Is Going Out to Dinner Solo Strange?

[Jeffage]

Ok, so I'm bored right now. I'm going to go out to eat myself and get some sushi. A couple of my close friends have moved recently, which sucks, so I'm kinda bored with nothing to do and my few friends still around are out of town. A buddy I was talking to suggested just taking out, but I don't really feel like it. So my question...would you ever go out to eat by yourself? Would you bring a book?

Jeff

[Lazymeatball]

everyone from the moment you walk in to the moment you walk out will think you're weird.

[PITTM]

i go get sushi by myself all the time. none of my friends like sushi and its my favorite food, so i usually end up just sitting at the sushi bar.

rj

[istewart]

Bring the Koran and put a towel on your head in order to make the night amusing.

[edfurlong]

I don't see a problem with it. This is pretty common where I work.

[CardSharpCook]

When a serious of poor decisions left me friendless, I used to do this often. Yeah, it sucks, but whatever. But no, it isn't terrible. And yes, I do tend to bring a book. BTW, at casinos, I am often eating alone.

You have to be a true rebel to get dinner out by yourself. I started with breakfast. Since I have worked my way up to lunch alone. But I'm still working on dinner. Props to you doing it. Although, it would be more impressive at say, TGI Fridays or something, but sushi is a fine start. /images/graemlins/cool.gif

[dblgutshot]

It's weird for really self concious people. I'll go out to eat solo sometimes when I dont' feel like hanging out with friends after, since I don't cook. I usually bring a newspaper since I"m not going to fancy places.

[lapoker17]

I always think people who do this are very comfortable with themselves, or very weird, or both.

[DasLeben]

I'm a server at a restaurant for the time being, and I don't think twice about someone sitting there by themselves. Who really cares?

[j0ep0ker]

I never bring any friends when i go eat out.

Why would she want people watching us when I go down on her???

[touchfaith]

[ QUOTE ]
Ok, so I'm bored right now. I'm going to go out to eat myself and get some sushi. A couple of my close friends have moved recently, which sucks, so I'm kinda bored with nothing to do and my few friends still around are out of town. A buddy I was talking to suggested just taking out, but I don't really feel like it. So my question...would you ever go out to eat by yourself? Would you bring a book?

Jeff

[/ QUOTE ]

Wear a costume (http://www.damall.com/com_conn/costume.jpg) (barely nsfw)

[swede123]

[ QUOTE ]
I never bring any friends when i go eat out.

Why would she want people watching us when I go down on her???

[/ QUOTE ]

Ugh. Poor joke, poor context, poor delivery.

Swede

[darkcore]

uhm, i do it. no, i don't think it is strange.
but when i visit a restaurant alone, i stay there just long enough to eat. the "bringing-books-thingie" never worked for me.

[cwsiggy]

Sushi bar would be one of the best choices to pull off the dine alone thing.

[Vish]

Why is this so hard for people?

[Eurotrash]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I never bring any friends when i go eat out.

Why would she want people watching us when I go down on her???

[/ QUOTE ]

Ugh. Poor joke, poor context, poor delivery.

[/ QUOTE ]

[mmbt0ne]

</font><blockquote><font class="small">En réponse à:</font><hr />
Sushi bar would be one of the best choices to pull off the dine alone thing.

[/ QUOTE ]

Many times I've grabbed a newspaper and gone to lunch at a sushi restaurant here by myself.

[Sponger15SB]

Breakfast/Lunch doesn't seem weird, but I couldn't imagine going to a steak restaurant or something just by myself.

[CaptainCrunch]

Some servers and "hostsesses" seem to resent single diners, because of the reduced tip and bill they generate. Nothing I like better than to have someone sneer "would you like to sit at the bar?" when I walk into a nice restaurant alone. Gee, no, If I wanted to sit there, I would have proceeded right there, doncha think.

As for how other people percieve single diners... I never really noticed anyone staring at me over their menues with poorly concealed looks of horror or contempt. I dunno.

As for myself, I eat alone most of the time because I just moved and haven't made new friends yet. I'm out of practice.

Oh, and I'm weird.

[Jeffage]

I almost chickened out and called for takeout but I didn't. I went over and sat at the sushi bar and actually had a pretty interesting discussion with this guy here on business as I enjoyed my combination sushi platter followed by Sorbet. But it might have been weird sitting there if I had no one to talk to. I brought a book with me just in case, but it wasn't needed. At least I got out of the house lol.

Jeff

[Vish]

I eat dinner alone at a nice restaurant almost every day. I notice people looking at me funny all the time. Once I even heard the people at the next table say "Eating alone? That's horrible!"

