# April Sours... (Monthly Mini-Rants) **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 1, 2025, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/april-sours-monthly-mini-rants/1016445 "2025-04-01T06:45:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 14
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2025, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/april-sours-monthly-mini-rants/1016445/261 "2025-04-20T20:20:13Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > Not your concern. None of your business. If she gets out of line and wants to get back in, the reason she got out of lne is most definitey my concern and my business. > [@needscoffee](#): > > Completely irrelevant. How is it irrelevant? I was having major problems standing and walking. I stayed in line _to avoid losing my place_. She had no obviious trouble standing and walking. She made no attempt to explain why she sat down. She just sat down. > [@needscoffee](#): > > So even though you might have surmised that she had a reason for sitting down, ) What reason? There was no obvious reason. There may have been a reason I could not see.She made no attempt to give that reason. She walked out of line, sat down, and immediately got on her phone. > [@needscoffee](#): > > because she didn’t clear it with you first (because she was somehow supposed to know this?) It is not only that she didn’t clear it with me. She made no attempt to give a reason, ask if I would save her place in line, or that it was okay with all the people behind me in line. > [@needscoffee](#): > > (because she was somehow supposed to know this? Because that is the way standing in line works in this country in general. It may or not be the same way standing in line works in Haiti.I honestly don’t know. Learning English is a dificult thing indeed. If leaving the line without giving a reason, or making sure somebody will let you back in is the way it works in Haiti (again, it might be. It might not), that it does not work that way here is something she should’ve learned rather quickly. > [@needscoffee](#): > > You physically barred her from stepping back in so you could keep her spot in line when you clearly and _admittedly_ knew she sat down to rest assuming you’d let her back in Yeah, she sat down assuming that. That was a mistake. Again, she never attempted to give a reason for sitting down. She never attempted to ask if anybody minded or if I would let her back in. > [@needscoffee](#): > > And you’ve justified it over and over and over again to feel better. No. I have justified it because I was _justified_ in not letting somebody who had left the line without attempting to give a reason or attempting to be sure that she would be let back in, back in line. > [@needscoffee](#): > > The only reason the people behind you didn’t let her in was because they were following your shitty lead. This is factually incorrect. As I have said in previous posts, the women behind me spoke up that they would not let her back in line before I said or did anything. > [@needscoffee](#): > > I’m surprised you all didn’t pelt her with stones. This is just hyperbole out of nowhere. > [@needscoffee](#): > > It must be terrible to live in a place where treating other people like this is normal. I assure you, it is NOT normal. It is in my experience. > [@needscoffee](#): > > Welcome to TrumpLand. Again, pointless hyperbole. > [@needscoffee](#): > > Why not ask your rabbi what he thinks of your behavior to your fellow human? There is not even the slightest hint of ethical dilemma here. Yet again, she did not even attempt to give a reason why she got out of line and sat down. She did not even attempt to be sure that she would be allowed back in line. She simply got out of line and sat down. > [@needscoffee](#): > > Be sure to tell him your back was sore and she had a smartphone; I’m sure that’ll sway him. Both of those are relevant facts. To anybody watching me walk, I had an obvious reason to sit down. I chose not to do so in order to not give up my place in line. She had no obvious reason. If she had any reason at all, she never attempted to communicate it. She could have communicated it _because she had a smartphone_. She spoke next to no English. Neither I nor anybody else knew Haitian French Creole. As I said earlier, I had gone to Google Translate in order to work through the language barrier. I was typing in English to have translated when she walked away > [@needscoffee](#): > > I’m sure that’ll sway him. Nah, the fact that the woman violated a basic societal custom for no apparent reason and then expected her action not to have any consequences, and that to let her back in would have been rude to everybody behind me in the line would sway him. ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2025, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/april-sours-monthly-mini-rants/1016445/262 "2025-04-20T20:29:18Z")
But she just left the line to sit for a bit in a nearby chair. Did she really have to ask you to save her spot? ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2025, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/april-sours-monthly-mini-rants/1016445/263 "2025-04-20T20:32:57Z")
