Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Flip

1 2 ··· 7 8 9 ··· 16 17

Original poster

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

415 replies

Windsock · 02/08/2012 16:02

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

OP posts:

yellowraincoat · 02/08/2012 21:49

Well, the thing is that in much of the country, "cunt" is just not that bad an insult. In my neck of the woods, we say "have you seen that cunt John?" just to mean a person, nice or otherwise. So it's hardly that shocking to me, I certainly don't get my flaps in a twist about it.

The majority of the country either didn't vote or voted in the Tories, so I hardly think we can take them as the standard for good sense and intelligence.

FelicitywasSarca · 02/08/2012 21:50

Emmie isn't that what we're all doing?

FelicitywasSarca · 02/08/2012 21:52

EH yellow? Whats the Tories got to do with this one?

While I'm not shocked by the word 'cunt' I do understand its cultural significance and just because it has entered into the every day vernacular of your specific area that doesn't change it's national position and while posting on an international but uk based forum it is logical to remember that.

FelicitywasSarca · 02/08/2012 21:53

And you do apparently get your flaps in a twist about being called 'silly'.

Bizarre.

yellowraincoat · 02/08/2012 21:55

Is it indeed logical? Well consider my wrists slapped, I'm afraid that the odd "cunt" is always going to slip out and if it offends the southerners, I'm not going to get all boiled about it.

The Tories have nothing to do with it, but I've never really believed that just because the majority of people do something, it's a reason to think it's morally or logically correct. I think that this has been proven many times in the history of the world.

wellwisher · 02/08/2012 21:55

YANBU, OP. It is rude, selfish and entitled to "bagsy" a table before you have your food.

MrsKeithRichards Thu 02-Aug-12 16:10:16
I was in Ikea recently and a group of 3 adults sat at a table a girl who was about 7 was saving for her mum. Poor wee thing must have felt so awkward. Total bullying behaviour, they would never have done that to an adult.

Actually, if there are no tables free once I've paid for my food, I do do this to adults who are selfishly hogging saving a table without any food or drink in front of them. They fume at me, but I don't care because I am well hard so I just smile passive aggressively and get stuck into my lunch. Fair enough if you've got little kids with you, but I find the worst offenders are people in their 50s and 60s (usually provincial-looking couples in matching kagoules).

By the way, what is the problem with "invalid"? doesn't it just mean someone who's physically weak/poorly? Is it now un-PC? Genuine question.

yellowraincoat · 02/08/2012 21:56

Felicity, you seem to enjoy arguing, but it's just logical fallacy after logical fallacy.

I didn't get anything in a twist about being called silly as I said upthread. I did say that one side can't say "you name called" and then name call themselves and expect to be taken seriously.

yellowraincoat · 02/08/2012 21:56

wellwisher, just look at the word "invalid".

VALID.

IN-VALID.

FelicitywasSarca · 02/08/2012 21:58

Charming.

The difference presumably is if we all reserve a table before eating, we all eat sitting down comfortably and without a fuss.

Whereas if we all support the Nazis there's genocide (or insert any other example of terrible things that you were referring to).

So on this occasion I think we're safe to follow the herd.

FelicitywasSarca · 02/08/2012 22:00

I enjoy arguing? Well since you mention it, yes I am rather enjoying this one because I am right

But yellow, pot, kettle, black?

yellowraincoat · 02/08/2012 22:00

Did I refer to the Nazis? Or terrible things? No.

The thing is some people DON'T reserve a table. And where does it leave people who are alone? There is not a clear system and therefore it is rude to take a table and you are essentially queue jumping.

If you're ok with that, super, but some people are going to think you are a silly billy willy.

I leave you with that thought, some of us have queues to join.

emmieging · 02/08/2012 22:02

I don't believe for a minute the table hoggers would all be happy if everyone followed their herd. They'd get their flaps in a right old twist! It's the desperate feeling of getting one over on the world which keeps 'em going!

FelicitywasSarca · 02/08/2012 22:04

Off you go then, I'm alright see, I got a table half an hour ago.

People who are alone should either suck it up (as I usually do) or if they want stick a coat or bag down (risky what with the thieves in the world, which is why I prefer to suck it up).

It is the fault of the company for not implementing a clear system not the sensible people who get a table first.

FelicitywasSarca · 02/08/2012 22:05

Emmie, I just don't see it as getting one over? It's just what you do.

Like queuing for the loos, or being polite to old ladies.

wellwisher · 02/08/2012 22:13

yes thank you yellowraincoat, I can read... but it's not even pronounced the same way. A chronically ill person is an IN-valid, an expired passport is in-VAL-id. Both have the same origin (Latin) but it's a bit of a stretch to say that describing someone as an invalid implies that they are somehow less worthwhile people. Unless you're the sort of person who goes around looking for random things to be offended by

mellen · 02/08/2012 22:17

It would be better if no-one reserved a table before they had thier food, but as soon as one person does it then that encourages everyone to do it.
I was once in a restaurant where they had a system of barriers, so that you had to queue for food before you could get through to where the tables were, which I thought was a good idea.

I think that restaurants and coffee shops should manage themselves better. I think it is totally unreasonable to sell someone something to sit in and eat/drink and then there isnt anywhere to sit.

BuntCadger · 02/08/2012 22:18

stleger · 02/08/2012 22:37

Our local McD's has a lady, called something like a family hostess, who helps find seats, keeps an eye on people sitting for ages after eating and suchlike, helps to carry trays for people with shopping/toddlers/broken arms. And my local Marks has a lady who takes trays from the table-less and leads them to an appropriate table share. Don't get me started on people on trains who attempt to take over a set of four seats though.

YouOldSlag · 02/08/2012 23:05

"I did say that one side can't say "you name called" and then name call themselves and expect to be taken seriously."

I have only seen name calling from one side. And yes, cunt is deeply offensive.

PS Felicity- I agree with you!

noddyholder · 02/08/2012 23:07

No one cares about any of this

YouOldSlag · 02/08/2012 23:08

noddy- there are 196 posts so you are wrong 196 times.

ShellyBoobs · 02/08/2012 23:14

And yes, cunt is deeply offensive.

I find 'slag' to be far more offensive than 'cunt', myself.

BuntCadger · 02/08/2012 23:20

FelicitywasSarca · 02/08/2012 23:34

Shelley unless someone from the 'reserving' side called someone a slag, your argument is nonsensical. It is about who was calling names, not what the most offensive name was.

Bunt, you gonna sit down to eat that?

Youoldslag glad you agree

Flip

1 2 ··· 7 8 9 ··· 16 17