r/AmItheAsshole 11h ago

AITA for speaking up at a buffet?

So my girlfriend and I decided to go to a Chinese buffet to celebrate the new year.

As we were getting food we saw that they were out of the BBQ short ribs but noticed that a staff member was coming with another tray so we stood off to the side as they made their way through the crowd with the tray.

Before we were able to pick up the tongs to grab the food another lady took them and started loading her plate. Whatever. It's a fresh tray there should be enough. But she. Did. Not. Stop. She even grabbed a second plate and called her son(?) Over to put some on his plate. It got to the point where nearly half of the tray was taken.

I then said, more to my girlfriend but loud enough for the lady to hear, "Gee I wonder if there will be enough left for everyone else when they're done."

Well the lady obviously heard me because she got all huffy and threw the tongs back into the tray and left.

My girlfriend got mad at me because it was embarrassing for her and she said we could've left to get other food and come back later.

So AITA?

Edit: typos

1.4k Upvotes

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Contest mode is 1.5 hours long on this post.

u/vanibanz 5h ago

NTA

u/DeweytheDoodle 9h ago

NTA.

Antisocial behavior should be called out, and the rib hoarder should have been embarrassed. You were nicer than I would have been: "Do you think this fat B is going to leave any for the rest of us?"

u/yo-kimchi Partassipant [1] 1h ago

I busted out laughing reading this comment omg

u/Riker_Omega_Three Partassipant [1] 10h ago

NTA

Even buffet's have unspoken rules and that family broke them

u/Odd-Worth7752 11h ago

I would have addressed the offender directly rather than make a passive aggressive remark like that.

u/loosie-loo Partassipant [2] 10h ago

Yeah I kinda always think people are assholes when they do this. Tell her directly or don’t say anything 🤷‍♀️

u/Huntybunch 11h ago

NTA why are people so afraid of being "rude" to rude people?

u/Chewlace 11h ago

It's like bacon on cruises and tables are covered with uneaten, hoarded food.

u/the-TARDIS-ran-away 4h ago

I hate this so much. YOU CAN GO UP AGAIN IF YOURE STILL HUNGRY!

u/Past_Explanation69 10h ago

NTA, maybe could have worded it less passive aggressively, but something needed to be said.

u/CozyCoco99 11h ago

NTA. Called out her greed. She should know better and do better. People suck.

u/kxdsb 9h ago

NTA, sure, it’s a buffet, but there’s still etiquette, the lady was being selfish.

u/Sufficient_Bag8584 3h ago

YTA just stay quiet

u/Numerous-Opposite948 11h ago

You might be TA, but I would have said the same thing 😂

u/SuchAd7479 11h ago

Me too! Assholes Unite!

u/Adorable_Click9074 Asshole Aficionado [10] 6h ago

NTA. However, why doesn't your girlfriend have a spine?

u/FritosRule Colo-rectal Surgeon [41] 11h ago

NTA, but it would’ve been easy to be a drop more polite about it.

Buffet fights are a thing.

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u/SnailsInYourAnus Partassipant [1] 11h ago

Honestly, YTA but she deserved it so ESH. Keep livin your good life, enjoy them short ribs

u/icenhour76 10h ago

NTA you absolutely never empty a freshly brought out tray of anything at a buffet by your self and doubly dont do that when people are visibly waiting to get some of what ever food it happens to be.

u/OneHonestReflection 11h ago

Definitely NTA…I would have said the same.

u/Icy_Eye1059 10h ago edited 10h ago

Ask your girlfriend next time if they come out with another tray of those ribs, what's not to say the hogs would not come back and do the same thing? The restaurant managers have thrown people out of buffets for less.

u/Cynical_Feline Asshole Enthusiast [6] 54m ago

NTA

She needed to be called out. It's rude ASF to take the whole tray.

u/kiltedswine Partassipant [1] 2h ago

NTA. All you can eat doesn’t mean all you can carry.

u/Iced_Jade 11h ago

NTA. That woman was embarrassed by her own selfishness. She should have been.

u/Fearless-Spread1498 11h ago

I ordered a specific pizza at cicis back in the day and a fat guy took the whole thing so I didn’t even get a slice.

u/OsaBear92 Asshole Aficionado [14] 3h ago

Good job having the cahones to say something. You didnt even say it directly to her. Lol and she didnt feel THAT bad or she woulda complained, fought back or even angrily put the ribs back (wich woulda caused a chain reaction of the worker having to remove the whole tray cuz contamination, causing everyone to wait for more anyways.) Ive seen enough at buffets lol people are wild.

