# Why do I get snarky comments for buying breakfast at work? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 8, 2012, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-get-snarky-comments-for-buying-breakfast-at-work/640355 "2012-11-08T14:55:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2012, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-get-snarky-comments-for-buying-breakfast-at-work/640355/41 "2012-11-09T00:41:51Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > If you smashed the omelet into the dude’s face and said, “now look who has egg on his face”, I’ll bet that would stop the comments. > [@Agent\_Foxtrot](#): > > “That’s a pretty big omelet you’ve got there.” Turn and give the person a big wolfs grin “All the better to kill you with, my dear!” Then turn and walk away. Wait for the inevitable complaint. _“He threatened to kill me!”_ “With an Omelet?” :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2012, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-get-snarky-comments-for-buying-breakfast-at-work/640355/42 "2012-11-09T00:43:09Z")
If we just carry that picture of **araminty** through the office, does that count? (I used to eat breakfast at my desk all the time. Didn’t give a shit what people said – I just hated when people would interrupt me while I was eating.) ---
**Author:** ![mo50](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@mo50](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mo50)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2012, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-get-snarky-comments-for-buying-breakfast-at-work/640355/43 "2012-11-09T00:43:31Z")
I’m the same, I get touchy when people comment on my food for some bizarre reason. I think maybe because my dads always struggled with food and his weight, so it seems to bother me inordinately. I’d probably try to get breakfast over before work starts or eat in the cafeteria. Whatever convenience you’re getting by eating while working seems to be outweighed by the discomfort. Probably not the courageous solution, I know, and certainly not was much fun as the armadillo or shoving it in their face, but my two cents! ---
**Author:** ![tomcar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tomcar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomcar)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2012, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-get-snarky-comments-for-buying-breakfast-at-work/640355/44 "2012-11-09T02:02:56Z")
I think they are jealous. They have convinced themselves they shouldnt eat big breakfasts, but they want to. They are lusting after your food. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2012, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-get-snarky-comments-for-buying-breakfast-at-work/640355/45 "2012-11-09T02:11:13Z")
> [@araminty](#): > > Here’s me [carrying an armadillo](http://tinypic.com/r/2h50cif/6) just outside my office. Of course, my office is zoo education… Cute. The armadillo ain’t bad either. 😉 ---
**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:** [November 9, 2012, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-get-snarky-comments-for-buying-breakfast-at-work/640355/46 "2012-11-09T02:17:31Z")
Big omelet - what the hell, anyway? You could do a lot worse for breakfast than a big veggie omelet. I’m always stunned by the threads on people making negative comments on other people’s food - how can it possibly affect YOU that **Agent Foxtrot** is having a big omelet for breakfast? Does he get wicked egg farts or something? About the only time I support negatively commenting on other people’s food is to beat someone with their lunch when they heat up fish in the community microwave. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2012, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-get-snarky-comments-for-buying-breakfast-at-work/640355/47 "2012-11-09T02:20:37Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > heat up fish in the community microwave. Oh oh… ---
**Author:** ![OleOneEye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/f14d63/32.png) [@OleOneEye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OleOneEye)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2012, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-get-snarky-comments-for-buying-breakfast-at-work/640355/48 "2012-11-09T02:22:48Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > Oh, why people make snarky comments - because they are assholes who can’t mind their own business. Unless you’re not working as much as other people because of the eating or **smelling up the office** , it’s none of their business how big your **omelet** is. Eggs stink and their sulfurous stench carries well. I’d be pissed off if I had to work with someone who brought in eggs regularly. In my last office job, one lady brought in an improbably large plate of boiled egg whites. Her cubicle smelled like ass well into the afternoon. ---
**Author:** ![OleOneEye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/f14d63/32.png) [@OleOneEye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OleOneEye)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2012, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-get-snarky-comments-for-buying-breakfast-at-work/640355/49 "2012-11-09T02:23:55Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > Does he get wicked egg farts or something? Redundant - eggs smell like farts all on their own. ---
**Author:** ![Arrendajo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Arrendajo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arrendajo)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2012, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-get-snarky-comments-for-buying-breakfast-at-work/640355/50 "2012-11-09T02:27:48Z")
I am not able to eat at my work station and do work at the same time because usually my work involves my hands and/or my mouth. So they’re occupied. Also do not eat at my work station because I don’t want my work station smelling like food and I don’t want crumbs and grease and sticky shit on my keyboard or desk or papers and books. YMMV. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2012, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-get-snarky-comments-for-buying-breakfast-at-work/640355/51 "2012-11-09T02:47:51Z")
