(I work in the IT department, on part of the university’s website.)

Customer: “Can you help me? I tried to print out this webpage, and none of the images showed up!”

Me: “Sounds like it might be a problem with your printer.”

Customer: “Is it because the images are stuck inside the internet and the printer can’t get them out?”

(I work for the university Psychology department where several labs have students participate in experiments. A girl is wandering around the hall looking lost.)

Me: “Excuse me, but you look a little lost. Can I help you find something?”

Volunteer: “Yeah, I signed up to participate in an experiment, but I don’t remember which one or what the requirements were.”

Me: “Alright, that’s fine. We can look you up on one of our computers. Can I have your name?”

Volunteer: “[Name].”

(I go to the office computer and her name, the experiment and the requirements.)

Me: “Alright, well it looks like you’re going to be in the lab down the hall and the only requirement is that you should be a native English speaker.”

Volunteer: “Oh, but I don’t know that language.”

Me: “What language?”

Volunteer: “Native English, I’m not familiar with that language, only regular English. I’ll just go tell them I can’t do it. Thanks!”

(I am at the Admissions office at my University. A co-worker leaves a message with a younger kid telling them they’d “call back later” to speak to the adult.)

Me: “Hello, [college]?”

Caller: “Oh, this is a college?”

Me: “Yes ma’am?”

Caller: “Well then why were you telling my kid you were coming to our house?”

Me: “I’m sorry, I don’t know what you mean.”

Caller: “Someone called my house the other day from this number and told my 5-year-old daughter that they would “come over later.” Why would anyone be coming over later?”

Me: “I believe they probably said “Call back later.” That’s what we usually say if a younger child answers the phone.”

Caller: “Oh, so now you think my 5-year-old is dumb?”

Me: “I never said that ma’am, we just usually don’t leave messages with young children.”

Caller: “If my daughter couldn’t take a message, I wouldn’t let her answer the phone!”

Me: “Well, with all due respect ma’am, she did tell you we said we would come to your house, which is not correct at all.”

Caller: “Yeah, well your people should speak more clearly, she’s only 5! She gets things wrong sometimes!”

(I am giving information about documents students need to bring to their university interview.)

Me: “We’ll need you to bring your birth certificate, an ID, your high school diploma and 8 black and white photos for your file.”

Customer: “Eight photos? How?”

Me: “Yes, 8 black and white photos.”

Customer: “You mean 4 black and 4 white?”

(I work in enrollment in my university.)

Me: “What degree would you like to enrol in?”

Customer: “I don’t know.”

Me: “Well, what are you interested in?”

Customer: “Hot girls.”

Me: “You mean ‘Women’s Studies’?”

Customer: “Does that have lots of girls in it?”

Me: “Pretty much all girls.”

Customer: “Awesome, I’ll do that.”

(Note: ‘Women’s Studies’ studies feminism.)