Why bitch about "chope-ing" seats?
I just don't get it. Why do some people like to keep on bitching about chope-ing of seats using packets of tissue papers? What is wrong about it?
It reminds me of the other silly campaign where we are deem ungracious for not clearing the table after use. People don't clear trays simply because the infrastructure weren't designed for it. There isn't any collection system nor are patrons expected to clear the trays.
What has it got to do with being gracious? Should I offer to wash the dishes as wel l next time after my meals to show my super graciousness?
Now back to the issue of chope-ing of seats. What is so hard to understand that the packets of tissue paper is used to indicate that the seat is taken and the patrons have gone to queue up to get the food. It is not as if it is a prank by someone leaving tissue papers all over the place and trying to hog all the seats without using them.
If the issue is about inconsiderate people who hog on to tables during crowded time, I can buy the argument that this practice is ungracious and should be stopped. However this isn't the case at all. People are just leaving an indication that the seats are taken so that everyone can quickly go to get their food and come back to the seats. What is wrong with that?
The so called gracious rule is to get someone to stay behind to "look after" the table. This can be irritating as well. When I approach the table keeper asking if the seats are available, the person will just shake his head. At times it is hard to interpret if the seat is not available or is it not taken.The table keeper will then wait for the rest of the lunch mates to return before going to grab his food. By the time he return, the rest are halfway through their meals.
Then you have the situation where there are 6 seats taken and 5 people tcss while waiting for the table keeper to finish his meal. At the same time other patrons are surrounding them, waiting for them to get their ass off their seats. If that is the case, should we have a campaign to ask people to be "gracious" by eating faster so that other people can have the seats? Ok, I may exaggerate a little but I believe you do get my point.
I have been in both situations. When I was working in the city area, food courts are always crowded. Lunch is usually a rush affair. You chope your seats, grab your food, eat and f**k off. Now that I am in more ulu areas, lunch is a less hurried affair. Someone will become a table keeper and the reason is likely because he has yet to make up his mind on what to have for lunch. After lunch some would sit around to tcss while others take their own sweet time to finish their meals and this isn't an issue because there are plenty of seats around.
Perhaps it is more gracious to have someone sit there, smiling and keep repeating "Sorry sir, these seats are not available. Thank you for your understanding and have a nice day." but in my opinion, chope-ing of seats isn't really a big deal.
Even if this is something that only Singaporeans do, there is nothing to be proud nor be ashame of. It might not be a practice in other countries but neither do Ang Mohs eat Kway Chap. We are just different and being different does not always equate to being ungracious.
Chope-ing of seats isn't the most gracious way but neither do I think that it is inconsiderate. Is it such a big deal that one needs to be so irked up that he needs to remove and discard all the packets of tissues that he come across? If chope-ing of seats is a disgusting trait, then I would say intolerance and causing unnecessary misunderstandings are much worse.
What are your thoughts?