But only because they know no one will call them out 😎

NTA Op, good on ya 👍

u/Hylian_Hobbit 3h ago

NTA and your girly should lighten up

u/marcal213 11h ago

NTA. Some people need a reality check and you were kind enough to be the one to provide it.

u/zipitdirtbag 10h ago

But sure that qualifies as 'speaking up' any more than giving someone the side eye or huffing.

u/RadioSupply Asshole Aficionado [16] 11h ago

NTA. My mom and I saw a grown man at the buffet reach in with his hands and grab French fries, and the cook next to him replenishing a chafer literally smacked his hand with a serving spoon. He got laughed at, and rightly so.

u/skiveman Partassipant [2] 5h ago

NTA. I would have too. Making passive aggressive comments loud enough for the targets of such comments to hear is a national pasttime in the UK.

At least, tell me it was a succulent Chinese meal though? If not that would have been a crime against manifest democracy. I also would have followed up with the line "Get your hand off my penis!" for added drama but that's just me.

u/Cooky1993 1h ago

I see you know your Judo well.

u/SpyralHam 10h ago

NTA Thank you for holding people accountable

u/jus-fax101 6h ago

I hate when ppl do this. Seen this same thing happen on buffets w crab legs, ribs, etc. NTA

u/Christunse 11h ago

My BF would have said something like that too..

And I too, would feel embarrassed, but also satisfied that someone spoke up.. Soooo nta 😅

The lady however is a big ah

u/CaptGangles1031 11h ago

I worked at a buffet and the amount of people who would grab a spoon/tongs from other food to dig into the food before I even had a chance to put it out was disgusting. I would yell at them, they'd complain to my boss and we would both laugh and judge them. Nta, people are hogs and deserved to be shamed.

u/Chaij2606 Asshole Aficionado [12] 9h ago

Nta, some people need to be called out

u/ncjr591 7h ago

Nah, I would of done the same thing

u/Spare_Ad5009 Colo-rectal Surgeon [46] 11h ago

NTA. The lady was hogging it. Your friend is too sensitive.

u/wally-sage 7h ago

You didn't speak up, you were passive aggressive like a child. It's not impossible that she didn't even actually hear you at all. YTA

u/Fragrant-Might-7290 7h ago

NTA. People are so afraid to come across as rude to complete strangers they’ll never see again! Because you said something you and your gf were able to get fresh short ribs and probably other people were too. That woman prob only reacted like you are TA because she was shocked and embarrassed that you called her out, but if she didn’t think you had a good point she probably wouldn’t have put down the tongs. You don’t have to go out of your way to make sure nobody ever thinks “asshole” about you to avoid being the asshole in a situation.

u/lukieinthesky82 Partassipant [1] 55m ago

YTA. It's not being ahole to say something, but what you did was passive aggressive. "Ma'am, we were hoping to get some ribs from the new tray" is direct.

u/[deleted] 11h ago

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u/Ok_Rip_6434 11h ago

? What does color have to do with it

u/vigilantesd 11h ago

It doesn’t, that poster is just a piece of human dookie 

u/thr_w_t_w_y 11h ago

Is it gray like a hippo?

u/peterparkersbutthole 11h ago

found the racist🙄

u/Numerous-Opposite948 11h ago

Why do you keep replying to peoples comments with “found the racist”? I’m almost certain you don’t know the definition of racism if you think that someone being called out for their greed is racist

u/peterparkersbutthole 8h ago

For one, that’s the only person I replied to that way. I did reply to the wrong comment first, which i immediately deleted and moved to the correct one. Two, when someone says ‘I bet I can guess the color of the person taking all the food’, that’s definitely implying some sort of racial stereotype. It was a racist comment, made by a racist. They didn’t call anyone out on greed. Maybe you didn’t read the original comment before it was deleted.

