Today, my 50-something coworker followed through on his threat to file a defamation lawsuit against me. All because I jokingly said "pedo" after he bragged to everyone that his girlfriend is a smoking hot 19-year-old. FML
Collection
Fall
Dead leaves, the first cold of the season and an umbrella flipped inside out: fall, the season of grace.
Today, one of my coworkers decided it'd be funny to tell our boss that I made creepy comments about his teenage daughter. The worst part is that the aforementioned lying coworker is my mother. I wish I was joking. FML
Today, I discovered that my male coworker, who coincidentally shares my last name, has been telling everyone we're married. I'm 26; he's 58. FML
Today, after many years of being single, I finally worked up the courage to ask my coworker out. He said no and gave me "fair warning" that he's going to report me for sexual harassment. FML
Today, my boss threatened to write me up, after I made a slightly rude joke about a coworker everyone hates. A while later, a colleague told me the same joke. Turns out my boss had gone around telling it to everyone else and taking all the credit. FML
Today, a coworker filed a complaint against me, all because I ate a banana at lunch, which he claimed is "threateningly sexual", whatever the hell that means. FML
Today, I got fired. My coworker decided to imitate my voice, stand outside of my boss's office door, and say insulting things about his daughter. FML
Today, it was a coworker's last day. Over the last 6 months, he has been talking smack about me because he assumed I'd ratted him out for a Facebook post, ranting about our place of employment. I decided to confront him after work to let him know that I didn't do it. He then reported me for harassment to all of my supervisors. FML
Today, I got a coworker at my new job in trouble, because he kept harassing me and asking me out, even after I clearly told him I wasn't interested. Turns out he's very popular around here, and everyone now hates me for being a trouble-maker and not "taking a compliment." FML
Today, I was carrying a stack of paperwork at work, when my pen rolled off and onto the floor. As soon as I bent down to pick it up, a nearby co-worker, who's always hated me, accused me of putting on a show and sexually harassing him. He actually followed up by reporting me to HR. FML
Today, I confronted my coworker, who I had a crush on, for lying to me. He’d told me he was gay when I asked him out. He’s now dating another coworker of mine who’s a woman. He took this up with my boss, and I was written up for “creating a hostile work environment.” FML
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Top comments
PennyLane27 32
Well, if they've been dating very long, then technically you'd be correct!!
StraightUpBaller 14
Are you sure it came across as joking? I know we all make mistakes and it happens to all of us - things can just come out wrong and you don't realize it. Either way, that's a bit ridiculous as a course of action for him to take.
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Comments (135)
StraightUpBaller 14
Are you sure it came across as joking? I know we all make mistakes and it happens to all of us - things can just come out wrong and you don't realize it. Either way, that's a bit ridiculous as a course of action for him to take.
meli1195 31
there's nothing worse than a person who can't take a joke. especially when they file a lawsuit against you
friedpwnadge 25
I don't think op has anything to worry about except the accuser getting laughed out of court.
kuzzy00 22
With the defamation case, the prosecuting must prove damages. E.g. A chef having rumours spread that he has AIDS, would reduce and business. The other person has no case.
JosephKorso 15
Comment moderated for rule-breaking.
NEVER call someone a pardon unless you are entirely sure and have proof. Even in a joke. Not funny, OP. YDI.
JosephKorso 15
Comment moderated for rule-breaking.
Peoples' lives have been ruined by "jokes" like that. I will admit that the other guy may be taking things too far, but things like that should never really be joked about in the first place.
extrasnipes 22
I'd insult #2 but I'm afraid this guy will sue me.
Krypt1c 11
#46, that comment killed me xD but #2, 50yo with a 19yo, I would consider a pedo.
Badkarma4u 17
Sounds like #2 has spent some time in the real world. Some Jokes need not be made, because they are not funny. If the co-worker had been gay op probably would have been fired outright. I'm also willing to bet OP said it more than once. the co-worker can get laughed out of court unless he has proof that someone other than OP mistreated the co-worker or made comments about him being around children.
rsp97531 10
A true pedophile is someone that is sexually attracted to prepubescent children, does not believe it is wrong to be attracted to prepubescent children, and doesn't understand why everyone else knows it is wrong. That is why pedophilia is so horrible, and why it is so very wrong to call someone a pedo without proof for any reason.
Morning_fml 22
Well, you're not entirely wrong. He's only aggravated 'cause you spoke the truth.
onlychildFTW 34
Well 19 is of a legal sage so it isn't true. In Canada though 16 is the legal age.
VeganVampyre 27
Actually, a pedophile is someone who is sexually attracted to children who have not gone through puberty yet. So even if 19 wasn't a legal age, or even if she was 15 or 16, he still wouldn't be a pedo. It wouldn't be legal, but that doesn't automatically make it pedophilia.
JMichael 26
Exactly. As unorthodox as it appears being that much older than someone, as long as they are 18, isn't a big deal. The problem is when they're underage.