> [@Agent\_Foxtrot](#): > > Every time, they’ve pointed out the food in my hand, with the condescending tone of, “Ohhh, what do you have there? Breakfast, huh? Nice. That’s a pretty big omelet you’ve got there.” > > What are they trying to say? It gives me the feeling that they’re relaying, “The rest of us don’t have time for breakfast. You shouldn’t get to eat either,” or “No one around here eats breakfast at work. Why are you being different?” Cheerfully invite them to pop down to the cafeteria with you next time. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Surb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ce73a5/32.png) [@The\_Surb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Surb)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2012, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-get-snarky-comments-for-buying-breakfast-at-work/640355/52 "2012-11-09T03:13:11Z")
> [@araminty](#): > > Here’s me [carrying an armadillo](http://tinypic.com/r/2h50cif/6) just outside my office. Of course, my office is zoo education… You gonna eat that? ---
**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:** [November 9, 2012, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-get-snarky-comments-for-buying-breakfast-at-work/640355/53 "2012-11-09T03:44:01Z")
> [@The\_Surb](#): > > You gonna eat that? Heh - that reminded me of the armadillo cake scene from “Steel Magnolias.” 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Fubaya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@Fubaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fubaya)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2012, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-get-snarky-comments-for-buying-breakfast-at-work/640355/54 "2012-11-09T04:41:46Z")
Looks like I came late. I guess _some_ people don’t get to eat breakfast and post at the SDMB all day at work. Seriously, it sounds like they’re joking about wanting your food to me too. For some reason people think that is the funniest thing on earth, but they just set themselves up to have the tables turned on them. When I bring breakfast into work I get people saying “Cool, breakfast. What’d you get me?” My reply is always “Same thing I got you yesterday.” (which was nothing) Or if they say “Thanks, just sit that on my desk.” I do. I take out the food and put the empty bag on their desk. After one guy started having his hopes crushed when he picked up the bag and felt it was empty, I started putting things in it to add weight and get his hopes up even more. A couple of days ago I had breakfast in my car and as I walked in I passed someone who said “Thanks, I’ll take that!” I kinda looked at it and said “Ya know, I think I’m full anyway. Here, enjoy.” and I handed them my bag of trash and walked off. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2012, 6:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-get-snarky-comments-for-buying-breakfast-at-work/640355/55 "2012-11-09T06:54:35Z")
> [@steronz](#): > > In my government jobs, the understanding is that you show up for work ready to work. That generally includes having breakfast in your belly and coffee in-hand. There’s always the guy who shows up at 7:30 along with everyone else and then wants to walk down the street to grab something to eat (10 minutes), stand around bullshitting (10 minutes), and then sit down and eat while enjoying his coffee (10 minutes). That guy just got out of 30 minutes of work. Does he stay late to make up for it? Hah! > > Taking a half dozen smoke breaks every day is starting to get the same reaction. > > Meanwhile, in the private sector, people roll in at 9, go grab coffee and breakfast, get serious about work around 11 and then stay till 8 at night. So every office is different. > > That’s my take, at least. > [@LionelHutz405](#): > > Maybe they are being snarky about you having your meal during work hours and they had breakfast at home on their own time. This might be it. I’ve worked with enough people who seem to think that office hours are meant to be used for private business first, and only after all meals are eaten, personal emails and phone calls made, and personal errands are run, that’s when they might start thinking about actually doing the job they were hired for. And I’ve worked with a lot of smokers who seemed to think that smoke breaks should not count as breaks at all. One woman who sticks in my mind is the one who would tell me that she was getting a cigarette when she saw a lot of customers wanting to be rung up, even though I had my hands full working in the deli. I finally had to tell the manager that I just couldn’t work with her any more, unless I was only working the register, because this bitch kept taking smoke breaks and I’d have to deal with trying to run the register AND get all the deli work as well. When the manager put me on the register, and her on the deli, guess what? The deli work didn’t get done, because Smoking Bitch kept taking her breaks. If you’re eating at your desk on a break, that’s fine, as long as it’s not stinky. But if you’re slacking off, then your co-workers might very well be pissed at having to pick up the slack. ---
**Author:** ![anya\_marie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ebca7d/32.png) [@anya\_marie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anya_marie)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2012, 8:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-get-snarky-comments-for-buying-breakfast-at-work/640355/56 "2012-11-09T08:46:39Z")
I’ve been on the receiving end of some of this, having had the nerve to pack and bring lunch while working midnights. I brought dinner leftovers most of the time, and did not bring many sandwiches. I would get soda pop and pour them into a cup with ice, because that is how I like my drinks, icy cold more often than not. It was astonishing to some people how I could feed myself and not have to run out and buy something, or have to subsist on junk food from vending machines, and I have NO idea why that is. Shouldn’t most young people be able to cook for themselves, know how to pack lunch for work and be able to do their laundry? Because I also encountered something like this at the laundromat, it was amazing that I would want to use the laundromat. I still don’t get what the fuck goes through some people’s skulls, sometimes. ---
