Dog Community

Posted : 4/20/2007 5:50:05 PM

Ah, this is typical. When an animal (your coworker) has been allowed to develop a habit that you now wish to break you will find taht they will test your resolve to a great degree before they change. Why? The cue worked before, so it will work now if I apply it over and over and over. Stick to your guns. If you follow through I garauntee it will take.

edited for crappy grammar

Paula

mrstjohnson

Posted : 4/20/2007 6:19:00 PM

Definitely rude. Even DH knows better than to take some of my food!

Bullymom

Posted : 4/20/2007 6:23:52 PM

OMG! That is soooo rude. You can always do like my dad did and still does... If someone tries to reach on his plate, he pokes them with his fork! He got me a few times when I was little and I learned pretty quick not to do that!

DumDog

Posted : 4/20/2007 6:35:33 PM

ORIGINAL: ashland
Right now I have been wanting to eat my peanut M&M's, but I know once I break them out, my lead will come over about 3 different times and ask for a few. She's the kind that takes AS she's asking. I'm just going to keep them in my lap and tell her no, but that they only cost $0.65 from the vending machine. (I did this with another person once and she told me, "I don't want a whole pack though.") [:@]

lol if that happens again, they dont want a whole bag, just say "Fine, eat all you want and then give the rest to me" with a big ole grin on your face.

although i would seriously suggest biting someone.. i mean... oops? your defense is "I was in the middle of eating and they tried to take it right out of my mouth! their fingers just got in the way"

Xerxes

Posted : 4/20/2007 7:39:58 PM

ORIGINAL: Benedict

Anyone doing that to me would probably lose the hand they were reaching for my food with. So yes, I think it's rude. I also happen to think it's disgusting. If I don't know you well enough to know for SURE that you always wash your hands after going to the bathroom, you don't get to touch my food. Even then you're pushing it. Obviously there are exceptions - my SO, or my close friends, can share my food all they like. I am possibly freakish about that sort of thing but really, I just don't want people's hands in my food.

Kate

Yet another thing we agree on. [

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If I'm eating with a fork and someone tries to take some of my food, they're getting forked! God help them if I've got a knife!

Even most of our dogs know better than to take food from us. It's downright rude, unsanitary and if I catch you even leaning over my plate I'm gonna say something. Your shampoo smells nice but I refuse to taste your hair.

I'd eat with one arm wrapped around my plate, prison style for a while, then when they get near you become food aggressive and snarl at them. When they say your name snap out a loud, harsh "WHAT?!?!?" and glare at them. They'll get the idea.[

]

Cita

Posted : 4/20/2007 8:11:28 PM

I'm pretty good at the "no, go buy your own brownie" kind of comment while laughing at the same time, so it doesn't seem really abrasive. You might get "aw come on" back, but you just stay firm, and even kind of lose it but again in a kidding way.."seriously, I don't know why everytime I have food, I suddenly have friends, ha-ha-ha, now go away and let me eat"..

I think Cathy's comments are probably the least offensive way to go. Things like, "What, too tired to walk down the hall and get one for yourself?" or, "Is it too expensive? I can loan you a quarter!"

If that fails, I think Xerxes' growling method will prove quite effective.

jennie_c_d

Posted : 4/20/2007 8:37:58 PM

Ummm... I agree with everyone else. Occasionally, I'll make a big plate of cookies or brownies, or buy a huge bag of candy, and set it out to share. Otherwise, my coworkers leave my food alone.

When I was working at the health food store, we'd open new things, and share "bites" (meaning break a peice off), but it was a known plan of action. "Hey, if I buy this, will you taste it with me?"

With close friends and family, I still ask or offer before I'll share. One person I can't say no to is my best friend's baby[

] She's a year old, and she asks "Bite, bite, bite?" Nobody can say no to that![

]

Sue and Buddy

Posted : 4/20/2007 8:38:04 PM

Ed's solution made my LOL! Very effective.

I agree with everyone else that this behavior is incredibly rude, offensive and unbelievable. I, like others, agree that with family and close friends it is something that you may not even think about. I also agree with the questionable clean hands giving me the willies! You definitely have to stop them. If they ask for a bite, sip, piece, you can ask them are their hands clean or go tell them to wash their hands first (all with a laughing, but serious tone) or you can say no, I want to finish this...I didn't eat breakfast this morning, I'm really hungry. Remember that the lady that keeps bugging you after you say no is having an extinction burst! lol Just stick to your guns and I'm sure it will soon stop. Good luck

Sue

Xeph

Posted : 4/21/2007 1:06:47 AM

I am not above growling at people who want my food.

I've had two people ever challenge my growl. Guess what? They got bitten. No. I'm not kidding.

My food is MY FOOD. The ones who heard me growl and backed off decided "That chick is effing WEIRD!" and never bothered again unless I offered. The two that got bitten avoided me entirely from then on.

I have NO problem offering food to people, and most have learned that I WILL offer something, but dude...wait for it, or you'll get bit.

I'm a nasty resource guarder xD

ron2

Posted : 4/21/2007 7:39:13 AM

Is it o.k. to take food from a person's plate? I can't tell if my feelings towards this are because of the way I was raised and maybe my thinking is incorrect or am I right to think this is rude?

When I was raised, if we did that, we got slapped, on the hand, across the face, whatever was handy. But yes, those people are rude. And if you are a b***h, so am I. I, too, don't mind sharing once in a while. There are times where I intentionally bring enough food for everyone, such as times when I fried 40 perch from a good fishing trip.

I see 2 solutions. a) Don't leave all of your food sitting out. Eat only one item at a time. b) say no, I am going to eat everything that I brought. They have gotten into the habit of eating your food. They do what works and it has reinforced into an established pattern. You need to make it not rewarding.

And they need to grow up and learn to feed themselves.

ron2

Posted : 4/21/2007 7:45:59 AM

The ones who heard me growl and backed off decided "That chick is effing WEIRD!" and never bothered again unless I offered. The two that got bitten avoided me entirely from then on.

Alpha chicks rule.

(pun intended)

ron2

Posted : 4/21/2007 7:56:44 AM

and they make me feel bad

No, they're just animals doing what works for them. You are allowing yourself to feel bad.

Lock eyes with them and do not blink. Bare your fangs and let your hair stand up. Start out with a low growl.

Or find a way to make it unrewarding for them. A co-worker of mine used to be the one that everyone would bum a cigarette from. She got tired of paying for everyone else's habit. Well, she found an open pack that had been in her car for months. Dry, dusty, nasty. She had tried one and managed one puff and put it out. Perfect. So, she left those out and when someone wanted one, she said "help yourself." And they wouldn't ask again.

Angelique

Posted : 4/21/2007 8:08:03 AM

Tell them that they can't have anything of yours unless they've got a higher value item to trade. [

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Debbie R

Posted : 4/21/2007 9:09:37 AM

OT Kate I can't believe it's only 7 days!!

Debbie R

Posted : 4/21/2007 9:11:53 AM

I think that's horrible. I really hate it when people bother me when I'm eating. I like you love to read while I eat, so you really have to be mook to come over and bother me. They do come into my office and ask questions while I'm eating but no one has ever done what they do to you. I would lose it I think.

I need to know - Is this rude?