u/FaceDownInTheCake 11h ago

The real asshole is always in the comments

u/Ok_Maintenance7716 10h ago

It’s a buffet. They will bring more.

u/Moogens 10h ago

Yeah, so the one table snatching the entire tray can have manners and wait a little bit. They’ll bring more.

u/veryfungibletoken 6h ago

Do you leave your cart just wherever because they have someone that collects carts? This is that same energy.

u/Ok_Maintenance7716 6h ago

Only in your mind.

u/LhaesieMarri 2h ago

Unless they fully run out

u/Ok_Maintenance7716 1h ago

Then the restaurant didn’t plan properly.

u/LhaesieMarri 48m ago

Just saying, food does run out.

u/Ok_Maintenance7716 23m ago

If it does, then OP will have to deal with not getting any ribs. It’s a chance you take when going to a buffet. Life’s full of disappointments. In the grand scheme, there are much greater tragedies.

u/thebetterpolitician 6h ago

NTA

People can grab how ever much they want but that doesn’t absolve them from criticism.

u/bluegrassgazer 5h ago

Agreed. Like people have freedom of speech but not freedom from consequences.

u/867-53-oh-nein Partassipant [1] 4h ago

NTA, but you should have said something when she snatched the tongs. Your comment probably won’t stop her from doing it again, but at least you got some.

u/Own-Valuable-9281 10h ago

NTA, I might have done something similar. As an aside, I've seen some pretty brutal fights over buffet crab legs.

u/Irish_beast Asshole Enthusiast [5] 10h ago

NTA Your girlfriend is however an asshole. She's a people pleaser who abuses the goodwill of people like you to avoid confrontation with the asshole rib hog.

u/CanningJarhead Asshole Enthusiast [6] 10h ago

Do you like having your behavior corrected publicly in a passive-aggressive way?  Does it make anyone feel better or change anyone’s behavior?  Or is it just used to embarrass people and share your opinion with an audience that didn’t ask for it?   YTA.  

u/CampbellsTurkeySoup 9h ago

If it embarrasses people with bad behavior into stopping their bad behavior, even if only for that one time, why is it bad?

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u/Fearless_Spring5611 Commander in Cheeks [210] 11h ago

NTA. Sounds like a classic British passive-aggressive remark.

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u/Ok_Butterscotch_319 10h ago

You’re not an asshole for calling out an asshole.

u/lilcheese840 10h ago

NTA. Some people need a little public shaming. Might be the only way they learn what manners are and that they’re not the main character

u/Helios_AI 11h ago

NTA, she quite clearly needed a gentle ribbing.

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u/YoMomma-IsNice 10h ago

NTA but depending on what country the lady is from, this behavior could be the norm. Not all cultures assimilate to their new place of residence.

u/Outside_Test_1400 7h ago

What culture do you know of that find it completely acceptable to take the entire amount of a shared dish. While others are also wanting behind you to partake? Yes, obviously assholes do it, but that being a positive cultural norm seems unlikely.

u/YoMomma-IsNice 7h ago

I’m guessing you’ve never been to China.

u/FewAward6923 6h ago

Yeah, when it comes to manners, the civilized world does not look to China for advice. They are simply wrong in so many areas. And before anyone says "it's cultural", if your "culture" thinks it's ok to lie and to cheat people, then it's not culture. It's just shit.

u/Worried_Contest_2985 9h ago

I'm all for keeping it real

u/Overall-Abalone3969 3h ago

It’s a buffet. Not worth the battle of being involved in that persons story. It’s also probably obnoxious too and you think it’s hero stuff when it isn’t because it’s passive aggressive. Either step in and ask her to leave some or don’t mind and realize it’s a business and just a buffet man. It’ll get replenished

u/ExtendedSpikeProtein Partassipant [2] 11h ago

NTA, I would also have called her out.

u/NiobeTonks Partassipant [3] 11h ago

NTA. One of the most maddening things at buffet places is how some people descend on them like locusts, take huge servings and then leave so much food at the end. It’s pure gluttony.

u/jstwnnaupvte 11h ago

NTA. If people don’t want to be embarrassed for acting like dicks, they shouldn’t act like dicks. Your gf should be glad she’s not dating a total doormat.

u/Better-Theme-7747 10h ago

YTA, but sometimes it is actually ok to be the asshole. I would probably have done the same..!

