I was at a conference meeting where I had to speak to the attendees.  I proceeded to inform the audience of an upcoming gathering and invited them to attend.  I said "Please bring your wives/husbands or girlfriends/boyfriends, but it might not be a good idea to bring both."  As the crowd was leaving one lady mad a beeline to me and proceeded to berate me about my poor taste and complete lack of any humor.  I was speechless.

Madam, I sympathize with your feelings and did not want to cause any distaste by my admonition not to bring wives and girlfriends simultaneously, but I did so because once I failed to make that distinction, and some idiot actually brought both causing a general to-do.  This idiot explained that I had not made it clear he should bring one or the other.  Since then I have made it a point to do so.

Now madam, should I now demure from this practice, may I ask for your phone number so that you can explain to people why in the future should this occur again, you can make an explanation?

Good, I didn't think so.

I bid you good day.