Is it wierd to eat out/dine by yourself only? Options

[lilasiankid]

Besides fast food and busy restaurants. Is it weird to eat out alone? I want to try some of the more "special occasion" places to see what the deal is all about. Even some fancy ones.

My sister's BF took her out to a fancy place downtown and she said that the food was good and she noticed a difference.

Never been to a fancy place, but I would imagine there would be alot of rich folks that eat out alone too right? It wouldn't be special and anticipated or anything, i'll just stop in for lunch or something. Always like trying out new places during lunchtime or on the go.

So, anyone here does that?

[Henry123]

I have done it befor. I have friends who have done it too.

[TruthDoesntHurt]

Not so weird, just a bit unpleasant and boring (iin my opinion)

[lilasiankid]

I should probably try to buy one of those smart phones before I do so first so I can pass the boreness by playing around online or something heheh....

This post has been edited by lilasiankid: Jul 3 2009, 08:41 PM

[Henry123]

Yeah theres always something you can do when dinning out alone.
If you got an IPOD/phone or laptop etc.

Or you cant try to pick up single women across from another table...... dining alone.
"Hey mine if I join you. I hate dinning alone its so boring. I rather talk to and meet someone new......"

[Federico]

Serial killer stuff.

[Henry123]

I've been exposed!

[2nd2none]

I've never dined alone at a classy restaurant. It's pointless and not memorable in a good way lol. One of my faborite place was Tetsuya's in Sydney. The food was top notch and fresh. Tetsuya's was also voted the #1 restaurant in Australia by Pellegrino lol, and came with a hefty bill . Bob Chinn's crabhouse in Illinois was very good, pricey too.

[felltohell]

always do it, with a good book while waiting for the food

[mikekk86]

Besides fast food and busy restaurants. Is it weird to eat out alone? I want to try some of the more "special occasion" places to see what the deal is all about. Even some fancy ones.

My sister's BF took her out to a fancy place downtown and she said that the food was good and she noticed a difference.

Never been to a fancy place, but I would imagine there would be alot of rich folks that eat out alone too right? It wouldn't be special and anticipated or anything, i'll just stop in for lunch or something. Always like trying out new places during lunchtime or on the go.

So, anyone here does that?

Go with a friend. Eating at a nice place by yourself is like going to the theater to watch a movie by yourself. You can do it....but why not go with a friend. When I see someone eating by themselves, I always think they're lonely people.

[AzNboii]

lol creeper status, kinda weird at a classy place. but like mike said, just ask a homeboy or homegirl if they want to checc out that spot.

[chiuchimu]

Normally, I wouldn't. that would be embarrassing - I'd rather go to burger king for take out.

But my brother takes many business trips a year all around the world and through out the U.S.A. The company pays for all expenses, everything. So, he checks out the famous five star restaurants listed in the magazines. This means eating alone at a fancy restaurant sometimes but for him its better than missing out on an opportunity.

[kfighter]

Go with a friend. Eating at a nice place by yourself is like going to the theater to watch a movie by yourself. You can do it....but why not go with a friend. When I see someone eating by themselves, I always think they're lonely people.

I hate people like this guy. why do ppl think that just because someone is eating alone, they are lonely? does it make you feel superior? Does it justify your insecurity? I feel that people like this guy are stuck up and cannot survive living by themselves.

[starry]

All the time. If I'm suffering for company so badly, I can go bug my roommate or go to a bar where there are bound to be plenty of lonely people who want to whine about their problems to someone, anyone.

But I can't enjoy my food that well when I'm sitting across from someone I'm not familiar with.

I used to go to the movies by myself too. I saw "Titanic" on my own twice because none of my friends wanted to watch it a second/third time.

I hate people like this guy. why do ppl think that just because someone is eating alone, they are lonely? does it make you feel superior? Does it justify your insecurity? I feel that people like this guy are stuck up and cannot survive living by themselves.

Harsh.

This post has been edited by starry: Jul 26 2009, 01:01 PM

[mikekk86]

I hate people like this guy. why do ppl think that just because someone is eating alone, they are lonely? does it make you feel superior? Does it justify your insecurity? I feel that people like this guy are stuck up and cannot survive living by themselves.

Lol, I am not saying anyone who eats alone are lonely people, perpetually. I love spending time alone a lot myself. I have nothing against "alone time." But personally I would not go to a nice restaurant to eat alone or to a movie theater alone. It's just plain common social sense that those types of places are SOCIAL areas. If I want to spend time alone, I can go to the beach, or park, or jog along a nice path, etc. Don't trip pal... You can't change people's assumptions based on your own awkward social habits.

[chiuchimu]

Lol, I am not saying anyone who eats alone are lonely people, perpetually. I love spending time alone a lot myself. I have nothing against "alone time." But personally I would not go to a nice restaurant to eat alone or to a movie theater alone. It's just plain common social sense that those types of places are SOCIAL areas. If I want to spend time alone, I can go to the beach, or park, or jog along a nice path, etc. Don't trip pal... You can't change people's assumptions based on your own awkward social habits.

I disagree with you. I'm not saying your poor, but you seem to have a poor person going to a expensive restaurant take on all this. A lot of rich busy people dine alone at an expensive restaurant. They are busy and they want to eat great food, they are used to that because they go to these places often. Its a matter of schedules.

