April 19, 2010

Modern Manners Monday: What Would YOU Do?

appetizer

You find yourself at a lovely cocktail party.

After fixing a plate from the delightful spread, you head over to a settee and take a seat for some people-watching.

In a few moments, a nice lady comes up and the two of you start to chat.

Though you're not done with your plate of small bites, you sit it on the coffee table in front of you.

The lady who you just met (and are not chatting up) starts grazing your bites.

What would you do?

20 comments:

  1. LOL, I'd do nothing and just find myself another lady to talk to!

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  2. Say: "I'm sorry, I wasn't finished eating, I just sat it down to listen to your delightful conversation. Why don't you keep that and let me go to table and get myself another one"...then after I get one, find someone else to talk to. The nerve!

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  3. I would do nothing, but I would be thinking in my head "Seriously?" It would not be polite, in my opinion, to point out her bad manners in front of others, especially a social function.

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  4. I wouldn't write her off. I'm more likely to follow Michael's suggestion and do nothing. Double dipping? That would be another story!

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  5. I'd tell her she could have my plate and I'd get another one.

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  6. That's hilarious!! I find it more comical than offensive. I would have a serious silent laugh, but I would say nothing. If the conversation was interesting, I'd keep talking and get another plate later. If it wasn't entertaining, I'd ease out of it and go back to the buffet.

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  7. I'll echo what Michael said, think it's shocking in my head, move to speak with someone else and get a new plate.

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  8. Realistically, I'd do nothing other than consider the plate hers from that point forward, and think she's pretty uncouth.

    It'd be *really* tempting to make a passive aggressive remark similar to 'oh I wasn't finished eating but you can have this plate and I'll get another one' to make the point that she was being far too presumptuous, but I don't know this lady, and I'm not her mom, so it's not my place to try to teach her manners.

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  9. Are you serious??? LOL??? I wouldn't say anything but I'd let her finish eating it. Then I'd excuse myself, get another plate, sit elsewhere and pray she's not a stalker.

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  10. Enh. Just let her eat. Perhaps she has a skillset other than social graces:). I didn't have to cook the food, after all...

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  11. As an etiquette consultant I look forward to your Monday post. Even though there are do's and dont's most of the time in etiquette you have to use common sense. Michael is correct in this one. You would NEVER point out someones lack of Social Graces. And since we never assume anything we dont offer our plate. What if she's thinking" Wow there is alot of food on her/his plate."

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  12. Ummm...I would let her continue but I know my facial expression would tell it all, but then I 'd excuse myself to get another plate and find another corner for people watching while I sent a text to Hubby telling him all about it!! It's not gossip when it's your Hubby is it???LOL

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  13. LOL! I'd tell her I fight for food. Just kidding. I'm sure I'd be a little taken back, but I'd let her have the plate and get another one. Unless it was chocolate.

    Winks & Smiles,
    Wifey

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  14. Oh, good Lord. It's just one meal out of over a thousand in a year. Lighten up. You can always go get more.

    Petty, petty, petty.

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  15. I don't know why. This really made me LOL. What would I do? Nothing, chuckle like you did and definitely Twitter and blog about it!

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  16. Wow! Well after I recouped from the shock, I would probably smile and excuse myself for another plate....making sure to gesture to the buffet table so the crumb snatcher would know where to get her next fix.

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  17. pearls

    I would, with politesse, direct her by pointing to the table of delightful spreads so she can get herself some small, delectable bites, too! Really, just kidding! Really!

    Actually, I would smile and offer her some of mine with the aid of a cocktail napkin, since I'm always in the habit of getting a few extra. What a great way to break the ice. She probably didn't know anyone there other than the hostess, and felt more comfortable sitting near me (with my pleasant, kind looking face). Then, after sharing some of my small bites (if she accepts them), I would politely direct her to where the goodies are if she didn't notice once she entered the room. I would also probably suggest going to the table together to replenish my fare and continue conversing with her while she selected hers. If that's not a good parlay to motivate discussion. I'll politely excuse myself and mingle with others.

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  18. LOL. I loved reading all of these comments. Too bad I couldn't have thought of something clever to say to her when she picked the sushi off of my plate. Thanks for posting my funny little story.

    It was great to see you last night at the Crave event. You are so amazing! I want to be just like you when I grow up. xo, Cristi

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  19. Let her continue grazing. When I decide I'm ready to move I put the plate where the empties go.

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