Open mouth, insert foot

lunasmom · Jul 30, 2007

Feel free to flame me as well.

So I'm standing there talking computer lingo with someone and used the term "Fat Fingered" which means in the computer world, fat or skinny you pressed multiple keys or pressed the wrong key.

Anyhoo there was a person, err...of size, standing right there. There was no way they could NOT hear me. I quickly said the person that was wrong of me I shouldn't be using that lingo anymore. Alas though I still feel bad I said it.

Feel free to lecture me or flame me for still using that term. I'm always trying to be sensitive towards other parties, but somehow this stupid phrases just slip out. I haven't even used the phrase for a long time.

carolpetunia · Jul 30, 2007

Oh sheesh... if it had been me, I wouldn't have taken offense to it. I didn't even know it was a technical term, but I would have gathered that from the context and let it go. And you apologized! You don't need to feel bad!

c130 · Jul 30, 2007

Haha. When I put my foot in my mouth, it goes in to the heel. You barely licked your toes there.

mschauer · Jul 30, 2007

Frankly I don't see anything wrong with the expression "fat finger". As you point out it refers to having pressed more than one key at a time. It has nothing to do with the size of the person attached to the fingers.

I don't plan on not using it.

luvmy2cats · Jul 30, 2007

Hey everybody makes mistakes. I understand why you feel bad but hopefully that person took it in stride and wasn't offended. By the way, what is flaming?

kiwideus · Jul 30, 2007

I'm fat fingered!

Literally and figuratively!

Don't worry about it - we all say things that we don't mean.

c130 · Jul 30, 2007

Originally Posted by luvmycat1

By the way, what is flaming?

Attacking. Like putting the subject of your abuse upon a barbeque and verbally grilling them.

theimp98 · Jul 30, 2007

Originally Posted by lunasmom

Feel free to flame me as well.

So I'm standing there talking computer lingo with someone and used the term "Fat Fingered" which means in the computer world, fat or skinny you pressed multiple keys or pressed the wrong key.

Anyhoo there was a person, err...of size, standing right there. There was no way they could NOT hear me. I quickly said the person that was wrong of me I shouldn't be using that lingo anymore. Alas though I still feel bad I said it.

Feel free to lecture me or flame me for still using that term. I'm always trying to be sensitive towards other parties, but somehow this stupid phrases just slip out. I haven't even used the phrase for a long time.

Gee, this is a perfect example of a PC world gone to far.
You are feeling bad about doing nothing wrong.

step away from PC programming, Are you supposed to feel bad about using the world bitch, when talking about a female dog, and someone who happens to be one happens to over hear, and then appiles that world to themself?

lunasmom · Jul 30, 2007

Originally Posted by mschauer

Frankly I don't see anything wrong with the expression "fat finger". As you point out it refers to having pressed more than one key at a time. It has nothing to do with the size of the person attached to the fingers.

I don't plan on not using it.

Errr...but I'm sure that's how the term started...i.e. a larger person pressing buttons the size of cell phones. In essance I do feel like I'm making fun of fat people when I say it.

lunasmom · Jul 30, 2007

Originally Posted by theimp98

Gee, this is a perfect example of a PC world gone to far.
You are feeling bad about doing nothing wrong.

Oh wait

I thought you meant PC as in Personal Computer, not politically correct. Can I just blame Bill Gates?

natalie_ca · Jul 30, 2007

No lecture. I'm fat and I don't get offended if someone uses the term "Fat".

Unfortunately in this politically correct age, there will always be someone who is offended about something, so don't sweat about it. Heck, I probably offended someone in the world with the word "sweat"

theimp98 · Jul 30, 2007

i guess you could say you where using the word,phat which means good , i think it means good

zissou'smom · Jul 30, 2007

Ha! I have fat fingers (literally and figuratively) and I'm not fat.

I prefer "type like a fingerless monkey" though, and use it regularly.

sillyjilly · Jul 30, 2007

Jenny I think you are just fine and didn't do anything to hurt anyone else! I find nothing offensive with it and you and I both know I'm fat!!

lunasmom · Jul 30, 2007

Yea I know I shouldn't sweat it, however for some reason the last year I was a magnet for politically incorrectness accusations. That wasn't fun, especially after my eyes started rolling.

Hmmm...phat, now I didn't think of that.

Fingerless monkey, I think I have heard that one before. I'll have to keep that one in mind.

Aww Jill!

you'll get there!! Keep positive!!!

You aren't bad!!!

theimp98 · Jul 30, 2007

lol i get accused of that all the time .politically incorrectness
i failed that class.

katl8e · Jul 30, 2007

I've been using that term for years, from back when I worked in casino soft count and hit the wrong keys, on the calculator/adding machine.

jenny1124 · Jul 31, 2007

I'm a heavy person and I see nothing wrong with that term..

katiemae1277 · Jul 31, 2007

Jenney, that's nothing compared to what I did! one time our paychecks got messed up, but only half of the office was effected. Right in front of my boss who, shall we say, lives an alternative lifestyle, I said, and I quote, "Well isn't that queer"

I almost died of mortification. Luckily, my boss didn't take it in a bad way, in fact, I'm not sure he heard me

What you said I wouldn't think would insult someone, it's just a figure of speech

4badcats · Jul 31, 2007

Oh bless ya, what a nightmare! Makes me feel better though - this is the kind of thing I do all the time - i.e giving lady in wheelchair directions in the city and finishing with 'it's about a five minute walk'!!!!!!!! Luckily she wasn't bothered, ad actually said 'so about three minutes rolling then!' whilst having a good giggle at me turning purple wth embarrassment!!

Don't beat yourself up about it - people can be toooo sensitive - there is a huge difference between saying something with malicious intent, and a genuine foot in mouth moment. Anyone worth worrying about will always know the difference!

Open mouth, insert foot

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