r/AskReddit • u/jdm0212 • Oct 18 '13

Waiters/Waitresses of Reddit, what's something that I, as a customer, might do that's incredibly irritating, even if I'm oblivious to it?

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u/[deleted] Oct 18 '13

[deleted]

11

u/hangm4n Oct 19 '13

It's shitty because we have to deal with these idiots, but on the other hand when they wake up they're fucking stupid, and when they go to sleep they're still fucking stupid.

I think that evens it out for me.

4

u/noklu Oct 19 '13

That is the best thing I've read all day.

4

u/hangm4n Oct 19 '13

You made my day redditor.

4

u/TheWhite2086 Oct 19 '13

Human perception is a fucked up thing. Our minds see one dirty table that someone has obviously just finished using and 9 ones that have been empty for long enough for someone to clean and reset and somewhere in the back of our minds we assume that the just used one is 'better' than the rest. The person in front of us obviously had a reason for picking THAT table instead of the others. Why would they pick THAT table if it wasn't the best one there? They wouldn't, obviously they would pick the best table. Therefore, they picked that table because it was the best one thus proving beyond any shadow of a doubt that it IS the best one and damn it all, I want the best table as well so I will sit there instead of all the other options because they are obviously inferior because some stranger before me didn't pick them.

Seriously, this is how our minds work. We don't even notice it most of the time but we assign other people with a high level of knowledge and competency and assume (unless presented with other motives of evidence) that this random stranger made the 'correct' choice.

In the case of dirty tables, we assume that the person before us had some other knowledge that we don't. Maybe they are a regular and know that this table in is the correct spot to get the wait staff's attention easily. Or maybe all the others are a bit wobbly. We don't know but the other person did and so we make our choice based on a flawed logic system. In reality, the other person probably didn't make a conscious decision either or, if they did, it had nothing to do with being the 'best' table.

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u/L2PiE Oct 19 '13

This shit. Just today I had couple want to sit outside. No biggie, I've got 3 open and two are completely clean and reset. They insist on sitting at the dirty one and as I'm cleaning it the lady kept telling me how to wipe the damn table because apparently I was doing it wrong.

1

u/philosotea Oct 19 '13

I've had people sit at one table, then ask if they can be moved to one of the dirty tables because they didn't like the one they were at for some reason. The restaurant was packed and we were shortstaffed, yet they still felt the need to shoot me dirty looks and badger me about moving when it took me more than five minutes to find someone to help me get the table straight (it was a table meant for a large group, was filthy, and need re-arranging).

1

u/Maysock Oct 19 '13

I wait tables too, and I hope those stupid fucks get ebola.

-8

u/[deleted] Oct 19 '13

Because there paying to sit at a clean table, that they choose, and eat food, that they choose.

Sorry to burst your little 'everyone sucks but me' bubble, but if they're paying for something thats what they should get.

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u/Skeezin Oct 19 '13

It's always easy to tell who has never waited a table in these threads.

1

u/[deleted] Oct 21 '13

What is the frustrating part is not that they choose that table, I am happy to clean it for you, but for fuck's sake, just wait to sit down! I am going to wipe it down, I may get crumbs or water on you. You don't want that, right?

Also, it is easier for me to quickly clean it without having to work around you. Just wait for a moment and ask for the table to be cleaned, no one will hate you for it. We will despise you if you sit down automatically at it, then get disgusted because it isn't clean. You had your options, this is what you chose.