"Excuse me tee-hee it's his birthday"

[NinjaSurfer]

So I recently started working as a busboy for a popular Japanese restaurant. This is more of a pointless blog-style rant. I don't have many other places to rant as I've kind of been a social hermit for the last couple of years. Since I used to own my own business, taking up a job cleaning tables at a restaurant is not exactly something I want to brag about all over my facebook wall. I must admit that it is slightly embarrassing.

I'm actually really happy and this is a really cool experience. If I ever felt like I didn't properly earn my money before, I'm definitely making up for it now. Every dish, every cup, every plate I drop into the plastic bin-- it's like dropping pennies in my piggy bank.

The first week is over, and I'm finally getting over the novelty of working a new job in a new industry. It's really cool to see the inner workings of a large restaurant operation. A finely tuned dance of approximately twenty-five restaurant staff coordinated to get people fed in a clean environment.

So, it's about time to stop gloating about how cool it is to have cash and a job finally; and, it's about time to start bitching about my new job.

At least twice, as the busboy, I've gotten told by a gleefully happy restaurant patron that it was someone else's birthday.

"Excuse me tee-hee it's his birthday"

Excuse ME while I drop everything I was doing to start doing jumping jacks.

The first time this girl ran up to me and told me it was her boyfriend's birthday, I didn't really get it; but then I thought to myself "oh yeaaa, we're a restaurant, restaurants give free shit on peoples' birthdays"

The first couple days bussing tables, I thought to myself that the best thing about this job is that I don't have to deal with people. Occasionally I'll get asked for a knife or some napkins, but for the most part it involves zero interaction other than the occasional forced smile when a patron decides to treat me like a human and make eye contact.

The tips for servers are pretty good and the manager assumes I want to make server ASAP; I assumed that too until I found out how wonderful it was bussing tables.

The mindless task of cleaning tables and hauling dirty bins to the kitchen is the best job I've ever had. I get to be around lots of people without any obligation to speak or otherwise interact. Additionally, I have the opportunity to interact if and when I want.

However-- I must conserve my innate cynicism when an ecstatic customer informs me of her friend's birthday. I've got to withhold that "who gives a fuck" look and instead put on my "like, oh mai gawsh" mask.

But, keep me in your prayers. I am probably going to train to be a server because bussing tables isn't going to pay all the bills.

 

[Minuend]

What's so bad about people valuing someone's birthday?'

If people are to respect your lack of enthusiasm, shouldn't you respect the presence of theirs?

 

[NinjaSurfer]

What's so bad about people valuing someone's birthday?'

If people are to respect your lack of enthusiasm, shouldn't you respect the presence of theirs?

it's more of a new found perspective I have from being on the other side; on the one hand, as a patron, you usually just see the Disneyland that's put forth in terms of presentation. On the other hand, there's me, a lowly busboy, who's just trying to clean tables fast enough to not get fired, and doesn't really give a shit about anyone's birthday. There's not so much "should" or "shouldn't" professed, as I'm not complaining that anything should be different.

I actually just thought it was really funny, her extreme enthusiasm and my total lack of enthusiasm; although, my feelings were 100% on the inside, and I put on a good face for the show, as the show must go on...

but my show is only on display in my head, and I guess here on this forum too

 

[Architect]

Busboy jobs suck, I had one in college. Quit after a few weeks. Patrons treated you like dirt. One time I had just gotten to a table when the idiot guy came in looking for his umbrella that he left there. Got all pissed at me because I didn't run after him with his $2 umbrella, as if it was my fault he left it. The fact that I had just gotten to the table a second before and so hadn't seen it, and didn't know who sat there anyhow didn't phase him.

You eventually realize that everybody who eats in restaurants are idiots, or at least the people that you notice, who eat in restaurants are idiots. They're buying a fake dream; restaurants are dirty places. They see hundreds or thousands of people daily, and are doing all that cooking, and do minimal cleanup. Just enough to give the cursory appearance of clean. I saw how dirty they really are. I don't eat out anymore. The food is usually oily and crappy. Really people are buying a dream ... like they are out and having fun (in a stuffy room with a hundred strangers eating food made by somebody making a fraction of what you make).

So yeah, I understand your attitude. Get a different job, for sure.

 

[NinjaSurfer]

Busboy jobs suck, I had one in college. Quit after a few weeks. Patrons treated you like dirt. One time I had just gotten to a table when the idiot guy came in looking for his umbrella that he left there. Got all pissed at me because I didn't run after him with his $2 umbrella, as if it was my fault he left it. The fact that I had just gotten to the table a second before and so hadn't seen it, and didn't know who sat there anyhow didn't phase him.

