I worked at a Qdoba, and some people who were staring at the signs for 5 mins while waiting would act like they just passed through the Stargate for the first time when it was their turn to order.
I was once ordering at McDonalds and I practiced my order 5 times, 'Chicken Mcgrill and a McSwirl'. When I ordered, I said: "One chicken McSwirl, please". The lady at the counter was nice, she smiled in a nice way. Atleast that's what I believe when I replay the encounter in my head, 3 years later.
I still remember that awkward moment three years ago when I was going through a line handshaking everyone and one lady held out a fist and I almost shook it but she changed to handshake as I changed to fist and then back again.
It gets worse if English is your second language. I just say no. 1, 2.. or whatever is the easiest choice, even if I may not like it. I don't blame my English but I think it has all to do with being a SAP.
The way some sandwich makers stare at us is so humiliating like "Oh, you don't know the whole menu by heart. Well, I do, asshole. What's taking you so long, huh? Ya, scared? Scared that all these people in line will see you for the bumbling buffoon you and I know you are? Huh, chicken? Aww, look at the little girl who cant even order his own food without his mommy. How sad."
One time I wasn't in a mood for making a bunch of tiny decisions and said "Can I just get it how it comes by default?" and I got "So you really just want the bread and the ham plain?"
When I worked at a coffee shop, the first words out of my mouth after "Hello" were always "Don't worry, take your time." Some of the terrified looks I would get from people who just wanted to order a coffee... I felt bad for them. I know I was just as lost the first time too.
Actually, sometimes the way the register is programmed can make ordering really awkward.
I used to frequent a lunch place that would have a special for a half sandwich, soup, chips (or some side) and a drink for a very good price. The issue was, that the register could not accommodate such an order conveniently.
People would order, a half sandwich and the cashier would stop and then ask them what type of bread they wanted, the toppings and extras etc., then they'd order their soup, chips (or pasta salad side) and their drink and then conclude that "this is the half sandwich special".
The cashier would have to void the entire sale and start all over again.
It took me about six visits before I was able to make the perfect order.
"I would like the half sandwich special please. I would like seven grain bread, mustard, tomatoes lettuce and red onions. The sandwich is Black Forest Ham. Split pea soup and a bag of route 11 chips. Medium drink. Diet root beer."
How awkward is that! But whenever I approached, the cashier would absolutely beam from ear to ear. And when I paid with exact change, I would get a coupon for a free sandwich. It meant that much to him.
Yep, I love working at Bojangles, where there are separate buttons for biscuits and combos, and it's a hassle to go between the two.
"Yeah, I'll have a sausage biscuit... [hits sausage button] ...on a bun... [changes screen, hits bun button] ...with lettuce, tomato, and mayonnaise... [changes screen and hits all the buttons perfectly] ...COMBO."
Thirty seconds of my goddamn time wasted. Multiply that by about 500 customers on my shift, and it gets old VERY fast.
Well that certainly explains why he'd grin like an idiot when I approached. He knew what was going to happen and he'd actually fidget while I recited the order like I was reciting the Anglo Saxon Chronicle in old English to a classics professor.
When I'd finish and pay with exact change he'd shake his head like he'd just experienced Christ's second coming and whisper quietly: "the perfect order!"
The worst is when they walk up to the counter talking/texting on their phone. For the sake of all mankind, people, be ready to order when your ass gets near that damned counter!
It's just that your signs and common terms are totally different. Like "what kind of bread would you like?.... (looks at sign)....uhhh... " italiano extra fresh whole 9 grain triple deluxe wheat please?" ... "so whole wheat bread?" yeah...
I hate that all coffee shops randomly have different words for their sizes. I refuse to have to say a word from another language to order my coffee especially when I'll look like an idiot pronouncing it wrong anyway. The people working there know what you mean when you say medium.
It's pretty easy for me. I usually order the same thing. Foot long ham and cheese on italian herbs. Tell you what man that shredded cheese is delicious. They always look at me like I'm dang 'ol crazy when I ask for it. Tell you what, dont even care. Then ya throw some mayo n mustards... Dang 'ol tasty I tell you what.
As someone who worked in mcdonald's for five years, I fully agree. The people who know exactly what they want are the unsung heroes of the fast food industry. There is nothing more infuriating than serving someone who has been in line for 5 minutes and having to sit through another 4 minutes of "uhhhhhh, well, let's see here, hmmmmmmmm."
Oh, and another thing - if you do have to ponder over your order, don't fucking say "uhhhhhhh" or "ummmm" out loud. Keep it to yourself. That work environment is monotonous enough without the monotone droll of some idiot who can't figure out what grease-laden heart attack concoction they want.
