# Why do you insist on making rude, unsolicited comments on my lunch? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 18, 2010, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-insist-on-making-rude-unsolicited-comments-on-my-lunch/554196 "2010-09-18T17:04:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2010, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-insist-on-making-rude-unsolicited-comments-on-my-lunch/554196/41 "2010-09-20T18:52:56Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > “Yogurt?!?! Are you aware that’s a dairy product? I don’t eat dairy products anymore. My neighbor is a dairy farmer, but he’s one of the good ones. But he has told me stories about some of the practices of \*other \*dairy farmers. You see, when a cow’s teats are infected, they should not be milked; their milk is contaminated with puss and bacteria. But many farmers go ahead and milk them anyway, and no one will know since all the farmers’ milk gets mixed together in the same truck. So it’s likely your yogurt contains milk from cows with infected teats.” Wide-eyed innocence: “Wow, that sounds like something I should be talking to a nutritionist about instead of you.” > [@movingfinger](#): > > My late uncle enjoyed milktoast, which is just buttered toast in a bowl with warm milk poured over it. His name for it was “graveyard stew”. That’s old diner slang. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Kumquat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4491bb/32.png) [@Gary\_Kumquat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Kumquat)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2010, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-insist-on-making-rude-unsolicited-comments-on-my-lunch/554196/42 "2010-09-20T19:22:19Z")
> [@Kal](#): > > > [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > > > Why do people insist on making rude comments about my choice of food for lunch? > > Easy: > > > [@](#): > > > > Fuck off and go eat your own damn lunch. > > You don’t say this bit - or at least the first two words - out loud when they do. That’s out of order. It should be “fuck off and go eat your own damned lunch”. Alternatively, give them a benchmark for their future judgement. Eat durian fruit at their desk for a few days, then see how they feel about turket and yoghurt. Everything is relative. ---
**Author:** ![carnut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnut/32/3531_2.png) [@carnut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnut)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2010, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-insist-on-making-rude-unsolicited-comments-on-my-lunch/554196/43 "2010-09-20T20:24:05Z")
Politely say that you’d be happy to eat something else if they’d be willing to pay for your lunch at Morton’s Steak House. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2010, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-insist-on-making-rude-unsolicited-comments-on-my-lunch/554196/44 "2010-09-20T21:03:21Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > > [@johnpost](#): > > > > watch what they eat for a few days. then bring in exactly what they have been eating. if you are a light eater just don’t bring that much. > > Why would anyone have to do this? Why would anyone feel the need to do this in order to avoid stupid and unnecessary comments by others? > > WTF? I think the idea is that they’d still make stuipid and unnecessary comments… ---
**Author:** ![Shot\_From\_Guns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@Shot\_From\_Guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_From_Guns)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2010, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-insist-on-making-rude-unsolicited-comments-on-my-lunch/554196/45 "2010-09-20T21:38:24Z")
The etiquette-approved response to this kind of rudeness is a (chilly if you prefer) “Excuse me?” or “I’m sorry?” The implication being that what just came out of their mouth was so inappropriate that you \*must \*have mishead them. > [@elucidator](#): > > Hitler was a vegetarian. That’s debateable. (And I do mean debateable rather than just using it as a euphemistic way of saying you’re wrong). ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2010, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-insist-on-making-rude-unsolicited-comments-on-my-lunch/554196/46 "2010-09-20T22:22:11Z")
You should also have pointed out to the moron that yogurt is SUPPOSED to have bacteria. (The good kind) ---
**Author:** ![Cyningablod](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc29f/32.png) [@Cyningablod](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyningablod)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2010, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-insist-on-making-rude-unsolicited-comments-on-my-lunch/554196/47 "2010-09-20T22:33:47Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > I get comments on my food, too, and I hate it. I hate even being asked what I am eating - the only time I don’t mind is when it’s “ooo, that smells good, what is it?” But I get asked just because. “What do you have today?” just to make conversation? This. I DESPISE people interrogating me about my food, pretty much regardless of their tone or intent. OK, so “What are you eating?” is not _interrogation_, but for some reason to me, my food is a pretty personal thing. It just feels to me that my choice of food is a very private matter, and it always make me uncomfortable when people stare at my lunch and make comments on it. So most of the time, I eat in my (very private) office, or away from work altogether. The other night at the grocery store, I was buying some kiddie-type pre-fab lunch kits…you know, the kind with crackers and cheese and slices of ham or turkey, and a Capri-Sun (they’re for my daughter, who’s in 1st-grade). The cashier says, “Ooh, these looks weird. Are they any good?” I was mortified. Why are you analyzing my goddamn grocery choices?? Scan 'em, bag 'em, and leave me alone. :mad: ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2010, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-insist-on-making-rude-unsolicited-comments-on-my-lunch/554196/48 "2010-09-20T23:25:45Z")
> [@Cyningablod (bolding added)](#): > > The cashier says, “Ooh, these looks weird. **Are they any good?** ” What a dumb question. No, they suck, that’s why I’m buying them. :rolleyes: ---