I still don't understand why it's horrible or why it should be so difficult for people, though. We do all sorts of things alone every day, why should eating out be an exception? Or going to the movies, for that matter. Someone please explain this to me, I'm befuddled.

[Blarg]

It used to be completely normal, for both men and women. We're a more nosey, less polite society now, and so now in some places it's practically an admission of utter sexual worthlessness or even psychosis for women, who generally wouldn't dream of doing it, and not all that much better for men. I've done it and even heard negative, slightly amazed and disturbed comments from other diners about it -- it just doesn't fit some people's conception of the world and believe it or not even seems to make some of them angry.

Screw that though. Just because others don't have the confidence to do it, doesn't mean you shouldn't. They're really expressing their anger that you're not as self-conscious as they are. Being shamed by thoughtless strangers is for wimps; you gotta enjoy life without apology or asking strangers for permission first, as long as you're not hurting anyone.

And I always bring a magazine or newspaper. A book is a little much for me to get into during meals usually, and you generally have to use a hand to keep it open instead of just laying it flat. But most of all, I never eat alone without anything to do but stare into space. That would be guaranteed to make you way more self-conscious. Besides, it's just plain dull.

[B Dids]

I was not at all comfortable doing this, and I actually made it a point to go out by myself for a week to like learn to do it. It still feels weird, but it's also liberating in a way.

My biggest problem is that without anybody there to talk to, I eat to fast and indulge too much.

[j0ep0ker]

I was hoping somebody would give me a review of my joke. Thanks! You're so cool and your jokes are much better than mine! oh.... you're so cool....

[Blarg]

For some people it just provokes an image of horrible loneliness that they'd hate to experience. For some it indicates non-conformity, which they can't abide. For some it sparks speculation that there must be something wrong with you.

This is very much the case with women. I've talked to women about this a number of times. Every last one said there's no way in hell they would go out to eat dinner alone. And they said so for the reason I had guessed -- it suggests to other women that they're not attractive enough or socially adept enough(though the latter is a far secondary consideration) to have a man taking them out. Or, at the very least, a girlfriend hanging with them. To a woman, this is a sign of totally public and irredeemable loserhood that is just too awful to bear.

Going out to dinner alone, to them, is much much worse than going to a movie alone, which with virtually no exception they said they wouldn't do either. The few who did say they would do it, when asked if they're not just saying that and if they really did do it anytime they could remember, laughed and said no, they were just bullsh*tting, they hadn't done it and wouldn't. They just wanted to sound a little less self-conscious. But they really wouldn't have the nerve, and it would make them feel too embarrassed.

I think women sometimes inaccurately project the same feelings on men and assume they feel the same way, so they find a single dude alone kind of shocking and ascribe to them the bad things they're afraid would be ascribed to them. Maybe it's a kind of psychological purgative to make them feel better about themselves? Or just the digging up of a feeling of fear and shame.

[TheMetetron]

Going to the movies alone actually kicks ass, I've discovered.

As for eating alone, I do it pretty much every day, though I usually don't go to nicer places, since on most days I love feeling like a complete bum and not dressing nice.

Going on vacation alone... now that one is really good for someone to do.. so liberating. I've never had a more fun vacation than some of my single trips.

[RunDownHouse]

Jesus. Not that your posts aren't always well thought out, but they're never less than 3 paragraphs.

As to the OP, my first thought was, "How do I react when I see someone walk in alone?" I tend to think they're a little weird. However, that thought is almost never beyond a hmmm, that's a little weird, and then I don't think about it again. So no big deal.

[Vish]

I love the psychological posts, Blarg. Keep 'em coming.

[Rick Nebiolo]

[ QUOTE ]
Going to the movies alone actually kicks ass, I've discovered.

[/ QUOTE ]


Agree. Even better is going to a movie alone and being the only one in the theater!

~ Rick

[Eurotrash]

this all depends on if you're going to Ramsi's or not.

[LeatherFace]

If your so self concious just sit near fat people. I always make fun of them before loners.

Edited to add: Are you fat?

[Michael Davis]

I eat out alone all the time because I don't have any friends. Furthermore, I find talking to people at dinner rather annoying. Actually anytime.

-Michael

[gorie]

no, it's sexy.

[jokerthief]

[ QUOTE ]
no, it's sexy.

[/ QUOTE ]

Not as sexy as you are. Alright, I don't want to be creepy but you're cute and this is fun. (I'm drunk and still pwning 8 tables BTW.--yes it can be done).

[Warik]

Last time I went out to eat alone, a hot 30-something year old chick sat next to me with her friend and started chatting up a storm with me. Go for it.