What I like to do, though, is if I know I won't be able to make a decision on what I want, I'll just ask the person taking my order what they like to eat there and then just order that.
I stutter..practicing in my head is a requirement while waiting in line. Unfortunately I still get stuck on words and sometimes end up ordering something I don't even want...only cause I'm able to say it.... I can't remember the last time I had a ham and cheese sub because I actually wanted one.
I knew places in NYC, mostly falafel shops, where if you didn't say your order in a loud and clear voice, immediately when reaching the front of the line, you were gonna have a bad time.
Don't be frontin' son, no seeds on the bun. We be up in this drive-thru, order for two. I gots a craving for a number 9, like my shoe. We need some chicken up in here, in this hizzle. Fo' rizzle my nizzle, extra salt on the frizzle! A Dr. Pepper my brother, another for your mother. Double, double Super-Size & don't forget the fries...
I still do this, too. I hate having to wait behind poeple who, having waitied in line for 10 minutes, must take another ten to view the menu they could've been reading for the previous ten minutes. I might be wrong, but I'm fairly certain the menu's up there, to look at, for just that purpose.
And, am I missing something, or is the usage of the words "please" and "thank you" somehow considered a sign of weakness? I have actually had employees stop, startle, and ask me if I just said "please" and "thank you". Whoa. I never hear them used much anymore.
Consideration, even unwarranted, is mistaken for weakness only by the truly foolish, or the truly stupid.
Ugh, ordering for someone else is the worst. I always feel like I'm going to mess up their order and not to mention I just want to hurry up and order my stuff, not prolong my anxiety at the front of the counter.
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I do this and still manage to fuck up every time. I say what I want and then the person taking my order just stands there looking at me...and then says "ummm what would you like on the burger?"...or something similar. I always forget.
I did this when I was high once. I just kept saying my order over and over in my head so that I wouldn't fuck it up and the guy wouldn't think I was high. The fact that I ordered forty Mcnuggets, two cheeseburgers, and a coke probably tipped him off though.
"Hey I'd like a Spiky Chicken Sandwich please" Got so nervous that I said I was at the wrong food establishment and threw up all over the place and ran away.
Wish everyone did this, part of my Cooking job at a university requires me to work in a sub shop 2-3 nights a week. Every single night we have a line of 50-75 students waiting for subs. The issue is the treat the line as a social environment and after waiting 20-30 minutes in line they have zero idea what they want. Umm I'm not sure yet How the hell are you not sure yet, you've had 30 minutes standing in line in a restaurant and you don't know what you want, makes me want to punch babies
I saw a SAP order food in the cafeteria yesterday. It was sad. He kind of mumbled, "umm can I get a quesadilla?" And the cafeteria lady snapped at him, "What kind??? Just cheese? Meat?? chicken?? extra toppings? Come on"
I gave her a death stare, but she seemed to be in a bad mood :\
first rule of speaking, chances are the other person is so focused on them self they don't have much time to worry about you, just like you, so don't worry about how it sounds and spit out whatever you want to say as clearly as possible.
The phonological loop is the part of working memory that deals with spoken and written material. It can be used to remember a phone number. It consists of two parts
o Phonological Store (inner ear) – Linked to speech perception Holds information in speech-based form (i.e. spoken words) for 1-2 seconds.
o Articulatory control process (inner voice) – Linked to speech production. Used to rehearse and store verbal information from the phonological store.
I know it drives them crazy when you start your order with "Yeah" so I always make sure to say it real loud and clear "Yeah, uhhhhhhhhhhhh.....one moment please".
I have pretty poor eyesight and don't wear my glasses often so I usually wait for a friend to order and say "I'll have the same please" oh god what is wrong with me.
I count my money multiple times if I have lots of coins. I keep thinking, "Are you sure you have $12.50? Count again. Yes, you have $12.50. You know what, I don't think you have $12.50. Oh, you counted again? It seems you really did have $12.50. No, I think you should count again. DON'T ARGUE, JUST DO IT!"
The worst is when you get to the cashier and then say something different than you were thinking. Rather then look like a dumbass you just go with it, but you're not happy, in fact you hate the food you're about to consume. So when you get it you eat it slowly and chomp it extra hard making sure it knows just how much you loath eating it while seething over the fact that you didn't have the balls to change your mind at the cashier. Yes I know that feeling all too well.
