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"I chope seats with tissue paper but woman and friend take them"STOMPer Choppy alleges that this woman and her male friend took up seats which the STOMPer ‘choped’ with tissue paper at the Marina Square food court, even though they were told that the seats were taken later on.
In an email to STOMP today (Mar 23), the STOMPer wrote:
“I have a bad encounter with this woman and her male friend during lunchtime at Marina Square food court.
“I know that there are two different camps on the issue of ‘choping’ seats using tissue paper.
“I belong to the ‘local’ team (agreeing to use tissue paper) as this has been the culture in Singapore for many years.
“During the usual lunchtime crowd, it is not uncommon to see the empty tables being reserved by packets of tissue paper. Likewise, I did so by putting two packets there and went on to buy my lunch.
When I came back, this woman and a guy were sitting on my table.
“I told him politely that the seats were taken.
“He was not appalled but went on to retaliate that it was only occupied by twp packets of tissue paper.
“In a calm mode, I remarked that he was rude. He went on to comment that we were discourteous instead.
“Not wanting to prolong the argument, I stopped by saying ‘never mind’.
“He went on to tell his friend that he read about this issue in the papers and internet and how much he disagreed with those in the ‘local’ camp.
“Subsequently, after lamenting for a good five minutes, he shut his mouth and went on his own to grab his lunch.
“My female companion came along and took the seat beside the lady but this lady had the cheek to tell her that the seats were all taken.
“I told her bluntly that I have warned her about the taken seats prior to this. She went on to argue that we were wrong.
The STOMPer added that both parties snapped pictures of each other.
The STOMPer also claimed that this woman walked off after the STOMPer and his friend continued to ignore whilst they were having their lunch.
“But before she left, she continued her grumblings and lamented how ashamed she felt being a Singaporean. I was polite and only bade her goodbye.
“I would like to clarify that there are no rights or wrongs in this issue.
“However, having live in and knowing about this culture, I have learnt to embrace it. As mentioned earlier, it is not uncommon to see such sights.”
Lise Dale, who claims to be the woman in the picture that was sent in by STOMPer Choppy, wrote in an email:
“I would like to clarify on two points.
“1. My colleague and I were not rude. In fact, we explained why we did not honour that the table was taken with the placement of tissue paper.
“2. Even when I mentioned that there were three of us for a table of four, he deliberately asked his colleague to join in while my two colleagues went to get their food. I had asked them to get for me for food as well, while I waited at the table.
“I was at the Marina Square Food Court on Monday (Mar 23) at about 12.20pm with my two colleagues, and we were appalled to see the number of tables marked with tissue paper packed.
“This is indeed a discourteous act, as reserving tables with tissue paper packs is not proper, and selfish.
“Since we needed a table as well, my male colleague and I sat at one ‘reserved’ table while the other went to get her food.
"We were sat down for about five minutes when the guy who had placed the tissue pack approached the table.
“He told us that the table was reserved by him with his packet of tissue, to which we politely replied that such practice is not right.
“The proper practice is to have a friend sit while the rest go get their food.
“He ignored us and insulted us by calling us ‘childish’. At one point, he even and I quote said ‘If you don’t like our rules. Why don’t you go back to your own country?’
“I found this not only hurtful but insulting to me as a Pan-Asian Singaporean.
“Now I would like to point out that this guy is in no way uneducated or young.
“He appears to be in his late 20’s to early 30’s and an office executive indeed given that he was dressed in a shirt and pants, and may have been educated overseas (he spoke with an accent).”
She added that it was ‘insulting’ that he assumed that she was a foreigner.
“I have spoken to many of my local and overseas friends and they too find the practice of reserving tables an ungracious and rude practice,” she said
“I hope that we as Singaporeans can put a stop to this ungracious, kiasu tissue paper reserving of seats mentality.
“I challenge Choppy to be a man and place your photo on the net for all to see the real you.”LOL, ok, guys, admit, who use tissue papers to chope seats.What are your views?Edited by tr@nsp0rt_F3V3R 24 Mar `09, 5:28PM
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Originally posted by QX179R:
next time if you see seats placed with tissue packets & nobardie is around, before you exit the eating establishment, be sure to take as many packets as you can..
i think i should bring those aunty who sells one dollar tissues, to the food court.so she will have a profit to gain!
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I think FI jie jie will use tissue n chope seats de ...
Anyway, IMO, i only see hawker centres/food courts in the CBD area has this practice.
The dumb thing, most workers have only that short 1 hr or so for lunch. If i sit there, wait for my colleague (or friend) to buy n come back, then i go buy n come back ... U see whether u will still be colleagues or not lor.
While she might have disagreed with such a practice, doesn't mean she can ignore it. By thinking u r so goddammed right and mess up other ppl lunch hour and causing them to be late back at office n blah. U gonna take responsible for it ???
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Personally I do not condone the act of reserving seats using packets of tissue paper. Bags are fine but tissue packets are really too much.
I suggest everyone go to a local printing shop and print a "Reserved -by Management" sign and laminate it. Put it on the table before you go off to buy your food.
Seriously.
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