Is it okay to complain about your dessert and grouse until you get what you want?
Q. I went to a ladies’ luncheon recently and there was a piece of pie at each place setting. Great, except there were two kinds: One was fruit and one was a piece of cream pie. When the lady sat down next to me on my right side, she immediately remarked she wanted a piece of cream pie instead of the fruit pie. I was so surprised to hear her say that. I guess I grew up knowing if I was given something to eat on my plate, I didn’t whine about wanting something else — I ate it and kept my mouth shut. This lady went on and on. When the waitress came with our salad, she asked her if she had another piece of cream pie. The waitress said she would check. When she came back to refill our iced tea, she asked her again. At that point, I told her she could have my piece of cream pie. I just wanted her to stop monopolizing the conversation.
Is this the new norm that if you don’t like the piece of pie or cake or roll you are given, you whine until you get what you want?
A. Whether this type scenario seems to occur more and more, it is not the “norm” and it is not acceptable dining etiquette behavior. You were brought up correctly.
Q. If someone gives you their personal cell phone number, shouldn’t you ask their permission before you give it to someone else? I definitely would not give out that kind of information unless I had permission. That wasn’t the case recently with me. A co-worker and I became friends outside of work and went to some concerts together a few times. Shortly after I gave her my personal phone number, I began receiving phone calls on my personal cell phone number from other co-workers about work-related subjects most of which could have waited until the next day at the office. I finally asked one of these callers how she got my number and she told me. A couple days later when my co-worker friend called me about going to a concert, I declined and I told her I didn’t appreciate her giving out my cell phone number to others without asking me. She didn’t get it though, so am I being stupid about this?
A. No, you are not being stupid. This co-worker should not have given your personal cell number to anyone without asking you first. She violated the basic etiquette rule of showing consideration of others and protecting their privacy. If she passed out your personal cell phone information, you can only imagine what other information she might be sharing about you to others. Time to choose another person with whom to go to concerts — and someone totally outside your company.