**Author:** ![Mona\_Lisa\_Simpson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ce7236/32.png) [@Mona\_Lisa\_Simpson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mona_Lisa_Simpson)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2012, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-get-snarky-comments-for-buying-breakfast-at-work/640355/57 "2012-11-09T13:46:45Z")
> [@steronz](#): > > In my government jobs, the understanding is that you show up for work ready to work. That generally includes having breakfast in your belly and coffee in-hand. There’s always the guy who shows up at 7:30 along with everyone else and then wants to walk down the street to grab something to eat (10 minutes), stand around bullshitting (10 minutes), and then sit down and eat while enjoying his coffee (10 minutes). That guy just got out of 30 minutes of work. Does he stay late to make up for it? Hah! > > Taking a half dozen smoke breaks every day is starting to get the same reaction. > > Meanwhile, in the private sector, people roll in at 9, go grab coffee and breakfast, get serious about work around 11 and then stay till 8 at night. So every office is different. > > That’s my take, at least. I wish I worked with more people like you. Well except the government/private sector things. I am a nurse. I like people who show up ready to work. I like people who show up 10 minutes early better, because the narcotics control count and the hand-off take time, but since no one can “enforce” coming early, that almost never happens. I had a co worker call my house and see if everything was ok, because I was 5 mintues late once. (Bad bus connections) I am generally always 20 minutes early. She thought a) staffing was completely wrong as usual, B) something terrible must have happened. ---
**Author:** ![Mona\_Lisa\_Simpson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ce7236/32.png) [@Mona\_Lisa\_Simpson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mona_Lisa_Simpson)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2012, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-get-snarky-comments-for-buying-breakfast-at-work/640355/58 "2012-11-09T14:15:28Z")
> [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > This might be it. I’ve worked with enough people who seem to think that office hours are meant to be used for private business first, and only after all meals are eaten, personal emails and phone calls made, and personal errands are run, that’s when they might start thinking about actually doing the job they were hired for. And I’ve worked with a lot of smokers who seemed to think that smoke breaks should not count as breaks at all. One woman who sticks in my mind is the one who would tell me that she was getting a cigarette when she saw a lot of customers wanting to be rung up, even though I had my hands full working in the deli. I finally had to tell the manager that I just couldn’t work with her any more, unless I was only working the register, because this bitch kept taking smoke breaks and I’d have to deal with trying to run the register AND get all the deli work as well. When the manager put me on the register, and her on the deli, guess what? The deli work didn’t get done, because Smoking Bitch kept taking her breaks. > > If you’re eating at your desk on a break, that’s fine, as long as it’s not stinky. But if you’re slacking off, then your co-workers might very well be pissed at having to pick up the slack. Actually, I wish I worked with Lynn. Although eating at the desk bugs me too. In a private office, well whatever works for you. Eating in a nursing station, ugh. Most of my co workers are pretty clean, but I’ve seen a doctor use a pen to check reflexes on a patients foot, come back and put it on the desk, where it migrated to the pen cup…yeah that’s where I want to eat my bagel. Then have some stray jam and crumbs end up in a chart… ugh. I am not a germaphobe. I just don’t think the whole world is my kitchen/dining room. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2012, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-get-snarky-comments-for-buying-breakfast-at-work/640355/59 "2012-11-09T14:58:51Z")
huh, breakfast @ work has been fairly common at most of the places I’ve worked. Where I am now, we run three shifts with the union trades’ first shift working from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m., the cafeterias open for breakfast to accommodate. The smaller offices I’ve worked at, it’s usually the people with kids who have breakfast at their desks since they usually didn’t have time to before leaving. never seen or heard anyone give it a second glance. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2012, 7:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-get-snarky-comments-for-buying-breakfast-at-work/640355/60 "2012-11-10T07:59:30Z")
> [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > If you’re eating at your desk on a break, that’s fine, as long as it’s not stinky. But if you’re slacking off, then your co-workers might very well be pissed at having to pick up the slack. The cafeteria exists at the job site. The cafeteria will serve food to the workers. Therefore you are allowed to eat said food. Workers wouldn’t be allowed to get food if that wasn’t the case. If you feel slighted because someone is taking advantage of a perquisite offered to them, especially one that you have too, you’re just jealous and have no legitimate complaint. Not that I think these people are complaining. It indeed is small talk. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-get-snarky-comments-for-buying-breakfast-at-work/640355.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-get-snarky-comments-for-buying-breakfast-at-work/640355.md?page=4)