# Single person stereotype - eating supper over the sink **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 26, 2005, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/single-person-stereotype-eating-supper-over-the-sink/301219 "2005-04-26T19:18:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2005, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/single-person-stereotype-eating-supper-over-the-sink/301219/1 "2005-04-26T19:18:10Z")
šŸ˜• Does anyone, other than TV or book characters, actually do this? I know loads of single and/or divorced people, male and female, of various ages and backgrounds. None of them do this. No one Iā€™ve talked to about it even knows of anyone else who does this. Where did this image come from? Also, exactly what is it supposed to portray? Sloth? Lonliness? Lack of couth? Depression? This stereotype has always left my ox flummed. ---
**Author:** ![lno](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a8b319/32.png) [@lno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lno)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2005, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/single-person-stereotype-eating-supper-over-the-sink/301219/2 "2005-04-26T19:29:52Z")
I will neither confirm nor deny the possibility that in my bachelor past, I may have been known to eat Hamburger Helper directly from the skillet, using the wooden spoon used for stirring, over the sink so I could rinse the skillet and spoon off immediately and not a few days later when the leftover sauce had dried. Actually, no, hell with it, I _will_ deny it. Nobody saw me do it. You canā€™t prove anything. ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2005, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/single-person-stereotype-eating-supper-over-the-sink/301219/3 "2005-04-26T19:35:48Z")
My husband will do this from time to time - or, I should say, attempt to do it until I tell him to go sit down. I think he just canā€™t wait any longer for the food to hit his mouth - walking to a chair would take too long :). ---
**Author:** ![xbuckeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9e8a1a/32.png) [@xbuckeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xbuckeye)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2005, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/single-person-stereotype-eating-supper-over-the-sink/301219/4 "2005-04-26T19:37:49Z")
my mother does this and she is married. I, however, would rather recline on my sofa watching TV while eating Hamburger Helper out of a skillet with the wooden spoon I cooked it with. My apartment isnā€™t that bigā€¦Iā€™ll walk it to the sink when I am done since I am headed to the refrigeā€™ for a frosty beverage soon anyway. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2005, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/single-person-stereotype-eating-supper-over-the-sink/301219/5 "2005-04-26T19:37:57Z")
Donā€™t know if Iā€™ve ever eaten over the sinkā€¦but back in my bachelor days, I remember my room-mate and I more than once eating a pot of moose chili over the stove. Just reach in with a big Frito, scoop up some of that spicy\* goodness, and munch. šŸ˜ƒ \*Spicy - that characteristic in well-made chili that makes your eyes bleed, or bubbles the paint on the exhaust hood of the stove. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2005, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/single-person-stereotype-eating-supper-over-the-sink/301219/6 "2005-04-26T19:51:53Z")
Never did it, though sometimes I eat my breakfast over the sink, to catch the butter dripping from the English muffin. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2005, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/single-person-stereotype-eating-supper-over-the-sink/301219/7 "2005-04-26T19:55:16Z")
I canā€™t even understand this. How far away is a table!? Canā€™t you use paper plates? Anything? Obviously Iā€™ve never eaten anything over a sink. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2005, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/single-person-stereotype-eating-supper-over-the-sink/301219/8 "2005-04-26T19:59:31Z")
Ate at the table for years at the behest of my woman. I have a nice dining room set now (for when I have the kids, company, etc.) all oak, comfy chairs, very nice. When Iā€™m alone meals are 5 minutes max because I have nobody to chat with when Iā€™m eating. My left elbow is on the counter & touches the rim of the sink & the dishwasher is at my tummy. For special occasions I can look straight ahead through my living room & patio doors and enjoy the scenery outside. Bliss. Food goes in me, I turn & rinse the plate & step back & shove it in the dishwasher and I go about my business. ---
**Author:** ![Dignan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f07891/32.png) [@Dignan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dignan)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2005, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/single-person-stereotype-eating-supper-over-the-sink/301219/9 "2005-04-26T20:00:15Z")
Hey, I donā€™t think Iā€™ve ever heard of this stereotype before, but it sounds like a good idea to me! ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2005, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/single-person-stereotype-eating-supper-over-the-sink/301219/10 "2005-04-26T20:00:34Z")
That is the only way to eat a mango. On a related note, in a column on eating ice cream, ā€œMiss Manners will not give the polite way to eat ice cream out of the carton with a wooden mxing spoon while standing in front of the freezer because she does not believe anyone does this.ā€ ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2005, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/single-person-stereotype-eating-supper-over-the-sink/301219/11 "2005-04-26T20:04:55Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > That is the only way to eat a mango. > > ." No way. The only way to eat a mango is to put it on a plate, slice it up, sit down on your couch or on the balcony, and relax and enjoy. How can you enjoy something if you canā€™t even leave your kitchem??? ---
