(I discuss popular movies with my colleagues. One of my coworkers is a big Disney fan. At that moment “Frozen” came out.)

Coworker: Disney is really improving on the gender roles in the movie, so the men is sometimes weak and needs to be saved by a woman, or women have different connections as they used to be. I think, it is something special that a woman is not only the lead but the hero too. Like in Frozen.

Me: But Disney had movies which had female heroes and leads. And besides: In the original story it is also a woman, Gerda in that case, who is looking for Kai and is rescuing him from the snow queen.

Other Colleague: [My name], please be quiet and don’t reveal everything. I haven’t seen the movie yet.

Me: I havn’t seen it yet either. I am just retelling the fairytale the movie is based on.

Other Colleague: What fairytale?

Me: “The Snow Queen” by Hans Christian Andersen.

Other Colleague: There is a fairytale?

Guest service assistance asks me to talk with a customer.

Guest – (Crying) I have never been treated so badly in my life. This staff service is very poor.

Me – I am so sorry mam. Please calm down and tell me what is the problem and how can I help you.

Guest – I travel 6 nights a year and stay in the hotels but your suite room is not like other hotels. It should have a sitting area separate by wall and different from bedroom.

Me – Mam sorry to hear that but we are following all standards the franchise has set for the suite rooms. Sorry we will not be able to change rooms as per your past experience.

Guest – The staff is very rude to me. I asked them when you charge incidentals and she is like – you won’t get charged incidentals unless something wrong. She is not answering me properly.

Me – I am sorry about that mam. We charge incidentals if someone smokes in the room, steals our stuff, damages room. Since you are a nice guest there is no need to worry about that.

Guest – Thank you. Can you tell me if you charge for watching tv in the room?

Me – watching TV is free mam.

Guest – If I have to order a pizza and want to make a local call, will you charge me? It is just a one call.

Me – local calls are free mam

(I, as a student with student loans, usually follow the principle: As long as I don’t make my own money, I don’t donate it. On a Friday evening, however, I was a bit drunk, so not too strict with my principles. As I was waiting for my train, I saw a guy searching deposit bottles in a bin. I told my self ‘well, just this time’ and gathered a bit change. The guy was already going so I had to catch up with him.)

Me: Hey there!

(the guy turns around and I offer him the spare change)

Me: I think you need it more than I do.

Guy: You wait. You wait.

(he starts fumbling in his jacket and then gives me a bonbon)

Guy: Caramell.

(He waited until I took the bonbon before accepting my money. Needles to say, this little gesture really touched my heart)

Friend: [My Name]?

Me: Yes?

Friend: Why are furries always so dramatic?

Me: I have no idea. *pause* But I have to say, for a second I was really worried about where that sentence was going.

(I’m a 13 year old kid sitting in a computer lab with my math class about to take a practice test. We are allowed to talk because we are testing a website to make sure it works so we can take a big test with it in the next week. I am sitting next to a girl, who is generally very loud and often made fun of for it, but she doesn’t take it personally. 2 VERY annoying boys in front of us start to pick on her, but I only started listening halfway.)

Boy #1: “Shhh were taking a test! Everyone can hear you [Girl’s Name]”

Boy #2 : “Yeah you better be quiet this is a test!”

Girl: Everybody is talking! We don’t actually have to finish the test. It’s just a practice one, god.

(The boys continue to say rude things to her as she brushes them off like dust. Soon one boy starts to call her names)

Boy #1: You’re just acting gay.

(At this point I’ve had enough of them being rude to her, and calling her gay like it was an insult. I find using the term “gay” in a offensive way, offensive myself)

Me: Whats wrong with being gay?

Girl: There is nothing wrong with being gay! I’m not though so please stop calling me that!

Boy #2: Oh my god, your acting so gay.

Me: Again, is that some sort of an insult? Being gay isn’t bad.

(The boys have an innocent look on their face. Nobody stands up for the girl even though she has multiple friends, and they seemed surprised I actually joined in to stand up for her.)

Boy #1: There is nothing wrong with being gay…

Me: Then don’t use it as an insult.

Girl: And I’m not gay.

(The boys finally stopped. Suddenly, he girl turned to me with her hands covering her mouth in a surprised manner.)

Girl: Oh my god are you gay?! I’m so sorry if I offended you!

Me: Oh, Um…

(I didn’t answer her question fully. I identify myself as Pansexual, only because being 13, I don’t want to position myself just to one gender. Pretty much, if I know you well enough, I don’t care what you are. I didn’t feel like telling her that information though.)

Girl: I’m so sorry!

Me: No! No! It’s fine! You didn’t offend anyone! You’re you and you’re allowed to be whatever you want. Plus, they were saying a untrue fact about you, which you should be allowed to express yourself.

(I had a long conversation with her about how gay people aren’t, or at least shouldn’t, be offended if everyone isn’t gay. She thanked me, and when the bell rung we went to our separate classes. She was happier, and louder than she usually was after that. I was certainly too.)