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The original was posted on /r/tifu by /u/NataliaVolkova on 2026-03-24 13:35:21+00:00.
So today I had a multi-organization meeting at work. It was held in a conference room at one of the other organizations, so I've been there before, but it's not my main workplace. Two of the exterior walls are all glass, so there are big pillars on those sides to support the main structure of the building.
After the meeting, several of us are standing around chatting, and I was near one of the pillars. Someone had to get past us and the people in front of me wouldn't have been able to step back since they were next to the table, so I step back against one of the pillars.
However, after a couple of seconds I realize... the pillar is kinda squishy? Everyone in the conversation has stopped talking, and my boss is looking at me intently. I hear a noise behind me, and realize I had not stepped back against the pillar, I had pinned a colleague against the pillar with basically my whole body as I felt their entire front across my entire back.
I apologized quickly, but was too mortified to explain I thought they were the pillar and that's why I didn't move right away. In hindsight, I think it's probably good I didn't explain because I probably would have told them they felt squishy, which would have probably made it worse.
If I'm invited to the next meeting, I'll make sure I get there early enough to sit on the side without the pillars!
TL;DR: I thought I was backing up against a pillar, but there was a person in between me and the pillar and I hadn't noticed I had pinned said person against the pillar for an awkward amount of time.