Servers Lament the Ways in Which Customers Act Like Children

Author image for Ally Perry
Ally Perry • Writer and Editor
Jun 28, 2023 4:00 PM EDT

The customer/server relationship is one of the more messed up dynamics that we take for granted. We walk into a restaurant and expect some random underpaid person to cater our every need so they can actually get decent wages. It's a crazy system.

While we should always try and tip properly, the brutality of tipping culture is only one side of the coin. The lengths some wait staff have to go to so they secure these tips are a lot, even if they aren't always dealing with the very worst types of customers. 

This has been underlined in a frustrating Reddit thread, in which those working in restaurants ponder 'the psychology of dining out'. Reasoning that there is something about the whole process that turns diners into 'a confused child or a power hungry tyrant', it's an enlightening read. Even those of us who try and be nice to servers are probably guilty of some of these annoying little tics.  

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  • 01
    Font - Yq r/Serverlife u/kuebeecee. 2d ● Psychology of dining out Has anyone else noticed that people get real weird as soon as they step through the threshold of those doors? It's like they revert to being a confused child or a power hungry tyrant. Some examples: Join They ask "is this where the restroom is?" while standing directly in front of the restroom door. • When you ask if they'd like to sit on the patio they ask you what the weather is like when they just walked through the parking lot
    via kuebeecee
  • 02
    Font - stealth_mode_76 2d I guess I just figured out why I always get such great service lol. It blows my mind that people that stupid actually exist. I worked retail for quite a while and I'm still kind of astounded. I had a friend for a short while that wouldn't speak to people "beneath her" unless she had to. We pulled into the bank, and the teller said hello. She didn't respond. I said "she said hello" and she said "it's JUST the teller." So she's probably a person who responds with her drin
    via stealth_mode_76
  • 03
    Font - thatburghfan 2d It takes some people a long time (in some cases, never) to realize their ongoing frustration with poor service, or not getting their way, or not getting any favors from staff, is their own fault. What I find interesting is that they are generally unhappy right from the start in such situations. They can't even wait until there may be something to be ticked off about, they come in hot immediately.
    via thatburghfan
  • 04
    Font - Mcazn1234 2d You can tell a lot about someone when they receive the tiniest bit of perceived "power" over someone. Some immediately abuse it while others don't know how to use it. The customer/staff relationship is all kinds of screwed up especially in the West.
    via Mcazn1234
  • 05
    Font - Te TieHead8305 2d Say the same in my industry. I'm an airline pilot. The second people step into the terminal they become utter idiots. "Where's my gate?" Use the screen designed specifically to tell you. "Where is gate c19" follow the sign that says c gates with an arrow "where is baggage claim" also follow sign that says baggage claim with an arrow.
    via TieHead8305
  • 06
    Rectangle - sunflowerads 2d recently my coworker greeted a table with "hi, how are you?" and the guys response was a dirty look and "sorry, do i know you?" LOL. people absolutely forget how to act as soon as they step into a restaurant.
    via sunflowerads
  • 07
    Font - omgbbqpork 2d My fav is when guests check their coats at the front door, watch the host hang them in the closet and hand them a ticket. Then at the end of the meal come to the bar instead and ask "where can I retrieve my coat?" Like what?? Are you guys okay?
    via omgbbqpork
  • 08
    Font - fromthatrock 2d it's the fucking weather one for me man. people will drive to the restaurant knowing it's going to storm. walk from the parking lot knowing it's going to storm. And still want to sit outside just for all their shit to blow away and them ask to move inside.
    via fromthatrock
  • 09
    Font - krose222 1d Trust me, your customers also notice other customers. Restaurants are the best people watching locations. I judge others by their restaurant behavior. Says a lot about a person. Hopefully you have a category for just normal people and I hope I'm always one of them.
    via krose222
  • 10
    Font - Constant_Grand_9912 1d People going out of their way to give themselves a bad experience, complaining about things they have control over, finding every little thing you as the server could possibly do wrong and making it a big deal, it's these people who are just looking for a way to get their meal comped or a free voucher from the moment they walk through the door.
    via Constant_Grand_992
  • 11
    Font - Doom Metal_Dad 1d You ever see a group of pigs at the farm rushing through the pens when the farmers dump their slop? That's all it is. Bumpin and squealin and acting all ornery. It's human feeding time at the troughs and it's chaotic; so you're right, it does something to their brains.
    via DoomMetal_Dad
  • 12
    Font - SurrrenderDorothy 2d I saw a normal looking, middle aged woman walk in to the kitchen at a posh restaurant, because she was looking for the rest rooms. And you could see the entire kitchen from the door. Imao. It was too early past opening for her to have been drunk. Christ on a bike I hate people. JO
    via SurrenderDorothy
  • 13
    Font - jenniescappucino 2d the dirty table one is so annoying. i work in a cafe/ restaurant and when it's busy it's hard to try clear tables or wipe them down because there's usually three of us on shift. however, when it's quiet we try get it done. but half the time i try to wipe down the table and there's someone sitting there. like girl there's clean tables everywhere else. then they complain the table is dirty
    via jonniescappucino
  • 14
    Font - Green Travel Badger 1d I worked breakfast shift and oh! the number of people who asked me to butter their toast for them........so I would gesture to the bowl of butter that sat on the table. Naturally, there were the ones who insisted that I do this, and hauled the manager into the drama, the manager (as they always do) would scold me - in front of the guesticles! - for not buttering their toast and how I should do so when asked, and I always walked away while manager was in mid-sentence
    via GreenTravelBadger

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annoying server servers table customers interesting restaurant stupid people dumb diners reddit thread Reddit
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