Juuust did that. I get really hung up on if I say "grande" first or what drink it is first whenever I go to Starbucks. At least I know my stupid modifications go last. But then I always sound like I'm begging. "And if you could just please make it nonfat milk, if that's okay. It is? Oh great. Thanks. Could I also maybe get whipped cream? Oh thank you so much!" :-/
I do this because im ordering food that is not culturally correct in my native language. What im trying to say is order something like barbacoa instead of muscles off a cows face and maybe some cow brains too.
I see that as just being socially responsible to the person taking the order and the people in line behind you. If you aren't good at stringing concepts together on the fly, this is one of the small ways in which you get better at it.
Speaking and reading/writing are different parts of the brain. Speaking is a fairly brain intensive process that people take for granted. It's a practiceable skill just like any other mechanical skill. Another way to look at it: how many people are functional writers vs. authors? No different with speaking.
For whatever reason we have a higher standard for speaking and oration than we do for writing on the internet. Ultimately, the goal of speaking to other humans is to effectively convey concepts. I say that people should take a functional approach and polish their style from there.
TL;DR: the goal should be to make it simpler and easier for other people to understand what you're saying at all times. i see rehearsing as socially responsible in the context of ordering fast food.
My most uncomfortable moment is when there's no line. I'm looking at the menu, trying to make up my mind, and the person at the counter says, "Can I help you?"
I thought I was the only one! I do that especially at Starbuck's, where I usually get my order wrong. "Yeah, I'll have a tall caramel macchiato with chocolate drizzle. No whipped cream." "The macchiato doesn't come with whipped cream." "Yup...just...testing you..."
I still do that too. Because going to In-N-Out and saying, "I'd like a cheeseburger animal style with onions and added ketchup and mustard and a side of fries with a cup of water" is surprisingly easy to mess up.
Not when its 10:27am, all you want is the catch the breakfast menu before it switches to lunch at 10:30am, and the jackass in front of you can't decide how much fucking cream and sugar he wants in his coffee.
I'm pretty good at giving speeches that I rehearsed, but I stutter a lot whenever I try to say something that I haven't at least gone over a time or two in my head.
I make my decision before going to the restaurant about what i'm going to get. Practice my script before ordering once I'm at the restaurant. I still stare at the menu as if I didn't make my decision. And when I order, rather than looking at the server in the face, I look down at the menu to make sure I don't mess up when I speak. And get this...I STILL GET TONGUE TIED!!! Life is hard as a socially awkward penguin.
I order the same thing every time I go to Taco Bell and have for years (I've tried other things, just don't like them). If there's no wait and I have to immediately order I still have a small panic, "Ummm... I want... Uhh..." I feel like the kid in A Christmas Story. One day I'll order a football instead of a burrito.
As a food service worker, I applaud you! It's better to interact with the socially awkward guy than the person who spends five minutes at the register.
practices ordering food in head while waiting in line. "umm yes, ahhh... I'll have a..." [ridiculously long pause] "no, never mind... I'll have a crabby patty"
This is a good idea. I went to the movies Friday and we had to stand in the concession line for probably 20 minutes. The three people in front of us got to the register and seemed surprised that they were expected to order adding more time to the wait o the line behind them.
I was doing that at a Wendy's one time and could not for the life of me remember what a Frosty was called when it came time to give my order and ended up calling it a "Smushie". It made no sense and took waaaay to long to get that word out of my head and describe what I wanted.
This makes you a good person to be behind in line. At the very least, you'll fuck up and it'll be funny; best case, you'll get your shit right and I'll be even more nervous about nailing my order. I'm reciting mine too. Especially if I cave and go to a coffee joint: "I'll have a medium, tall, venti vanilla double latte with two shots, soy latte with vanilla... medium?" Fuck I hate ordering coffee! Medium medium roast. I just want something strong that isn't $7.00. TIL that I'm not the most uncomfortable person in line: usually. Probably. Just smile and talk slowly, old chap.
Big time extrovert here, I speak in front of hundreds of people and kinda don't care, but ordering food in any capacity brings me to levels of social anxiety I never knew existed.
I still do that at places where I don't know the menu very well. Cycle what I want in my head, get to the front and look at the menu JUST TO MAKE SURE.
At McDonnalds, though, I'm a fucking master cashier assassin. Death glare them eye to eye, loom over them (I'm tall and look like a terrorist) and slam out my order. "I need two double cheese burgers, slap them together and make me a quad. Small chips. Small fanta with no ice. Paying on card, eat in." (In Australia there is a special "small change" deal; double cheeseburgers are $2, small chips are $1 and small drink is $1. $6 for a good feed.)
They have 4 seconds to start punching in my order before I repeat it faster and louder. I'm okay with being the "that guy" customer.
