Definition: Given a real-life anecdote of a complex ethical situation, generate a suitable title that describes the main event/root cause of the situation. Imagine that the given text is a social media post, and you have to write the title of the post, so the users can decide to read the main text or not.
Input: I’m not even sure how cringey this story is to outsiders, but I do know that after it happened my heart physically hurt for four days, and I still can’t think about that trip without remembering this incident and wanting to collapse in shame. I never told my parents or my siblings besides the two who were present. I also swore them to secrecy—which isn’t something they would agree to unless it really mattered.

This was two summers ago. I was traveling in Europe with my parents and three of my siblings. We went to four countries, traveling by train—I especially took the time to plan the whole thing out. One nice thing I planned on our first day in Geneva was a trip to UN building. We were all really excited. 

Note: I’m from New York. I’m also a female if that helps with context. I was 19 during this trip, but when I was 16 my class went on a trip to the NYC UN Building. My experience there was nice enough. The tour guide was extremely present, lively, trying to spur intrigue and make every small bit interesting. He was totally into his job.

Ok back to the story. So we walked for a long time to get there. It was up some hill and the directions were unclear. When we finally got there—the space was empty. We ended up waiting 40 minutes with other tourists until someone opened the door and let us in for the tour.

I showed my passport, got a visitors pass, went through security, went to the gift shop and got shirts for too many people. Then this young man (I would guess 35) walks in and asks us to gather. He’s the tour guide.

Now I’m going to try to describe this guy. He wore a plain suit. He told us that first and foremost he’s a translator (French and English) at the UN, and that giving tours is a secondary thing. He was eloquent and clear and knowledgeable. He also basically lacked any animation. He seemed very jaded or maybe that’s his personality. In his voice and in his facial expression. Not saying he was incapable of being animated—but just that he made it very clear he didn’t want to be giving this tour. He walked really quickly, didn’t chat or answer questions in between walking from room to room, he made only sarcastic jokes, and he briefly explained the history behind some rooms.

Now I wasn’t complaining. He spoke. I listened. Honestly I thought if I were to give a tour it’d be pretty similar to his style. I have a tendency not to be animated when I probably should be.

The tour was over. As we were leaving, I approach him and say “Hey I have a question. Are you as miserable as you look?” Before I said this, I thought it was completely normal thing to say. Correct me if I’m wrong: someone from New York wouldn’t be offended by this. They would know I was acknowledging the fact that they hate their job, Maybe that’s what I wanna think to let me sleep at night. Anyways, his eyes bulged. And he looked so disgusted and shocked. My heart starts hurting and I say “wow sorry that was rude.” And he just stares at me and in his accent goes “yes that was extremely rude.” Cue me running away before he can say more, and me feeling physically horrible for four days while my sisters first are equally stunned, then laugh and then try to cheer me up. I honestly don’t remember much else about Geneva because the whole time I kept reliving this incident in my head. 

Idk if I was guilty of some culture faux pas—which is what I would like to think happen. Or I’m just an asshole who can’t ask appropriate questions.



accidentally insulting tour guide/translator at the United Nations in Geneva