**Author:** ![Uncommon\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Uncommon\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncommon_Sense)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2005, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/single-person-stereotype-eating-supper-over-the-sink/301219/12 "2005-04-26T20:06:11Z")
> [@NoClueBoy](#): > > Where did this image come from? Also, exactly what is it supposed to portray? What it portrays is that youā€™re late to meet the guys at the bar, and you forgot that you were supposed to shower first, gas up the car and pick up your best friend. Ten minutes ago. Overslept nap-time. Iā€™ve done it before, but only when I was the only person in the room and in a hurry. Especially if the food is messy, you can run the water and hose yourself off without getting up. **Annie** said, ā€”On a related note, in a column on eating ice cream, ā€œMiss Manners will not give the polite way to eat ice cream out of the carton with a wooden mxing spoon while standing in front of the freezer because she does not believe anyone does this.ā€ā€” You should first put the icecream in the microwave for about 25 seconds if you want to speed things up even more. Also, you donā€™t break as many wooden spoons this way. ---
**Author:** ![Uncommon\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Uncommon\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncommon_Sense)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2005, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/single-person-stereotype-eating-supper-over-the-sink/301219/13 "2005-04-26T20:09:37Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > No way. The only way to eat a mango is to put it on a plate, slice it up, sit down on your couch or on the balcony, and relax and enjoy. > > How can you enjoy something if you canā€™t even leave your kitchem??? Ever have Kitchen Sex? Are Mangos the ones at the store that look like deflated miniature basketballs? If not then what the hell are those things? ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2005, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/single-person-stereotype-eating-supper-over-the-sink/301219/14 "2005-04-26T20:17:11Z")
A _true_ single person canā€™t eat dinner over the sink, because the odour from the dirty dishes is too unpleasant for them to be able to. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2005, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/single-person-stereotype-eating-supper-over-the-sink/301219/15 "2005-04-26T20:21:21Z")
Have done, and do occasionally. > [@Anaamika](#): > > I canā€™t even understand this. How far away is a table!? Canā€™t you use paper plates? Anything? > > Obviously Iā€™ve never eaten anything over a sink. Heh. Itā€™s a guy thing. You wouldnā€™t understand. šŸ˜‰šŸ˜› Oh ā€“ What is this ā€˜tableā€™ of which you speak? šŸ˜• ---
**Author:** ![lizardling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f4b2a3/32.png) [@lizardling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lizardling)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2005, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/single-person-stereotype-eating-supper-over-the-sink/301219/16 "2005-04-26T20:21:36Z")
> [@Uncommon Sense](#): > > Ever have Kitchen Sex? > Are Mangos the ones at the store that look like deflated miniature basketballs? > If not then what the hell are those things? [clicky](http://www.hort.cornell.edu/4hplants/Fruits/Mango.html) here. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2005, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/single-person-stereotype-eating-supper-over-the-sink/301219/17 "2005-04-26T20:23:26Z")
> [@Uncommon Sense](#): > > Ever have Kitchen Sex? > Are Mangos the ones at the store that look like deflated miniature basketballs? > If not then what the hell are those things? I think youā€™re thinging of the Ugli Fruit. A cross between a grapefruit and a tangerine. Damn good. Mangos look like big kidneys with shiny green/yellow skin. They are bright orange underneath, sweet, good, and very, very juicy. Hence the kitchen sink remark. They also have a flat pit the size of a human liver. ---
**Author:** ![Tabby\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Tabby\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tabby_Cat)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2005, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/single-person-stereotype-eating-supper-over-the-sink/301219/18 "2005-04-26T20:24:36Z")
I do serve food directly in the pan because itā€™s a bit wasteful to have to clean another plate just for servingā€¦ but when itā€™s only me eating, I donā€™t need no steeking pan. šŸ˜ƒ Bachelor tip for the day - when making oven meals, line the pan with aluminium foil. When food is done, get a big bowl, lift up the foil with the food in it and set it down in the bowl. Try not to tear the foil when eating. When done, wrap up the remainders and throw away the foil. Tada! No washing of either pan or bowl. Only need to wash spoon or fork if used, or hands if not. šŸ˜ƒ ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2005, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/single-person-stereotype-eating-supper-over-the-sink/301219/19 "2005-04-26T20:26:55Z")
> [@Tabby\_Cat](#): > > Bachelor tip for the day - when making oven meals, line the pan with aluminium foil. Or just make a ā€˜panā€™ out of the aluminium foil. Then you just toss the whole thing when youā€™re done. (Mmmmmā€¦ Teriyaki salmon tonight!) ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2005, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/single-person-stereotype-eating-supper-over-the-sink/301219/20 "2005-04-26T20:29:12Z")
Well if I cook with all my aluminum foil, whatā€™ll I make my hats out of? Oh waitā€¦I wonder how well dried teriyaki sauce helps with scalar diffusion. Hmmmā€¦ [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/single-person-stereotype-eating-supper-over-the-sink/301219.md?page=2)