**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:** [September 20, 2010, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-insist-on-making-rude-unsolicited-comments-on-my-lunch/554196/49 "2010-09-20T23:31:24Z")
> [@carnut](#): > > Politely say that you’d be happy to eat something else if they’d be willing to pay for your lunch at Morton’s Steak House. The wise-ass in me would be tempted to go down a similar road; “Yeah, why the hell did you buy such weird food for me to eat? Oh, you didn’t buy this food? Then I’m a little confused why you think you have an opinion on it.” ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2010, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-insist-on-making-rude-unsolicited-comments-on-my-lunch/554196/50 "2010-09-21T01:00:35Z")
> [@Cyningablod](#): > > The other night at the grocery store, I was buying some kiddie-type pre-fab lunch kits…you know, the kind with crackers and cheese and slices of ham or turkey, and a Capri-Sun (they’re for my daughter, who’s in 1st-grade). The cashier says, “Ooh, these looks weird. Are they any good?” I was mortified. Why are you analyzing my goddamn grocery choices?? Scan 'em, bag 'em, and leave me alone. :mad: Oh, if you want adventures in people analysing and commenting on your groceries trying buying them with food stamps. Hooo-wee! Such nosey busy-bodies, judgmental as hell, and if you protest - WELL! You’re welfare scum and there for them to criticize and shame because, dammit, _you’re poor and you deserve to suffer!_ ---
**Author:** ![dzero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5f9b8f/32.png) [@dzero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dzero)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2010, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-insist-on-making-rude-unsolicited-comments-on-my-lunch/554196/51 "2010-09-21T01:23:24Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > Oh, if you want adventures in people analysing and commenting on your groceries trying buying them with food stamps. Hooo-wee! Such nosey busy-bodies, judgmental as hell, and if you protest - WELL! You’re welfare scum and there for them to criticize and shame because, dammit, _you’re poor and you deserve to suffer!_ That sucks. I think here in NJ we give people cards - like an atm card. I supposed it’s readily identifiable but IDK. I think people around here are a lot more tolerant though. A bunch of rude, impatient cock-suckers, but somewhat tolerant. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2010, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-insist-on-making-rude-unsolicited-comments-on-my-lunch/554196/52 "2010-09-21T20:50:53Z")
I’ve worked (and work again, now) with people who are just like this, and I’m taking copious notes on the well-phrased comebacks. (The Other Shoe and I are both light eaters, and I could publish an entire book of the stupid shit people have said to us at mealtimes.) People, seriously: get your nose out of my food. I’ve noticed that depending on what time of day people catch me, my nosy-ass co-workers get waaay skewed perspectives on me. Catch me at lunchtime eating some broth with quinoa, and you’ll think I’m a vegan health nut. Catch me midafternoon with a bag of FunYuns on my desk, and you’ll think I’m a lardass in the making with no education and an inability to read food labels. The truth is, I’m neither of those. So quit with the judgemental crap, m’kay? ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2010, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-insist-on-making-rude-unsolicited-comments-on-my-lunch/554196/53 "2010-09-21T20:55:53Z")
> [@Shot\_From\_Guns](#): > > The etiquette-approved response to this kind of rudeness is a (chilly if you prefer) “Excuse me?” or “I’m sorry?” The implication being that what just came out of their mouth was so inappropriate that you \*must \*have mishead them. The better response is to say nothing, and next time do that “eating-live-monkey-brains” trick for lunch. They will never question your choice of cold cuts again. Hell, it worked for _me_. ---
**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:** [September 22, 2010, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-insist-on-making-rude-unsolicited-comments-on-my-lunch/554196/54 "2010-09-22T00:44:55Z")
> [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > I’ve worked (and work again, now) with people who are just like this, and I’m taking copious notes on the well-phrased comebacks. (The Other Shoe and I are both light eaters, and I could publish an entire book of the stupid shit people have said to us at mealtimes.) People, seriously: get your nose out of my food. > I’ve noticed that depending on what time of day people catch me, my nosy-ass co-workers get waaay skewed perspectives on me. Catch me at lunchtime eating some broth with quinoa, and you’ll think I’m a vegan health nut. Catch me midafternoon with a bag of FunYuns on my desk, and you’ll think I’m a lardass in the making with no education and an inability to read food labels. > > The truth is, I’m neither of those. So quit with the judgemental crap, m’kay? Quoted for truth. It is unlikely that anyone can make an accurate judgement on someone else’s eating habits by watching them at work, and for the love of all that’s holy, I wish people would quit trying. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2010, 11:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-insist-on-making-rude-unsolicited-comments-on-my-lunch/554196/55 "2010-09-22T11:01:01Z")
