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The original was posted on /r/AmItheAsshole by /u/No_Spare_4582 on 2023-07-24 14:10:33.
I (23m) have been with my current company for a year now. Recently, a new guy (Jack) joined our team fresh out of college.
Last Friday my manager invited everyone to a bar after work. There, Jack told everyone about an achievement that he obtained over spring break: he visited his 150th country (Cambodia). In contrast to everyone else, who were asking things such as “What was the best/worst/strangest thing you ate,” “Which countries were your favorite,” and “Any cool stories,” I just said “Good for you” and went back to my drink. Jack noticed me being quiet and asked me why I wasn’t joining in. I said “Don’t worry about me” but Jack kept pressing the issue.
I finally said “Jack, visiting 150 countries is cool and all but it doesn’t say anything about you as a person. It just means you had rich parents who could afford to travel internationally several times a year.” (I grew up poor, (literally) worked my ass off in high school, got a full ride merit scholarship, and did everything humanly possible to land my current 6-figure job. Rich people who think they’re better than everyone else just because they had rich parents is a HUGE pet peeve of mine. But my coworkers don’t know any of that, since I like to keep work and my personal life as separated as possible.)
Jack got really quiet after that and left soon afterwards. Now it’s Monday morning and I’m wondering if I should’ve just kept my mouth shut.
NTA- he’s gotta sort out his own feelings of discomfort about the concept you just presented this poor sheltered man, and that’s his choice to make.
That being said, you might not have wanted to bring this up at a work event since this is the kind of honesty that the social contract usually keeps between more friendly relationships. You may find your experience at the office is different now depending on how office politics trends. You may find some people approve of what you said, bit I’ll bet management won’t like it. Not that they can do anything about it legally, but you might find yourself the target of less than favorable consideration. I don’t you’ll get fired or any kind of overt retaliation, more just that this person and anyone who “takes his side” will at the least be less friendly and helpful.
I’d say you should have stayed quiet, but not for ‘Jack’. Teaching an asshole a life lesson shouldn’t cost you your own peace of mind at work