranted about how he should have more age appropriate toys. Then she explained that her son is autistic and will be using the iPad to communicate. FML
Today, my therapist mentioned we should look into the possibility of me being autistic. When telling my boyfriend what she'd said, he replied, “I don’t think you’re autistic, just damaged.” FML
Today, I asked the girl who has a crush on me if she was autistic. She replied without hesitation, "I can be whatever you want me to be." FML
Today, my coworker was going on and on about how her son was nice and got good grades but that she needed to find him a therapist because he's too shy in class, and how she didn't want her friends to think badly of her. She's a counselor. I sat in silence for almost an hour, because all I could think was, "WTF? Poor kid." FML
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Top comments
Mynameislinh 24
Well, they do sound alike... You could explain to her the misunderstanding and everything may be cleared up.
Vagitarian1 10
You could see that one coming.
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Comments (119)
lulinator 40
This is why, when talking to new people about your autistic child, it is best to use the phrase "has autism." Can't mis-hear that one! After they know, use the two interchangeably. I'm pretty sure when I'm talking fast about my autistic son, it makes it sound like he's an artist. Innocent mistake, OP. I hope she didn't get offended.
Syssy_fml 2
That is ignorant. If op thinks someone needs off for an artistic son then op shouldn't even be handling interviews. Leave it to someone who knows the difference between artistic and autistic! You can't tell people how they should "announce" their children.
purepumpkin 12
You're an idiot.
1two3four5six 23
you're a dick
Boeneman 3
wow feel the love in this place
BobbieH 19
Don't hire her, she is already saying she's going to call off and potentially a lot. Then you won't ever see her again. Problem solved!
JJ_86 22
You can't assume that. She was giving a heads up just in case. Hire her for the honesty!!
lulinator 40
So parents of special needs children should be penalized because they want to help their children have a "normal" life? How very kind of you.
worldclassrager 41
Did you give her the job? No hard feelings right?
KaneHunter 22
I'm sorry that happened OP. Even if you explained the misunderstanding it'd still be embarrassing.
rocker_chick23 27
Don't feel bad OP. I have an accent and it sounds like artistic when I say autistic.
NemusKiller 5
Just don't give her the job... Lol
kotake 7
The most justice you can do in this situation OP is to look at her like every other candidate, not the one you offended. Because you do what half of the people saying here do and just not give her the job, and you are then just being an ass who's sacrificing a good worker because you can't deal with a simple mishear. But if you give her the job because you were offensive, then you're just typecasting her into someone you offended. Just overlook that experience and keep her competitive. If she gets the job great if she doesn't fine. But don't center it around that one small event that was your fault.
q7shium 6
simple misunderstanding. i hope you explained it. although im sure she wouldnt have seen it as a simple misunderstanding...