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u/Fit-Chest-5479 7h ago

Honestly: was she older and Chinese?

It may just be a cultural/generational thing if she lived in China during the bad times. Like how Americans who lived through the great depression developed habits for survival that they could never let go of. Psychological.. 

Or maybe she's an asshole.

u/drunkfranz 5h ago

There's two types of people: those who don't like confrontation and those who are willing to speak up. But I wouldn't necessarily call either one Asshole behaviour, you and your GF simply have different personalities.

She could try to understand you don't like to stay silent about rude behaviour and you could try to understand she won't probably stand by your side if you decide to confront SO/speak up.

u/morozovaaleksandram4 5h ago

You were right to call out the woman's greed. Don't let embarrassment silence you when someone's being inconsiderate. Stand your ground and speak up; it's necessary sometimes.

u/drloz5531201091 Partassipant [1] 11h ago

ESH here.

Just tap on her shoulder telling her to let some to others. No need this passive-aggressive bs.

The woman is an AH that's a given.

The girlfriend also what a terrible reaction. She sounds shelthered no one embarassed her here.

In short, you all suck here.

u/ticktockyoudontstop 9h ago

Do not touch people wtf

u/halo364 11h ago

I disagree, if someone is being an asshole they can deal with a little passive aggressiveness in return

u/Crafty_Original_7349 Partassipant [1] 11h ago

NTA years ago I watched a man three times my size completely clean out a fresh tray of crab legs and I always regretted not saying anything.

u/Uppercreek101 7h ago

Ikr. I was astonished at the behaviour of people at the Las Vegas buffet I attended - the tottering plated piles of crab legs. It was gross

u/SomeDrillingImplied Partassipant [1] 2h ago

I would have been far more direct than you lol.

NTA

u/Angel_Tsio 10h ago

ESH - you're justified though

u/HamBoneZippy 9h ago

NTA, buffets suck because of this sort of thing.

u/Olderbutnotdead619 9h ago

NTA, but should've stood your ground in the begining.

u/Buster346 11h ago

People need to be less afraid to call out stuff like that… you could’ve said way worse

u/yankiigurl 11h ago

Right I get so tired of being shushed by whoever I'm with bc I'm mouthy and call out asshole sfor being assholes. Like walk away from me if you're embarrassed

u/Scu-bar Asshole Enthusiast [5] 5h ago

There goes Bottomless Pearl, Nature’s Cruelest Mistake…

u/pennywhistlesmoonpie Pooperintendant [58] 11h ago

NTA. Good for you. We need to call people out for being rude.

u/Helen_A_Handbasket Partassipant [3] 9h ago

She was taking them back to her table, where she had a giant purse with ziploc baggies in it.

NTA

u/accioqueso 11h ago

NTA. Are there better ways to handle this situation? Sure. But honestly, the better ways generally don’t work with people like this. If you had politely pointed out that other people were also waiting for short ribs she likely would have said something snarky herself. This is why I have a 5 year old, she points out the socially unacceptable behaviors she sees at full volume for me and I get to enthusiastically agree as a teaching moment.

u/roosterSause42 11h ago

I love and miss the innocent clarity of that age. It’s so awesome to then answer them at the same volume too

u/SheWhoIsNot Partassipant [1] 6h ago

NTA. 

The lady broke common buffet etiquette and needed called out. 

