TIFU by accidentally creating a fake emergency at work with a misunderstood voice memo
This happened earlier this week and I'm still cringing about it. I work in a mid-sized office where we use an internal messaging system that has a voice memo feature. I almost never use it because typing is faster, but I was walking between buildings with my hands full and decided to send a quick voice memo to my coworker Jake about a printer issue.
What I meant to say was something like, hey the printer on the third floor is jammed again, can you check it when you get a chance. But I was walking past construction and there was loud drilling, so I basically shouted into my phone while trying to be heard over the noise. The message came out garbled and frantic sounding.
Apparently what Jake heard through all the static and noise was help, third floor, jammed, and then some unintelligible yelling. He thought I was stuck in an elevator or hurt or something. He immediately alerted our floor manager, who then called building security. Within like ten minutes there were two security guards on the third floor looking for me, checking the elevators and stairwells.
I had no idea any of this was happening because I'd gone back to my desk and put my headphones on to focus on a report. It wasn't until my manager came over looking genuinely concerned and asked if I was okay that I realized something went very wrong. When they explained what happened I felt my soul leave my body. I had to apologize to security, to Jake, to my manager, and now every time I walk past Jake's desk he jokingly asks if I need emergency services.
The worst part is that the printer is still jammed and no one has fixed it because the whole situation became this weird office story that overshadowed the actual problem. I'm never using voice memos again.
TL;DR: Sent a garbled voice memo about a printer being jammed, coworker thought I was in danger, security got called, and now I'm the person who cried wolf over office equipment.