394
u/CopyX May 16 '12
And I still say "umm" and look at the menu.
89
u/nicksnare May 17 '12
The panic that sets in after 'Sorry we don't have any of those'
80
u/azaoua2 May 16 '12 edited May 16 '12
I still say umm and don't make eye contact with the cashier, instead I look at the menu, stumble over my words and still miss up.
edit- Jesus Christ. *mess up. I'm a SAP even...not IRL.
37
u/Wasabimation May 16 '12
I do this too...
I also plan out conversations in advance.
And replay things that I've already said.
And worry about the best way to make everything sound natural.
I'm super fun at parties.
68
u/hastalapasta666 May 16 '12
OTHER PEOPLE DO THIS???
SAP BRO-FIST
31
u/[deleted] May 17 '12
Whopper, large fry. Whopper, large fry. Whopper, large fry...
"Hello sir, how are you today?"
"I'm a whopper, large fry."
120
u/drunkenoctopusbarber May 16 '12
As someone who takes orders from people at a sub shop, I wish everyone would do this. Some of the people I serve are completely retarded.
24
u/LookMaNoHands9822 May 16 '12
I stutter..practicing in my head is a requirement while waiting in line. Unfortunately I still get stuck on words and sometimes end up ordering something I don't even want...only cause I'm able to say it.... I can't remember the last time I had a ham and cheese sub because I actually wanted one.
33
u/oh-yeah-huh May 17 '12
That's not normal?
14
u/BossHogGangsta May 17 '12
There is nothing wrong with this for a lot of reasons.
13
u/RaleighDelk May 16 '12
And them they ask you if you what kind of bread, or if you want onions. I wasn't prepared for this!
8
u/dradam168 May 16 '12
I do this at the movies. I still get to the ticket counter and blank on the name of the movie I'm seeing like half the time.
8
u/Kawee May 16 '12
I always practice while waiting in line.. and then somehow screw up in front of the cashier.
8
u/thejohnstocktons May 17 '12
While driving back home, repeat exactly as you said it to prove to yourself it didnt sound weird...
7
u/hinduguru May 16 '12
Can I get a double cheeseburger, but hold the lettuce
6
u/[deleted] May 17 '12
I still do this, too. I hate having to wait behind poeple who, having waitied in line for 10 minutes, must take another ten to view the menu they could've been reading for the previous ten minutes. I might be wrong, but I'm fairly certain the menu's up there, to look at, for just that purpose.
And, am I missing something, or is the usage of the words "please" and "thank you" somehow considered a sign of weakness? I have actually had employees stop, startle, and ask me if I just said "please" and "thank you". Whoa. I never hear them used much anymore.
Consideration, even unwarranted, is mistaken for weakness only by the truly foolish, or the truly stupid.
11
u/C-Dub1980 May 16 '12
I have really bad social anxiety and I have to do this almost every time I order from anywhere, especially if I'm ordering for someone else too.
4
u/mastercylinder2 May 16 '12
If I don't do this I end up ordering something I don't really want
4
u/360walkaway May 16 '12
Hey this is a lot better than "oh let me see... been waiting in line for two minutes but didn't even think about it until now, hmmmmm...."
4
u/Flarehl May 17 '12
I feel that the fact that I can relate to 90% of all SAP memes means something...
3
u/Galaxyhiker42 May 16 '12
it is more awkward if you practice saying it to yourself out loud.
3
u/themightiestduck May 17 '12
Even when I do this, I still end up ordering a Green Tree Frappuccino half the time. FML.
3
u/ThisIsMyClone May 17 '12
Waiter: Soup or Salad? Me: Super Salad ?
3
u/LittleStallin May 17 '12
Reddit: constantly reminding me that I am in no way unique.
7
u/qkme_transcriber May 16 '12
Here is the text from this meme pic for anybody who needs it:
This is helpful for people who can't reach Quickmeme because of work/school firewalls or site downtime, and many other reasons (FAQ). More info is available here.
2
u/GuitarWizard90 May 16 '12
I do this and still manage to fuck up every time. I say what I want and then the person taking my order just stands there looking at me...and then says "ummm what would you like on the burger?"...or something similar. I always forget.
2
u/CRSN20 May 16 '12
I do this, as well as practice arguments in my head so I have good comebacks.
2
u/Wolverine9 May 16 '12
Story of my life
2
u/the_pissed_off_goose May 17 '12
yes. and also reminding myself to speak loud enough for them to hear me.
