Asking elderly men about "how big it is"
I work in a sales company providing mobility scooters for the elderly. About five years ago, when I was still considered the "new kid" I was asked to call a few contacts from a list of 200 names on A4 paper (these were the glory days before everything was computerised) and make as many appointments as I could.

At the time my calls were being monitored by the head of my department to make sure that I was saying all the right things. So I picked up the mobile, dialled the number and got through to the first name on the list. It turned out that the old fellow I had rung was already a scooter owner and before long we were having a perfectly innocent conversation about part-exchanging his scooter for a better one.

My boss was sat next to me smiling encouragment as I chatted about the new models we had available until I dropped a clanger. In an effort to find out what he was already driving I said "So, have you got a big one sir?". The office immediately fell about.

To top it off, the guy was pretty deaf so I had to repeat myself a lot louder. Trying not to giggle myself at this point I shouted down the phone, "Did you say you had a big one or a small one?" at which point I gave up trying to fight the laughter and said I'd pop a brochure out in the post.

My boss, bless him, gave me a ten minute break to try and stop blushing.
( Hitler's Barber Soylent Green is high in saturated fat, Thu 12 Jun 2008, 13:24, Reply)