(Re: the chick - she left with her friend when she realized I wasn't as old as I looked. crapola /images/graemlins/frown.gif)

[dibbs]

I always had a lotta respect for people that did this, shouldn't be that way really, but its just ballsy as a lot of people find it wierd.

Much less awkward at a sushi place as you could probably just chill at the bar.

[MCS]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Ok, so I'm bored right now. I'm going to go out to eat myself and get some sushi. A couple of my close friends have moved recently, which sucks, so I'm kinda bored with nothing to do and my few friends still around are out of town. A buddy I was talking to suggested just taking out, but I don't really feel like it. So my question...would you ever go out to eat by yourself? Would you bring a book?

Jeff

[/ QUOTE ]

Wear a costume (http://www.damall.com/com_conn/costume.jpg) (barely nsfw)

[/ QUOTE ]

How did you stumble across this?

[maryfield48]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Ok, so I'm bored right now. I'm going to go out to eat myself and get some sushi. A couple of my close friends have moved recently, which sucks, so I'm kinda bored with nothing to do and my few friends still around are out of town. A buddy I was talking to suggested just taking out, but I don't really feel like it. So my question...would you ever go out to eat by yourself? Would you bring a book?

Jeff

[/ QUOTE ]

Wear a costume (http://www.damall.com/com_conn/costume.jpg) (barely nsfw)

[/ QUOTE ]

How did you stumble across this?

[/ QUOTE ]

I assume his buddy who was disguised as a tampon dispenser took the picture.

[HopeydaFish]

[ QUOTE ]

Wear a costume (http://www.damall.com/com_conn/costume.jpg) (barely nsfw)

[/ QUOTE ]

That's bush league. Real men hide in outhouse pits:
Ugh (http://kennebecjournal.mainetoday.com/news/local/1745786.shtml)

[Stuck]

I'm surprised this thread has generated so much controversy. If you travel on business, or live somewhere that a lot of people travel for business, its pretty much commonplace. I usually opt for a sports bar, so I've got something to watch while I'm waiting for my food.

[A_C_Slater]

I think it would be a true accomplishment for a woman to go out and eat alone.

It would significantly alter he world view in a powerful and Earth shattering way. And all she would have to do is, well... eat alone.

This would make a good bet. Offer some chick $50 that she can't do it. If she refuses she looks completely insane and you can ridicule her to no end.

[RacersEdge]

I do it quite a bit. Not sure what the big problem would be - unless it's like a romantic restaurant for couples. I don't have time to set stuff up with people - I'm hungry, I eat.

[unreal_nh]

i enjoy going out to eat alone... if i'm with someone else then that would mean i would have to talk.. when i would rather be eating

[DasLeben]

why is this stopic still up? i mean seriousoly...nobody cares. I WOULD KNOW

[JaBlue]

[ QUOTE ]
Ugh. Poor joke, poor context, poor delivery.

[/ QUOTE ]

[Blarg]

I like eating lunch alone so I can read the newspaper.

[gamblore99]

I do this all the time for lunch and on occasion for dinner. When you travel it doesn't feel weird at all. When not travelling, I will go for dinner alone usually before or after the busy time.

My interpretation of someone eating alone depends on what I see. Sometimes I think they are weird, othertimes I think they are very cool.

[Ass Master]

I do it all the time. It's never even occurred to me that it might be viewed as strange.

[wonderwes]

I eat at Chipotle usually solo.

[TheCroShow]

no problem at all dude. i go out for breakfast with a bunch of my buddies, lunch and dinner with many other friends...and sometimes i just feel like sitting down at a sushi place and eating by myself, nothing wrong with that at all. i'm comfortable with it, and sometimes i just need my own space and quiet time.

*edit* one time i sat alone for lunch, and an attractive girl joined me (because she was also alone!) had a decent conversation and blah blah.

i also agree that it takes a certain person to eat alone. i mean, you have to be comfortable to do so, that takes a degree of confidence.

the people that make fun of others are insecure assholes.

[x2ski]

Although I try to avoid doing it (because I enjoy the company), I don't have a problem with it.

However, whenever I see senior citizens by themselves I feel terrible. It's probably my mind just working overtime, but I just assume that they're eating alone because their significant other has passed on... perhaps they used to sit at that same table...

I think too much, but not about the right things.

[smb394]

No problems with it here. I go out for lunch alone a bunch of times from work, especially if I'm running errands afterwards. The only times I guess I've eaten dinner out alone with actual service was either in school (with a book to study) or at casinos taking a break from p**er (while the friends were still gambooling in the craps pits). It's peaceful.