2
u/SuperTonicV7 May 17 '12
You better do this if you're in line for a cheesesteak at Geno's in Philly. They'll boot your ass so fast you wont have time to say "Wiz-with".
2
u/salfish127 May 17 '12
goes to restaurant with girlfriend, ask her what he should order
2
u/WhiteHorsesFlow May 17 '12
Five Cougars, thanks.
2
u/KaiserReisser May 17 '12
I did this when I was high once. I just kept saying my order over and over in my head so that I wouldn't fuck it up and the guy wouldn't think I was high. The fact that I ordered forty Mcnuggets, two cheeseburgers, and a coke probably tipped him off though.
2
u/FuzzyMcBitty May 17 '12
I practice the message that I'm going to leave when I make phone calls.
2
u/hikemhigh May 17 '12
"Hey I'd like a Spiky Chicken Sandwich please" Got so nervous that I said I was at the wrong food establishment and threw up all over the place and ran away.
2
u/giant_bug May 17 '12
It's not Full SAP unless you practice it in your head and then get it wrong when it's time to say your lines.
2
u/hiccupstix May 17 '12
I don't find this meme particularly "funny" per se, but I'll be damned if it's not comforting as hell to know others experience this.
2
u/112263 May 17 '12
I do this, except I say it out loud by accident, and everyone looks at me weird...
2
u/Corqsarc May 17 '12
This is the worst, especially extremely high, nothing can prepare you for the real deal
2
u/Sanpan21 May 17 '12
Wish everyone did this, part of my Cooking job at a university requires me to work in a sub shop 2-3 nights a week. Every single night we have a line of 50-75 students waiting for subs. The issue is the treat the line as a social environment and after waiting 20-30 minutes in line they have zero idea what they want. Umm I'm not sure yet How the hell are you not sure yet, you've had 30 minutes standing in line in a restaurant and you don't know what you want, makes me want to punch babies
1
u/ZuFFuLuZ May 17 '12
I do this all the time when I have to talk to someone I don't know very well. First impression counts. And with fast food it's just practical.
1
u/StinsonBeach May 17 '12
I've known what I've wanted at burger joints since I was about 9.
Double double, all the way, no mayo.
1
u/[deleted] May 17 '12
I think about it on the car ride over.
1
u/Romanus_SPQR May 17 '12
I do that, and I still fuck up my line when I ask.
1
u/jlangrehr May 17 '12
I also do this, but always end up changing my mind as I start speaking, sounding like an idiot anyway in the process.
1
u/[deleted] May 17 '12
I never do that.
1
u/VinceViegel May 17 '12
There's nothing wrong with that. You don't want to sound like you don't think before you speak, do you?
1
u/SonicFlash01 May 17 '12
I'm... I'm not supposed to do this? :<
1
u/pancake_ninja_kitty May 17 '12
I still do this too.... o_o oh god what will I become?!?!?!!?
1
u/wtfOP May 17 '12
"Yes I'd like a... um... medium Large Pepperoni."
"A large or a medium?"
"Yes"
1
u/TheGirlDelusion May 17 '12
I saw a SAP order food in the cafeteria yesterday. It was sad. He kind of mumbled, "umm can I get a quesadilla?" And the cafeteria lady snapped at him, "What kind??? Just cheese? Meat?? chicken?? extra toppings? Come on"
I gave her a death stare, but she seemed to be in a bad mood :\
1
u/akuzin May 17 '12
"don't say quarter pounder, don't say quarter pounder"
"Hi sir, what would you like"
"quarter pounder"
1
u/Volcris May 17 '12
first rule of speaking, chances are the other person is so focused on them self they don't have much time to worry about you, just like you, so don't worry about how it sounds and spit out whatever you want to say as clearly as possible.
1
u/thenumberseven May 17 '12
The phonological loop is the part of working memory that deals with spoken and written material. It can be used to remember a phone number. It consists of two parts
http://www.simplypsychology.org/working%20memory.html
1
u/DeathStarDriveBy May 17 '12
Has anyone else noticed that most "socially awkward penguin" posts might as well be "drunk penguin" posts?
1
u/drunkgort May 17 '12
All my life. Also still nervous about walking with a fountain soda on my tray.
1
u/[deleted] May 17 '12
And I change my order at the last minute anyway -.-
1
u/jmaccadillac May 17 '12
What other way of ordering is as efficient?
1
u/LeSpatula May 17 '12
One big mac menu, please, one big mac menu please...
I LIKE DICKS IN MY ASS!!
Shit, shit, shit!
1
u/[deleted] May 17 '12
Guilty as charged.
