Have you had this happen to you?...

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Jgrden

Jgrden

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Joined
Mar 27, 2009
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6,287
Location
hOUSTON, Texas
We just moved to Lake Arrowhead. It is a tourist town. Last night, after a long two day show I wanted to take Mary to dinner to celebrate and pay homage to her for watching the dogs and our new home. The restaurant was very busy and had a waiting list. On the way in to the restaurant we saw two guys who were making sure they beat us to the door. They signed the waiting list, just as we did , after them. They, however, went to a empty table and sat without their name being called and ahead of three other parties. Later a waiter brought them chips and then wine (Mexican) and they proceeded to order their dinner. I was fuming. I was tired and had forgone the pain medications because of the driving. When we were asked to be seated I could not hold myself any longer and lit into them. Started shouting at them while everyone listened. The jackass just sat there without any expression. I would have knocked him on his ass if the opportunity would have shown itself and I am disabled with bad legs.
What would you have done? My wife and the waitress had to escort me to our table.
 
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Talk to the manager, and if he did not satisfy you vote with your wallet and your feet, and spread the word. I hate crud like that, but you know it happens all the time. They were somebody's friend, most likely. Hope you still had a nice evening with Mary.

Sorry to hear about the disability, I can relate. I have been living with my problem for three and a half years. I don't take a lot of pain meds anymore, the opiates were gradually making the pain worse. Withdrawal was a b!tch, but worth it.
 
John, first congrats on a successful show. Second as was said speak to the mgr. and then if your satisfied with his answer patronize them if not find another restaurant.
 
I too am highly frustrated with the state of manors in our society, no one seems to be able to see outside themselves anymore, courtesy, it seems, is for suckers in this PC all about me world. Why? Because no one is held accountable for there actions!

Had it been me they probably never would have made it to the table. The manager would have gotten involved immediately as there would have been some half crazed mountain man screaming in his restaurant. And I wouldn't have eaten there nor ever set foot in the establishment again, even if he didn't call the police. Seems standing up for whats right isn't just unfashionable, it frowned on. And I could give a rats behind! Doing whats is right is never easy and seldom popular but it is the right thing to do.

To my eyes ya did good John!
 
I usually just let it go. I don't do anything in moderation, least of all showing my temper. For me it's not about whether or not they learned a lesson, it's about whether or not I go to sleep with a clear conscience.
 
There are a lot of people that meet me and when they hear me describe something I would do they have a "yeah right" reaction. then they actually see me do something and realize that I actually down play what I am actually willing to do.
First of all I used to be shy. I fixed that. I actually focused on changing being shy. now I am the sort of person that talks to anyone anywhere at any time. I am the first one to speak up in a room not the last.
Anyway, I know what I would have done in this case. I would have pulled a Jim Cary moment. People like that are taking advantage of the average persons to be intimidated and not want to stand out. I woudl have focused on being neither. I would have been anything but timid or silent. I woudl have walked up to there table ane sat down saying "I didn't realize they had non waiting tables here so I will join you. Lunch on you by the way? If they where lucky. Otherwise I would have drawn the attention of as many customers as I could in the restaurant. I have not found it difficult to get the attention of entire restaurants before. I woudl then have started to tell everyone how emportant these two people must be because they found seats immediately regardless of the inconvenience those posed to every other customer waiting in line. and that they must be someone important to the owner or manager of the resterant for allowing this. I woudl ahve grabbed their hands and shook them vigerously congratulating them for achieving such a high level of importance in society. quizzed them on just what dish it is that they are in such a hurry to enjoy, etc etc etc.

Provided my temper did not get the better of me I might not tell the patrons that I had a roll of bailing wire in my car that could feel free to string the two up by there testicles with.

The entire goal would be to become the extreme opposite of what those two counted on everyone being. The rules of the game obviously included being obnoxious. I would give them a lesson in being obnoxious. I mean if you are going to do something, do it right. am I correct? I just want to help my fellow man be all they can be.
 
Douchebags will be douchebags.

Having worked in restaurants for many years prior to my career in IT, I've come to expect crap like that.

I have no problem shouting about the jerks so the entire restaurant can hear. I've done it before... :biggrin:
 
John, I don't blame you. Nowadays, that's the norm. No manners at all. It's a ME society now. I get p*$$ed every time I go out it seems.
 
Daniel, I'm with you, I have on occasion embarrassed my wife, and have drawn attention of the entire establishment, Now had the persons had reservations then sorry for being an ass, BUT if this is a wait to be seated kind of place, then it's time to set it down for them, explain that just because their mother had a pedigree, and their daddy came from a nice neighborhood. that they were still in need of training, a muzzle and a magic fingers choke chain, (with fresh battery packs).
John I commend you on your restraint, unfortunately our sense of decency and manners has taken a severe decline for some time, so I suppose a reasonable thing to do would be question the first person with some degree of authority then go up the ladder, then go a Daniel on the pig individuals.
 