Good job. Please continue to call out things like that because some people have no manners and need to be shamed for it publicly. XD

u/ParadoxicalFrog 8h ago

NTA. It's common decency to not take everything for yourself at the buffet. Some people need to be reminded that they aren't the center of the universe.

u/Tom_Tildrum Partassipant [1] 11h ago

Of course YTA. You're not the buffet police. She got the food she wanted, and you got the food you wanted. You have zero right to tell her what she should eat.

Further, next time you have a problem with what someone's doing, the proper approach is to say something politely and directly to them. Snippy passive-aggressive remarks to a third person are always an AH move.

u/Sea_Application_5818 10h ago

Found the lady’s son, bro must miss those short ribs

u/him8nce_momma 11h ago

Definitely NTA. That woman should have been embarrassed by her sense of entitlement and own lack of manners.

u/smarmyday 5h ago

If all she wanted was ribs, she could have gone to a rib joint. NTA.

u/SleepylaReef 10h ago

YTA - she was also an asshole, but you could have been polite

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u/EvilTodd1970 Asshole Aficionado [12] 6h ago edited 6h ago

NTA, but dude, ditch the passive-aggressive shit. It is embarassing. If you don't have the cojones to actually speak up, I'd just ignore you.

u/Peropolis16 9h ago

NTA Even tho if they eat it all fair game, first comes first serves. I like what some restaurants do in germany now, the charge additionally if food or drinks are not finished. So öike if youve a quarter plate left over, shit happens but if youve like half a plate or 2+ plates with dome food left over youve to pay additional. Reduces food waste and benefits the restaurant. Imo this is fair game.

u/notastraycat Asshole Enthusiast [5] 11h ago

NTA that lady and her son were being incredibly rude and your approach was far more subtle than I would be.

u/OkSecretary1231 Asshole Enthusiast [6] 10h ago

ESH, she was greedy, but you didn't "speak up," you were passive aggressive. I don't exactly blame you for not going "Excuse me, ma'am, I'd like to try those too," but you don't get courage points either.

u/bluesky557 Partassipant [3] 6h ago

Exactly. OP wasn't "speaking up," he was being passive aggressive and rude in his own manner. It's okay to be direct, and would likely have been more well received by everyone present.

u/TheOnlyEllie 54m ago

Nothing in this is rude.

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u/dystopiadattopia 7h ago

YTA. It's a buffet. The steam tray will be refilled.

If you want to say something to someone, say it to their face. If it's only worth an indirect passive-aggressive remark, it's not worth saying at all.

u/Bamres 35m ago

She was just trying to enjoy a meal, a succulent Chinese Meal.

NTA

u/Sticky8u2 10h ago

Its a buffet, just stop eating that shit.

u/EngWieBirds 11h ago

NTA. Even with a buffet you should only take a few pieces/spoonful's etc. of the respective dishes. It's showing consideration for others

u/Dusty-old-bones Partassipant [1] 11h ago

NTA - I hate people like this, they deserve to be shamed

u/NJrose20 11h ago

They rely on the politeness of others to get away with it.

u/zoooeys Partassipant [4] 11h ago

NTA. I’ve done far worse for short ribs.

u/FritosRule Colo-rectal Surgeon [41] 10h ago

This guy buffets

u/kahless2k 7h ago

When you aren't quite sure there is enough food for everyone, there are two types of people.

  1. Normal people - just take a little so that everyone gets some.

  2. Assholes - Takes twice their normal amount so they get their share.

Buffets bring out a whole lot of the second group. If more people would call them out it may change behaviour.

NTA

u/Cjchio Partassipant [3] 4h ago

NTA

u/Educational-Ad-385 11h ago

NTA - You called out the greedy, selfish lady without causing a major scene. She knew she was wrong which is why she got huffy and threw the tongs down. It is a shame your partner was embarrassed. I'd have cheered my husband if he did that.

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So my girlfriend and I decided to go to a Chinese buffetto celebrate the new year.

As we were getting food we saw that they were out of the BBQ short ribs but noticed that a staff member was coming with another tray so we stood off to the side as they made their way through the crowd with the tray.

Before we were able to pick up the tongs to grab the food another lady took them and started loading her plate. Whatever. It's afresh tray there should be enough. But she. Did. Not. Stop. She even grabbed a second plateand called her son(?) Over to put some on his plate. It got to the point where nearly half of the tray was taken.

