# Why the 15 second rule at Argo Tea? Any thoughts on how to follow up? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 28, 2010, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-15-second-rule-at-argo-tea-any-thoughts-on-how-to-follow-up/534119 "2010-03-28T17:00:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2010, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-15-second-rule-at-argo-tea-any-thoughts-on-how-to-follow-up/534119/41 "2010-03-29T17:10:32Z")
> [@Biotop](#): > > You’ve never heard of Assama bin Laden, leader of Al Chaida? I declare a jihad on your punnery. ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2010, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-15-second-rule-at-argo-tea-any-thoughts-on-how-to-follow-up/534119/42 "2010-03-29T17:13:25Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > I thought Argo made corn starch. Knock knock. Who’s there? Argo. Argo? Argo who? Argo fuck yourself in the head. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2010, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-15-second-rule-at-argo-tea-any-thoughts-on-how-to-follow-up/534119/43 "2010-03-29T17:19:10Z")
Eye ham sofa king [REDACTED]. ---
**Author:** ![Marlitharn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/779978/32.png) [@Marlitharn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marlitharn)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2010, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-15-second-rule-at-argo-tea-any-thoughts-on-how-to-follow-up/534119/44 "2010-03-29T17:20:41Z")
> [@Biotop](#): > > You’ve never heard of Assama bin Laden, leader of Al Chaida? Puns are NOT kind! :mad: ---
**Author:** ![flickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7bcc69/32.png) [@flickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flickster)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2010, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-15-second-rule-at-argo-tea-any-thoughts-on-how-to-follow-up/534119/45 "2010-03-29T17:24:34Z")
> [@Chessic\_Sense](#): > > Hmm. Customer is getting yelled at for standing around and not ordering. Customer’s wife subsequently comes out _of the bathroom_. Gee, I wonder what the store could possibly be bitching about. Bingo, we have a winner I would gather that the shop has had an unpleasant history with freeloaders utilizing the restroom facilities without bothering to be paying customers. Said employee most likely interpreted your actions to fall within this category and took action (probably following management’s orders). so order some f’ing tea already… ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Excellent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f19dbf/32.png) [@Mr.Excellent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Excellent)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2010, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-15-second-rule-at-argo-tea-any-thoughts-on-how-to-follow-up/534119/46 "2010-03-29T17:25:55Z")
Bets on how long before we’re pitted for racially profiling the OP? ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Dave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/46a35a/32.png) [@Great\_Dave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Dave)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2010, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-15-second-rule-at-argo-tea-any-thoughts-on-how-to-follow-up/534119/47 "2010-03-29T17:42:55Z")
> [@flickster](#): > > Bingo, we have a winner > > I would gather that the shop has had an unpleasant history with freeloaders utilizing the restroom facilities without bothering to be paying customers. Said employee most likely interpreted your actions to fall within this category and took action (probably following management’s orders). > > so order some f’ing tea already… Or perhaps he was waiting for his wife to come out of the bathroom so they could order together? Or perhaps only she wanted tea, and he was just along for the ride? ---
**Author:** ![DianaG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ab992/32.png) [@DianaG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DianaG)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2010, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-15-second-rule-at-argo-tea-any-thoughts-on-how-to-follow-up/534119/48 "2010-03-29T17:49:56Z")
Then he shouldn’t be in line. ---
**Author:** ![Gfactor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@Gfactor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gfactor)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2010, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-15-second-rule-at-argo-tea-any-thoughts-on-how-to-follow-up/534119/49 "2010-03-29T18:02:44Z")
> [@Turek](#): > > Why bother? That’s a great question. The answer is [REDACTED]. And while we are on the subject, your mom said [REDACTED] while I was [REDACTED] her [REDACTED]. [REDACTED] you for asking! 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2010, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-15-second-rule-at-argo-tea-any-thoughts-on-how-to-follow-up/534119/50 "2010-03-29T18:09:55Z")