The chair was at least ten feet away. So it did not meat my definition of “nearby”. Yes, she needed to ask if I would let her back in and to make sure it was okay with everybody behind me in the line to let her back in. She made no attempt to do any of that. She just walked away, sat down and got on her phone. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2025, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/april-sours-monthly-mini-rants/1016445/264 "2025-04-20T21:02:17Z")
@DocCathode: May I offer the friendly suggestion that after the 4th time you pick somebody’s comment apart into individual sentences, you’re indulging your admittedly unhelpful compulsions more than you’re enlightening the rest of us. I know it’s a hard itch not to scratch. I too _hate_ it when I think I’m misunderstood. But really, and I say this from a position of kindness and compassion, give it a rest. You’ll feel better an hour from now if you do than if you keep picking the scab. Or not; it’s surely your choice and good luck whichever you choose. ---
**Author:** ![Ellecram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellecram/32/18948_2.png) [@Ellecram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellecram)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2025, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/april-sours-monthly-mini-rants/1016445/265 "2025-04-20T22:11:12Z")
Prednisone is brutal. Somewhere on Reddit I noticed someone call them Satan’s tic tacs. Indeed they are. This is the second 10 day taper I have had in the last seven months. I experienced the usual semi manic side effects and insomnia. Towards the end of this current taper I was suddenly drenched in despair. It was as if someone poured liquid sorrow into my being and rendered me nearly catatonic for a good portion of the day. I couldn’t talk or type and was barely functional. I forced myself into the shower, managed to eat something and took a half a Klonopin after I got home from work. That seemed to break it up and the next morning I felt much better. It’s been 4 or 5 days and I am almost back to normal. Just a little lingering sadness but nothing serious. I did look online and found that prednisone can cause these kinds of mood swings. Now that I am aware I think I can manage it but boy was that intense. Never felt anything like it and I’ve been through a lot. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2025, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/april-sours-monthly-mini-rants/1016445/266 "2025-04-21T00:18:43Z")
While I’m ranting about manners: At some point, it used to be considered rude to whisk a diner’s plate away while their dining companions were still eating. Now, we seem to have done a 180°, and it seems to be the done thing to take the plates _as soon as possible_. The other night, I was still chewing when my plate was snatched. I don’t mind if the plate sits on the table for a minute, but I hate feeling rushed, which I do if (a) my plate is grabbed out from under me, or (b) other people’s plates are seized but I am still eating. Culture changes and I know my options are change with it or die, but I wish people at least knew that this **was** a change, and that not all people fear plates. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2025, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/april-sours-monthly-mini-rants/1016445/267 "2025-04-21T01:01:36Z")
Anybody touches my plate early they’re gonna have fork tracks all over their hand & arm. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2025, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/april-sours-monthly-mini-rants/1016445/268 "2025-04-21T02:09:18Z")
> [@Dr.Drake](#): > > I don’t mind if the plate sits on the table for a minute, but I hate feeling rushed, which I do if (a) my plate is grabbed out from under me, or (b) other people’s plates are seized but I am still eating. Most of the time I’ve seen wait staff ask if it’s okay to take a plate, and even apologize and assure the diner that they’re not trying to rush them. It seems weird to just grab the plates. ---
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2025, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/april-sours-monthly-mini-rants/1016445/269 "2025-04-21T02:12:48Z")
Sounds like the waitstaff is rushing the customers. How far past official closing time is this happening? (just kidding about that last) ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2025, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/april-sours-monthly-mini-rants/1016445/270 "2025-04-21T02:26:43Z")
This happened at a little restaurant where we are regulars: they like us & we like them. It wasn’t done with rude intent at all: they obviously think it’s ideal for the customer to take the plates away as soon as the food is gone. I see this all the time in restaurants, even nice ones. It’s just a different set of customs than I grew up with. ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Hedonia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ann_hedonia/32/319_2.png) [@Ann\_Hedonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Hedonia)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2025, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/april-sours-monthly-mini-rants/1016445/271 "2025-04-21T03:06:10Z")
I’m a very slow eater, I like to linger over the last bites of restaurant meals and I’ve been defending my plate from overeager busboys for as long as I can remember. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2025, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/april-sours-monthly-mini-rants/1016445/272 "2025-04-21T03:23:56Z")