Also, even if your not rich there are many reason one might dine alone at a classy place. The nature of ones work for example. People who fly a lot. people in the food industry. People in the movie industry.

Like you, I would do take out rather than eat alone at an expensive restaurant. But calling people who do as having "awkward social habits." is severe and uninformed.

[mikekk86]

I disagree with you. I'm not saying your poor, but you seem to have a poor person going to a expensive restaurant take on all this. A lot of rich busy people dine alone at an expensive restaurant. They are busy and they want to eat great food, they are used to that because they go to these places often. Its a matter of schedules.

Also, even if your not rich there are many reason one might dine alone at a classy place. The nature of ones work for example. People who fly a lot. people in the food industry. People in the movie industry.

Like you, I would do take out rather than eat alone at an expensive restaurant. But calling people who do as having "awkward social habits." is severe and uninformed.

You disagree with a general assumption?

I also assume people who ride the bus prefer not to drive. I have the right to assume something and also understand it can be wrong based on particular circumstances and contexts. For example, I understand someone actually may want to drive but their car is in the shop. This does not stop me from assuming---as it is human nature to assume. So I don't see how you can disagree with the idea of assuming. You can only disagree if I said,"Anyone who eats alone is definitely and always lonely." Well then, that would be a statement of perpetual certainty---Which you can then disagree or agree with. But for me to say I think or assume someone is lonely when they eat alone is a passive remark which barely lends not even to an opinion on the matter. Only a quick glance---which is not to be judged as right or wrong, agreed to or disagreed to. To do so is only an emotional trigger based on something more---defending a brother for example.

I do not understand why so many people on forums are so emotionally defensive. So I assumed you were alone and thus possibly lonely. ...So what? I am not telling you that you are lonely and need help. Really, people just need to chill out and stop worrying about what other people are thinking about them.

The OP asked "Is it wierd to eat out/dine by yourself only?" I think everyone knows that there are times when people eat/dine out alone--like people in the food industry. And if you are within that realm, than it isn't weird but expected. However, if you are not within this context, I would say my opinion on this matter is that it is socially weird indeed---because it is not expected.

[chiuchimu]

I have the right to assume something and also understand it can be wrong based on particular circumstances and contexts.

The problem is:
at one point your saying "I assume" and "My assumption" which IS unarguable. People can criticize but not argue.
at another point your saying "people's assumption" or socially weird" when you alone are the only one posting this thought. No one else is siding with you, but at least three voice their opposition.

[mikekk86]

My opinion that eating alone at a nice restaurant is socially weird is based on what I hear from people and how I feel as a natural honest response. And I am not the only one who has voiced their opinion that eating alone is kind of strange or socially weird in this particular forum thread. The OP of the thread questions it because he thinks it could be weird. Frederico jokingly said it was "serial killer stuff." 2nd2none stated it was "pointless." Aznboii stated it was "creeper status, kind of weird..." Truthdoesnthurt even says while it may not be weird, it is unpleasant and boring. And you have stated:'Normally, I wouldn't. that would be embarrassing." By my count and readings, many people have expressed the awkwardness of dining alone....even you. And that is the only thing I was saying: That when I see someone dining alone at a nice restaurant, I ASSUME they are lonely and would like some company. I fully accept the fact that I am making a general assumption and people who do not fit within the context of this assumption can prove me wrong. But I am not going around trying to make sure everyone dinning alone are lonely or not. It's just a subconscious assumption---honest and fleeting in importance.

So when you say:"Normally, I wouldn't. that would be embarrassing" you seem to condone that NORMALLY it is not something you would want to do...suggesting you feel weird about doing it. Which really is a normal response in itself. And yes, you brother dines alone due to his job and schedule. Which I understand fully.

If I saw someone at a TGI Fridays eating alone for dinner with his iPod on---as a human being with a mind, I can't help but assume certain things. I mean, you are sitting at a table that is suppose to seat more than one person. There's an empty seat in front of you. Is that not alone a sign that this is suppose to be a social event?

I respect that you have given me examples of how people can dine alone and have a reason as to why they do. But I don't think I am somehow wrong in what I voiced. I don't even have anything against people who are socially weird. I think it's cool many times. But that doesn't stop me from understanding that dining alone is seen many times as socially awkward either. This thread seems to basically say this: YES, EATING ALONE CAN LOOK WEIRD, BUT THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH DOING IT. This is quite standard and what I would have expected people to generally express. I think if we both agree to that, than there really isn't much to fuss over---unless you think eating alone is at a nice restaurant is a perfectly normal and expected social habit which assumptions of anything else should be severely criticized.

[Mid-Night_Sun]

wow, i never thought about this before....in high school i didnt eat lunch. only ate when i got home. at uni, usually im with somebody or a group. others get hungry before i do (probably because im so used to not eating lunch...) and we eat then.

when i study on my own, i either cook my own food because im studying at my off campus house/rez; or i just get a snack from the lib...

i mean i dont have a problem with eating alone in a restaurant, just doesnt happen often. ive done it a few times, but its on campus. people you know bump into you. either they get food and sit down with you or just sit and chat while you eat.