Eating alone...

[iris]

Like the topic says, would you ever eat out by yourself? I think that takes mad confidence, like going to the movies yourself or something. Sometimes I will go to a coffee shop with a book and eat lunch by myself, but that's a little different. I can't imagine walking into a restaurant and asking for a table for one.

What do you think of people who do? No social life or ultimate confidence in themselves and comfortable with being alone?

[deez nuts]

I do it all the time. A man's gotta eat!

[pfc beansprout]

hmmm..maybe coffee shops around campus...heh, but i guess that doesn't count, i run into some familar faces and the sit and chill.... :lol:

[iris]

Originally posted by Chasiubao_Boy@Dec 28 2002, 01:20 AM
I do it all the time. A man's gotta eat!
I don't mean hospital cafeterias or fast food places. I mean real restaurants!

[SunWuKong]

for me - comfortable with being by myself, which indirectly results in having no social life. :P

[deez nuts]

Originally posted by iris@Dec 27 2002, 12:37 PM
I don't mean hospital cafeterias or fast food places. I mean real restaurants!
You're so picky! :ph34r:

[tapestrybabe]

OMG, i'm a single bachlorette... who does NOT cook for herself at all... 99.9% of my time i eat out for dinner at restaurants... by myself...

i'm use to it... it doesnt bother me.. and hell, i admit... i go see movies by myself all the time too... and for me, i think it would be the other way around... and it would take more self confidence for me to go out with ppl to certain places instead... cuz than i'm actually required to talk and have a conversation... and i'm rather a really quiet person in real life...

[Shuriken]

I eat out by myself all the time too, and in nice restaurants ... :D

[Commando_turned_MD]

Originally posted by SunWuKung@Dec 27 2002, 09:43 AM
which indirectly results in having no social life.    :P
That is the message that is projected when one eats alone....... :D
There's nothing wrong with eating alone.........It's cheaper....Don't have to pay for the chick's meal...................................


.........................................

The bad thing about eating alone is the total silence.....What do you do after the waiter has taken your order? Play w/ your thumb? Pretend to look busy?....... :P
It usually takes approx 20 minutes to get your food......Trying to play with your thumb for 20 minutes is an eternity...... :rolleyes: ..

Have I ever done it? Yup..........A long time ago......12 + years ago.............

[contra_diction]

i don't know, i don't think i'd go to a nice restaurant and eat by myself. maybe i'm too self-concious or something, i dunno the reason. i doubt if i'd go to the movies by myself either, that's just me, though. fast food, sure, but that silence could be avoided by a magazine or newspaper, right.

[537]

I have no problem with eating in a restaurant alone. Many times I've got meetings that run into my usual lunch time, and so I've got to get a bite to eat afterwards. At that time, there are no other people that haven't eaten lunch yet so it's just me....

On the other side of the coin, though, I'd rather not eat alone. But given the circumstances, I'd rather eat alone than skip a meal.

[tapestrybabe]

lol, i guess i'm just a very introspective person... cuz when i go out to eat by myself... i dont bring anything with me to read... altho for some reason, i always like to sit next to a window... but i just start thinking to myself at the table, daydream, and just let my mind wonder to where ever it will take me... and i guess since eating out by myself has become such a natural way of life for me... i'm just use to it...

the silence.. it doesnt really bother me...

[Shuriken]

I'm used to reading whenever I go out to eat. While grabbing a bite for myself, I like to occupy my mind with some light, easily digestible reading fare like Foucault's The Origins of Philosophy or Gramsci's Prison Notebooks. I've usually done the best research for my published articles while spilling mayonnaise onto the pages.

But recently, I've taken to sitting in dark restaurants, just staring off into space and letting my mind wander. (I guess too much Foucault and Gramsci can really fry your brain.) There are a couple of places with TVs behind their bars that are usually showing The Best Damn Sports Show, Period, and since I'm a regular customer there, they'll let me change the channel to Iron Chef, if no one else objects. So, that's how I've been spending my mealtimes lately.

