When I go to a restaurant it's invariably a personal thing. With a lady friend or for a family occasion. You don't want people sitting by your elbow because inevitably you will have private stuff to chat about. However you're in a pub with a mate then you almost certainly are in a more general social situation to me.
If I stand by the bar the person next to me most certainly will hear what I have to say. So whats the difference if I'm sat down?
I always invite strangers to join me if there are no other tables. I've met some very interesting people and had some great conversations after doing so.
Quote: roscoff @ March 26 2009, 11:38 PM GMTWhen I go to a restaurant it's invariably a personal thing. With a lady friend or for a family occasion. You don't want people sitting by your elbow because inevitably you will have private stuff to chat about. However you're in a pub with a mate then you almost certainly are in a more general social situation to me.
If I stand by the bar the person next to me most certainly will hear what I have to say. So whats the difference if I'm sat down?
But we were eating, so isn't that the same as a restaurant?
I make social gawfs but they tend to come from when my brain and my mouth work against me. Like when I asked this guy who was introduced to me as "Clem" if his surname was "Midia". >_<
Quote: DaButt @ March 26 2009, 11:40 PM GMTI always invite strangers to join me if there are no other tables. I've met some very interesting people and had some great conversations after doing so.
I'm a miserable bastard though. I don't particularly like people I know well, let alone strangers.
Quote: zooo @ March 26 2009, 11:38 PM GMTOh god!
Cue extremely awkward chit chat about the weather.Nightmare.
Ah, see, I knew that Zooo, as the voice of reason, would eventually agree with me.
Yeah some people are into making conversation with strangers, and for some people it's an unpleasant chore.
Quote: Seefacts @ March 26 2009, 11:41 PM GMTAh, see, I knew that Zooo, as the voice of reason, would eventually agree with me.
Ha! I shall file that.
Quote: zooo @ March 26 2009, 11:42 PM GMTYeah some people are into making conversation with strangers, and for some people it's an unpleasant chore.
Conversation isn't necessarily required when sharing a table. The 2 parties can either mingle or they can keep to themselves. What's the difference between sharing a table with someone or sitting 2 feet away from them at a separate table? People are usually very good about keeping to themselves in a crowded room.
One of my worse social fears is having to stand next to someone who smells. I am a bit of a funny quirk about stink. I can't bear the idea of smelling bad and feel contaminated if I'm near something that smells awful so if I get close to someone who knows nothing about soap, I really struggle hard not to react because I don't want to offend them but at the same time every cell in my body is screaming "GET AWAY FROM ME".
Quote: Seefacts @ March 26 2009, 11:40 PM GMTBut we were eating, so isn't that the same as a restaurant?
If it was a restaurant section of a pub well yes. If your just scoffing in the bar then no. Location Location Location. Should be a telly prog.
Just as an aside when I was a kid my parents took me to Tunisia. The hotel was pretty full and they asked if we would have another person at the table with us just for one meal. My dad said ok. His name was Ludwig. He was Algerian. He was the highlight of the whole holiday and was also a Borat look alike. We asked him to stay even when other tables freed up.
Seems fairly obvious to me, but why not tell them you were waiting for others to join you?
My brother and I ate a great restaurant in San Francisco's Chinatown about 20 years ago. It was a tiny place that required you to walk through the kitchen to find a table and the man who seated you was famous for selecting compatible strangers to sit together. He was supposedly responsible for several marriages.
Quote: DaButt @ March 26 2009, 11:55 PM GMTMy brother and I ate a great restaurant in San Francisco's Chinatown about 20 years ago. It was a tiny place that required you to walk through the kitchen to find a table and the man who seated you was famous for selecting compatible strangers to sit together. He was supposedly responsible for several marriages.
Seefacts would have punched him out 
Quote: don rushmore @ March 26 2009, 11:53 PM GMTSeems fairly obvious to me, but why not tell them you were waiting for others to join you?
Because that would be lying!
Quote: Marc P @ March 27 2009, 10:07 AM GMTBecause that would be lying!
Your entire career is based upon lying about people who don't exist! 
Quote: chipolata @ March 27 2009, 10:09 AM GMTYour entire career is based upon lying about people who don't exist!
Some of them do!