> [@dzero](#): > > > [@Broomstick](#): > > > > Oh, if you want adventures in people analysing and commenting on your groceries trying buying them with food stamps. Hooo-wee! Such nosey busy-bodies, judgmental as hell, and if you protest - WELL! You’re welfare scum and there for them to criticize and shame because, dammit, _you’re poor and you deserve to suffer!_ > > That sucks. I think here in NJ we give people cards - like an atm card. I supposed it’s readily identifiable but IDK. I think people around here are a lot more tolerant though. A bunch of rude, impatient cock-suckers, but somewhat tolerant. Everyone uses the plastic cards for “food stamps” these days (technically, it’s an “EBT” card). Yes, they are identifiable if you are at all familiar with them. Actually, most people don’t give a damn how you pay for your groceries but it only takes one asshole to ruin your day out shopping. ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2010, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-insist-on-making-rude-unsolicited-comments-on-my-lunch/554196/56 "2010-09-22T14:26:49Z")
I was eating a lovely pigs trotter in my office one day when someone came in and sniffed and said (in a loud voice) “Who’s eating dogshit?” I was hurt. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2010, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-insist-on-making-rude-unsolicited-comments-on-my-lunch/554196/57 "2010-09-22T14:33:47Z")
I just want my ten minutes to eat, without badgering from anyone. Yes, I eat at my desk, but I don’t have an office where I can shut my door, and if I go in the conference room, it’s open season. I make every indication I can that I just want to be left alone for a few minutes. Worse yet is this one girl who used to work here who used to negatively comment on my food. Tofu was the worst! People like this just don’t listen. They say, “tofu tastes gross!”. And I said, “How did you have it?” And she said, “Boiled.” Or “Steamed”. I say, well, tofu soaks up the sauces of whatever you cook it in. You can lightly fry it or soak it in a cream sauce or a wine sauce and it’s sort of like mushrooms, it’s spongy; it is all about the texture. And they say, “But tofu tastes gross!” And then I smack them over the head with the tofu. \*In my mind. \* The best ones are the ones who say they’ve never even eaten the stuff. And of course the sushi/sashimi stuff really gets me. “You’re eating raw fish!” “No, sushi doesn’t necessarily have to have raw fish, it’s just a preparation style and I certainly don’t obey any ‘sushi rules’; I eat it however I want, and this has no raw fish in it at all.” “I could never eat raw fish.” GO TO HELL AND DIE. ---
**Author:** ![otternell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecc23a/32.png) [@otternell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/otternell)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2010, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-insist-on-making-rude-unsolicited-comments-on-my-lunch/554196/58 "2010-09-22T15:01:08Z")
[hijack] I am so glad the IT guys where I work talked me into going to have sushi with them for lunch one day. I was the ignorant fool that thought all sushi involved something raw and that it would be yucky. They pushed and pushed and I finally caved, and damn that stuff can really be good! Sorry for the hijack. [/hijack] ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2010, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-insist-on-making-rude-unsolicited-comments-on-my-lunch/554196/59 "2010-09-22T15:23:26Z")
Let me be clear. I have few if any substantial regrets about the years I spent within the tie-dyed and stoned community, there were things that needed doing, things that needed saying, and however ineptly, we at least tried. But I will never, ever again eat another grain of brown rice so long as I live, so help me Goddess! And okra! Okra is proof positive that vegetables should not have fur, it is an abomination. Sure, bread it and deep-fry it, its tasty, but you can batter and deep fry a cow patty and it would likely be tasty! And when I take over, anybody who offers licorice to a child as candy will be charged with abuse. And publicly skinned. ---
**Author:** ![rockle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/73ab20/32.png) [@rockle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rockle)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2010, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-insist-on-making-rude-unsolicited-comments-on-my-lunch/554196/60 "2010-09-22T15:50:02Z")
Dieters and new vegetarians are the WORST, because they love telling you everything that is wrong with what you are eating, and how fucking SUPER they are as people because they’ve changed their ways. Makes me stabby. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-insist-on-making-rude-unsolicited-comments-on-my-lunch/554196.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-insist-on-making-rude-unsolicited-comments-on-my-lunch/554196.md?page=4)