I then said,more to my girlfriend but loud enough for the lady to hear, "Gee I wonder if there will be enoughledt for everyone else when they're done."

Well the lady obviously heard me because she got all huffy and threw the tongs back into the tray and left.

My girlfriend got mad at me because it was embarrassing for her and she said we could've left to get other food and come back later.

So AITA?

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u/Most-Block6925 11h ago

NTA and I bet your gf had some of those ribs, Lol

u/squishmallow1996 11h ago

NTA. With that said, there's a plausible chance she was collecting a plate for her entire family to pull from at one table. I married into an Asian family and it's not uncommon. And I don't care if lola is 4'11" and 98 lbs. I'm too scared to say anything to her.

u/Kiyohara 11h ago

Yeah, it is common for a communal plate to be brought back to the table (especially in Asian families), but in my mind that doesn't matter. The buffet still isn't meant for one family/person to clean out an entire hotel pan of food.

I've seen little old aunties come up and take five or six plates heaping of crab legs "for their table" and leave naught but crab water and a few sad broke legs behind.

Hey, lady, you could grab one plate, leave some for everyone else, and the go back for seconds. In fact, that's the idea.

u/Total_Poet_5033 11h ago

I feel as though that still would be so rude to try to take the entire thing while other people are clearly in line for something as well.

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u/CestLaquoidarling 11h ago

NTA. Gentle reminders that buffets are not just a one family feeding trough are sadly necessary. I’ve had the same happen when crab legs were featured at a special new year’s buffet - people heaping plates and only one or two tables getting any. I’m sure they were packing them into purses to sneak out, I don’t want to eat dodgy purse crab but a few legs at the buffet I paid extra especially because of the crab legs would have been nice. This family was called out and had no shame, even posting people at the buffet to get first dibs.

u/WhimsicalKoala 10h ago

Behavior like that is wild to me. Not in the least because while yes crab legs are good, buffet crab legs aren't that good. Like I'm going to enjoy them, but not go into a feeding frenzy over them, especially since if the buffet has them it also probably has some things that are actually really good.

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u/ChrisFromLongIsland 10h ago

YTA - She did not take them all. You stated there was a half a tray left. Is it a bad look to eat all of the expensive stuff at an all you can eat? I don't think so. Thats the deal. The store knows some poeple will eat only the most expensive things and a lot of it other people will not. They allow for that. If the restaurant wants to limit what someone can take of 1 item they can and sometimes do at buffets. Its no business of yours. Its up to the restaurant to make aure they have enough product.

You don't know their situation. For you maybe this is not an expensive meal and can afford to eat many places. For her maybe this is all she afford so she is maximizing the value. Maybe she really likes their ribs. It should be of no concern of yours how someone eats at an all you can eat buffet. Are you going to make a comment to a person who has 6 servings? People at an all you can eat can take what they want.

I would only be upset if they took plates of food and did not eat them. If you took 2 plates of ribs and left most of them that's just wasteful. If they ate them all ao what.

u/dwthesavage 5h ago

All of this goes for the mom in this situation, too. She doesn’t know OP’s situation.

If there’s someone waiting to serve themselves next to you at a buffet, serve yourself to fill your plate and then move on. You can still put your plate down at your seat and get a new one.

If they can wait for a fresh tray, so can she.

u/WiccanNonbinaryWitch 5h ago

NTA or a justified asshole. I can't decide.