[mrazntre]

the only reason i would go eat at a nice restaurant is to be with someone when i'm eating there. i guess i'm not financially well off enough to go eat out for fun by myself.

[angel nympho]

The only reason I don't is because I'm lazy. If somebody's coming with me, it's more of a reason to get off my ass.

[Fireblade]

Well I worked at an area of the city, where aside from pizza parlors, there were nice good ol' restaurants. Since I didn't have anyone to come with me to eat during lunch break, I ate by myself. You get used to it. It's like watching movies alone. It feels weird at first, but then you get used to it. I enjoy it actually.

[kimpossible]

That's funny because I've never seen it as a confidence issue but more of a necessity. Sometimes I'm on the road, I'm hungry and I need to eat. I would say at this stage of my life it's a treat to have some time to sit alone and think. My comfort level would most likely depend on the restaurant and ambience. Having a European brunch or quick noodles for lunch alone would be enjoyable. Dim sum by myself would feel kind of weird.

[artsfartsyjanet]

i don't mind eating alone. i've done it before many times. It's kinda nice actually.

[Shuriken]

Originally posted by artsfartsyjanet@Dec 29 2002, 06:21 PM
i don't mind eating alone. i've done it before many times. It's kinda nice actually.
Do guys hit on you a lot when you eat by yourself? Just wondering...

[teaz0r]

i do things by myself all the time. i prefer it that way.
i like spending time with myself. i get to do whatever the hell i want.

eating at nice restaurants is liberating. eating alone is liberating for me.
i'm always surrounded by strangers at my table most of the time.
so eating alone isn't that much of a difference.

i go to clubs and bar alone sometimes too. i don't really care. if i'm going there to drink. i drink.
if to dance. i dance. when i'm done and satisfied. i come home.

[Chris]

I dont mind eating alone as well. Especially new restruant where my friend call me the guniea pig hahahah. It just make life easier.

[applehead]

i used to do that and watch movies alone.
have some "me" time.
it would be a special treat for me.
like, if i kicked ass on an exam or something.

but i can't do the cafe thing alone.
coffee=good conversation=friends=cigarettes.
to me, it just goes hand in hand.

[deez nuts]

Originally posted by Hello_Hapa@Dec 29 2002, 12:06 PM
Dim sum by myself would feel kind of weird.
I love eating Dim Sum by myself. I was doing ICU rotations for a month at Booth Memorial Hospital in Flushing one year. The Golden Pond Seafood Restaurant is right across the street from the hospital that had good Dim Sum. I used to hop on over by myself whenever I had the chance. Ahhhh to block out the voices of nagging patients and the sounds of ambulance sirens in the noise of loud Cantonese people eating Dim Sum.....Priceless.

[mrazntre]

Originally posted by Chasiubao_Boy@Dec 30 2002, 01:20 AM
I love eating Dim Sum by myself. I was doing ICU rotations for a month at Booth Memorial Hospital in Flushing one year. The Golden Pond Seafood Restaurant is right across the street from the hospital that had good Dim Sum. I used to hop on over by myself whenever I had the chance. Ahhhh to block out the voices of nagging patients and the sounds of ambulance sirens in the noise of loud Cantonese people eating Dim Sum.....Priceless.
well that's easy, you're a l0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000ser!

[mrazntre]

Originally posted by applehead@Dec 30 2002, 12:31 AM
i used to do that and watch movies alone.
have some "me" time.
it would be a special treat for me.
like, if i kicked ass on an exam or something.

but i can't do the cafe thing alone.
coffee=good conversation=friends=cigarettes.
to me, it just goes hand in hand.
i might have to do that soon because nobody wants to watch the LOTR two towers with me.

=(

i was gonna do that today, but i had to do some things today, plusss... i dunno.. mebbe i'll do that after work sometime this week, we'll have to see tho.

mebbe i'm not brave enough.

[Arex]

Originally posted by mrazntre@Dec 29 2002, 05:51 PM
i might have to do that soon because nobody wants to watch the LOTR two towers with me.

