amusing social commentary

[callicrates]

I've noticed something in the last several trips willowisp and I have taken for lunch and dinner out by ourselves. I tend to order a big salad. She goes for fish and chips (at Flying Star) or enchiladas (at Garduno's). When the food finally arrives, the person bringing it out will usually offer her the salad and me the, um, greasier stuff. This has happened enough times that I don't think it's random chance.

Deconstruction of potential stereotypes is left as an exercise for the reader.

Comments

[9thmoon.livejournal.com]

Based on what?

[torquemada.livejournal.com]

Attitude (mental and physical), dress and appearance, and use of language.

[9thmoon.livejournal.com]

Example?

[torquemada.livejournal.com]

The woman who took our lunch order today. Little Chinese-looking lady, middle aged. Probably raised traditionally, but from her dress she's a little more progressive. She's also attentive and very facile -- she is very familiar with the register, with the layout of things behind the counter, she never forgets who ordered what, is otherwise competent. If she brought checks out, the first time she'd bring it to me, because she'd expect me to pay by default, but if you paid she'd be keeping an eye out and would remember next time, because she pays attention to her customers.

[9thmoon.livejournal.com]

I'm still not clear on how you'd determine who she would place the check in front of.

[torquemada.livejournal.com]

Well, someone more traditional, sloppy, or disinterested would probably give me the check by default; someone especially traditional, or not very interested in doing the job well, wouldn't think to check the name on the card and return it to the right person; someone attentive enough to see that we interact as equals, or who eirself was progressive enough, might not assume that I was The Man and Breadwinner and would leave the check between us.