I ran out of Havana Club rum and, in desperation for a nightcap, I opened a little miniature of Bacardi Gold. And it’s rougher and less flavourful than the cheapest Havana Club, which will now be my preference for my considerable rum purchases, which approximate those of a small nation entirely comprised of irredeemable alcoholics. So I will now, with the Canadian embargo on US liquor, be contributing mightily to the economy of Cuba. Thank you, Donald J Trump, for yet another unintended accomplishment! All politics aside, I’m now consuming better rum, and will continue to do so! Viva Havana Club! ¡Viva una Cuba libre! ---
**Author:** ![scudsucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scudsucker/32/14101_2.png) [@scudsucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scudsucker)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2025, 7:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/april-sours-monthly-mini-rants/1016445/273 "2025-04-21T07:43:21Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > Viva Havana Club! ¡Viva una Cuba libre! May I reccomend this premium rum, a friend introduced it to me on a long hiking trip. Really amazing, and I am not really a rum drinker - I carry Scotch. > **[Premium Sipping Rum | Diplomático Rum](https://www.rondiplomatico.com/)** > > Diplomático is a rum passionately crafted, recognized for being one of the leading super premium rums worldwide. (Not sure of country of origin though) ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2025, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/april-sours-monthly-mini-rants/1016445/274 "2025-04-21T11:45:56Z")
The rum called Havana Club that’s available in the USA is made in Puerto Rico. Seems perfectly decent to me; my last bottle of dark was that brand. You in Canada might be able to get something of the same name really from Cuba; I know I don’t know. But reading the fine print on your bottle might lead to a surprise. ---
**Author:** ![Mundane\_Super\_Hero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mundane_super_hero/32/6304_2.png) [@Mundane\_Super\_Hero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mundane_Super_Hero)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2025, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/april-sours-monthly-mini-rants/1016445/275 "2025-04-21T12:09:32Z")
The Pope has died just hours after the end of Easter. Evidently he, although at deaths door, really did see JD Vance. “See JD Vance and Die”… then? ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2025, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/april-sours-monthly-mini-rants/1016445/276 "2025-04-21T12:25:43Z")
Coulda been worse. Pope coulda been seeing trump. Speaking of which, maybe JD oughta go visit the trumpster while his anti-papal juju is still strong. ---
**Author:** ![Mundane\_Super\_Hero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mundane_super_hero/32/6304_2.png) [@Mundane\_Super\_Hero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mundane_Super_Hero)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2025, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/april-sours-monthly-mini-rants/1016445/277 "2025-04-21T12:26:57Z")
No, he has to heal up from the COVID and RSV they infected him with before sending him to see the Pope first. ---
**Author:** ![fachverwirrt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/94ad74/32.png) [@fachverwirrt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fachverwirrt)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2025, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/april-sours-monthly-mini-rants/1016445/278 "2025-04-21T12:44:10Z")
Meet with JD Vance? That’s the last thing I want to do! One of my multitude of jobs is in a chamber group that forms the core of the cathedral choir at the seat of the local archdiocese. Last week was crazy and exhausting, both physically and vocally. We were supposed to have a break for the rest of the month, but now with the Pope popping off, we’ll probably be called for some sort of memorial mass. Which I have neither the energy for, nor the time, since I have several other jobs. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2025, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/april-sours-monthly-mini-rants/1016445/279 "2025-04-21T15:34:12Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > > [@kaylasdad99](#): > > > > Is “assigned risk” not a thing any more? Or was that always just a car insurance thing? > > It is but I think it’s a mix. Some will pay more based on location but there’s also an average that goes up for everyone, driven by those high risk people. At least that’s my understanding. Then **LurkMeister** might actually be able to find a better premium with a different carrier. It might still be an increase over the status quo, but not so harsh a one. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2025, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/april-sours-monthly-mini-rants/1016445/280 "2025-04-21T15:37:11Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Then **LurkMeister** might actually be able to find a better premium with a different carrier. Yeah, very true. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/april-sours-monthly-mini-rants/1016445.md?page=13) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/april-sours-monthly-mini-rants/1016445.md?page=15)