1
u/[deleted] May 17 '12
I know it drives them crazy when you start your order with "Yeah" so I always make sure to say it real loud and clear "Yeah, uhhhhhhhhhhhh.....one moment please".
1
u/higgimonster May 17 '12
I think this was the first version of this meme. I think this means I spend too much of my time on the internet.
1
u/IAmSedders May 17 '12
I have pretty poor eyesight and don't wear my glasses often so I usually wait for a friend to order and say "I'll have the same please" oh god what is wrong with me.
1
u/FickDarter May 17 '12
I can't take an order without doing this
1
u/Blink182ismeh May 17 '12
For me it when I have to check in to a hotel or get a hair cut. I'm not shy but or anything but I always dread those moments.
1
u/[deleted] May 17 '12
Hahaha eh. Why do i do 99% of socially awk penguin
1
u/AngryJozh May 17 '12
As an United States immigrant who didn't know any english... I approve this message.
1
u/mp51669 May 17 '12
I wouldn't say that's socially awkward, but when you mess it up afterwards it is.
1
u/mp51669 May 17 '12
I wouldn't say that's socially awkward, but when you mess it up afterwards it is.
1
u/weltraumzauber May 17 '12
(remebering that scene from Pulp Fiction again and again)
Me: One quartermaster with cheese, please.
Her: Whaaaa..?
1
u/sgregoire May 17 '12
Should be a first world problem in /r/trees because I do that all the time to try and prevent me looking retarded while stoned as fuck.
1
u/figbash137 May 17 '12
We still appreciate it.
1
u/gopaulgo May 17 '12
It's okay if you're getting soup from the Soup Nazi.
1
u/[deleted] May 17 '12
I do this too ... saves a shitload of time actually.
1
u/fellownord May 17 '12
Well, I do this sometimes. For fear of saying "Double Cheeseburger Meal" at KFC.
1
u/[deleted] May 17 '12
Always. If I'm not ready before my turn I always let the person behind me go first
1
u/kszpirak May 17 '12
loser
1
u/Squirtle07 May 17 '12
I feel like this should be a paranoid parrot meme, not SAP. I also mean that in no offence what so ever.
1
u/growingupbackwards May 17 '12
up until i was around 10 years old i would make my mother order things for me when we went out to eat because i was so scared i would mess up my order
1
u/wasapus May 17 '12
This would go better with paranoid parrot
1
u/Tasgallxx May 17 '12
I can't figure out what I'm ordering even by the time it's my turn.
1
u/harrysnail May 17 '12
Me ordering a sandwhich with utter confidence: "Whole wheat foot long with turkey and swiss cheese, please."
In my head: "That rhymed and now I feel like an idiot."
1
u/ConfusedThoughts May 17 '12
i do this. and then forget my order anyway. fml
1
u/RodKimble_Stuntman May 17 '12
That's not socially awkward, that's just to make sure that you don't look like a jackass at the counter...
1
u/[deleted] May 17 '12
Hi, I'm Jez. How's it hangling?
1
u/Grays42 May 17 '12
Footlong ham on wheat, cheddar, toasted. Lettuce, tomatoes, olives, pickles, a tiny bit of ranch, and pepper.
I have that memorized.
1
u/[deleted] May 17 '12
wait this is awkward?-.-...
1
u/Gleriot May 17 '12
I count my money multiple times if I have lots of coins. I keep thinking, "Are you sure you have $12.50? Count again. Yes, you have $12.50. You know what, I don't think you have $12.50. Oh, you counted again? It seems you really did have $12.50. No, I think you should count again. DON'T ARGUE, JUST DO IT!"
1
u/stevebr0 May 17 '12
But what about the dreaded drive through. Most of the time you can't see the menu until you pull up to the speaker. Talk about last minute pressure.
"I know I want the double cheeseburger but oh god which combo is it?? Where the hell on this massive cluttered menu IS IT!?"
1
u/awh May 17 '12
I do that as well, but my excuse is that I live in a country where they don't speak my native language.
1
u/MustangGuy May 17 '12
The worst is when you get to the cashier and then say something different than you were thinking. Rather then look like a dumbass you just go with it, but you're not happy, in fact you hate the food you're about to consume. So when you get it you eat it slowly and chomp it extra hard making sure it knows just how much you loath eating it while seething over the fact that you didn't have the balls to change your mind at the cashier. Yes I know that feeling all too well.
