# Restaurant patron: "Hey, what's that?" **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 6, 2005, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/restaurant-patron-hey-whats-that/315877 "2005-08-06T15:05:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![MagicEyes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@MagicEyes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MagicEyes)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2005, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/restaurant-patron-hey-whats-that/315877/21 "2005-08-06T20:10:47Z")
> [@Johnny L.A.](#): > > You know what’s fun? Going to public places and playing Spot The Alien. > > Spot The Spy is also fun. 😃 I bet you’d be fun to hang out with. ---
**Author:** ![pinkfreud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pinkfreud/32/17603_2.png) [@pinkfreud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pinkfreud)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2005, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/restaurant-patron-hey-whats-that/315877/22 "2005-08-06T20:23:09Z")
> [@pinkfreud](#): > > I don’t mind a stranger in a restaurant asking “what kind of food is that?”, but twice I have had the bizarre experience of having people come over, look at my plate, and ask “can I have a taste of that?” Although I am a fairly friendly and generous person, it unnerves me for a total stranger to expect me to share my food with him or her. > > > [@Zeldar](#): > > > > Jesus! Nah, it wasn’t Jesus. I would gladly have given Jesus a taste of my food. Assuming that He presented proper I.D., of course. ---
**Author:** ![wolfstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d6d6ee/32.png) [@wolfstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfstu)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2005, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/restaurant-patron-hey-whats-that/315877/23 "2005-08-06T21:56:01Z")
> [@pinkfreud](#): > > Nah, it wasn’t Jesus. I would gladly have given Jesus a taste of my food. > > Assuming that He presented proper I.D., of course. Heh. 😃 > [@Matthew 25:34-40](#): > > "Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ > > ``` > "Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' > > "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' > > ``` ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2005, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/restaurant-patron-hey-whats-that/315877/24 "2005-08-06T21:57:39Z")
> [@pinkfreud](#): > > Nah, it wasn’t Jesus. I would gladly have given Jesus a taste of my food. > > Assuming that He presented proper I.D., of course. If He turns your dinner wine to water, is that good enough? Assuming He turns it back afterwards? ---
**Author:** ![Rufus\_Xavier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eada6e/32.png) [@Rufus\_Xavier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rufus_Xavier)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2005, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/restaurant-patron-hey-whats-that/315877/25 "2005-08-06T22:06:10Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > ``` > Of course, Tony Roma's has several types of ribs on the menu. Since he asked "Original?" I would assume that he had eaten there before, perhaps having the St. Louis Style, and was wondering which of the selections you were chomping on. > > ``` Actually, _I_ offered the information that they were “original.” He asked “baby backs?” He had at least heard of baby back ribs, that much is certain. > [@wolfstu](#): > > I am from so exotic an international locale as Ontario, and have never heard of Tony or his restaurants. Hey, I didn’t say “universally known,” just well known. Their website currently lists 7 restaurants located in the province of Ontario and 22 other locations across Canada. They also have a restaurant in Ontario, California. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2005, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/restaurant-patron-hey-whats-that/315877/26 "2005-08-06T22:07:33Z")
Since this has taken a 90-degree turn from the OP, does anybody want to tell the joke about Jesus walking into the Irish bar where three old Irishmen were taking their after-dawn libations? ---
**Author:** ![uglybeech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/82dd89/32.png) [@uglybeech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/uglybeech)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2005, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/restaurant-patron-hey-whats-that/315877/27 "2005-08-06T22:34:25Z")
Maybe a bit audacious. Maybe a bit rude. But nothing terrible. IMHO if you don’t want to be bothered by anybody when you’re eating, don’t eat in public. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2005, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/restaurant-patron-hey-whats-that/315877/28 "2005-08-06T22:36:31Z")
> [@Johnny L.A.](#): > > You know what’s fun? Going to public places and playing Spot The Alien. > > Spot The Spy is also fun. For advanced play either spot the alien spy, or play spot the invisible man. ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2005, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/restaurant-patron-hey-whats-that/315877/29 "2005-08-07T03:59:58Z")
> [@Johnny L.A.](#): > > Spot The Spy is also fun. I will never again think “I’m the only person who does this” about anything. ---
**Author:** ![Tentacle\_Monster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ba9def/32.png) [@Tentacle\_Monster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tentacle_Monster)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2005, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/restaurant-patron-hey-whats-that/315877/30 "2005-08-07T04:44:56Z")
> [@Revtim](#): > > If He turns your dinner wine to water, is that good enough? Assuming He turns it back afterwards? For me, holes in the wrist would be sufficient ID. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2005, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/restaurant-patron-hey-whats-that/315877/31 "2005-08-07T04:48:10Z")
> [@Tentacle Monster](#): > > For me, holes in the wrist would be sufficient ID. Yeah. That and the halo. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2005, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/restaurant-patron-hey-whats-that/315877/32 "2005-08-07T05:47:08Z")
> [@Zebra](#): > > For advanced play either spot the alien spy, or play spot the invisible man. I like to play “Spot the undercover security guy” in malls. They usually give themselves away by talking into their sleeves or collars, though. I loooove Tony Roma’s ribs. I was never much of a rib person (mostly because I didn’t know how to eat them) until introduced to Tony Roma’s. Now we go there every birthday because we get the birthday gift certificates. Mmmm, original back ribs. ---
