that people who grab tables at self service restaurants without getting food dirst

[Windsock]

are nobs
owners of small kids etcetc ussual conditions apply
it REALLY annoys me.
this messes up the flow of traffic and one person sits there hogging a space where 4 people could get in eat AND have left byt he time their person arrives

cheers youoldslag

Emmie, I'm less surprised that you have seen this enforced in M&S although I stand by my argument that the average staff team of a fast food restaurant is not going to have the time, training or inclination to do this.

Can you explain to me why you think it is better manners to queue first? Would you still think this if everyone else reserved a table first?

Shatners I was trying to diplomatically ignore that one.

I find a table b4 ordering however i wait until people get off a train b4 i get on, i wait until people have exited a lift b4 i get in, i say please & thank you. Does that still mean im an entitled selfish cunt because i have somewhere to eat the food that iv bought?

Yes wild - you must be lying about the other things, if you get a table first you are a terrible human being.

I didnt actually mention manners at all felicity- you are the one who seems obsessed with that!

My view is really incredibly straightforward. In self service cafes/restaurants it's quicker and smoother getting customers through if they get their food first. I have also pointed out repeatedly that it is only a problem if somewhere is full, and it it is full, then you'd take priority as a customer who has paid and has food in their hand anyway.

It's more about common sense than anything else. Oh and I quite like to choose my own food, and to be at the counter so if something has run out I can make a second choice without someone deciding for me.

Felicity well i had better go & take a long hard look at myself then

Ok, perhaps i've directed the question at the wrong person Emmie, certainly other people arguing on your side have called 'reservers' rude and I was wondering why.

It simply baffles me that you care more about the 'smooth running' of someone else's business than whether or not you get to sit down comfortably while you eat your food.

Wild, could you take a long hard look at me while you're there, you see I would but I am reserving this table just now can't be arsed.

You should try the m&s here, I was there today buying a drink. Hardly anyone there.

No fat, thick, ignorant cunts hogging the tables today

You're right Moomin, I didn't go out for lunch today.

I think you're dwelling too much on the caring, compassion for businesses side of it felicity! It's the common sense side of it I think most of us are thinking of. Queue, pay, eat... No problem .

I will remember that next time I'm at a restaurant. I will tell them they've got it all wrong.

YouOldSlag, I couldn't care less about being called silly, but you can hardly say "you called us names" and then call someone names and still expect me to think you're viewing this from some sort of objective perspective rather than just enjoying some argy bargy.

Emmie, but most restaurant operate 'our way'
Sit, food, eat, chat, leave.

Why is it common sense to do it your way?

It makes no difference unless it's full anyway feliicity, in which case those who have paid would take priority over anyone who hasn't! I've explained several times, I don't think there's a more straightforward way to put it

I'm well aware it makes no difference unless it is full.

Why, in a full restaurant would you queue for food before securing a table. I mean, what happens if there is no table AND no tables where people are reserving seats. What happens then?

YouOldSlag, I couldn't care less about being called silly, but you can hardly say "you called us names" and then call someone names and still expect me to think you're viewing this from some sort of objective perspective rather than just enjoying some argy bargy.

Please do point out where I called anyone a name because I don't debate that way.

I have been appalled at the name calling of "table hoggers" on here.

We have been told we lack manners, we are "cuntish","rude" "thick" and "ignorant" That is blatant name calling and it simply makes the perpetrator's argument lose credence.

If someone called you silly that was nothing to do with me and hardly in the same league as the vitriol in my quotemarks (see above ^^).

I didn't say you did, did I?

People are vocal in their ire, it's hardly a new thing on MN. Maybe they think you're cuntish and they can't think of a better word than that to describe it. I don't see how that damages an argument at all.

Hands up I probably called someone 'silly' although it was more a description of an attiude than a person so pretty weak as name calling goes.

I apologise if I've offended. Not an excuse, but I am genuinely baffled by the vitriol that has been aimed at people who prefer to find a table before they eat.

Felicity my dear, you are worrying too much about all this. In the situation that you buy a meal and there is nowhere to sit, this would be extremely poor manangement by staff and you would get a refund pronto. You are paying for somewhere to sit on their premises- so they would not be delivering.

There is undoubtably a difference between calling someone silly and calling them a cunt.

To use such extreme insults in this context sounds ridulous and so devalues the way the argument comes across.

Great apologising skills Felicity. "I'm sorry, but not actually cos I didn't say anything that bad." Have you thought of a career in politics?

Yes, there is vitriol. Doesn't that make you reconsider your position AT ALL? If someone was describing a behaviour of mine as "cuntish" I would at least consider that maybe I was indeed being a cunt.

Maybe I'd come to the conclusion that I wasn't, but I would think about it.

Emmie, rest assured I am worrying not a jot about this. I am simply bored and trying to be polite in my discussions with you.

I wouldnt go to the bother of arguing the toss about my refund with the staff of the busy restaurant. I would just get a table first.

Yellow, I have thought about it, but I'm (and most of the country judging by the common practice I see around me) are not wrong on this one.

So I am forced to conclude that the people who think the behaviour is cuntish are either joking or misguided. I think there has been a bit of both on this thread.

'cunt' is culturally one of the worst insults we have, one of the final 'language' taboos. Do you seriously think it applies in this rather trivial situation?

Just bored and passing the time eh lol

Actually yellow if you're going to split hairs,

I said it wast that bad. But I am sorry if offence was caused.

Slightly different.