I used to be like Daniel shy but now I am the first to speak my mind and after working in a customer service capacity my whole life I never hesitate to make it known I am not happy.
 
THe Outback Steakhouse chain has 2 seating policies. You can sign up for a table and /or you can go to the bar area where you can take the first open table if or when one is available and procede with your evening. Often we would sign up for a table in the regular dining area and end up in the open seating area and canceling our name on the list. You havent mentioned the resturants name or if that is a policy there as well.
 
A nice talk with the manager will generally get you an apoligy and a free desert, some times more. In todays world there are people who do not follow the rules of common courtesy or etiquette. Altho we feel like going to fist city with this kind, it only lowers us to their level. While on the subject, screaming children in a resturant is what gets my blood pressure up. And funny thing they know what resturant I am going to and are always there to help me digest my meal!!

Ben
 
The thing that gets me going the most is how some of the servers are. I have 2 Simple rules:
If parents have kids, bring the kids food out first (ie they have to make 2 trips). I don't know how many times I have gone someplace and had my 2 & 6 year old with us. My wife and I get our food while the servers go back to get the kids food.

Do not let my drink stay empty for more than 2 minutes.

Back to original post.
You see inconsideration all over the place.

I was in lowes pushing a cart with a dozen or so bags of cement mix. Now I am going down the lane that runs parallel with the front of the store. This woman walk out, not paying attention and I about dislocate my shoulder to stop (I have dislocated my shoulder several times since high school). She had the audacity to say "You need to watch where the F you are pushing that thing!" I told her let me get this thing moving and try that again. Well I had a few more words added, but you get the idea. It is the whole ME attitude.
 
I don't have the time in my life to inventory where everyone is in line to ensure that our name is called in the order that I feel it should be, so I would never notice. Had I noticed, I certainly would not have gone over and called them on it. I am only responsible for my actions and the actions of my children. I will not attempt to ensure that the rest of the world is living up to my sense of fair play.
 
I used to bite my tongue and not say anything in situations like those. However, I've learned over time that if you are the 'nice' guy and just keep your mouth shut, You get screwed over 99% of the time. So I don't roll over and take anything from anyone anymore. People don't like it.. The hell with them.
 
Rob73 said:
I used to bite my tongue and not say anything in situations like those. However, I've learned over time that if you are the 'nice' guy and just keep your mouth shut, You get screwed over 99% of the time. So I don't roll over and take anything from anyone anymore. People don't like it.. The hell with them.
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Two thoughts:
  1. What did the OP gain from ranting at the other diners?
  2. How was the OP screwed over by the other diners?
 
I've seen situations like the op stated, people behave like were raised in a fricken barn. I've pigs with better manners than some people, at least the pigs don't know any better. One thing I will never understand is why they let screaming, rude, messy little kids in a restaurant but they won't let in dogs.

As for manners I'm pretty certain that most of the older turners would agree that if our parents had seen us behave like most of society that our parents would have tanned our hides.(I'm only 24.)
 
Several years ago, when I had more pi$$ and vinegar, I had a similar thing happen. A guy came in a pretty much walked past a line (of which my wife and I were a part) cutting right past everyone .... I went OFF on him, telling him to get to the back of the line and wait his turn!!!
Wasn't a good reaction! :frown:
Turns out he was mildly mentally challenged. :redface::redface:

Who was the jerk that night? :frown::redface:

Life's too short!

Don't sweat the petty stuff ...(and don't pet the sweaty stuff):eek::smile:
 
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Several things come to mind, first being I would not want to be the guy ruining everyones dinner with the outburst then I am no better than a spoiled child. Second who are we to control the actions of others? I guess as long as I am not affected by what they do let it go its not worth trying to parent the plant. I would however talk to the manager and even corporate about the treatment. This may seem odd but I never have been shy or afraid to make a scene but I guess over the years it just makes you look like the ass because no one saw what the offenders did.

Imagine your at dinner with the family all is good and someone starts ranting and raving about being polite and manners and pushing past the line. Now what would your reaction be? I think mine would be tell the loud mouth to keep it down after all I didnt see what he was so mad about anyway. So in the end who looks like the troublemaker?
 
Jgrden said:
Hmmmm, not sure but normally I wake with a guilty conscience after exposing my temper. Not this time.
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Sounds righteous then.

Anybody can become angry - that is easy, but to be angry with the right person and to the right degree and at the right time and for the right purpose, and in the right way - that is not within everybody's power and is not easy.
-Aristotle

:mad: :at-wits-end::curse:(angry smilies thrown in just for comic relief)
 
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