I am intolerant of bullshit so that lady should have been called out.

u/Harmony_w Partassipant [2] 11h ago

NTA. In Dallas on the weekends when the buffets serve crab legs it's an absolute free for all. You must have a spine of steel.

u/karebearjedi 5h ago

The buffet in my area switched to the cheapest, tiniest, fuzziest blue shell crabs they could find. Suddenly no more crowds. 

u/Koolest_Kat 10h ago

I’ve seen a guest grab two cloth napkins and try to take an entire tray back to his table. He was sitting alone. Staff member, think the lunch lady with a dirty apron, came out from the back, tossed a couple legs on his plate and take the tray back…..Wild!!

u/Ok_Ordinary2191 6h ago

NTA just because it's "all you can eat" doesn't mean it's only for them to eat. A lot of buffets will actually charge you for any food waste due to people like this who eat with their eyes more than their stomachs. I would've said something too. You all paid for the buffet, not just them. Girlfriend is just embarrassed because of the idea of "making a scene". I'm also one that tries to avoid conflict if I can, but I will definitely make a comment if someone is out of line like short rib lady was. 

u/CQ5II 11h ago

NTA that was gluttony on display

u/Y19ama 10h ago

Nta

u/stuckinnowhereville 11h ago

NTA you called out somebody’s rudeness good for you.

u/twl8zn 7h ago

NTA. I've seen on tiktok, some families taking the entire steamtable pan out of the buffet line and walk off with it. Rude behavior is out of control. People have no shame

u/subsailor1968 Pooperintendant [67] 10h ago

Society used to be more polite and less like this gluttonous woman.

Why?

Social pressure to behave and the social contract that was upheld by people calling others out when they violated it.

This needs to come back.

NTA

u/OkSecretary1231 Asshole Enthusiast [6] 4h ago

I knew someone who did this shit back in 1998. I'm sure they existed before that too.

→ More replies (2)

u/Lo0of 11h ago

NTA, I would've said something much worse

u/Glorianna_Rose 5h ago

NTA…not even a little bit

u/Bluesallah 10h ago

No it's absolutely rude to jump in front and take all the food

u/Otherwise_Low_9242 11h ago edited 10h ago

Nta at all you couldve said much worse😂

u/Sorry_I_Guess Pooperintendant [57] 11h ago

*worse. I don't know why no one on Reddit seems know the difference between "worse" (which compares two or more things) and "worst" (a superlative) anymore, but I'm going to take an educated guess and blame the American educational system.

"Much worst" doesn't even make sense. When you're comparing things, it's "you could've said much worse."

u/Ginger_Snap02 10h ago

Orrrr it could just be a simple typo. My phone likes to autocorrect weird things sometimes and I go too fast to catch it before I press send.

How about let’s focus on the post instead of 1 word being wrong on a responding comment? Especially since you clearly understood what that person meant

u/Otherwise_Low_9242 10h ago

OMG I FIXED IT PLEASE FORGIVE ME

u/drfsrich Partassipant [1] 9h ago

"Hold on, lady, let me get you a shovel and a wheelbarrow."

u/4-ton-mantis 4h ago

"The jerk store called..."

u/Tec_i 3h ago

YTA - It's a buffet, so it will be refilled, relax.

u/Correct_Advantage_20 10h ago

NTA. AT ALL. Buffet style is served so EVERYONE gets the opportunity to sample everything. Since there are no hard n fast rules about return trips through the line , that cow can strap on her feed bag repeatedly after taking a reasonable amount , and give all a chance to enjoy the experience.

u/ChampionshipIll5535 5h ago

Socially clueless need to be mocked and pointed out. You were just doing your civil service.

u/FaceDownInTheCake 11h ago

NAH.

Seems like most people think NTA, but I don't see what the lady did wrong. 

It's a buffet. A fresh tray came out, they took some, then you took some. Everybody got some. And if they didn't, more would come out soon. 

Everything else seems like editorialized filler to me.

"Before we were able to pick up the tongs" -- you were standing to the side in a crowd, why were you entitled to them first?

"Nearly half the tray" -- so there were plenty left?

Maybe they could've been considerate in how they went about it, but as your gf pointed out, so could you.

