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I was unmuted during a company-wide meeting...

JaseMath

JaseMath

Member
Oct 27, 2017
9,384
Denver, CO
...and I was reading The Lord of the Rings aloud.

The worst part is that it was a Tom Bombadil section and he was singing nonsensical rhymes and songs. I've sweat through my shirt and every email I've gotten in the past hour, I'm like, "This is it. This is how I lose my job in a pandemic: by reading The Lord of the Rings."

I'm so fucking embarrassed. Please laugh at me, then tell me it's not a big deal.

EDIT: I posted this on r/TIFU —provides context on why I was reading aloud, etc. Basically, I've begun reading aloud to both work on my enunciation/speed of speaking and, since I've been isolated during this pandemic, selfishly need to hear my own voice.
 
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Shiloh

Shiloh

Member
Oct 25, 2017
3,710
If no one stopped you, you're either at a position that they were scared to say anything, or they really couldn't hear you.
 
Human Resources

Human Resources

Member
Oct 27, 2017
4,109
*CEO rolls up his sleeves and reveals a full-size sting tattoo.*

"you have my sword, son. welcome to the top floor"
 
TheSpaceBetween

TheSpaceBetween

Member
Jan 11, 2018
9,653
Not a big deal at all. If anything seeing that kind of thing would cheer me up during a long boring meeting.
 
mikehaggar

mikehaggar

Developer at Pixel Arc Studios
Verified
Oct 26, 2017
1,379
Harrisburg, Pa
A guys last week went into the bathroom and started pissing. It was super loud and clear as day. Everyone on the call was just laughing. For some reason he didn't seem to notice or pick up on it haha.
 
Creed Bratton

Creed Bratton

Member
Aug 29, 2019
691
Please give more context. Were you unmuted by someone else, or did you think you were muted but weren't? How did people react?
 
Dhx

Dhx

Member
Sep 27, 2019
1,700
How long did this go on? Do you often read aloud? How's your narrator voice? These are important questions.
 

Deleted member 13496

Banned
Oct 27, 2017
7,409
At least you didn't

A. Have porn up during a screenshare
B. Fart super loudly
C. Talk shit about colleagues/boss
D. Show your genitals

It could be a lot worse than reading LOTR.
 
astro

astro

Member
Oct 25, 2017
56,964
Turn microphone off if you want to do something private, muting goes wrong too often.
 
Lace

Lace

Member
Oct 27, 2017
904
Sho_Nuff82 said:
I can't believe the OP didn't elaborate on this.

Were you reading to a child? Practicing for a live performance?
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This is what bothers me. The why? Other embarrassing activities have some logical reasoning... But this is just weird in a different way. Could be a dawww or crazy weird depending on the reasoning.
 
MrRob

MrRob

Banned
Oct 26, 2017
6,671
It could have been a whole lot worse. At least you didn't Toobin yourself. The company just knows what a giant dork you are instead of knowing what your penis looks like.
 
Conciliator

Conciliator

Member
Oct 25, 2017
5,131
People have accidentally done a lot worse stuff while unmuted during company meetings...

but also, like...why were you doing that? I've definitely not paid attention when I should have during long meetings, but I can usually restrain myself from reading lord of the rings out loud.
 
Admiral Woofington

Admiral Woofington

The Fallen
Oct 25, 2017
14,892
JasonMCG said:
...and I was reading The Lord of the Rings aloud.

The worst part is that it was a Tom Bombadil section, and he was singing nonsensical rhymes and songs. I've sweat through my shirt, and every email I've gotten in the past hour, I'm like, "This is it. This is how I lose my job in a pandemic: by reading The Lord of the Rings."

I'm so fucking embarrassed. Please laugh at me, then tell me it's not a big deal.
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It happens to all of us and it's not a big deal, just hyper embarrassing but funny. The best thing to do is to own up to it, let people laugh and learn to laugh about it as well. Some might drop it if you're laughing with it
 
Deadly Cyclone

Deadly Cyclone

Banned
Oct 25, 2017
8,257
The Cyclone State
Who reads aloud to themselves?

That being said, it could have been FAR worse.
I was once unmuted white driving (had webex dial in using my car) and someone was tailgating me and I yelled "GET OFF MY ASS" and the meeting went dead silent.
 
Malverde

Malverde

One Winged Slayer
Avenger
Oct 27, 2017
3,612
Unceded Tongva and Acjachemen land
Switch Back 9 said:
C. Talk shit about colleagues/boss
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Had this happen in a meeting I was in. Some else was talking shit when not on mute, clearly talking to someone else next to them (their camera was off). Talking about "here he comes to mansplain over her, can't just let her talk" when HR interrupted a presentation to talk about his own experience in what someone else was presenting on. Like, it was physically painful for me. HR played it off like he didn't hear and just made a reminder to mute if you aren't talking. Person didn't get fired (this was a months ago) but I have to imagine there was an uncomfortable conversation that happened.
 
shadowsdarknes

shadowsdarknes

Banned
Oct 30, 2017
8,706
This is why I dial into these meetings on my phone. I hard mute my cell phone and there's no way anyone can unmute my audio except for me.
 
astro

astro

Member
Oct 25, 2017
56,964
Reading aloud to yourself is not that weird y'all, some people just enjoy reciting things.

Would you say the same about someone singing alone?
 
Josh5890

Josh5890

I'm Your Favorite Poster's Favorite Poster
The Fallen
Oct 25, 2017
23,227
I guarantee you that is far from the most embarrassing moment someone has had on a zoom/MS Teams meeting since the pandemic started.

Laugh it off!
 
Lakeside

Lakeside

Member
Oct 25, 2017
9,221
I once returned from lunch to my Fortune 500 job, then stood just inside the lobby door talking on my cellphone about WoW Warlock class details and raid strategies.

There was a VERY formal conference room there with the huge mahogany table setup. A guy emerged in his fancy suit, stared at me with a puzzled look, then shut the door.

After word got around someone jumped onto my PC when I went to the restroom and sent a message about warlocks to basically everyone thru the company IM client.

Good times. On a positive note one of the female project managers that I worked with in CA responded to the IM with pictures of her in hot cosplay outfits.
 
Zutrax

Zutrax

Member
Oct 31, 2017
4,193
If the meeting organizers were doing their job, they probably heard you the first couple of seconds and forcibly muted you. Plus, if you weren't muted the whole time, it obviously wasn't a big deal or someone would have told you to stop. You aren't getting fired for something so mundane. Unless you have actual evidence that people were hearing you for the entire duration of the meeting, I wouldn't worry about it.
 
Landy828

Landy828

Member
Oct 26, 2017
13,410
Clemson, SC
astro said:
Reading aloud to yourself is not that weird y'all, some people just enjoy reciting things.

Would you say the same about someone singing alone?
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That makes no sense.

The opposite of singing out loud (like most people do and how most don't read out loud) would be singing in your head. No one would say anything, because no one would even know you're doing it... 😆 .
 

Deleted member 24052

Banned
Oct 29, 2017
13,470
haha that's a great story, actually. I'm sure you're fine, and you'll probably make some new friends within the company if any of them are big LOTR fans.
 
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