obnoxious servers

You go girl. Will you cut the crusts off?..please?

Eating in a chain is like doing the Hokey-Pokey, and thats what its all about..

Made my day.

Unfortunately the sad truth is waiting tables for a chain is not only like doing the Hokey-Pokey, but also being judged on it by secret shoppers. No points for anyone doing the Hokey-Pokey outside of the corporate script!

I am usually fine with most servers and give them remarkable leeway. Two things that will tend to irritate me is using the word "folks" at the beginning or end of every sentence as though they trained in telephone sales and never lost that gift. The other thing is if they like to sit, or lean on a table to talk with me. Stand up straight and smile for heavens sake. Be confident in your delivery; it makes me more confident in the establishment.

know THIS
even though proper young gentlemen have it beaten into them that calling a woman 'Ma'am' is dignified and respectful, more women than you can imagine tell us over and over again that being called 'Ma'am' makes them feel old. To all the ladies in the place with style and grace... GET OVER IT! When a guy calls you 'Ma'am' he's trying to be polite. Why can't you just take the damned compliment and not make us feel like jerks for being nice to you? Especially when youre 70+

also, when all present are women, 'ladies' is where it's at. And when all men, 'gentlemen' is the obvious choice. But if the word 'folks' annoys you, please be my guest to submit a better label to address a mixed bag of people that I'm waiting on.
Seriously, it's a harmless and totally appropriate word to use. If it bothers you, then maybe it's just you.

I like Barbara A., but I also like the use of the word "folks". It's endearing to me, maybe because of it's roots. Maybe it's a regional thing, Barbara? I also like Folk Music. When I was first exposed to the use of "folks" as a reference, I thought it was touch nerdy, but never irritating. Now I don't even think it's nerdy.

". . . PB & J and pudding cups . . . ."

I just had a genius idea for a whole chain of concept restaurants!!

'peanut butter pudding surprise'
I'm highly suspicious of you

[Robin Garr]

I like Barbara A., but I also like the use of the word "folks". It's endearing to me, maybe because of it's roots. Maybe it's a regional thing, Barbara? I also like Folk Music. When I was first exposed to the use of "folks" as a reference, I thought it was touch nerdy, but never irritating. Now I don't even think it's nerdy.

I think "folks" is handy when you've got a mixed-gender table. "Ladies and gents" does seem a little bit formal. "Y'all" might work.

And I love folk music too, Jackie!

Thanks Jackie, I like you too. I also enjoy folk music. Matt F. for the record I do not mind one bit being called Ma'am. I think it is very polite and am always taken aback when it is used because so few people say that any more...and I am not even near 70...yet...does this mean I am a woman of style and grace? If so thanks Matt I accept the compliment...gladly.

I like y'all very much. It was explained to me if you can't decide how to address a group y'all pretty much covers it. Unfortunately not always appropriate. I think folks is a fine word, I thought I had expressed it is the over use of the word that gets to me. So Matt I will try to get over it and if I come up with better terminology I will start a new post.

[Robin Garr]

...if I come up with better terminology I will start a new post.

Meet the new post, just like the old post? Thanks, y'all!

I found when serving that there was always someone who hated Ma'am, Gentleman, Y'all, Sir and anything else you could think of, it's a no-win situation. I would enjoy folks, at least it's better than "guys"

Or you could go Upper Midwest and invoke the term "Youse guys!"

It was really weird.

I was cleaning out my desk drawer, and I had this little bowl thingamajig that holds paper clips, and I set it atop this other little thingamajig, and it really annoyed me because the metal clips on the underside, in the second thingamajig, kept jumping up and attaching to the bottom part of the holder, because guess what: It's a magnet!

Which explains my whole obnoxious paper clip situation.

What were we talking about?

But magnets, how do they work?

Or you could go Upper Midwest and invoke the term "Youse guys!"

[Robin Garr]

Or you could go Upper Midwest and invoke the term "Youse guys!"

Is it Pittsburgh or Philly where they use the variant "Yoonz"?

Is it Pittsburgh or Philly where they use the variant "Yoonz"?

I have no idea, Robin. But I know I've heard "Youse guys" in North Dakota, Minnesota and Wisconsin. There is also a spelling variation: "use" guys. Got to love it!

Chicago uses "youse guys" and its not uncommon to hear "yoonz" or "yoontz" in and around Pittsburgh(go Pens).