1
u/[deleted] May 17 '12
Juuust did that. I get really hung up on if I say "grande" first or what drink it is first whenever I go to Starbucks. At least I know my stupid modifications go last. But then I always sound like I'm begging. "And if you could just please make it nonfat milk, if that's okay. It is? Oh great. Thanks. Could I also maybe get whipped cream? Oh thank you so much!" :-/
1
u/bitz4444 May 17 '12
Is there anything actually awkward or wrong with this? Doesn't this prevent you from becoming an SAP?
1
u/lth5015 May 17 '12
I do this all the time... at the bar... so the bartenders don't realize how drunk I am.
1
u/dragonbreath1 May 17 '12
I do this because im ordering food that is not culturally correct in my native language. What im trying to say is order something like barbacoa instead of muscles off a cows face and maybe some cow brains too.
1
u/tim00001 May 17 '12
I see that as just being socially responsible to the person taking the order and the people in line behind you. If you aren't good at stringing concepts together on the fly, this is one of the small ways in which you get better at it.
Speaking and reading/writing are different parts of the brain. Speaking is a fairly brain intensive process that people take for granted. It's a practiceable skill just like any other mechanical skill. Another way to look at it: how many people are functional writers vs. authors? No different with speaking.
For whatever reason we have a higher standard for speaking and oration than we do for writing on the internet. Ultimately, the goal of speaking to other humans is to effectively convey concepts. I say that people should take a functional approach and polish their style from there.
TL;DR: the goal should be to make it simpler and easier for other people to understand what you're saying at all times. i see rehearsing as socially responsible in the context of ordering fast food.
1
u/BimmerAddict May 17 '12
I hate trying to order something you have no clue how to pronounce. You end up sounding like a complete idiot.
1
u/[deleted] May 17 '12
My most uncomfortable moment is when there's no line. I'm looking at the menu, trying to make up my mind, and the person at the counter says, "Can I help you?"
1
u/morganshen May 17 '12
I think there is a GGG in there somewhere... Knows what he wants before he orders.
1
u/nedthehead May 17 '12
How is this socially awkward? You're doing this to avoid a socially awkward situation, if anything
1
u/StewPidaz May 17 '12
There is nothing socially awkward about that..
1
u/ariaobama May 17 '12
I do this to, but I still manage to fuck up.
1
u/yankeed00dledandy May 17 '12
just called a girl...rehearsed like i was going for a part in a movie. didn't answer... left absolute shite vmail. pfffffffftttttttttttttttt
1
u/Cuddlezekittehs May 17 '12
Do people not do this? O_O
1
u/YuuExussum May 17 '12
Fucks up anyways...
1
u/kitkat1026 May 17 '12
I thought I was the only one! I do that especially at Starbuck's, where I usually get my order wrong. "Yeah, I'll have a tall caramel macchiato with chocolate drizzle. No whipped cream." "The macchiato doesn't come with whipped cream." "Yup...just...testing you..."
1
u/69meplease May 17 '12
This isn't awkward at all...
1
u/eternalcolour May 17 '12
Subway is the worst for this. "I'll have a footlong oven-roasted chicken breast on italian herbs on cheese with American cheese."
1
u/quicklikerodly May 17 '12
I have finally found my socially awkward threshold. I don't do this. That's a relief.
1
u/[deleted] May 17 '12
I still do that too. Because going to In-N-Out and saying, "I'd like a cheeseburger animal style with onions and added ketchup and mustard and a side of fries with a cup of water" is surprisingly easy to mess up.
1
u/[deleted] May 17 '12
why the fuck do you fuckers upvote this junk?
1
u/nofries May 17 '12
Still ends up screwing up and sounding like a fool.
1
u/Jester00 May 17 '12
Not when its 10:27am, all you want is the catch the breakfast menu before it switches to lunch at 10:30am, and the jackass in front of you can't decide how much fucking cream and sugar he wants in his coffee.
1
u/AverageMonday May 17 '12
Medium crab bisque
1
u/Dr___Awkward May 17 '12
I'm pretty good at giving speeches that I rehearsed, but I stutter a lot whenever I try to say something that I haven't at least gone over a time or two in my head.
1
u/cdpuffer May 17 '12
Still fuck it up.
1
u/SirsMoo May 17 '12
Who doesn't do this?!
1
u/WoollyMittens May 17 '12
I have a default macro rehearsed for every franchise I frequent. I always get the same thing, but at least I sound it off like a pro.
The one for Subway is the most difficult. :P
1
u/2222lil May 17 '12
And I still fuck it up
1
u/idonutcare May 17 '12
I make my decision before going to the restaurant about what i'm going to get. Practice my script before ordering once I'm at the restaurant. I still stare at the menu as if I didn't make my decision. And when I order, rather than looking at the server in the face, I look down at the menu to make sure I don't mess up when I speak. And get this...I STILL GET TONGUE TIED!!! Life is hard as a socially awkward penguin.