**Author:** ![Penchan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/74df32/32.png) [@Penchan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penchan)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2005, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/restaurant-patron-hey-whats-that/315877/33 "2005-08-07T06:00:36Z")
I waitress at my mother’s Thai restaurant during breaks and holidays. I have had a good number of people stop me while I’m carrying food to another table and ask what it was that I was carrying. Doesn’t seem like a big thing. But a few of those people asked me to stop and inspect the food. If I hadn’t swung the dish away in time, I swear some of them would have even asked if they could sample those dishes! :eek: A few times I had to tell them that the food belonged to someone else, and if they wanted to inspect the food and taste it, they could order it themselves. They got pretty peeved when I said that. Geez. ---
**Author:** ![GrizzRich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7ba0ec/32.png) [@GrizzRich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrizzRich)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2005, 9:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/restaurant-patron-hey-whats-that/315877/34 "2005-08-07T09:54:47Z")
It seems that there’s an obligatory response to this type of thread that no one has posted yet, so here goes… [homer simpson] MMMmmmmmm… riiiiii-iiiiiiiiiiibs [/homer sompson] ---
**Author:** ![TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tellmei_mnotcrazy/32/3419_2.png) [@TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TellMeI_mNotCrazy)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2005, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/restaurant-patron-hey-whats-that/315877/35 "2005-08-07T12:26:27Z")
There’s a totally cool radio contest going at the moment called “The Fugitive” - the radio station gives out clues once an hour as to the whereabouts up to the fugitive. Based on that, you go around asking people “Are you the fugitive?” If you ask the correct person, you win R1000 (what’s that, somewhere in the neighborhood of 175 bucks, I think at the moment?) for each hour the Fugitive has been at large. I only wish I had a car - I’d be scouring the streets of Johannesburg, asking everyone in sight if they were a fugitive. I’m just wondering how many people, when approached by some person in search of “The Fugitive” will run fleeing when someone comes up to them and asks them if they’re a fugitive. Totally off topic, I know, but all the “Spot the…” talk made me think of it. ---
**Author:** ![Duke\_of\_Rat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Duke\_of\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke_of_Rat)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2005, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/restaurant-patron-hey-whats-that/315877/36 "2005-08-07T12:34:13Z")
> [@GrizzRich](#): > > It seems that there’s an obligatory response to this type of thread that no one has posted yet, so here goes… > [homer simpson] > > MMMmmmmmm… riiiiii-iiiiiiiiiiibs > > [/homer sompson] I was thinking more along the lines of taking a big bite and then answering with a mouth full of food, doing the whole open mouth chewing/talking thing. “Theeshus uughur buurglush baasvidchuss uurglushivlnass” ---
**Author:** ![Hung\_Mung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a88e4f/32.png) [@Hung\_Mung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hung_Mung)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2005, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/restaurant-patron-hey-whats-that/315877/37 "2005-08-07T19:37:30Z")
> [@uglybeech](#): > > Maybe a bit audacious. Maybe a bit rude. But nothing terrible. IMHO if you don’t want to be bothered by anybody when you’re eating, don’t eat in public. What? Jesus tap-dancing Christ on a cracker. **Rufie** isn’t being misanthropic. Some creepy guy interrupted his dinner and he decided to share it with us. Is that too whiny for you? Does the nature of his self-centered bitching get under your skin? I’m tired of this answer becoming pat to this kind of comment. Yeah, don’t go to a Disney movie and complain about the kids being noisy. That’s absolutely right. But it’s not too much to ask to be left alone during dinner. What a snide thing to say. ---
**Author:** ![uglybeech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/82dd89/32.png) [@uglybeech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/uglybeech)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2005, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/restaurant-patron-hey-whats-that/315877/38 "2005-08-07T21:43:44Z")
> [@Hung Mung](#): > > > [@uglybeech](#): > > > > Maybe a bit audacious. Maybe a bit rude. But nothing terrible. IMHO if you don’t want to be bothered by anybody when you’re eating, don’t eat in public. > > What? > Jesus tap-dancing Christ on a cracker. **Rufie** isn’t being misanthropic. Some creepy guy interrupted his dinner and he decided to share it with us. Is that too whiny for you? Does the nature of his self-centered bitching get under your skin? > I’m tired of this answer becoming pat to this kind of comment. Yeah, don’t go to a Disney movie and complain about the kids being noisy. That’s absolutely right. But it’s not too much to ask to be left alone during dinner. > What a snide thing to say. Oh step _OFF_. You’re the one escalating this into snideness and beyond. It looks like you can’t tolerate differing opinions any more than you can tolerate unsolicited friendliness. ---
**Author:** ![Hung\_Mung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a88e4f/32.png) [@Hung\_Mung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hung_Mung)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2005, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/restaurant-patron-hey-whats-that/315877/39 "2005-08-07T23:38:22Z")
I’m an extremely friendly person. But I won’t interrupt your dinner and ask you stupid questions. ---
**Author:** ![Ashes\_Ashes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/db5fbb/32.png) [@Ashes\_Ashes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ashes_Ashes)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2005, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/restaurant-patron-hey-whats-that/315877/40 "2005-08-08T04:47:43Z")
‘Unsolicited friendliness’ is an important phrase here. \*\*UglyBeech \*\* seems to have read the OP and concluded the fellow was just asking a friendly couple of questions. \*\*Hung Mung \*\* (and I) view the encounter as an interrogation and invasion of the privacy one normally expects even in a public place. Perhaps it’s a regional difference. Where I grew up you simply \*do not \* approach a stranger in public that way, and so his innappropriate friendliness would be met with suspicion at the very least. I’ve got friends from other parts of the country who greet and smile at everyone, stopping to chat with complete strangers. When they visit me, they’re viewed with suspicion and get the cold shoulder. When I visit them, I’m perceived as stand-offish or stuck up because I mind my own business. None of us are wrong, just different, and eventually adapt to the new environment’s rules of behaviour. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/restaurant-patron-hey-whats-that/315877.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/restaurant-patron-hey-whats-that/315877.md?page=3)