=(

i was gonna do that today, but i had to do some things today, plusss... i dunno.. mebbe i'll do that after work sometime this week, we'll have to see tho.

mebbe i'm not brave enough.
Fool, you've got my number. I'm down to watch LOTR... Got shit to do in the upcoming week though...

I've never eaten at a nice, sit down restaurant by myself before. I did grab Phillipe's french dip by myself last week but that's more cafeteria style.

As for movies, I did watch the premier of Batman (waaaaaaay back in the day) solo 'cause my friend's mom made him go home even though we'd been waiting in line for like three hours. Bitch.

Alex

[applehead]

Originally posted by mrazntre@Dec 29 2002, 05:51 PM
i might have to do that soon because nobody wants to watch the LOTR two towers with me.

=(

i was gonna do that today, but i had to do some things today, plusss... i dunno.. mebbe i'll do that after work sometime this week, we'll have to see tho.

mebbe i'm not brave enough.
dude, the movie is three hours...

i can only sit on my ass for that long if i'm on the internet. kekekeke

[mrazntre]

Originally posted by Arex@Dec 30 2002, 02:03 AM
Originally posted by mrazntre@Dec 29 2002, 05:51 PM
i might have to do that soon because nobody wants to watch the LOTR two towers with me.

=(

i was gonna do that today, but i had to do some things today, plusss... i dunno.. mebbe i'll do that after work sometime this week, we'll have to see tho.

mebbe i'm not brave enough.
Fool, you've got my number. I'm down to watch LOTR... Got shit to do in the upcoming week though...

I've never eaten at a nice, sit down restaurant by myself before. I did grab Phillipe's french dip by myself last week but that's more cafeteria style.

As for movies, I did watch the premier of Batman (waaaaaaay back in the day) solo 'cause my friend's mom made him go home even though we'd been waiting in line for like three hours. Bitch.

Alex
d00d. it's dark at the movies. i don't want you to "inadvertently" brush your palms up against my thigh.....

alright then. let's go watch it. how about next week then? after the whole new year's thingy week.

[angel nympho]

I watch movies alone... There's movie theaters near my work... and on those days where I'm working a double with a few hours in between, I just watch a movie to kill some time.

[thaite]

sure.

[Shuriken]

Did you hear about the restaurant on the moon?

Great food, but no atmosphere...


:lol:

[Hanuman]

Geez, I never thought about this as a confidence thing before. I don't like to eat or see movies by myself. If I don't have company, I'd rather order out and bring it home and chill in front of the boob tube. I associate dining out and seeing a movie as social events, so I prefer company. Maybe I'm needy and didn't realize it *scratchs head*

[AltimaGTR]

I eat alone sometimes at a restaurant because I don't have anyone to chill with at school. Its good to be alone, sometimes. I could sit there eating and contemplating many pointless things and still enjoy myself. Dunno, I find that socializing to me is a recently acquired skill 0.o;

[ellsworth81]

I've watched movies before alone. Not a big deal really, since no one really knows if you're with someone or not.

But at a restaurant, when it's just you at a table with a romantic candle burning away, that kind of screams out "LONELY BASTARD". :) But if that isn't the case and you don't want to deal with a second wheel, then it's all good. God knows I have my fair share of quiet time. Personally, I could give two shits less if someone is alone.

By the way, what's the definition of a "nice restaurant". $10+ for one person? It actually never occurred to me to eat by myself at a "nice" joint, but mad props to TBabe and whoever does it frequently without a care in the world.

[ellsworth81]

Originally posted by Shuriken@Dec 29 2002, 11:19 AM
Do guys hit on you a lot when you eat by yourself? Just wondering...
hmm ... good question ... i'd venture to say YES :rolleyes:

any guys eating a solo dinner been hit on, out of curiosity?

[contra_diction]

Originally posted by ellsworth81@Jan 22 2003, 12:15 AM
any guys eating a solo dinner been hit on, out of curiosity?
depends how i'm looking, if i'm eating alone, i'm probably dressed like a bum, but actually i have been hit on before while eating alone..... by another guy. i was pretty upset.
:angry:

[Adaon]

I like to watch movies by myself, but eating by myself is questionable...depends on my mood. If I really am downered or something I usually cook for myself....