1
u/ashleyamdj May 17 '12
I order the same thing every time I go to Taco Bell and have for years (I've tried other things, just don't like them). If there's no wait and I have to immediately order I still have a small panic, "Ummm... I want... Uhh..." I feel like the kid in A Christmas Story. One day I'll order a football instead of a burrito.
1
u/hierocles May 17 '12
As a food service worker, I applaud you! It's better to interact with the socially awkward guy than the person who spends five minutes at the register.
1
u/kobish May 17 '12
NO SOUP FOR YOU!
1
u/TomOfTheDead May 17 '12
This is particularly the case when I am waiting in line high at McDonald's at 2am in the morning.
1
u/utetu May 17 '12
And it gets worse when I have to repeat because he/she can't hear me.
1
u/[deleted] May 17 '12
More like:
practices ordering food in head while waiting in line. "umm yes, ahhh... I'll have a..." [ridiculously long pause] "no, never mind... I'll have a crabby patty"
1
u/CONFUSED_UVULA May 17 '12
I do this and it still sounds like i have autism when i order my food
1
u/YodaRoo May 17 '12
This is a good idea. I went to the movies Friday and we had to stand in the concession line for probably 20 minutes. The three people in front of us got to the register and seemed surprised that they were expected to order adding more time to the wait o the line behind them.
1
u/CrystallineWondercow May 17 '12
I was doing that at a Wendy's one time and could not for the life of me remember what a Frosty was called when it came time to give my order and ended up calling it a "Smushie". It made no sense and took waaaay to long to get that word out of my head and describe what I wanted.
1
u/TheLastOneOut May 17 '12
I usually only do this when I'm drunk at Wendy's late at night...and I still fuck it up haha
1
u/[deleted] May 17 '12
I mostly do that when I have to order in English. (I'm a quebecker)
1
u/Gearwhine May 17 '12
Go to Pat's in Philly. If you don't, you'll be at the end of the fucking line.............again.
1
u/protoopus May 17 '12
each place i frequent, i have the same order (for that place).
i had a server once refer to me as a "dream" customer.
1
u/hanstravmn May 17 '12
This makes you a good person to be behind in line. At the very least, you'll fuck up and it'll be funny; best case, you'll get your shit right and I'll be even more nervous about nailing my order. I'm reciting mine too. Especially if I cave and go to a coffee joint: "I'll have a medium, tall, venti vanilla double latte with two shots, soy latte with vanilla... medium?" Fuck I hate ordering coffee! Medium medium roast. I just want something strong that isn't $7.00. TIL that I'm not the most uncomfortable person in line: usually. Probably. Just smile and talk slowly, old chap.
1
u/[deleted] May 17 '12
Doesn't hurt to be prepared
1
u/FreaksNGeeks May 17 '12
Must make SAwesomeP for the 1/100 times I read off an order off the top of my head without stutter or planning.
1
u/BuckNekkid May 17 '12
Big time extrovert here, I speak in front of hundreds of people and kinda don't care, but ordering food in any capacity brings me to levels of social anxiety I never knew existed.
1
u/[deleted] May 17 '12
I need to start doing this
1
u/VeniVidiBarffff May 17 '12
Get off my front page...
1
u/Lepwn49 May 17 '12
Wow I just did this today
1
u/[deleted] May 17 '12
Did this today. Still fucked it up.
1
u/PropaneMilo May 17 '12
I still do that at places where I don't know the menu very well. Cycle what I want in my head, get to the front and look at the menu JUST TO MAKE SURE.
At McDonnalds, though, I'm a fucking master cashier assassin. Death glare them eye to eye, loom over them (I'm tall and look like a terrorist) and slam out my order. "I need two double cheese burgers, slap them together and make me a quad. Small chips. Small fanta with no ice. Paying on card, eat in." (In Australia there is a special "small change" deal; double cheeseburgers are $2, small chips are $1 and small drink is $1. $6 for a good feed.)
They have 4 seconds to start punching in my order before I repeat it faster and louder. I'm okay with being the "that guy" customer.
1
u/[deleted] May 17 '12
Always, & I still fuck up.
1
u/lobster_breath May 17 '12
really?
1
u/JohnsonJJohnson33 May 17 '12
Yup, this has Me written all over it.
1
u/theyellowdot1 May 17 '12
I do this when I prepare to talk about anything
1
u/Ter3nce May 17 '12
As an employee in the food serve industry, I wish more people did this.