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The original was posted on /r/tifu by /u/Cautionnerds on 2025-12-14 14:04:22+00:00.
So this happened yesterday and it's kind of a minor fuck up and mostly led to an awkward situation.
I work in cable repair, and one of main tools are cable strippers for coax. Within that, there's two versions we use, colored blue or yellow depending on the size of the cable we're cutting. My yellow ones, meant for standard size rg6 coax busted and I had to order a new set from our company store, in the meantime I use the blue ones. It works, but not as well.
While working on an older customer's service with my supervisor yesterday, I mentioned to him "oh btw, I ordered the yellow strippers," to which immediately I got this evil glance from the customer and said I should be ashamed. It took me a moment to understand what was wrong, then it hit me. The person thought I was being racist and ordered Asian strippers (yellow being a derogatory term for Asian people for those that don't know), the profession, not cable strippers, the tool. Had to explain to the customer that I meant tools, showed the blue one I was using vs the fact I needed yellow ones. He accepted the explanation but was icey the rest of the time there. Sup found the whole thing ridiculous, and said he'll back me up if the customer leaves a bad survey review or tries to call and make a complaint.
Tl:Dr I mentioned ordering a tool and got accused of racism