to think that people in food courts should clear their rubbish away

[workshy]

went to my local shopping centre tonight, ended up staying longer than anticipated so decided to eat there

got food with 2x DDs, went to find an empty table and all the empty ones were covered with rubbish with one member of staff trying to keep on top of it

there are about 20 bins on this food court -how difficult is it to put your stuff in the bin ffs????

I ended up clearing a table myself for us to sit down -when we had finished eating DD2 took our stuff to the bin I'm not advocating child slavery, she enjoys doing it strange child and the man cleaning up went to help her and said thank you so enthusiastically, it was as if she was the ONLY person who had put their rubbish in the bin all day!

Lucy well it's obviously not working it? This "expectation"....the food courts obviously need to make it clear for those who don't understand the rules...if indeed they are rules.

It's not fair to tar everyone as lazy and rude...some people, myself included simply don't realise. I am in no way the type who litters, however I had not, until it was pointed out to me, realised this was the expectation or the norm.

I think it may be a "class" thing, i.e, "I am above you, therefore you can pick up my litter/fast food wrappers/popcorn". That is why the one poster saw teenage boys and 30-something-women showing off that they did not have to clean up after themselves. Or another poster witnessed clueless teenagers leaving popcorn all over the chairs and floor. They like to think, "Well, at least I do not have to tidy up after myself others. I must really be someone now/have achieved something/can mock others".

Agree with a previous poster who said that she had never seen people paid to clear tables in the US. I never saw that in the US, France, Germany, or any other country I have visited in fact. Clean them perhaps. Clear away rubbish, no.

I promise you it's not a class thiing Jo

YANBU.
I think it's shameful some folks don't clear away their mess . When DS vomited over the table in a food hall, it was me begging a staff member for a bucket of soapy water!

You wonder what these people's houses are like!

In what way is it a class thing? Do you think the middle classes are more likely to clear their own food away and the working class is more likely to throw rubbish around, or the middle classes are used to people doing things for them and the working class identify with the workers there and help them out?

Can you see how stupid either of those things are?

It's to do with good manners and respect for oneself and for other people. If you make a mess, you clear it up.

It's not a class thing.

It's a cunt thing.

Non-cunts clear away after themselves. Cunts don't.

HTH.

yes. when i lived in singapore it used to bug me. that, and 'choping' tables

It's a question of whether you think everyone should do their bit in a (very) small way so things are better for everyone. Not so many years ago, people would automatically have put their rubbish in the bin because that is the decent and civilised thing to do.

You clear up your rubbish so the next people can sit at a table that isn't covered in crap. When you come to sit down, you can expect the same. It's not hard, it's just that we now live in a society where too many people don't give a toss about anything other than themselves, and will argue loudly and belligerently over their 'right' to behave like slobs.

If you go to any coffee shop or food court-type place in Japan, for example, everyone clears up after themselves and then an assistant comes and wipes the tables to make sure it's ready to be re-used. Everywhere you eat is tidy and clean. Isn't that better? How hard is it to walk a couple of feet to the bin?

Jeez.

Are there signs up asking people to clear away and big arrows pointing to the bins?

Because if not, I bet people think that it's like a lot of places to eat - order, eat, pay, leave. Staff clear away.

If it is not that, then the onus is on the staff to make that clear. By using bloody big signs!

If they have, and people are not taking any notice, then YANBU

I think the big bins are the clue, Hecate. If the staff were meant to clear everyone's tables, the bins would be hidden from view.

Always clear up after myself in a food court. It is called decency. Cannot believe people are trying to justify being lazy cows and not clearing up after themselves.

OP YANBU.

I don't think anyone's trying to justify it, we're just saying we didn't automatically realise what you're meant to do. I go to a food court probably about once a year.

I come from a country where even the most obnoxious teens clear their rubbish burger have adapted to non clearing here. I'll do it if there is a way, but sometimes find there isn't even an area for trays, cutlery, etc.
I think it should be made mandatory though as part of a bigger effort to reduce litterbuggery.

But not burger!

I used to work in a food court many years ago.

The staff are employed by the centre management, not the food outlets. Their job is to CLEAN tables, floors, empty bins, etc.

I hated having to clear other peoples rubbish because the were too fucking lazy to do it themselves.

I never leave my rubbish on the tables as I know it is not the staff job to clear up after me, its mine. This is what my parents always drummed into me. Its called MANNERS!

They may very well be a big clue, but people don't always get even big clues and they may very well make assumptions in spite of seeing bins.

Speculating as to why people don't clear the tables is not the same thing as saying that it is ok that they don't.

Hecate - I do agree that there is a percentage (I put it at 20% earlier on the thread), who don't realise what the expectation is.

But then there is probably similar percentage who are ignorant of the need to signal on roundabouts ...... they should pick up the clues

People who don't pick up the clues are as thick as pig shit. Except Hecate who has a blindspot on this issue and should be forgiven immediately.

Do you think I don't personally pick up on the clues? Or that I think it's ok? I clear up after myself in places where I realise that you are expected to. I think, generally, if you take your own tray to the table, there is a good chance you are expected to clear away your rubbish.

I am speculating. People who don't - why don't they? It could be that there are no signs telling them they have to.

Yes, some people are that thick/unthinking/inconsiderate.

And then there are others who think they are above clearing a tray away.

They're called twats.

Some people go around in a little bubble - not noticing other people, not noticing if you've held open a door for them, for instance, not looking in their rear-view mirror when driving. Selfish/self-absorbed/distracted - all sorts of reasons.

or thick, of course

So many unkind remarks on this thread!

damn I'm going to have to start breaking the law to keep all the police, solicitors, and magistrates with things to do....

yadnbu, god this thread is full of lazy arses and snobbism

So many inconsiderate people who do not clear up after themselves!