Awkward Eating
I was sitting in my class (Women Artists) today around lunchtime. I packed myself a mortadella sandwich on a baguette. The bread was a little stale and tough. As people starting walking in, there I was ripping apart my sandwich with my teeth. It was kind of awkward but I was wondering... Should it be awkward? Am I being rude? I wonder what is going through everyone's head while I am obviously struggling with this sandwich. Do they even notice? Has anyone else ever had a similar experience?
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23 Comments:
i don't understand any of this message, why are you bothered by what other folks think about you? they probably didn't notice and if they did why in the hell are you worried about it?
olddad at 9:58PM on 09/17/09
Someone struggling with a difficult sandwich wouldn't bother me, except to think that it's too bad the sandwich is that difficult. Rudeness would be talking with your mouth full. Or eating spaghetti with your hands. Or making a huge mess and not cleaning it up.
dbcurrie at 10:02PM on 09/17/09
My coworker (5 months pregnant) was noisly and slopily tearing into a peach the other day at my job, it was noticed by about half of the floor.
Jokes were cracked about how epic tasting the peach must have been to be devoured with such ferocity. So yes, people may notice, the question is if you care what they're thinking.
As long as you're not dropping crumbs all over the person in front of you I think it's alright.
AyeEat at 10:17PM on 09/17/09
As you described the scene I was thinking to myself, she needs some wine to wash that down with. What would your classmates have thought if you busted out the stemware and poured a glass?
climbhighak at 11:01PM on 09/17/09
how else could you eat a delicious sounding sandwich like that? very earthy!
pooch at 11:49PM on 09/17/09
I once saw an employee try to open a bag of chips with his teeth and when he tore at the bag it exploded chips all over him and his work station.
I laughed so hard I passed tea through my nose (with lemon oh man did that sting) he was real upset too because he had his usual sandwich chips combo but the rest of us were laughing our asses off. The next time he had chips we teased him easy there big guy get the scissors. Now that was funny.
I have to say if your in class you should eat quietly and not draw attention to yourself. Maybe a baguette was not the proper thing for that.
Maybe pick up some softer bread.
JerzeeTomato at 12:21AM on 09/18/09
I totally understand where you're coming from especially in a school sitting. I used to have professors who'd let us eat in class, but it felt so awkward and it was apparent that everyone felt weird doing it. It was as if we hoped they'd ban food in the class just so we wouldn't have to figure out how to eat as quiet as a mouse. I especially hated having to open up something loud, like food wrapped in cellophane or tin foil. I avoided chips like the plague.
I doubt anyone thinks you're rude. I just think eating in class is one of those things that can make a person hyper self conscious.
PumpkinBear at 2:20AM on 09/18/09
Are other people eating? If not, I think that might make me a little uncomfortable but if others take this opportunity to snack or lunch, I wouldn't sweat the circumstances. Your ripping baguette is the same as someone's slurping noodles or crunching chips.
therealchiffonade at 6:22AM on 09/18/09
Concerning eating in public - Civility should still matter, even in class. I guess if I was starving I'd have no issue with food that didn't call attention to itself in public - a cup of coffee or juice, a small yogurt - but food that DID practically jump up and scream "messy food item here!" I'd wrap up and wait for a more discreet location in which to consume.
If the class was outside, it's another story altogether. But in an enclosed classroom, I'd skip the messier things out of respect for others.
moibec at 7:02AM on 09/18/09
I went to college in Japan so eating in class was a big no-no (so embarrassing to have your stomach announce your hunger when it's dead silent- I think it's way more distracting). One prof even yelled at me for bringing in a can of green tea.
hmw0029 at 8:05AM on 09/18/09
It's a good thing it was you and not me! Had anyone stared at me while eating, I would have put on a show that would harken back to the old national geographic films of a hyena tucking into a wildebeest! If it was a class rule that no food was allowed, that's one thing but with no such rule in place... STRAP ON THAT FEED BAG AND MOVE IT SISTER!
