bringing your own silverware to a restaurant

prudent or anal?
I'll expect some thought provoking answers, folks.

umm I used to think it was anal. Then I found a black hair glued to a fork with what was left of the previous owners Alfredo sauce (God I hope it was alfredo)

Oh GROSS!

no shit. totally went straight to the manager and was like wth is this? do you want me to eat my dinner here? got my meal comped along with a 30 buck gift card.... so now I, if I remember, will bring my own silverware or closely inspect the silverware at the restaurant.....

shark6495 wrote:no shit. totally went straight to the manager and was like wth is this? do you want me to eat my dinner here? got my meal comped along with a 30 buck gift card.... so now I, if I remember, will bring my own silverware or closely inspect the silverware at the restaurant.....

Wow, I'll study my silverware along with a few of my own. At least I'll keep this story in mind... Yikes.

I wouldn't say it was anal. If that makes a person feel better then I think it's perfectly fine. I just inspect mine VERY thoroughly. Oh, and instead of taking my own silverware to the restaurant I actually steal silverware from there. I have a TON of silverware from restaurants. I have about 40 spoons, 20 forks, and 20 knives from the cafeterias up at my college alone. I don't know why I do it, but it makes me feel good to do it.

Now we're pushing it with quirks. I do check out my silverware, but I'll use it. Oddly, I'm so used to straws, I refuse to drink from glasses at a diner yet will drink from the glasses at a bar. Go figure.

My mom's neighbor brings her own paper plates when they go out and silverware. I always check out the plates, glasses and silverware when I go out and I always ask for a straw.

I guess I don't understand the point of bringing silverware if one is going to use everything else at a restaurant. How is the silverware different from the glass or the plate? Hell, why would someone allow others to even prepare his food if germs and all that were that big of an issue? I don't get it.

^ That is actually based on germaphobia. Certain cases, anyway. They select things to be ickied by, so to speak. It's weird. Like they'll use common things, like money and door-knobs, but will make a big deal out of something else that would be hardly as filthy.

Considering that I live off of well water(bad tasting), it's probable cleaner at the restaraunt Not that we eat out much, but where we do, we trust the folks who run the places.

BlueMaxx wrote:^ That is actually based on germaphobia. Certain cases, anyway. They select things to be ickied by, so to speak. It's weird. Like they'll use common things, like money and door-knobs, but will make a big deal out of something else that would be hardly as filthy.

Interesting. Makes sense, though. I worked with a guy who literally sanitized his hands after touching anything. That really had to cut into his day. Might as well wear gloves. I've actually thought of doing that. Awesome gloves like from the '50s, not latex gloves. I'm not really a germaphobe, but when I used to work at a college, handling cash and credit cards all day really freaked me out sometimes. Checks are cool. Nobody I know uses her checkbook to do drugs.

Tripper McGee wrote: Checks are cool. Nobody I know uses her checkbook to do drugs.

Money is dirty enough, but to have the one that was up someone's nose. Yuck.

Tripper McGee wrote:

BlueMaxx wrote:^ That is actually based on germaphobia. Certain cases, anyway. They select things to be ickied by, so to speak. It's weird. Like they'll use common things, like money and door-knobs, but will make a big deal out of something else that would be hardly as filthy.

Interesting. Makes sense, though. I worked with a guy who literally sanitized his hands after touching anything. That really had to cut into his day. Might as well wear gloves. I've actually thought of doing that. Awesome gloves like from the '50s, not latex gloves. I'm not really a germaphobe, but when I used to work at a college, handling cash and credit cards all day really freaked me out sometimes. Checks are cool. Nobody I know uses her checkbook to do drugs.

Until you specified what type of gloves, i had a mental picture of the mom off Dexter's Lab...!

shark6495 wrote:umm I used to think it was anal. Then I found a black hair glued to a fork with what was left of the previous owners Alfredo sauce (God I hope it was alfredo)

Seriously though... now I'm going to have really inspect everything I touch at a restaurant thanks to all the comments in this thread. People are gross.

Batman25JM wrote:I have a TON of silverware from restaurants. I have about 40 spoons, 20 forks, and 20 knives from the cafeterias up at my college alone. I don't know why I do it, but it makes me feel good to do it.

Its called kleptomania!

Tripper McGee wrote:I guess I don't understand the point of bringing silverware if one is going to use everything else at a restaurant. How is the silverware different from the glass or the plate? Hell, why would someone allow others to even prepare his food if germs and all that were that big of an issue? I don't get it.

I agree mostly. But then I thought of the fact that spoons and forks make direct contact with my mouth and such...that just weirds me out.

I worked at Portillo's (Fast restaurant style food) and there were many a time that we've had hairs, nails, and bandaids served to customers. Because of that, I inspect EVERYTHING. And bring hand sanitizer.

I'll probably bring my own silverware when I get to be an older crazy lady and germophobia takes over.

P:

JessJupiter wrote:

I worked at Portillo's (Fast restaurant style food) and there were many a time that we've had hairs, nails, and bandaids served to customers. .

P:

It's because of this statement that I will now take my own food when I go out to eat!!

[quote="JessJupiter"]

Batman25JM wrote:I worked at Portillo's (Fast restaurant style food) and there were many a time that we've had hairs, nails, and bandaids served to customers. Because of that, I inspect EVERYTHING. And bring hand sanitizer.

I'll probably bring my own silverware when I get to be an older crazy lady and germophobia takes over.

P:

Isn't that the place that Spidey raves about???? I'll pass thank you.

BlueMaxx wrote:^ That is actually based on germaphobia. Certain cases, anyway. They select things to be ickied by, so to speak. It's weird. Like they'll use common things, like money and door-knobs, but will make a big deal out of something else that would be hardly as filthy.

Yeah, BlueMaxx is exactly right. Phobias don't always make sense and are full on contradictions. I have OCD and I have contradicting compulsions.

JessJupiter wrote:

Batman25JM wrote:I have a TON of silverware from restaurants. I have about 40 spoons, 20 forks, and 20 knives from the cafeterias up at my college alone. I don't know why I do it, but it makes me feel good to do it.

Its called kleptomania!

Yep. At least silverware is all I steal.