Skip to main content
Skip to main navigation
Skip to talk navigation

Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Saved Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Flip

1 2 ··· 5 6 7 ··· 15 16

AIBU?

to have pointed out a spelling mistake in a menu?

384 replies

freckledleopard · 18/12/2013 10:16

First off, I really don't think I was being unreasonable, but would like others' opinions please.

I went for drinks last night in a cafe I'd not been to before. The various food options were written on a blackboard above the tills. One of the options described sausages and "gravey". I didn't say anything initially - ordered my drink, thanked the server and went to my seat. Later in the evening, when ordering again, whilst waiting for my wine, I spoke to the same assistant and said, with a bit of a smile, "Sorry, I just wanted to point out that "gravy" is not spelled with an "e" in it". I smiled again to reiterate I was being friendly and added, "I just notice these things!" (which is true. I'm a lawyer and a pedant.)

The woman's demeanour immediately changed at this point. She said "well, I didn't write it, but I'll be sure to tell my dyslexic colleague that she spelled it wrong" (she really did emphasise the word dyslexic). Again, I smiled (awkwardly now) and repeated that I had a job that made me notice spelling errors. Again, she repeated that she would be sure to tell her "dyslexic colleague that she couldn't spell 'gravy'".

I paid for my drink and walked away blushing, feeling really pissed off. Frankly, if you're going to have a dyslexic colleague write the menus, surely it would be common sense to double check the spelling? Further, I always point out spelling and grammar mistakes on public signs and leaflets (and have been known to tweet companies whose packaging contains errors) so that the relevant people can correct them.

I'm still pissed off today (and yes, I appreciate it's a first world problem). But AIBU to think the assistant was rude, abrupt and should perhaps have graciously accepted what I said, maybe made a joke of it, rather than having a go at me?

OP posts:

Report

angelos02 · 18/12/2013 12:27

If I'd been in your company I'd have been mortified. You were with friends I assume & you were so bored you not only noticed but also commented on a spelling mistake in a menu? Grip. Acquire.

SanityClause · 18/12/2013 12:29

I dislike spelling mistakes on menus, but I dislike bad manners even more.

I think you and the person serving both displayed poor manners. And imagine, if you had just let it go, would you still be thinking about it now? Probably not. But, as it is, you are still dwelling on it the next day.

ShinyBauble · 18/12/2013 12:31

Society is rapidly dumbing down, and people are increasingly easily offended. You have to start ignoring these things because no-one will thank you - or if it's a chalkboard, just rub out the 'e'!

lessonsintightropes · 18/12/2013 12:31

Ok. Consensus is I'm a patronising lawyer and life's too short. I accept I'm not a people-person and my desire to be right probably pisses people off. I still maintain that anyone running a business should try and take on-board feedback rather than being rude. But that's obviously just my opinion.

Hit the nail on the head there OP. But nice you personally have learned to accept constructive feedback! Merry Christmas

ExcuseTypos · 18/12/2013 12:31

OP how do you know "the server" is running the company? She might be on minimum wage having been working since 8 a.m. Or her pet fish may have died, or YOU may have just irritated her.

You don't seem to be able to look beyond the 'this is wrong, be thankful I've pointed it out' Yes, the waitress should have said 'thank you for pointing that out, we will get it changed" but she didn't, just let it go.

MrsCakesPremonition · 18/12/2013 12:33

The only time I would point out an error on the menu would be if the mistake led directly to misunderstanding, the mistake was very funny or very rude.

An extra e in gravy wouldn't be enough to make me behave badly.

IThinkThat · 18/12/2013 12:33

Maybe, they purposefully wrote GRAVEY ?

THIS is definitely GRAVEY

Fakebook · 18/12/2013 12:34

YABU. Stop going on about your job and how you're a pedantic. I'm sure you can control your urges outside your job. You were rude.

BillyBanter · 18/12/2013 12:34

Surely even if you are dyslexic it is useful to have a spelling mistake pointed out to you so you can correct it?

However as long as the menu was easily comprehensible then it doesn't really matter that much and I wouldn't have bothered saying anything.

snowed · 18/12/2013 12:36

lots of people don't want to do any learning the minute they leave school, and are happy with an easy life.

That's fine in their spare time, but if they have a job to do, they should take pride in doing it properly and paying attention to detail. If this involves writing, they should make the effort to get it right, rather than opting for an "easy life".