Besides, I never give a solid gold F%$! what others think. But I'm sure many of you suspected that already.... ; )
Pavlov at 8:21AM on 09/18/09
If I see someone tearing in to a nice crusty piece of bread, I think I would like to ask them where there Bakery is, and wish it was me! Munch away - I'm with @olddad.
bareneed at 8:22AM on 09/18/09
If you were eating before class, I would say it's up to you regarding your comfort level--in most of my classes, students would eat lunch at some point before lecture or seminar, or during the break. Sometimes I feel weird eating in a very public area--I usually prefer to go to a more anonymous location to eat outside.
If you were eating during the professor's lecture, of course, that would be another thing entirely...not because of the food issue, but out of respect to the professor. After all, unless it's televised, he or she is a 'live' performer and can see you eating and hear you.
HeartofGlass at 8:38AM on 09/18/09
Don't worry about it. It's lunchtime and it's normal to be hungry. I've night classes and I can't wait till 10 to have dinner. It's either you go hungry and let the stomach growl during class or have a full stomach so you can pay attention in class. You choose. :)
gargupie at 8:38AM on 09/18/09
I wouldn't worry about it either. People eat weirder stuff than a good-ol mortadella sandwich! You need your energy for school somehow right? Endulge!
hungrychristel at 10:23AM on 09/18/09
If you are attending most any university in the US, chances are you are being indoctrinated with their leftist line of lies and bull crap and are being charged out the nose for this privilege. In any case, in this situation, I sure wouldn't worry about being rude, you're paying for it.
tusti at 10:56AM on 09/18/09
Quit worrying… It’s none of anyone’s business what or when you need to eat. If they have a problem with it… its exactly that… their problem.
I have been in a situation several times where I am eating something somewhere and it crosses my mind… are people looking at me like I am some kind of animal, are they disgusted, are they…
Then I stop and realize… I don’t give a crap. This is good. I am hungry. They can all think what they want to. Yum yum grumble, grumble, gnaw, growl, yum yum.
happyeats at 12:17PM on 09/18/09
A sandwich at lunchtime wouldn't bother me, so don't worry about it. The only reason why I'd be looking at you is because I'd be curious about what was in your sandwich and whether you were enjoying it :)
@HeartofGlass -- I completely agree with the eating during lectures. One of my classmates was bringing in fast food from the local Wendy's and just going to town on his meal. Not only was the smell atrocious, you could hear his paper wrappers crinkling every ten seconds.
avaryne at 4:50PM on 09/18/09
@avaryne--I am reminded of "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" when Sean Penn's surfer dude character orders a pizza to be delivered to class!
HeartofGlass at 5:45PM on 09/18/09
i just remembered that there was one girl who used to eat lunch during one of my grad school lectures, making all sorts of noises (I was wondering why slurping was required to eat pizza). the irritating thing was that we were all taking the class while she was auditing. haha
hmw0029 at 5:57PM on 09/18/09
I only find it awkward trying to eat something noisy. Like the one time I brought celery to class and didn't expect it to be so crisp. My friend took a piece and bite into it with a HUGE 'CRUNCH'. It didn't get any less noisy as he tried to quietly munch it.
Actually I find that funny...but it is a little awkward when you are the person.
eggyzhe at 8:21PM on 09/18/09
I know this last comment is coming a bit to late, but just to be clear. I was never worried nor did I care. I posted the question out of true curiosity. Just wondering what everyone else thought. I finished my sandwich and it was delicious.
GinaPet at 7:11PM on 09/19/09
I've always gone to schools that allowed eating in class - just as long as you didn't make a mess and that you weren't distracting others. Usually, that meant that things that could be torn apart with your hands (like a bagel and cream cheese) were usually fine, but things that required big bites, like big messy sandwiches (small, neat ones seemed to be ok), salads, or soups were usually deemed inappropriate by the students. Hope that helps.
Golden at 5:30PM on 09/20/09