Rude behaviour at buffets

ChopstickNovice · 2026-04-02T09:25:30+00:00

We are in Gran Canaria and it's been LOVELY. Not actually encountered any cheeky fuckery at all until this morning. I was at the hot drink machine (one of 3 in a row) dispensing hot water into a teapot. A man came up beside me, paused my hot water, made himself a cappuccino and then walked off! Not a word. Didn't even look at me. I mention that he was very old only because it maybe explains that he didn't realise I was there? But he was aware enough to stop the hot water, so....? Also there were two free machines right there! I was so surprised I didn't say anything. Please tell me your stories of buffet (all inclusive or otherwise) cheeky fuckery!

lolamorgan177 · 02/04/2026 11:12

Why didn't you say excuse me that was my hot water???? Maybe he didn't realise, or was unaware for whatever reason. Surely you'd say something at the time and not just stand there like a lemon seething.

Whinge · 02/04/2026 11:22

Did you really just stand there and let him make a drink without saying anything?

While it was odd that he moved the teapot when there were other machines available, I find your lack of reaction even stranger.

Original poster

ChopstickNovice · 02/04/2026 11:29

The hot water dispenser and the cappuccino dispenser were spouts next to each other in the same machine, and operated separately, but not at the same time, so his cappuccino cup was next to my teapot. He stopped the hot water dispensing, dispensed his own cappuccino and then left. I was just so shocked!

OP posts:

shuddacuddadidnt · 02/04/2026 11:31

Did he know that the spouts didn't operate at the same time?

Original poster

ChopstickNovice · 02/04/2026 11:33

shuddacuddadidnt · 02/04/2026 11:31

Did he know that the spouts didn't operate at the same time?

I have to assume so as he pressed the "stop" button for my hot water before starting his own drink.
If it happened again I would immediately say something!

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SarahAndQuack · 02/04/2026 11:42

Oh, I think I would also have been too shocked to say anything! It's funny in retrospect.

Mine - at my younger brother's wedding, my older brother took a large helping, woolfed it down, then went back for seconds and thirds before most people had been served. Then he went around asking everyone at the table if they'd finished and if he could have a bit more off their plate. My uncle (who has Parkinson's) hadn't been able to get any food before he started into this and his wife was absolutely spitting feathers. To this day I really don't know what got into him. The worst was my mum seemed totally oblivious and went around commenting how much DB had enjoyed the roast meat, ooh, wasn't it nice to see someone eating up? And the rest of us sat there absolutely shocked - he'd put away enough for about five or six people!

I think weddings do bring out the worst in people, though.

Original poster

ChopstickNovice · 02/04/2026 11:46

@SarahAndQuack omg! What a story.
Great username.

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Happysallie · 02/04/2026 11:48

I stayed in a hotel oncewhere the guests were actually taking the whole trays of food off the buffet and putting them on their own tables.

Amongst other bad behaviour!

SarahAndQuack · 02/04/2026 12:00

ChopstickNovice · 02/04/2026 11:46

@SarahAndQuack omg! What a story.
Great username.

Thanks! I love Sarah and Duck.

I must admit, my brother is probably not neurotypical and I don't think he had the slightest idea how rude he was being.

Luluissleeping · 02/04/2026 12:24

Spanish hotel buffet. Left my 9 yr old at the table, eating. We ordered and paid for a bottle of water which turned up just as I got up to go and get my buffet dinner. On return, dc pointed to a lady near us and said she had stolen our water. I got up, took it off her table and told her to pay for her own.

KimberleyClark · 02/04/2026 12:27

SarahAndQuack · 02/04/2026 11:42

Oh, I think I would also have been too shocked to say anything! It's funny in retrospect.

Mine - at my younger brother's wedding, my older brother took a large helping, woolfed it down, then went back for seconds and thirds before most people had been served. Then he went around asking everyone at the table if they'd finished and if he could have a bit more off their plate. My uncle (who has Parkinson's) hadn't been able to get any food before he started into this and his wife was absolutely spitting feathers. To this day I really don't know what got into him. The worst was my mum seemed totally oblivious and went around commenting how much DB had enjoyed the roast meat, ooh, wasn't it nice to see someone eating up? And the rest of us sat there absolutely shocked - he'd put away enough for about five or six people!

I think weddings do bring out the worst in people, though.

Yes, I remember a wedding thread in which a guest chose an expensive bottle of single malt from the free bar.

Magssam · 02/04/2026 12:27

As much as I would like to say i would have said something, the shock of the moment I get why you didn't.
We have been to Egypt a few times and at lunch in a particular hotel you had to go to the bar for drinks. There was a huge crowd of men (not English) stood around the bar shouting drink orders at the barman. He saw mr waiting patiently, having served me a few times already that week, pointed at me above the crowd and shouted "2 beers" I replied "yes please" when he handed them to me the shock on the others faces was brilliant. I gave an overly loud thank you incase they still hadn't realised why I was being served and not them.

Bettercallsalli · 02/04/2026 12:44

Just the usual greedy,overweight families who let their kids pile high breakfast items, knowing full well they have cleared a full new platter of hot food.
We are talking 6 to 8 sausages each, bacon. 4 spoons of scrambled eggs etc.
You can see the disgust on the chefs faces.
O and low and behold, most is left on plate.

BuildbyNumbere · 02/04/2026 13:00

Just so shocked you didn’t say anything for the whole time it took for the drink to be dispensed?!?
No, you just didn’t have the front to say anything to him … easier to come in here and moan.
Hope you don’t ever come across an incident where you are required to act if you are shocked into a statue like state at something so minor!

