Society's unwritten rules.

Originally Posted by Antignition

Couple months back, I was ordering my food (obviously at a restaurant) and got funny looks from everyone at the table and the waiter because I didn't let the ladies order first...first time in 18 years I've ever heard that unwritten rule. Next time I waited for my sister to order and got yelled at by my folks to hurry up and order my food.

Then I figured out this method of actually *waiting* for the waiter to look at you, and I haven't had any problems.

You're supposed to let ladies order first, walk through doors first, etc. You're also supposed to give up your seat to a lady in a crowded waiting room or train. Didn't your parents teach you any manners?

I have only one thing to say in this thread: ELEVATOR ETIQUETTE. When did it become OK to stand with your back toward the elevator doors or strike up a conversation with complete strangers in an elevator? Will is right - somebody needs to write these rules down somewhere.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Maybe it's a southern US thing, but you two would never get a second date with any of the girls I know.

How ya doing, buddy?

Anytime I shake hands, which is very rarely, I find myself giving the two-hand handshake. Basically, if I like you enough to touch you, I'm going to either hug you, grab both of your hands with my hands, or grab one hand with both of my hands. I don't shake it, though. I just sort of hold it...I think.

I do HATE it when men (Army guys in particular seem to do this a lot) find it necessary to squeeze the everloving shit out of my hand. Look, fucktard. I'm not a guy. You don't have to assert your dominance over me by breaking every bone in my hand.

How ya doing, buddy?

I think some girls would get mad about a man offering his seat to her or holding a door for her. Sass, for example, would probably deck you. But I think most wouldn't, and isn't it best to err on the side of politeness?

I hate to think that chivalry is dead. I'm now officially on a quest to bring chivalry back one GFF member at a time.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

That's the same thing as insulting it. When someone cooks for you, do NOT give them any "constructive criticism" or suggest how they might do it differently next time.

Food is a very delicate issue. Some people I know take offense if you even add salt to your food when you're eating it. The best thing you can do is to just tell the person who cooked it that it's delicious and eat it.

I was speaking idiomatically.

I agree with a lot of the points made here, but coming from an ex-server's perspective, I do think that a percentage of your bill is fair. It's like comparing a garbage man to a neurosurgeon. The neurosurgeon should make a lot more money because he is a more skilled worker. His employment status is a lot higher than that of a garbage man. The same is true of servers. In restaurants where a meal for one person costs $30-$40, for example, you can bet those servers are the best that can be found in that area. They've been in the business longer, have more expertise, and are generally of a higher calibre than the servers at Denny's. It makes sense to me.

About the drink glass thing. I used to work at Outback Steakhouse and it was a rule that if a patron's glass was half-empty, we were to bring that patron another glass of whatever it was he was drinking WITHOUT ASKING. You just do it.

Avalokiteshvara, I am with you 100% about overly-attentive servers. It's rude and inappropriate. I don't want to hear your life story; nor did I come to your restaurant to be entertained by you. Just be polite and do your damn job.

Brent and Zio, I hate you both.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

But even if they fail to keep your drink refilled (and I agree that this is unacceptable), it's not like they've done nothing for you. Just don't tip them as much. And damn it, there's no excuse for someone to require 10 drink refills during the course of one meal. I have waited on people whose glass is literally impossible to keep refilled. I had other tables, too, and filling someone's drink every five or ten minutes was just impossible.

FELIPE NO

Could or couldn't? I'm confused.

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

"Couldn't care less" means that a person could not possibly care any less than he already does. "Could care less" means there's still some room to care more. Get it?

Anyway, I appreciate it when someone corrects me, as long as they're not an ass about it. I don't like for anyone to perceive me as an idiot, and the fewer grammar mistakes I make the less likely it is that someone will think I'm stupid.

Jam it back in, in the dark.