Community Chat

[redwingsgal]

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@Lucky Duck wrote:

Be glad it's not pot luck!  I don't want to think of what goes on in some people's kitchens...

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Oh, believe me, I do not partake in pot lucks here in this office!!!  LOL

[software]

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@freakygirl wrote:

software, "be glad you don't LIVE with them!" that made me laugh! mom and dad were strict about manners. to this day, i can't tolerate bad ones. makes me cringe.  

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I'm an only child and it was just me & mom & dad.   You waited until Dad started then pass the plate around.    You never stuck your fork in anything, you always used the serving spoon.   And on & on.     When I married my first husband, he came from a big family and I almost never got anything to eat!!    They all ate like puppies at their mama!   Grabbing and snatching.  Snooze and you lose!

[beckyb1012]

Oh man and I thought all we had to Dodge at office parties ect... is Double Dippers.  What disgusting pigs they must be in their recliners watching t.v. with a trough.

[GCR18]

You have to go because of office politics.  If you would be interested in having some of an appetizer, tell the waiter to put it on your end of the table when you place your lunch order.  You can say it low enough only the waiter hears.  You take your piece and let them have at it.  You can only change you.  

[redwingsgal]

OK, I have to share an update!  We obviously went to a birthday lunch this afternoon and the gal whose birthday we were celebrating brought back a piece of chocolate cake to eat later.  A girl who sits in our area just asked her if she could have a bite of the birthday girl's cake!!!  This is unacceptable to me!!!

Of course the birthday girl gave the beggar a bite, but I had to walk away as it was too much for me to handle!!!

[Irshgrl31201]

I can certainly understand your frustration @redwingsgal but I think that @software gave you the best advice. If they ask to share or have a bite of your food say well if you don't mind MRSA or some other terrible infection.

There isn't a whole lot you can do but I too cringe when this happens. Just smile like a lunatic and remember, it will be over soon.

[Spurt]

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@redwingsgal wrote:

I work in a corporate office setting, my department has 13 people, including out boss.  We celebrate every birthday by going to lunch at a restaurant chosen by the birthday person. I am appalled at the lack of manners that all 12 of these people display, no matter where we go.  For example, grabbing the rolls with bare hands to pull off the one they want, cutting part of the appitizer with their used utensils to get the part they want, asking for a taste from someone else's plate.  I am no Emily Post, but the way the act every time we go out is disgusting to me!  The boss always orders several appetizers to be shared by everyone, and if the plate is not place near me so that I can take the first piece, I usually do not eat any of it!  

Any suggestions on how I can get out of these lunches without making it obvious??!!  I even left work sick one day just before we were leaving so I did not have to go!!!

Thanks for letting me rant!!!  Have a great weekend!!!

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@redwingsgal

I know how you feel because our office goes out for Christmas and for special recognition too.  And your right manners and etiquette are non-existent these days.  So I just order my own lunch/dinner and do not participate with the bread or any group appetizers and try to sit next to someone that I can have a fun and interesting conversation with and ignore the bad habits of others.  If someone wants to taste my food I'd tell them they better not because I feel I'm coming down with a cold and wouldnt want them to catch it!!!  

And yes @Lucky Duck  Pot Luck lunches are the worst!!!  One woman even admitted she never washes her hands in her own home even when preparing food because "she's a clean housekeeper!!" (she actually said that!_!  After she made that statement several of my co-workers felt ill..........I usually bring my own lunch even on Pot Luck events.  It was funny because one Supervisor we had (she got promoted and moved on) but while she was our boss she didnt hide the fact she HATED pot lunch luncheons/dinners and said no one knows the hygiene habits or how sanitary their kitchen or prep work were...At least she was honest!!!  I always think of her when these things take place....LOL!!!  

[Mistreatedbycs]

The key to survival is "ignore, ignore, ignore", you will make yourself sick if you choose to see and hear everything everyone else is doing.

Also, if you choose to focus on your own plate at these lunches, you will be an outcast, sometimes going along with everyone is the way to go, i'm not saying you should eat it but grab a roll and keep it next to your plate.

[SXMGirl]

@redwingsgal, I would never eat an appetizer that was for the entire group as many people really have no concept of table manners, and many may not wash their hands.

I am interested if your boss has the same manners as your co-workers and eats the appetizers.  If not, it might be beneficial in a light-hearted way to say something to the boss.  If the boss was brought up with good table manners, or at least learned them at some point, then the boss might also be appalled. 

I would order a small appetizer for myself and if someone asks for you to share, I would just say that I really like this and don't want to miss one bite.

[redwingsgal]

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@SXMGirl wrote:

@redwingsgal, I would never eat an appetizer that was for the entire group as many people really have no concept of table manners, and many may not wash their hands.

I am interested if your boss has the same manners as your co-workers and eats the appetizers.  If not, it might be beneficial in a light-hearted way to say something to the boss.  If the boss was brought up with good table manners, or at least learned them at some point, then the boss might also be appalled. 

I would order a small appetizer for myself and if someone asks for you to share, I would just say that I really like this and don't want to miss one bite.

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Funny you should ask, @SXMGirl, my boss picks her teeth with a toothpick during the entire meal and certainly afterwords!  I find that probably more disgusting than the food sharing!!!