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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

aibu to think people should qait to purchase food before sitting down at a table?

191 replies

Allthingspretty · 21/02/2013 12:59

In the queue of a cafe where there are lots of signs asking people to show consoderation at busy times about sitting down before ordering at last three people blatantly sit at the remaining tables whilst i and others arw qaiting to be served.

Aibu to have said very loudly so that one part of the offending party that it was very selfish of people. The. Sales assistant said she had told people about this before and was shouted at.

I was made to wait for a table simply because people were being selfish.
Aibu?

OP posts:

Bowlersarm · 21/02/2013 15:53

If I had my whole family with me and it looked too busy to get a table then we would just go somewhere else.

Original poster

Allthingspretty · 21/02/2013 15:54

Funny why the fuck should i go to a q quieter cafe when people joining after me could count the tablea and count the people in the queue and them go to anothet cafe.

OP posts:

Original poster

Allthingspretty · 21/02/2013 15:58

I think all these suggestions of what i should do and how i should go elsewhere etc are there to excuse peoples behaviour.

Yes there are valid reasons why some people might sit down before ordering such as illness etc however it just comea across as lack of consideration for others from most.

OP posts:

BackforGood · 21/02/2013 16:02

Count the posts AllThings - the vast majority of people have said that it's not rude or wierd and is in their social expectations. It's what happens in UK society (sorry, not meaning to be exclusive, just can't speak for the rest of the world ).

Fine, if you want to do it that way, but don't expect the rest of society to change, just because a small minority of people think it rude.

Bowlersarm · 21/02/2013 16:03

But tatty if the tables are numbered then that is a different system. It is expected that you find your numbered table first before you order. This is not the system in the OP this is 'first come first served' and table hoggers are jumping the queue

Cherriesarelovely · 21/02/2013 16:03

I always ask Dd or DP to get a table, I expect others to do the same. I don't think they or we are being selfish at all. It's what you do. I've never thought of it as wrong.

KellyElly · 21/02/2013 16:03

AIBU - yes you are buy popular majority, OP - no I'm not. Love it

Cherriesarelovely · 21/02/2013 16:04

Equally if we have finished and are just chatting and I can see someone looking for a table I will quickly offer ours to them rather than taking my time.

Original poster

Allthingspretty · 21/02/2013 16:07

I shall take the judgement with a pinch of salt.

OP posts:

Bowlersarm · 21/02/2013 16:09

That's kind cherries but I would like to think that it's to someone wandering around with a tray and not someone who's just joined the back of the queue

Sirzy · 21/02/2013 16:10

How are you supposed to count how many tables the people in the queue will need? If everyone in a party is queuing then 10 people could be 2 parties of 5 or 5 parties of two or a who host of other combinations which would have different seating requirements

ChewinTheFat · 21/02/2013 16:13

You know what does annoy me though? People who loiter beside your table when you haven't finished eating waiting to pounce, that is rude! If I'm finishing off a coffee I'll say to them I'll be a couple of minutes.

Feelingood · 21/02/2013 16:16

Yes and not sit at tables blatantly eating packed lunches which are meant for customers or just sit there checking ticket times of rather slot with nothing and watch people like me struggle with two v excited little boys a tray of food in one hand and pushing crying one year old in buggy with other, and still watch while I find a table, but one without any chairs.

This was my experience of Cadbury World cafe yesterday. One of many shitty moments that happened throughout the day.

Sparklingbrook · 21/02/2013 16:18

Feeling. Not a good day at CW?

TheFallenNinja · 21/02/2013 16:21

A sign asking for people to be considerate is simply a wasted sign.

People standing in lines commenting loudly on what others have done are rude and pointless.

People who complain to staff about people's behaviour can't expect the staff to have the minerals to do anything about it.

People who queue for food without getting a table run the risk of having to stand up and eat.

Places that say get your food and then find a table are stupid.

FunnysInLaJardin · 21/02/2013 16:22

there's no need to swear All.

If you wish to stand and stew about 'rude' people being sensible and finding a table before they order then more fool you. In your situation I would look through the door and if it seemed very busy and getting a table would be agro then I would go elsewhere and save myself the grief.

I always find my table first and sit the DC down. Why on eath wouldn't you?

Sparklingbrook · 21/02/2013 16:24

There's a lot to be said for buying something nice to eat and taking it home. Eating out is a minefield.

CloudsAndTrees · 21/02/2013 16:25

I love how enraged people get on this topic on MN!

If I'm buying food, I get a table before/at the same time as queuing. If I'm on my own, I get food or a coffee to take out anyway.

Sometimes, when I really want to annoy the rest of the world, I even go into Costa just to use the toilet without buying anything!

Bowlersarm · 21/02/2013 16:30

Ah clouds but to use the loo in Costa wouldn't annoy anyone because it doesn't affect them, they can still use it as well. But if someone hogs a table then other people can't use it

Sparklingbrook · 21/02/2013 16:31

Someone might have put their coat on the toilet to bagsie it for their post-coffee wee.

Bowlersarm · 21/02/2013 16:32

sparkling

AllDirections · 21/02/2013 16:34

It's only rude to take a table if you are not going to eat there (or if you're getting a takeout or planning on eating your own food). If you are going to purchase food there then you are entitled to a table.

It's only really fast food places that seem to have a problem because when it's busy the food isn't fast at all. If it was then one person would grab a table and the person collecting the food would be there in a couple of minutes with the food.

Personally I think the whole idea of getting food and then a table should be abolished. Then there wouldn't be any confusion and everyone would get a table first and then get their food, which is the logical way round to do things.

AllDirections · 21/02/2013 16:37

As long as Sparkling doesn't use the disabled loo (unless she's disabled of course)

CloudsAndTrees · 21/02/2013 16:38

Even if it means someone who has paid to eat has to wait an extra minute to go to the toilet?

Feelingood · 21/02/2013 16:39

Thanks for acknowledging my utter pissed offedness, sparkling I'm still simmering from yesterday as a whole. At this moment in time I will never host a sleepover again or have a particular child. I would start my own thread but I'm beyond tired. and I actually wanted a third dc.

Least I still have my free curlywurly

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