[iris]

Since being in Hong Kong, I've really enjoyed eating lunch by myself. My co-workers don't speak English and I can't speak Cantonese so it feels like a chore to go eat out with them and play charades through the whole meal. That, or I sit there staring off into space while they talk around me.

Hong Kong is also such a crowded, busy city that sometimes, i feel the need to be alone. I'll take a break from my friends and acquaintances and pick out a nice cafe, bring a book/magazine and just chill and relax for a couple hours. Catch up on what's happening in America. It's nice.

[himura-dono]

in davis, it's kind of a requirement to be ok with going solo, cause this fuggin city's so dead at night. i'm ok eating by myself in shizzy towns and such, but in larger cities i feel wierd. except san diego, cause that's home.

[contra_diction]

davis, california? isn't that a college town? i was told they did a sorority girls thing on mtv there. is it really that dead? i live only a half hour from there. if i have to eat by myself i'll go through the drive thru or take it with me.

[himura-dono]

mtv made davis look lively. all they did was go to the same club where the owner jacked up the cover charge and drinks because of it. and they went on hump day of all days to always make sure there was a crowd.

davis is deader than squirell roadkill soufflé

[contra_diction]

squirrel roadkill soufflee, mmm. haha, must be why i always just pass through it on my way to the Bay.

[Napoleon Chynamite]

I prefer to eat alone. We can do whatever you want before or afterwards, but when I'm shoving stuff into my mouth I don't want people around.... :unsure: kinda weird.....this has driven my parents and friends nuts (esp. my parents) since they see dinner and meals as a togetherness thing and are appalled at my refusals to go out with them for dinner or to eat with them at the table at the same time.

[kasia]

Originally posted by himura-dono@Jan 22 2003, 05:20 AM
mtv made davis look lively. all they did was go to the same club where the owner jacked up the cover charge and drinks because of it. and they went on hump day of all days to always make sure there was a crowd.

davis is deader than squirell roadkill soufflé
you're right in that there aren't many bars or clubs to go to. but you can always find a house party on any given night. plus, sacramento is only 15-20 minutes away and san francisco is an hour away. i was never bored in davis.

but to stay on the topic...i would never eat alone in a fancy restaurant. although, when i was younger, i'd always feel sorry for the old people eating alone at sizzler and was often tempted to sit at their table and start talking to them.

[Hanuman]

Originally posted by kasia@Jan 22 2003, 02:03 PM
when i was younger, i'd always feel sorry for the old people eating alone at sizzler and was often tempted to sit at their table and start talking to them.
Yeah, me too! it didn't have to be a fancy restaurant either, even at McDonalds. If i saw an older person eating by themself, I'd get all sad and feel sorry for them.

You think it's a side effect of having all this filiel piety? Maybe deep down we feel that older people shouldn't have to be alone, so seeing them eating alone triggers that? *shrugs*

[moschikat]

Hmm, interesting . . . .

i'm a highly arrogant, narcissistic, self centered lil' girl . . . . eat out by myself, go to the movies by myself, go shopping by myself, - i find that i like my own company better at times, and usually those times are when i want to be ALONE?! :P

[princess]

i dont mind eating alone if im in the right mood. if i dont care, ill sit by myself and read a book or something. other times i get self conscious and feel a million eyes starin at me, so i dont bother to stay. im out the door as quickly as i entered

[kasia]

Originally posted by Tawee@Jan 22 2003, 12:53 PM
Yeah, me too! it didn't have to be a fancy restaurant either, even at McDonalds. If i saw an older person eating by themself, I'd get all sad and feel sorry for them.

