At Least I Didn’t Make Out During Schindler’s List
Tuesday, July 31st, 2007
So, our building has a stray-ish cat that hangs out under these big weeping bush doodads in the front of the building. It’s black and white, very cute, and somewhat skittish. It also looks like Hitler. GFI and I occasionally comment about the Hitler cat and how we can’t figure out where it belongs.
While out there watering my plants and chatting with my apartment manager, the cat was spooked and darted out from under one of the bushes. The apartment manager (who is very nice and I like very much, but who we will call Furley for the sake of this blog) was distracted by it and said, “Oh, there’s that old cat…”
And out of my mouth flew, quite enthusiastically, “Yeah, that’s the Hitler cat! He totally looks like Hitler…” trailing off, as I remembered Furley is Jewish.
So… seriously. How bad is it? Was that merely unfortunate timing, really bad taste or was that like paper cuts on his soul? The last thing I’d want to do is offend someone unintentionally. (I like to plan to be offensive. Heh.) Was it as bad as I imagine (I swear, I just didn’t think!) or is my political correctness just turned up to eleven?
I’m wondering…should I feel like a total schmo about this or was it offensive enough that I should apologize?
You’re going to hell. He probably didn’t even notice… its not like you said HE was Hitler. Hahaha
dude. i know how you feel. i told him “merry christmas” last year, and then quickly remembered and said, “or chanukah..or whatever”…but, yea…your blood kinda stops cold…
*stomach ache*
BWAHAHAHAHAHAH!!! No brisket for you!!
Seriously, I wouldn’t worry about it. Even among Jews, the little mustache dealie = Hitler. Chances are he knows what you mean. Unless he’s the kind of guy who would get mad at you for wearing a knit devil cap because OMG PEOPLE SAY JEWS HAVE HORNS!!11!1!!, then he’s fine.
Unless the cat doesn’t have a little mustache dealie…was it wearing a little armband or something?
You could always call him Chaplin Cat…
First, I think it is totally understandable that people make mistakes and we all slip up.
Second, I think it is totally acceptable if you just say at some point that you meant no harm and you hope no feelings were hurt.
Bottom line: the cat resembles a real life person who happened to be a total asshole. And a murderer. And a psychopath. But is it your fault the cat resembles him!?
I can’t help but feel slightly responsible….
I’m curious to know; what was his reaction? Did he laugh or just act like nothing was said, or what?
Yeah, what Robin said. And how old is he?
@Rosco: Oh, I completely blame you.
@robin: I’m not entirely sure. He didn’t do anything, and I changed the subject REALLY fast. I was a bit mortified. lol.
@Tanya: I don’t know… in his 40’s, I guess?
If his jaw didn’t drop open in horror, and he’s under 60, you’re probably ok. Especially if it’s really obvious that the cat has a hitler ‘stache.
If he’s in his 40’s, it should be okay. Not everyone is fragile. Had a Jewish friend in high school. Was over at his house for dinner, they ordered pizza. With bacon. Because bacon tastes so good.
I say, if the cat resembles Hitler, then that’s that.
GASP! You anti-Semite! JUST kidding!!!!! I don’t think it’s bad at all.
But then again, you may not want to take my word on this one. I can unfortunately totally upstage you.
When I was about 15 (young! And foolish!), we had elderly German-speaking Jewish people visiting us at our home.
My parents said that I was taking German in school, so they naturally wanted to converse. Before I could stop myself, I blurted: “The only thing I can say in German without making a mistake is Heil Hi…” (I finished the name in speech and said it, but I can’t bring myself to type it, it makes me cringe so much.) Needless to say, that is the very last time my parents even attempted to bring my so-called skills into a conversation.
Again, to my defense: I was young! And oh, so very very foolish!
*Cringe!!!!*
redsaid…holy crap! (My mom used to do that to me after I’d gotten home from France in college. It bugged the HELL out of me.) I think you win.
Joelle, your faux pas wasn’t nearly as bad as red’s. That makes it okeydokey. Plus, if the cat has the little Hitler mustache-looking thing going on, then it can’t be that big a deal! It looks like Hitler’s ‘stache! The comment makes sense!
