I help run events for a university student organization. At a recent social, there was confusion about a QR code and organizing a group picture. I misunderstood what someone meant and they corrected me in front of everyone.
I was already stressed and overwhelmed and reacted badly. I told them “f* you.” I later apologized and admitted I was wrong for saying that.
Afterward I said that if something goes wrong during events, we should discuss it privately instead of correcting each other publicly so we keep a professional image. Some people think I was out of line and should have just accepted being corrected.
AITA?
Edit: Thank you for all the feedback. I understand the main point people are making. My reaction (saying “f* you”) was inappropriate and unprofessional regardless of how I felt in the moment. I take responsibility for that and I already apologized at the time.
Posting here helped me realize I need to work on handling stress and feedback better during high pressure situations, and that is something I am actively working on.
My original question came from wondering whether expecting more discretion between board members was reasonable, but I understand that my reaction escalated the situation and overshadowed that concern.
I appreciate the outside perspectives.
YTA. You admitted to reacting badly, and you apologized for it. What are you looking for on here?
Edit: If looking professional is important to you, publically telling someone “f u” is not it.
YTA. You know what keeps a “professional image”? Not yelling “Fuck you” at someone during a public event.
YTA. You were indeed out of line.
You said F u to a board member?!? Lmfao you’re about to get fired.
YTA – you said/did something that was incorrect so that was pointed out to you so the correct information could be shared. You seem to have taken this personally and have reacted with aggression and foul language, none of which is taken away by a simple apology. Remove the “personal” next time.
YTA
You have no ground to be talking about ‘keeping a professional image’. Being publicly corrected isn’t unprofessional – reacting *badly* to being corrected is.
And you reacted *beyond badly.*
YTA, while what the other person did was innapropriate, what you did crosses a lot more boundaries. You can’t just tell off people because they made a mistake. Also, if somebody hurted the professionnal image it’s you by being so flippent for sonething that isn’t that big of a deal.
YTA correcting you (when it seems it is also their job to make the event run smoothly) and you cursing at then are two wildly different things.
HR won’t be down their throats for telling you “no were meant to be doing x” but they certainly will be pissed that you were cursing at another employee infront of clients
“We should keep it professional” you just said “fuck you” to a colleagues in front of everyone. Next time *you* keep it professional and make the audience laugh when you realise your mistake, then keep going
YTA you didn’t like being corrected but thought it was professional to swear at them?
Time to grow up and learn to accept corrections whether you think you’re wrong or not
Why did you post this?
YTA. Does “Fk you” really sound like “Thanks for correcting me” to you?
Do you really even have to ask? Of course YTA! You talk about keeping a professional image and then speak this way to someone you have a professional relationship with?
Correcting someone in front of others is not unprofessional or rude in and of itself. It can be *done* in an unprofessional and rude manner, but it is not by default rude. Saying “fuck you” will *always* be unprofessional and rude.
Yta. Professionals don’t say that in public.
You are not a professional.