"Melba's Jammin'" > wrote in message
...
> In article >,
> "The UnInmate" > wrote:
>
>> "Melba's Jammin'" > wrote in message
>> ...
>> > In article >,
>> > "Dimitri" > wrote:
>> >> How do you gauge a new place?
>> >
>> > Hmmm, making me think about this. I like pleasant and efficient
>> > service
>> > to accompany reasonably edible food. I don't like "dear" or "Hon" from
>> > waitstaff. "Ma'am" will do just fine, thanks. And I *really* don't
>> > like, "What are we going to have tonight," or "How're we doing here?
>> > Everything okay?" We? My response is generally, " We? I don't know
>> > how you're doing, but I'm doing fine, thanks."
>> > --
>
>> God people are picky.
>
> Ya think? I don't like undue familiarity. I don't like children not
> related to me to call me (or other adults) by my first name unless
> invited to do so > call me Hon thinking it's going to impart a warm and
> fuzzy feeling in
> me, especially if I've never set foot in the place before. Shoot me.
> I'm a throwback to the way I was raised.
>
>> Isn't it enough that the serving staff doesn't act
>> overworked and uncaring even though, in reality, they almost always are?
>
> Sure, so why muddy it up with terms of false endearment to a stranger?
> The "we" thing is too much like a kindergarten teacher speaking to a
> slow pupil.

You make good points. I just don't attach as much importance to little
details of casual speech, same way as when I used to correct people's
grammar they'd scream "who cares?!" I _am_ wondering why everything's
suddenly in italics.