Fingalscave · 02/04/2026 13:03

BuildbyNumbere · 02/04/2026 13:00

Just so shocked you didn’t say anything for the whole time it took for the drink to be dispensed?!?
No, you just didn’t have the front to say anything to him … easier to come in here and moan.
Hope you don’t ever come across an incident where you are required to act if you are shocked into a statue like state at something so minor!

Your last sentence makes no sense.

LittleMi55Nobody · 02/04/2026 13:11

BuildbyNumbere · 02/04/2026 13:00

Just so shocked you didn’t say anything for the whole time it took for the drink to be dispensed?!?
No, you just didn’t have the front to say anything to him … easier to come in here and moan.
Hope you don’t ever come across an incident where you are required to act if you are shocked into a statue like state at something so minor!

arent you a delight...

Emmz1510 · 02/04/2026 13:13

OMG this is so strange! And you were stood right there? You hadn’t moved a short distance away to get sugar or a croissant or something? Cos that would make it kinda understandable if still a bit cheeky of him. Given that he actually paused your water it can’t be that he made a mistake and didn’t realise they didn’t operate at the same
time. Was your water taking ages and he thought you were cheeky for hogging it? But again that’s me reaching and as you say there were two other available machines! Only other thing I can think of is some cognitive issue. But then again, some people’s brains short circuit at these buffet things and they seem to become weirdly nervous and lacking in social awareness. Weird.

NovemberMorn · 02/04/2026 13:25

Buffets seem to bring out the worst in some people.

We were on a lovely boat trip in Spain. The crew set up a great buffet for about 40 people. The idea was that we queued at one end, picked food, then return to our seats to eat. One couple filled their plates high, then instead of going back to their seats, they squeezed behind the buffet, sat on a ledge, put their plates down on the buffet table, and tucked into their food, eating over all the buffet dishes and even refilling their plates up as others queued and took their turn.

A couple of people did say something to them, but they carried on regardless, pretending they didn't understand.

Original poster

ChopstickNovice · 02/04/2026 13:38

NovemberMorn · 02/04/2026 13:25

Buffets seem to bring out the worst in some people.

We were on a lovely boat trip in Spain. The crew set up a great buffet for about 40 people. The idea was that we queued at one end, picked food, then return to our seats to eat. One couple filled their plates high, then instead of going back to their seats, they squeezed behind the buffet, sat on a ledge, put their plates down on the buffet table, and tucked into their food, eating over all the buffet dishes and even refilling their plates up as others queued and took their turn.

A couple of people did say something to them, but they carried on regardless, pretending they didn't understand.

Grim!

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Original poster

ChopstickNovice · 02/04/2026 13:39

BuildbyNumbere · 02/04/2026 13:00

Just so shocked you didn’t say anything for the whole time it took for the drink to be dispensed?!?
No, you just didn’t have the front to say anything to him … easier to come in here and moan.
Hope you don’t ever come across an incident where you are required to act if you are shocked into a statue like state at something so minor!

I thought it was a funny little story due to my temporary awkwardness; I thought others would have a funny story to share. That'll teach me.
I am quite able to stand up for myself, as a woman of mixed race I have had to many times.

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Bobibbsleigh · 02/04/2026 13:49

Throughout my life (I’m 42) I’ve often found the rudest section of society to be older men (not all obvs!) there is definitely a heavy entitlement running through a large portion of this group

TMFF · 02/04/2026 13:53

It sounds like he might've been a bit confused?

Either way, "Oh dear, you've just stopped my hot water", would've been a completely average interaction.

ForestHare · 02/04/2026 13:58

Bettercallsalli · 02/04/2026 12:44

Just the usual greedy,overweight families who let their kids pile high breakfast items, knowing full well they have cleared a full new platter of hot food.
We are talking 6 to 8 sausages each, bacon. 4 spoons of scrambled eggs etc.
You can see the disgust on the chefs faces.
O and low and behold, most is left on plate.

I wonder how they are so overweight then if they leave most of their food on their plate 🙄

latetothefisting · 02/04/2026 14:03

SarahAndQuack · 02/04/2026 11:42

Oh, I think I would also have been too shocked to say anything! It's funny in retrospect.

Mine - at my younger brother's wedding, my older brother took a large helping, woolfed it down, then went back for seconds and thirds before most people had been served. Then he went around asking everyone at the table if they'd finished and if he could have a bit more off their plate. My uncle (who has Parkinson's) hadn't been able to get any food before he started into this and his wife was absolutely spitting feathers. To this day I really don't know what got into him. The worst was my mum seemed totally oblivious and went around commenting how much DB had enjoyed the roast meat, ooh, wasn't it nice to see someone eating up? And the rest of us sat there absolutely shocked - he'd put away enough for about five or six people!

I think weddings do bring out the worst in people, though.

But, like in OPs example (although hers is more understandable because it happened so quickly and didn't impact anyone other than herself) why didn't any of you SAY anything? The other guests were probably aghast but if anything it's you as his family who are the ones who should be saying (whether sharply or in a jokey manner( "Bob! Chill out a bit. Don't be such a pig, wait until everyone else has had a chance to est before you go back up!").

If people don't pull CFs up they won't realise what they're doing is wrong! Then he'll just do it again at the next wedding and (particularly if he isn't neurotypical) be honestly confused "but i did it at Emma's wedding and nobody said anything!" Better his family to call him out gently than to lose friendships or be shouted at in an acquaintance's wedding. I cant believe people were willing to let a family member with parkinsonism not get fed rather than someone speaking to your greedy brother!

takealettermsjones · 02/04/2026 14:03

A grown man once elbowed my daughter out of the way to get the last pancake on the tray at a hotel breakfast buffet. She was already holding the tongs. I may have offered to shove them up his arse (not my finest moment... but he literally assaulted her).