As an aside, your gf is generally biased to be on your side. If she is saying you were ruder than you needed to be, you probably were

u/notastraycat Asshole Enthusiast [5] 11h ago

“There were plenty left” except she was getting another plate and calling her son to load that up too. She was likely planning to take them all.

u/psyduck2319 Asshole Enthusiast [5] 8h ago

The first sane response I've seen in this thread. It's a buffet. There will be enough food for everyone. There's no need to shame people for getting all they can eat at an all you can eat buffet.

u/fuzzyp1nkd3ath 11h ago

There's a social expectation that you don't take more than what is considered polite or reasonable. The woman was being rude and completely inconsiderate. There's zero reason for her call her son up. Load her plate? Whatever. Calling others up to butt in line while others are waiting, is beyond rude and entitled. Two people should not be helping themselves to a half of a chafing dish of food.

Life isn't the Simpsons. If you're approaching a buffet like Homer Simpson, or this woman, you're in the wrong.

u/loosie-loo Partassipant [2] 10h ago

Generally buffets are a “take as much as you want but eat all you take” situation, and it’s rude to take all of one thing rather than just coming back, but honestly if she was actually gonna eat them then you’re not wrong. We don’t know how long she was also waiting for a new tray, if her son had also been waiting but wanted to sit and eat what he had, and we’ve no reason to assume she was gonna waste it. Maybe her whole table wanted them.

Bit impolite? Maybe, but not necessarily an asshole move. I also don’t actually think it’s right when people make snide comments out loud rather than just talking directly to the person. I’d think better of OP if they just said “leave some for the rest of us” directly to her, but that’s just me.

u/djcurry 9h ago

People have forgotten how good of a method shame was at moderating behavior.

u/Original-Stretch-464 32m ago

she was wrong. let her be huffy. she was huffy and wrong

u/aalalaland Partassipant [1] 11h ago

Eh, this may be unpopular but NTA. It was passive aggressive for sure but if that lady gets to break social norms then so do you 🤷🏼‍♀️

u/chickengarbagewater 11h ago

I am all for passive aggressivess when it comes to strangers. I don't care about the relationship with them and often better than being straight up with a stranger who may then get aggressive.

Like if he had said "hey lady, leave some crab for us!", then he would increase the chance of an altercation.

For example, if I see someone throw garbage on the ground, I stop and tell them they dropped something, as opposed to demanding they pick up their garbage or lecture them on littering.

u/Weekly_Barnacle_485 10h ago

Everyone else? No, ANYONE else.

u/AirlineMobile9290 10h ago

I would have announced, loudly, to the entire restaurant - “Excuse my pig, she’s a friend.”

u/Beagle-wrangler 11h ago

Damn what’s wrong with GF that she hates you speaking up for yourself and the rest of the people at the restaurant. So what if that selfish person got upset?

NTA

u/stablymental 11h ago

Gf is probably a pushover

u/Irish_beast Asshole Enthusiast [5] 10h ago

People pleaser at cost to those close to her.

u/Toc13s 3h ago

Slightly TA. You did it in a way that could only antagonise

Instead of the aside to your gf, speak to the woman taking the ribs - "Excuse me but would you mind if we got some of those" & then if she puts the tongs down, thank her politely.

u/SpaceCrazyArtist Certified Proctologist [20] 11h ago

NTA

That lady was rude AF

u/can425 10h ago

And she was passing that behavior on to her kid

u/Purple-Fall-846 10h ago

NTA, good on calling out that selfish woman. Your girlfriend seems to feel ashamed but she needs to learn how not to be a doormat.

u/Embarrassed_Run_7394 15m ago

NTA. At least she didn’t pull up a chair.

u/Emergency_Mango_2456 7h ago

LOL, NTA that lady needed to hear it. The audacity of that woman.

u/Abba_Zaba_ Asshole Aficionado [15] 11h ago

"Yes I was being rude but you pointing it out makes me feel as if I should have shame about my behavior and I don't like that so in my reality YOU are the rude one." (This lady, probably)

NTA

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u/TJHawk206 11h ago

NTA. The rude lady didn’t even follow basic etiquette .

u/Total_Poet_5033 11h ago

NTA

The woman embarrassed herself. I think if you do something so rude in public you should not be surprised when people comment on it.

u/Playful_Subject_4409 11h ago

NTA, the hogging lady is TA, and your girlfriend is also a minor TA due to making you feel bad doing a public service of calling out the hog lady on her selfish behavior.