Jokes are supposed to be funny. When the only person who is laughing is the person telling the joke, it’s not funny, and often, it’s not really meant to be a joke no matter what they claim.

Sometimes people don’t think before they speak, and when they realize they’ve said something offensive, they try to laugh it off by claiming it was a joke and supposed to be funny. Don’t fall for it.

A Twitter user named Heather tweeted about an experience she had at a radio station when she was 19-years-old. Her boss at the time was probably about 45, and he made a very inappropriate comment. He probably wasn’t expecting her response.

It was my boss at a radio station. He was probably 45. I was 19. 😖

— Heather Thompson Day (@HeatherTDay) November 8, 2019

Heather shared that her dad had prepared her for situations like this in advance. That’s one smart dad!

My dad just told me “never laugh. They will mistake your nervous laughter as compliance. Instead, pretend you don’t get it, and watch them explain to you why you should be laughing.” I’ve used this advice my whole life since.

— Heather Thompson Day (@HeatherTDay) November 8, 2019

After Heather shared her experience, many other Twitter users came forward to share similar stories about how it’s best not to just laugh off an offensive comment that’s not really a joke.

1. A CLIENT told me I have a stripper name. Sarah. I didn’t laugh and looked intentionally puzzled.

   — snarkshark (@thelawnerd) November 8, 2019

2. Out with family when I was 13 and getting ice cream a friend of my uncle says “You can tell a lot about a girl by how she eats ice cream.” I, genuinely not knowing what he was talking about, said “Like what?”He didn’t expect to be questioned. I kept pressing. He never answered.

   — Naomi (@mimiomiomi) November 8, 2019

3. My first internship was in a very professional company. We learned direct questions quickly stop inappropriate workplace comments. Direct eye contact: 1) I don’t understand — explain it to me. 2) Help me to understand — repeat it.3) Can you provide an example?It works.

   — LiteFanFun (@LiteFanFun) November 9, 2019

4. Yesterday my coworker, who is 50 and married w kids, knows I’m Jewish, said “I dated a crazy Jewish girl in college” And laughed. I replied “why does that make her crazy” and suddenly he couldn’t speak anymore

   — m🌳 (@D0lphinG1rl) November 8, 2019

5. I also love frustrating people when they call something “gay,” “Oh! That’s homosexual??””😬That’s not what I mean!” Doesn’t really teach them anything, but annoys the crap out of them so they say it less around me.

   — Renaissance_Vixen (@RenaissanceVixn) November 8, 2019

6. I did the same thing to a guy who harassed me on a train. He said some rather disgusting things and I looked him dead in the eyes and said “tell me how you think that’s an appropriate thing to say. Explain it to me” he was not happy and got real quiet so I could leave.

   — Chess Pearson ♿️ (@Captain_Ogilvy) November 8, 2019

7. My personal favorite to dudes who try to chat me up in parking lots, etc. is to ask, “Please tell me about the last time this worked on an actual woman for you.” They IMMEDIATELY run away.

   — hashtagkaren (@HashtagKaren) November 9, 2019

8. Once they’ve been forced to THINK about what they’re saying, they never do it again. It works for a lot of groups– peers, creepy bosses, kids. Nothing like cheerfully asking why something’s funny and not giving up till you get an answer!

   — Rhi 🎉 (@qwertyuiorhi) November 8, 2019

9. And, pokerfaced, I told him back,’ I am aware. You’re not the first to make the joke nor the last. Cash or Card?’ I made a grown, veteran, 60 something year old man walk the walk of shame that day. I didn’t mean to but, after being hit by old men constantly, it gets tiring.

   — ✨Sky the Daily Dreamer ✨ (@Skylightwings) November 8, 2019

10. I was 12 in a Bodega and dude behind the counter saw my top which had “58” on it asked me, “is that how may men you been with?” He laughed. I didn’t. I was stunned and disgusted. I left and got my mom. She stormed in and demanded to know what was so funny? He stopped laughing.

    — Valerie (@MommyRandR) November 8, 2019

11. I had the same happen to me except it was a SUPER racist joke, old guy at work told it to me and says “That’s funny innit it?” I said “No, that was extremely racist” he stopped laughing and just looked a little lost. I guess no one had ever called him out on it before. 🤷🏻‍♀️

    — Impossible Souffle (@kymi_lian) November 9, 2019

12. Same thing when I was a bartender in a small backwoods bar, patrons would say racist “jokes” and say why arent you laughing, dont you get it? I’d say yes I do, I dont think it’s funny.

    — Kay Sharp (@kays1023) November 10, 2019

13. A few times white aquaintenences started some racist joke or story. I stop them and said, “Oh! I do not participate in conversations like this”and walk off. It made them mad but also speechless. I figure they think twice after that.

    — SceneAlot will #VoteJoeBiden (@SceneAlot) November 10, 2019