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Since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, Zoom and other video calling services have been extremely helpful for both business and staying in touch with family and friends. Even after the restrictions were lifted, video conferencing remained a very popular practice. However, besides all the advantages that this software has brought, it also has been a part of many cringe-worthy and embarrassing moments. From screaming kids running around to someone undressing in the background, you've probably heard a lot of incidents like these before.

While some funny moments remain private, others are too much to handle without discussing them with a wider audience. That’s why we gathered the most awkward and ridiculous Zoom meeting fails that were shared in this thread started by Twitter user @eggshellfriend. Scroll down to read some shameful stories. What are your experiences with video conferencing?

#1

Zoom-Meeting-Fails

PanzerPancreas Report

pseudosapien
Community Member
2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

No offense, but I find your comment and username to be humorously ironic.

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KamCy Ahaka
Community Member
2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Zoom funeral?? Genuinely curious what that is

Remi (He/Him)
Community Member
2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

From covid times I presume. I had to remote to my grandma's funeral like this too, because there was a cap on how many people could be in the chapel a the same time. It went well thanks to the cousin who's been doing remote meetings for his company for something like a decade though.

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Sue Denham
Community Member
2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Putting the "fun" in "funeral". (Oh, slap me!)

Jilltdcatlady
Community Member
2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The funny thing is this happens in my small town in real life. Gramma and granpa putting the fun back in funeral.

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    #2

    Zoom-Meeting-Fails

    pirtbar Report

    Irishwoman abroad
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The zoom version of "My dog ate my homework"!

    Crazy Dog Lady
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I do feel like that's how I would react if my cat was puking, and whilst on zoom she never left my side so it's possible.

    Seanette Blaylock
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    But as listv points out, cats are NOT quiet about barfing (that sound is guaranteed to wake me out of a sound sleep immediately). It would have been audible to others on the call.

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    listv
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    If it were the cat, everyone would have heard it!

    WindySwede
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Depending on what kind of microphone, some have noise cancellation of surrounding (ex headset with boom mic). But otherwise yes! Poor kittys!

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    R Dennis
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Once after a work zoom meeting. I thought I had disconnected and under my breath said "This is f*****g stupid." I then heard other people making noises on the computer. I don't know if anyone heard me, but if they did I never heard about it.

    I just work here
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Are you that obnoxious, know it all coworker who always to talk? I don't blame him.

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    #3

    Zoom-Meeting-Fails

    papaGemini Report

    censorshipsucks
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    my boss also does this (denies receiving). I just re-forward it with his name on the CC list in big red circle.

    Lyyyy
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Some of my clients do a variation of this: They call me and say there is a problem I haven’t adressed, I tell then I sent them a mail two weeks ago with a suggestion how to deal with the problem. They ask me then to find the email and resend it to them. But sometimes it is the more funny variation of client calling me and asking me to find a email they sent to me couple of months ago, and forward it back to them. I suspect some people haven’t found search function in their e-mail.

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    Min
    Community Member
    Premium
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This is perfection

    ZenChickChristine
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I had a boss who pulled the “you never sent a message” c**p. I started BCCing their boss and set up read receipts. They were eventually fired, but not before half the team switched departments or left the company. Bad bosses can absolutely ruin a workplace.

    Smokey Too
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That's just BEAUTIFUL!!! LMAO!

    For those interested in history, Zoom was originally founded in 2011 but its origins go back to the 1990s, when Eric Yuan when studying at Shandong University of Science and Technology in China, wanted to find an easier way to see his now-wife. In 1997, he worked at a videoconferencing startup for 14 years before leaving to start his own company.

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    Right now, Zoom is one of the most widely spread proprietary videotelephony software programs used in school, business and for private purposes.

    #4

    Zoom-Meeting-Fails

    bizzybbie Report

    SAF saf
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That's strait up creep behavior right there.

    Boris Long-Johnson
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Maybe he’s pumping her - s****y but not exactly creepy.

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    BetterBitterButter
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    There was this professor taking classes online and he accidentally opened a folder containing his photos with a woman. Students saw the photos and assumed they were of his wife or GF. But some students went ahead and stalked his social media profiles. The professor had a wife but not the woman in pictures.He had several photos with his wife. Students found out the woman in the earlier photos was a PhD student in the institution and certainly not his wife.

    Deta Rossiter
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    that is stuff HR would like to know of i assume....

    cwa92464
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    holy c**p dats creepy stalky

    nuberiffic
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    ...and you're certain they weren't for work purposes? Like making ID's or website profiles or something?

    PattyK
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I hope you reported him to your supervisor and HR. And told the other female coworker about it.

    Jean Jacket
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Even if he wasn't married, that's really gross!

    that weirdo in ur closet
    Community Member
    2 years ago

    This comment has been deleted.

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    #5

    Zoom-Meeting-Fails

    Tomi_R_B Report

    RavenTheCat
    Community Member
    2 years ago

    This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

    I hate how many emoji's were used in this. However I am kinda smirking at the embarrassment, not in a mocking way but in a *I'd probably do that too* way

    waddles
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    you will be shooketh when you become aware of the number of sparkle emojis i use in daily life ✨

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    Joshua Moore
    Community Member
    Premium
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I know you can turn this off on Windows. I'm not a Mac user, but I would imagine there has to be a way to turn this off.