> [@Mr.Excellent](#): > > Bets on how long before we’re pitted for racially profiling the OP? There’s always been that stereotype that Armenian Kurds have the reputation of going into tea places and using the facilities without buying anything, but I just thought that was loose, racist talk. Maybe I was wrong to question the conventional wisdom. ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2010, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-15-second-rule-at-argo-tea-any-thoughts-on-how-to-follow-up/534119/51 "2010-03-29T18:15:17Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > I thought the 15 second rule for tea was when they spilled it on the floor and had 15 seconds to squeegee it back into your cup and still be able to serve it to you without undue fear of germs. I assumed they had a website with a required 15 second wait between searches. Which would be a horrifying abuse of their loyal customers. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2010, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-15-second-rule-at-argo-tea-any-thoughts-on-how-to-follow-up/534119/52 "2010-03-29T18:31:08Z")
No, wait! I think I’ve got it… it’s not the post, it’s the POSTER… simple letter substitution… ILION… IDION… ILIOT… dammit, I \*know \*we’re close! ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2010, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-15-second-rule-at-argo-tea-any-thoughts-on-how-to-follow-up/534119/53 "2010-03-29T18:37:13Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > No, wait! I think I’ve got it… it’s not the post, it’s the POSTER… simple letter substitution… ILION… IDION… ILIOT… dammit, I \*know \*we’re close! ANION? Dude, this is going nowhere. I give up. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Dave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/46a35a/32.png) [@Great\_Dave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Dave)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2010, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-15-second-rule-at-argo-tea-any-thoughts-on-how-to-follow-up/534119/54 "2010-03-29T19:15:21Z")
> [@DianaG](#): > > Then he shouldn’t be in line. Read the OP. The staff said he needed to get in line to order, or get out. ---
**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:** [March 29, 2010, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-15-second-rule-at-argo-tea-any-thoughts-on-how-to-follow-up/534119/55 "2010-03-29T19:38:41Z")
ALOITERER? I want a [REDACTED] custom title now, too. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2010, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-15-second-rule-at-argo-tea-any-thoughts-on-how-to-follow-up/534119/56 "2010-03-29T20:16:07Z")
Was he being Argomentive? Do they call their employees Argonauts? ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2010, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-15-second-rule-at-argo-tea-any-thoughts-on-how-to-follow-up/534119/57 "2010-03-29T20:30:26Z")
> [@tomndebb](#): > > In addition, it is quite possible that the thread will be closed or removed to a non-public forum if it appears that it is subject to libel laws. > > [/Modding] Just curious, but why would rant by a random person on a message board, even if using a real person’s name, be subject to libel laws? ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2010, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-15-second-rule-at-argo-tea-any-thoughts-on-how-to-follow-up/534119/58 "2010-03-29T21:43:46Z")
15 seconds is not sufficient for the yak butter to go rancid. I’d send a strongly-worded letter to corporate HQ; then they’ll be throat-singing a different tune. ---
**Author:** ![flickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7bcc69/32.png) [@flickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flickster)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2010, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-15-second-rule-at-argo-tea-any-thoughts-on-how-to-follow-up/534119/59 "2010-03-29T22:03:44Z")
I would suspect 15 seconds was an exaggeration, on the short side. Sounds like she had ample time to enter the restroom and for him to be noticed hanging around before the poo hit the fan. This is a case of prior deadbeats and cheap asses ruining it for everyone else. As I said before, they’ve obviously had an issue with a-holes abusing the restroom privileges which has placed the staff on high alert. Probably a combination of water bill and pain of cleaning up after said cheap-asses. The place is running a tea shop, but a public restroom. ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2010, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-15-second-rule-at-argo-tea-any-thoughts-on-how-to-follow-up/534119/60 "2010-03-29T22:12:56Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > Is there really a shop somewhere that calls the cops if you don’t order tea within fifteen seconds? You would not believe me if I told you how hard I laughed at this. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-15-second-rule-at-argo-tea-any-thoughts-on-how-to-follow-up/534119.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-15-second-rule-at-argo-tea-any-thoughts-on-how-to-follow-up/534119.md?page=4)