Social interaction isn’t exactly something I’m good at. Lately I’ve been trying to relate to others by saying something like, “oh, I know what that’s like.” It’s supposed to be meant as a “I feel ya, bro”, but I think it’s comes across as more of a “Hey, let’s make this about me.” …Which makes me feel like a douche. Case in point:
Them (a coworker): “How’s it going?”
Me: “Pretty good. How ’bout you?”
Them: “Okay… I’ve got a cold, so I’m feeling pretty exhausted.”
Me: “Oh, I know what that’s like… I had a cold the last week of December.”
Them: “Oh man, that sucks…” <--- The point where I realized I've made a terrible mistake.
Them: "I sent an email yesterday saying I couldn't make it in, and..."
(there was a bit more idle conversation here)
As I walked away, I realized I had never said "Hope you feel better" or anything nice like that... So I'm fairly sure I came off as a douchebag. I'd go back and say something like that, but I'm pretty sure that would just come off as weird, making me a weird douchebag.