    Patches The Panda
    Community Member
    2 years ago

    Oops

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    #6

    Zoom-Meeting-Fails

    vaotss Report

    Upstaged75
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I was running a Zoom webinar and meant to send a chat comment to the moderator. Except I accidentally sent it to all the attendees. Unfortunately I said something not particularly nice about someone and they saw it. Most embarrassing moment of my professional life!

    Nannychachi
    Community Member
    Premium
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I sent a text one time saying that the day had been absolute hell and blah, blah, blah. Did I send it to my husband who it was intended for? Nope. Sent it to the doctor I worked for. Thankfully, he thought it was funny.

    Maya Willis
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Oops that’s not really something to say on a zoom call!

    PunnyPanda
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Been there... Don't save people in your phone as "so and so - workplace". Might lead to texting your boss instead of your work bf about your gripes by accident... Lol.

    AliJanx
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Me and my coworkers text via our personal phones during particularly annoying calls. Plausible deniability applies.

    During the Covid-19 pandemic, businesses and people had to find a method to operate remotely as lockdowns forced offices to close around the world. That’s when Zoom became the pandemic’s success story. According to Wired, at the end of April 2020, the calling service announced total revenue of $328.2 million, a 169 percent increase from the same period the previous year.

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    After the restrictions were lifted, Zoom calls still remain a popular practice, being chosen over life meetings by some. However, the question remains whether our love for this video technology will dissolve in the future now that we can go back to our offices.

    #7

    Zoom-Meeting-Fails

    GamerCents Report

    Monday
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I've never quite understood why people in this day and age would download and save porn if they don't want it to be discovered. Surely it's easier to just bookmark the page and rename the bookmark?

    Tams21
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It's doing it on his work computer that I don't get with this one. Everyone has a PC at home these days, using a work computer for porn is a different level of stupid.

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    Aidan Campbell
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    There is a time and a place for porn and a work laptop is not it.

    Joshuah Johnston
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Not to make excuses, but someone having a folder full of porn, on their WORK computer no less sounds like someone with a porn addiction.

    Jigsaw's Puzzle
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yeah your right I mean they could just wait until they’re home why do they need that at work

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    Riley Quinn
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This is just laziness on his part. There are various ways to store things privately. Or, simply not using the same computer for work as you do to watch porn. Just saying.

    ArodTheHorrible
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Now THIS one is sleazy... keep your private life on your private electronics

    AK to LV
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    'Paul, why don't you give me(the boss) a call after we're done here.'

    AliJanx
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Terminable offense in my company.

    Smokey Too
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yeah, that's mighty unprofessional! Doesn't the company have rules about not doing that stuff on work equipment?

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    #9

    Zoom-Meeting-Fails

    BenAndrewsNYC Report

    Boris Long-Johnson
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    To be fair we do that to each other in the team when presenting for amusement value.

    BasedWang12.7
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    to be extra fair... I think I need a line of coke to get through this today

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    Carol Emory
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I was using Teams to set up a meeting with a mentor. First time doing it. I asked "Did you get the invite?" "Yep" All good. A few minutes later I get a message in Teams. "I saw your invite to a weekly meeting...could you tell me what this is about before I accept?" Uhm..you weren't supposed to get one. Then another co-worker a few minutes later. I said "Apparently I sent it to the whole office." She said "Nope...looks like you sent it to the whole company." (533 recipients.) I didn't cancel it right and got booted, so I sent an email "Say you're a new hire without saying you're a new hire. Well.. how about inviting the entire office to a meeting intended for one person...." Got a lot of LOL msgs back. I was told I was not the first and probably won't be the last......

    Mayra
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Coke IS better than Pepsi

    Electra Complex
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    To be fair I've never tried snorting a line of Pepsi

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    Obviously, while participating in conferences from the comfort of our homes, we tend to act differently. There’s no need to look presentable (if you don’t have your camera on) and you can do some side jobs at the same time (if you’re good at multitasking, of course). However, as we can see from these tweets, it happens that we let our guard down a little too much sometimes and allow some embarrassing things to slip out. Do you have some cringe-worthy Zoom fails to share?

    #10

    Zoom-Meeting-Fails

    Steg_O_Saurus Report

    Joshua David
    Community Member
    2 years ago

    This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

    I thought nobody even used that facebook thing anymore.

    #11

    Zoom-Meeting-Fails

    ATLCitizenBeth Report

    Madster
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That should NOT be on his work computer.

    Monday
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Might not be a work computer. School could have insisted that each staff member use their private computer to continue teaching. Still the teacher absolutely should have checked before starting the zoom call.

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    nancy
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Schools often don't give teachers a work computer (unless it's a desktop in the classroom).