@redsaid: YOU TOTALLY WIN. omg. hahahaha! God, how embarrassing. Way to go! *thumbs up*
Its not like you meant to offend. But I always like to stay cool with people, so don’t make a big deal out of it, just go up to him and say “hey about the other day, I’m sorry about that” and just let it go. Mistakes happen. Just don’t obsess over it. =)
@moxierain: thanks.
Also, interesting name! anything with Moxie is a good choice.
Eh, unless he’s insanely sensitive, I wouldn’t worry about it. You pointed out that it looked like Hitler. You didn’t give a Nazi salute or paint a swastika on his door. Part of my family is Jewish, and they would just laugh at something like that.
If he didn’t react negatively, I would just leave it alone. I feel for you and hate when I do things like that, but it wasn’t as if you were praising Hitler.
yea i wouldn’t worry about it. a fact is a fact. if the cat looks like hitler, then say it. it would be worse if you said “the cat looks like lionel richie”. because then you could be called a liar. besides, the cat should be the one that is embarassed. he’s the one sporing a hitler stache.
@girlplease: oh my god, what I wouldn’t give for a cat that looked like Lionel Ritchie. Now that’s a conversation piece!
Gee, thanks you guys! Ha ha. See, Jo? What you said? Not so bad at all.
OMG! Too funny! It’s nice to hear I’m not the only one out there putting there foot in there mouth!
I wouldn’t worry about it! If he didn’t say anything then I would just carry on like nothing happened. You’ve just prepped yourself for ever mentioning the cats name to someone next time.
I learned my lesson the other day when driving home from work, I was most frustrated with the person in front of me slowly merging on the highway, so much that I decided to lay on the horn. (Naughty, naughty, I know). Well, when I got into the far line and passed them I realized it was a coworker of mine with his wife (she was driving).
How embarrassing! The funny thing was, I don’t think he or his wife noticed! Neither of them looked at me. Or where they to scared to look. Needless to say I dreaded going to work the next morning! What would I do? Apologize? But did he even notice?
Well the next day I carried on as per usual and nothing was mentioned. And I vowed never to lay on the horn again! My advice, don’t mention Hitler cat again.
my classic foot in mouth case was when i worked in a doc’s office. he was pushing 60 i would say. no personality (just an asshole). so this 21 year old beautiful woman came in the office in some long fur coat and asked (in a very baby, high squeek voice that made me laugh)…”is norbie here?”. now i knew the dude said he had a daughter….i told her he was out but will be back. she goes “uh ok. bye bye” in that voice again.
he comes back and asks if there were messages. i told him his daughter stopped by. he goes “oh was she with her mother?” I was confused and described her. he goes (in a pissed off tone)
“that was my wife!”
and while it was a foot in mouth case, i was laughing deep inside. the moral of the story? dude, don’t marry someone w/ a baby voice who is 21…you’re going to get that each and every time (plus she was a former patient and babysitter of his 3 month old daughter. creeeepppyyyy)
nothing like a gynecologist robbing the craddle.
ahhh those were the days—fucked up office stories.
I was with a group of friends once, listening to a lady describe her job, which entailed caring for developmentally disabled adults. She was telling us about this one guy she took care of who had the habit of banging his head against the wall. It got to be such a problem, and they were so afraid he was really going to hurt himself, that they made him wear a football helmet. The first thing out of my mouth was “What team?”
So yeah, I know the feeling well. It calls me like an annoying friend.
oh don’t worry about it.
it’s actually the people who backtrack and try to ‘make it up’ after what they think is a ‘blunder’ that bother me the most. like, if someone wishes me a merry christmas, I’m not offended. whatsoever. it’s stammering over the ‘oh wait, chanukah’ or whatever part of it that’s like… silly. chanukah is not a replacement for christmas (though it’s certainly viewed that way by a lot of people!) and hitler should suck to anyone – jews and non-jews alike. if a cat looks like hitler, so be it. no biggie. your manager probably thought it was hilarious.