I asked my co-worker if I could drink her breastmilk

A recent post on the ‘Am I the Asshole’ (AITA) thread caught users of the app’s attention.

The post, titled “AITA for asking my coworker what would happen if I drank her breastmilk?” tells a tale of a bizarre workplace exchange that quickly escalated into a heated debate.

“What would happen if…”

The original poster (OP) begins the story with their colleague, Kate, sharing her breastfeeding experiences in the team breakroom. 

The OP found themselves intrigued by the topic and asked a peculiar question. 

“Hey, so what would happen if I were to drink your breastmilk?” they inquired.

Taken aback, Kate replied, “Excuse me?” 

The OP attempted to clarify their curious question, explaining, “I mean, is it okay because your baby is related to you, but I’d get sick because I don’t have your same bacteria?” 

The confusion in the room grew as another coworker, Lauren, said, “Well, it can’t be that that’s how it works because then wet nurses wouldn’t have been a thing.” 

Uncomfortable with the situation, Kate eventually left, accusing the duo of making fun of her.

The internet’s verdict

The Reddit post generated nearly 5,000 responses, with opinions divided on whether the OP was indeed in the wrong. 

Some Reddit users felt the question was invasive and inappropriate. 

One user commented, “Look, some thoughts just don’t need to be shared with others.” 

Another criticised the approach, stating, “That is such a weird and intrusive question.” 

However, as one user shared, not everyone found fault, “I’ve breastfed two babies, and personally would not have been offended by this.”

While the original phrasing of the question was undeniably clumsy, it seems the OP’s intention may have been misunderstood. 

One commenter noted, “The original phrasing was creepy, but your explanation of what you were trying to ask seems reasonable.”