AIBU to think that people that scoop are greedy

wouldnt bother me, I wouldn’t be eating it, hate buffets and others germs on stuff.

These are the important matters of State.

You're right OP, there is an etiquette and people should pay more attention. It's the one dish at a party I zone in on. Are there enough dips? What chips go with the dips? Do they match adequately? Is there a nice guacamole/tzatziki/salsa available if all I can see is tapenade (don't like olives) all before we get to how people conduct themselves around said dips. Can make or break a party for me.

😂

JustAstateOfmind · Today 11:18
And why have these culprits never eaten all day, when the buffet is in the late afternoon/evening? “Starving, haven’t eaten all day is always usually the line!

Yes - this is exactly what I was trying to say. An invitation to a special meal is primarily social, not nutritional. You're there to be sociable, not stock up on calories for the next few days. I've been to things where I've barely eaten anything because I've been busy chatting to other guests. It wasn't a problem for me - I didn't starve!

Oh and the worst ones are the people that pile plates high, then leave half of it, so nobody else can then have it either.

Personally I don't like buffet food, especially when shared with a load of strangers, and dips in particular are the devil's work. Someone (usually a bloke) is bound to double dip and if there are kids around they're bound to stick their fingers in it. Then there's always the detritus of left over crumbs mixed in them. Fucking horrible.

And why have these culprits never eaten all day, when the buffet is in the late afternoon/evening? “Starving, haven’t eaten all day is always usually the line!

Hangerslip · Today 10:09
Well, yes, the pots contain 2/4 servings?

Presumably they didn't put out one bag of crisps and expect it to serve 20 people?

Maybe if the houmus etc is the actual meal (with pitta or salad), but not if it's part of a buffet!! Surely a smallish spoonful is more the portion you'd take at a buffet?

Agree 100%, OP. I hate greedy guzzlers at buffets. I think, on the whole, people need to remember that when they're at a fancy 'event' meal, they're not going to starve - you eat 'socially', rather than stuff yourself as if you're not going to eat for a week, don't you? And you're there to socialise - to converse with other people, so loading your plate and stuffing your mouth just don't work with that. The Queen was famous for pushing a bit of food around her plate all evening because she prioritised good manners. That might be a bit extreme, but there is a happy medium!

A catering manager once told me some fascinating stuff about the 'psychology of buffets'. He explained that, when people see plates of say, sliced cold meats, greed takes over and instead of thinking 'well, there are about 50 people here, so that's about a slice each of the ham and beef...; they just pile it onto their plates with no thought for those behind. Horrible behaviour. My late MIL had a phrase; 'making beasts of themselves', and I think she had a point.

The caterer said that you have to feed the food in in stages, or those at the last tables to be called get nothing but half a tomato and a piece of cucumber. Even doing this didn't always prevent the last people from getting a raw deal.

I have to say, I love my food, but this kind of greedy boorishness utterly disgusts me. Piggies at the trough is what comes to mind!

@ScoopOrDip it’s like they’re in a trance when they do this, and literally cannot entertain the idea that they’ve taken too much. There is always denial about the quantity taken, and overplaying how much is left as well. The whole point of a buffet is that you can go back again as well, so why they need to take what they deem as a “reasonable plate piled high portion” all at once, without any consideration for others is ignorant.

It never fails to amaze me just how greedy people can be. In the way that competitive undereating seems to be a uniquely female thing, going through a buffet like a Hungry Hippo seems to be mostly a male trait. And they're absolutely fucking shameless.

Went to a wake a while back and I had wondered why there were quite a few people who made a quick exit after the funeral. By the time we'd got to the wake I understood why, they were already seated with plates piled high from the buffet while the rest of us were left with a few sandwiches and half a bowl of crisps.

Golden rule of buffets: take a small amount of what you like and, if there's any leftover once everyone has had a chance to get food, then you can have seconds. Don't be the greedy cunt. Also, don't stuff your face while you're actually at the buffet table to try and hide the fact that you're having more than your fair share.

Greedy people are right down there with stingy people.

I love eating with people that have hearty appetites. I am happy for people to eat leftovers. In a shared food situation, some people cannot help themselves from taking more than their fair share. They simply do not care if someone has less because they have more.

I attended a small work event. A co-worker brought the only prawn ring back from the buffet table. Someone else took it back. I don't eat prawns.

Some people mistakenly believe they deserve the lion's share. Other people's needs are non of their business it seems.

I have a lovely family member that is always starving. I have older teens with hollow legs. This is unacceptable behaviour.

We used to do a Chinese takeaway, but now you have to prebook everywhere, we have stopped this. I do a small buffet tea now, which works well for the dcs, means we can relax and not have to go out as well. There are always sandwiches and some left overs to go for a little dinner later on Christmas Day with a few crisps (and dips 😂 etc added), if we have room left after massive dinner and dessert. It works well, easy to throw together, and saves me the next day.

I tell him that, he will buy one, and say it’ll get wasted, and still this will happen. He will even deny that he has had much! I’ll be buying extra next time, he isn’t to be trusted😂

give him his own pot?

I would only share a dip with dh, and the kids, If I had guests, I would have them spoon it out. Dh is the worst for this, he eats faster as well, so that when I go for some there is only dregs left 😡

I started a tradition two years ago of having beans on toast on Christmas Eve. I make the stuffing, sauces and veggie main course on CE so there is quite a bit of cooking. Everyone agreed to it heartily as ideal before the onslaught of rich food the next day.

Standing in front of the buffet table, continually grazing and blocking it for others is the worst. Some people are absolutely clueless.

its on people to choose a reasonable portion

But surely different people will have different ideas of what a reasonable portion is?

Scooping, greedy, locusts.

No wonder we have an obesity crisis. 🙄Well done OP, you win the "i'm the most dainty eater" competition for a Monday. 👏

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