You think it's a side effect of having all this filiel piety? Maybe deep down we feel that older people shouldn't have to be alone, so seeing them eating alone triggers that? *shrugs*
yeh, maybe :)

[Adaon]

Originally posted by kasia@Jan 22 2003, 11:03 AM
Originally posted by himura-dono@Jan 22 2003, 05:20 AM
mtv made davis look lively.  all they did was go to the same club where the owner jacked up the cover charge and drinks because of it.  and they went on hump day of all days to always make sure there was a crowd.

davis is deader than squirell roadkill soufflé
you're right in that there aren't many bars or clubs to go to. but you can always find a house party on any given night. plus, sacramento is only 15-20 minutes away and san francisco is an hour away. i was never bored in davis.
You could never be bored in Davis as long as people are around. Whether you and a bunch of friends are cooking together or just sitting in from the the tube and laffing at something stupid, it's usually more fun with more people. I just pity some of the people who don't/can't go home for the holidays from Davis and any other school who are at school/apartments while the rest of the housemates and such are off at home. Which is why it's cool to have a bunch of friends who live local to your school to drive up and spend time with. My friends and I surprised our one friend in Davis this last holiday season by driving up there and throwing a Pre-Christmas Party and stuff.....and then a friend took her back to the city and we spent the holidays together. It was pretty fun.

[Adaon]

Originally posted by Tawee@Jan 22 2003, 12:53 PM
Yeah, me too! it didn't have to be a fancy restaurant either, even at McDonalds. If i saw an older person eating by themself, I'd get all sad and feel sorry for them.

You think it's a side effect of having all this filiel piety? Maybe deep down we feel that older people shouldn't have to be alone, so seeing them eating alone triggers that? *shrugs*
sounds like fun though. At least when you can afford the time, to sit back and enjoy a conversation with a person from a different generation before yours and listen to their stories....makes working in old folks' homes more enjoyable if you like that sort of social contact. And it can really bring a smile to someone's face to show people care.

[princess]

Originally posted by Adaon@Jan 22 2003, 05:33 PM
Originally posted by Tawee@Jan 22 2003, 12:53 PM
Yeah, me too!  it didn't have to be a fancy restaurant either, even at McDonalds.  If i saw an older person eating by themself, I'd get all sad and feel sorry for them.  

You think it's a side effect of having all this filiel piety?  Maybe deep down we feel that older people shouldn't have to be alone, so seeing them eating alone triggers that?  *shrugs*
sounds like fun though. At least when you can afford the time, to sit back and enjoy a conversation with a person from a different generation before yours and listen to their stories....makes working in old folks' homes more enjoyable if you like that sort of social contact. And it can really bring a smile to someone's face to show people care.
yeah and its worthwhile -- you both walk away with something. i :luv: talkin to my gramma

[Adaon]

Originally posted by princess@Jan 22 2003, 06:13 PM
Originally posted by Adaon@Jan 22 2003, 05:33 PM
Originally posted by Tawee@Jan 22 2003, 12:53 PM
Yeah, me too! it didn't have to be a fancy restaurant either, even at McDonalds. If i saw an older person eating by themself, I'd get all sad and feel sorry for them.

You think it's a side effect of having all this filiel piety? Maybe deep down we feel that older people shouldn't have to be alone, so seeing them eating alone triggers that? *shrugs*
sounds like fun though. At least when you can afford the time, to sit back and enjoy a conversation with a person from a different generation before yours and listen to their stories....makes working in old folks' homes more enjoyable if you like that sort of social contact. And it can really bring a smile to someone's face to show people care.
yeah and its worthwhile -- you both walk away with something. i :luv: talkin to my gramma
i like talking to your......erhm....MY nohnie too...:), I'm the only chinese guy I know with an italian grandmother from colorado :lol: :dance: :luv:

[BaiginLong]

I do it once in a while and that includes nice restaurants
eh
haven't done the movie by myself though

personally though I prefer to go with friends because it's just cool to have peeps to chill with and talk to

I don't have grandparents.... :cry: :cry: :cry:

[princess]

Originally posted by BaiginLong@Jan 23 2003, 04:07 AM


I don't have grandparents.... :cry: :cry: :cry:
*pat pat* its okay. just adopt one. i feel like people are feelin sorry for me when i eat alone. i needa stop caring so much about other peoples opinions.