Grimmerie 31
It might not be a big deal legally, but it definitely is a big deal looking at the power imbalance in the relationship. Anyone who's 50 and has thirty years of adult experience will be in a position to manipulate and take advantage of someone who has been an adult for a year. Besides, what could he want her for other than her body and her lack of experience? They can't have much in common. It's shady as ****.
juturnaamo 29
Unless the guy is rich, or he's in a position of authority over her, their isn't that much of a power imbalance. I've been in relationships like that (still 23 years between my husband and I) and the older guys are usually more inclined to compromise and maintain a balanced relationship.
Badkarma4u 17
He could be the kind of guy that likes to live life in an extreme way and has found that women his age dont want to live life at a break neck pace. Its sad to assume that a person who is 19 years old has nothing to offer besides their body. Im sure she has a personality. She may have grown up with a lot of life experiences. I know 19 year olds that have backpacked across europe, and I know 50 year olds who have not left a 10 mile radius of their birth. Let them live their own lives. .
9a_1z 12
I find it a bit creepy because he's bragging about her age like it's some sort of trophy. But 19 is when you start to own your decisions and make the ****-ups you'll learn from later in life, sometimes that involves dating someone many years your senior until you get a bit older and realise you can get what that relationship provided you with in other less wrinkly, creepily braggy places (or decide that person is the one for you!). It's nothing like being a victim of pedophilia.
devi_916 39
Actually 94, my husband and I have been together 6 years, and he is 28 years older than me. I was 19 when we met. He was 47. We have a lot in common and we also have no power imbalance in our relationship. He's also not as selfish as most people in my generation are. I also like that he doesn't drink or do drugs like most people my age in my area. He shares his life experiences with me to make me wiser. He convinced me to go to college. He has honestly made me a better person. There are numerous benefits to dating a much older man sometimes. Just because it's not for you does not mean it's inherently wrong, bad, or unhealthy. It's also nothing like pedophilia #2, nor is pedophilia anything to joke about. Those jokes can and do ruin lives.
kirstyfunnybunny 18
some people just can't take a joke
Utetopia2014 18
Comment moderated for rule-breaking.
What if i made a joke about rape? I mean..... I'd only be joking. How about then?
callabos921 14
Agreed. Lives can be ruined by "jokes".
kirstyfunnybunny 18
and some people can't even take a joke about taking a joke
militarybrat 21
Considering that his character was defamed by anyone who overheard? No its not a joke. Op needs to know he can't say things like that.
A07 48
Who doesn't like bragging about a smoking hot 19 year old girlfriend?
Miss_Chevious 37
A 50 year old with grace and dignity perhaps?
Earl_KarmasBitch 36
How did he get a smoking hot girlfriend when he obviously has no sense of humour anyway?
Rkikkas9713 25
Money, duh.
derangedplanet 23
how do you think he can afford to sue
TMO2142 25
A 20 year old
tranced_ 45
jokes on that 19 year old though. .
8313girl 28
Yeah, with the 50 year old's Viagra induced penis as the punchline.
devi_916 39
My husband is 53 and he has never needed view viagra. Maybe this guy is also a very healthy man.
Sphanz 17
Tell him that "It's a joke not a penis, so don't take it so hard." If he doesn't laugh a little (at least) at that then your co-worker has no sense of humor.
aldoshoes 4
Or maybe his co-worker doesn't like people suggesting he ***** children?
graceinsheepwear 34
That sounds like a trip to HR and some sexual harassment classes right there.
PennyLane27 32
Well, if they've been dating very long, then technically you'd be correct!!
i_wuz_nver_here 31
The age of consent in over half of America is 16. The more ya know
JesusFreak227 15
He'd still be arrested.
DoomedGemini 38
They'd have to be dating 6 or more years or more for you to be correct in calling him a pedo.
MeltedMango 8
Well frankly speaking, it is still a dick move to call somebody a pedo straight to his face, even if there is a large age gap between him and his girlfriend.
PennyLane27 32
Unwise? sure. Dick move? possibly. Something everyone was probably thinking but had enough filter to wait till he was out of ear shot? Most definitely! But a lawsuit is over reacting.
VeganDarkLight 31
It was a joke, I don't see anything wrong with it. Mine and my ex-boyfriend's friends always called him pedo (I was 17 and he 23 that time, so not even a huge difference) and we laughed along with them.
PennyLane27 32
I dated a guy 8 years older than me once. Were quips made? Of course! But all in good humor. I've never heard of someone wigging out like that over being jokingly called a pedo. I mean the guy kinda set himself up by drawing attention ( "bragging") about the chick being 19! He, not OP, sounds like a tool!
lunar999 23
#13 i remember a fried who was 17 and was going out with a 15 year old (they'd been together since he was 15) and even then we used to make jokes about it. My favourite was 'do you have a "you must be this tall to ride" sign'
devi_916 39
If it's between friends, then it would be seen as an obvious joke (I hope), but he never said this guy he "joked" about was his friend. He only said it's a "coworker", so there's no reason to assume this guy should've known it was a joke. Maybe OP has always been a troublemaker, gossiper, or a dick towards this guy. We don't know and I doubt OP would admit to any of that if it were the case.
quarterbird 18
Dick move to call him a pedo to his face? Is behind his back less dick-ish?
patte_fml 19
You ought to use the political correct term. In this case "allmopee" would have been correct. It stands for 'almost pedo'.