If I was near two restaurants, I'd choose the one without spelling mistakes on the menu, because I'd assume they made an effort with everything else too.

ViviPru · 18/12/2013 12:36

nyone running a business should try and take on-board feedback rather than being rude.

This is a fair point - but only if she was actually running the business.... Was she?

thebody · 18/12/2013 12:36

i accept I am not a people person etc

How about

' I know I am insufferable in my desire to be always right and point out others mistakes so I really need to work on this and stop as I have probably really hurt other people's feelings and that's a horrible thing to do.'

aciddrops · 18/12/2013 12:36

I'm dyslexic is the default excuse for a lot of people who can't be bothered to check/spell correctly.

Does my head in.

Dyslexic people have to spend a LONG time checking their writing - not just for spelling mistakes either. What if dyslexic person doesn't have a dictionary to hand? Would someone who used a disability as an excuse for walking slowly in front of you do your head in as well?

HavantGuard · 18/12/2013 12:36

Can you not see the difference between mentioning a mistake on the board and informing someone that "gravy" is not spelled with an "e" in it"? One is pointing out a mistake. The other is patronising the waitress by informing her how to spell a basic word.

Are you sure you're not my SIL? I had to restrain myself from buying her this for Christmas.

snowed · 18/12/2013 12:38

Anyone working in a customer-facing role will often receive feedback from customers, whether good or bad. The best thing to do is take it on board and pass it on to the relevant person, rather than getting stroppy or sarcastic with the customer.

IceBeing · 18/12/2013 12:39

"you were so bored you not only noticed but also commented on a spelling mistake in a menu? "

Sorry but this is a really ridiculous thing to say....

I mean you look at the menu in order to ...you know...order stuff. At this point you automatically notice any spelling errors.

I don't know what my lunch companions would have to be doing in order to stop me looking at the menu...but it would probably be something wildly inappropriate to be doing in a cafe.

freckledleopard · 18/12/2013 12:39

Definitely not your sister-in-law. I have never been described as perky or particularly enthusiastic. Cynical and jaded, yes.

OP posts:

Rosencrantz · 18/12/2013 12:39

Sounds to me like you just got a member of staff who doesn't give a shit. Like I didn't as a student working part time jobs.

If one of our menus was wrong, I couldn't give a flying fuck. I'd have thought of you as a pain in the arse.

However, a manager would have been really keen to know.

Sounds like your comment fell on the wrong ears. Ask to speak to someone senior (ie, likely to care about business and not just their own pay) next time.

HavantGuard · 18/12/2013 12:42

No. It's the closest I could find. They don't do one that says 'You're not refreshingly upfront you're rude and devoid of social skills.' It would need to be on something bigger too. Maybe a salad bowl?

aciddrops · 18/12/2013 12:43

Most people I've pointed out mistakes to have laughed along, or acknowledged that it's an error, or told me about the even worse error that was made the day before etc etc.Of course no-one likes having a mistake pointed out. But does that mean everyone should bury their heads in the sand for fear of offending?

I'd just like to point out a mistake that I think you are making OP. The mistake is that you are being insensitive and displaying a lack of emotional intelligence.

diddl · 18/12/2013 12:44

I'm with you OP.

It saddens me that noone seems to care tbh.

HavantGuard · 18/12/2013 12:44

Her latest was asking her sister, who has been trying to conceive for 10 years what she's going to call her new cat. Only what she said was, "have you come up with any names for your new baby?"

Don’t want to miss threads like this?

Weekly

Sign up to our weekly round up and get all the best threads sent straight to your inbox!

Email address

Log in to update your newsletter preferences.

You've subscribed!

normalishdude · 18/12/2013 12:45

No. It's the closest I could find. They don't do one that says 'You're not refreshingly upfront you're rude and devoid of social skills.' It would need to be on something bigger too. Maybe a salad bowl?

Or a large gravey boat perhaps?

freckledleopard · 18/12/2013 12:45

HavantGuard - perhaps you could find one that says "I'm right and you're wrong" - that would be a mug I'd drink from

OP posts:

freckledleopard · 18/12/2013 12:46

Thanks diddl

OP posts:

Flip

1 2 ··· 5 6 7 ··· 15 16

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.