    PunnyPanda
    Community Member
    2 years ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Omg, my kid's 1st grade classmate shared live on their Google Meet his mom getting arrested for the whole class to see during a break. It was a ridiculous situation where the city failed to notify her about putting a 5g tower on her property and she obstructed construction by putting a cooler of drinks for the workers over the spot they were going to put it. She was mortified when she realized her 7 year old had broadcast the whole thing to his class. Poor lady... The follow up emails were hilarious tho.

    Riley Quinn
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Just said earlier - cough up the money for a "private" computer.

    Mary Kelly
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    you should've reported him to the county school system

    RavenTheCat
    Community Member
    2 years ago

    This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

    I went to school with like 7 flashdrives One of which had over 100 to 200 pictures of furry porn. No regrets

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    Interestingly, observations of remote meetings revealed that using video calls significantly helps team members and the team leader to establish stronger relational bonds. It is partly because video meetings allow participants to be more engaged in group discussions, to express their thoughts and opinions more freely and to resolve disagreements more quickly.

    On the other hand, video conferencing is not for all, causing feelings of anxiety and exposure for some. According to the successful video communication report presented by Pearn Kandola, this stems from “a lack of familiarity or awareness in using the technology solutions effectively.”

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    #13

    Zoom-Meeting-Fails

    eggshellfriend Report

    Kelsey Rivera
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The good way as in killing him with kindness or the good way ad in stabbing him with a knife with "Kindness" engraved on it...

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    #14

    Zoom-Meeting-Fails

    ProCheeseburger Report

    Seanette Blaylock
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Well, they're definitely not going to NOW, idiot.

    #15

    Zoom-Meeting-Fails

    UnbiasdParasite Report

    Jaaawn
    Community Member
    2 years ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Tbh I wouldn't fire someone that has easy access to weapons.

    AliJanx
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    You never know how the company handled, nor what they're doing behind the curtain. A good company will do their due diligence before termination (risk avoidance). You don't know if the company alerted law enforcement either.

    Diana Pahule
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Fire? Why didn't they report him to the police?

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    #16

    Zoom-Meeting-Fails

    jeremytam Report

    censorshipsucks
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    not embarrassing , just sad. At least it wasn't some of these others.

    Irishwoman abroad
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Awkward and very sad, but not your fault at least.

    Penny Lost
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    If it had been a message from your cousin that you gave them an STD, not THAT would've been awkward. A relative dying ain't awkward at all, it's just sad.

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    #17

    Zoom-Meeting-Fails

    chicagojimmy Report

    hello how are y'all
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    😂And then they sabotaged the computer😂

    #18

    Zoom-Meeting-Fails

    Charberto Report

    Seanette Blaylock
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The 2020s version of getting busted passing notes in class and having the teacher read it out to everyone? :)

    Billie Templeton
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    At least you weren't on national television when the "your free trial" of video conferencing software was about to expire. Felt bad for Hillary.

    Bronze Republic
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That is why I am scared to send messages to anyone during a presentation. Even just a text

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    #19

    Zoom-Meeting-Fails

    notleahlol Report

    censorshipsucks
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I can immediately tell from this that he reads DailyMail

    VonBlade
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Is this a new magical browser with tabs the width of your screen? Because at best mine would say "Addison Rae wears ba"

    Tyler
    Community Member
    2 years ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    but how can you read that whole thing? tabs are never big enough for that many words

    Rebekah
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Rule one before joining Zoom meeting: close down everything else.

    Mune
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Addison Rae is some famous TikToker. She got so famous she starred in a movie and released her own pop songs. People tend to s**t down famous Tiktokers but these people are usually good looking and make plenty money and they all don't even go to college. F**k it life is so unfair.

    #20

    Zoom-Meeting-Fails

    Teff7 Report

    Alexej Dvorak
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Just practice your ctrl+z reflexes before next time :D

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    #21

    Zoom-Meeting-Fails

    consensualhugs Report

    Emma S
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Maybe the reason for not being invited is because she holds meetings at 3.30pm on a Friday?

    LK
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Here's a weird idea, work during the hours you are paid to work. For most people, this includes a Friday afternoon, just a much as a Monday morning.

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    Frando Bone
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Anything 3:30 or later on any day of the week is just pointless.

    ShadeCalico
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It's not nice to not include someone!

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    #22

    Zoom-Meeting-Fails

    UnbiasdParasite Report

    censorshipsucks
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    what does this mean, she was moonlighting?? it just means she's not paid enough.

    Purple Sprinkles
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    No, it means she was getting paid to do a job while also doing another at the same time.

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    Emma S
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'd say that was the employers fault if she has to work a second job while in training.

    Rahul Pawa
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    We don't know if she *has to* work a second job, or if she thought she could get away with it.

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    fogharty
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I read it as they got lunch while they should have been working.

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    #23

    Zoom-Meeting-Fails

    abigailjoyful Report

    Mune
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Doesn't sound too bad.

    Diana Pahule
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I mean, are interns supposed to come in knowing what to do?

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    Diana Pahule
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    She also could have been just saying that so they'd leave her alone.

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    #25

    Zoom-Meeting-Fails

    VeraMF11 Report

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