You eventually realize that everybody who eats in restaurants are idiots, or at least the people that you notice, who eat in restaurants are idiots. They're buying a fake dream; restaurants are dirty places. They see hundreds or thousands of people daily, and are doing all that cooking, and do minimal cleanup. Just enough to give the cursory appearance of clean. I saw how dirty they really are. I don't eat out anymore. The food is usually oily and crappy. Really people are buying a dream ... like they are out and having fun (in a stuffy room with a hundred strangers eating food made by somebody making a fraction of what you make).

So yeah, I understand your attitude. Get a different job, for sure.

lol it actually makes me want to own a restaurant now! wow the profit margins you can make off cheap food, seriously.

I'm trying to appreciate the experience while it lasts.

 

[Words]

From a socioeconomic point of view, I feel like your labor-function, in relation to your mental skill-set as displayed from your interesting and coherent posts and unrelated to type, is misdirected and wasted. I feel like you could be doing something much more fun and productive.

The keyword is "feel" so maybe the logic is lacking here.

Could it be the philosophy background..? You still have opportunity to invest on other things though.

 

[NinjaSurfer]

From a socioeconomic point of view, I feel like your labor-function, in relation to your mental skill-set as displayed from your interesting and coherent posts and unrelated to type, is misdirected and wasted. I feel like you could be doing something much more fun and productive.

The keyword is "feel" so maybe the logic is lacking here.

Could it be the philosophy background..? You still have opportunity to invest on other things though.

I am the most overqualified busboy in California

 

[DeadonDreaming]

Oh god. Restaurant work. People...are..dicks, that is what I learned working at a restaurant.

Good luck man

 

[intpz]

Thought the post's about driving a bus.

Yea, I don't think I'd do anything about the fact that it's some asshole's birthday. In fact, I might even get annoyed that someone ran up to me, and gigglingly told me that it's someone's birthday - the fuck do I care? Let them sort it out, it ain't my birthday, I don't know the guy. Hell, if I knew him, I don't like birthdays, except from the better food, as I can't afford it.

"Curb your enthusiasm and get the fuck out of my sight, I do this job because I don't want to interact with a piece of shit like you!" is what you should say. I wouldn't. That'd be stupid and low.

Anyway, I do agree with @Architect that this job is a piece of shit, and I wouldn't do it. I was asked repeatedly to do it by my mom when I was younger, I didn't do it. She thinks people leave huge tips, and she likes random people she don't know. In fact, I think I'd get fired pretty soon, unless I'd be doing even MORE than what I'd already be doing that I hate.

I don't see how you could possibly see this job as the best job... It's boring, mindless, doesn't pay well, there's lots of assholes, you gotta take med tests and irradiate yourself with no good reason, you gotta be nice to people when they talk to you, you gotta look good according to a certain "code;" in short, I don't see anything appealing about it AT ALL.

@Architect That guy is an asshole, I don't even know what I would've done: left him alone and walked away, or went for a word ramble, telling that he's an ignorant idiot. I think due to the low weight of the situation and potentially nasty consequences, I would've walked away; which means I wouldn't have listened to what he wants to say in the first place.

Are you sure, though, that all the people are idiots? I wouldn't mind eating at a restaurant, certain wouldn't take two hours to cook something good myself. The alternative is to get a woman, who would require time as well, and as long as I'm good with gadgets and shit, I don't think I need a woman, as she would take a lot of time from me. And besides, unless you eat at some hole in the poor neighborhood, you aren't going to get infected, or anything else happening to you, which means it's okay to eat the food, even though the kitchen might be a bit dirty.

P.S. Correct me if I'm wrong on the last part of my ramble here, I don't have much experience on eating at restaurants.

 

[Architect]

Are you sure, though, that all the people are idiots?

@intpz

Naw, I was just making a joke - with an element of truth I think. There is something to restaurant culture that is fake. People aren't buying it for the food, or the supposed convenience, they are there mostly because of the idea they are out being entertained, and being entertaining.

 

[intpz]

I never thought of it this way, unless we're talking about the "high-class." Interesting.

 

[NinjaSurfer]

Oh god. Restaurant work. People...are..dicks, that is what I learned working at a restaurant.

Good luck man

yesterday was my cynical day; today I enjoyed seeing people having a good time at "our" establishment... and, like god struck down on me, I had to sing "happy birthday" three times today with the wait staff.

Thought the post's about driving a bus.

Yea, I don't think I'd do anything about the fact that it's some asshole's birthday. In fact, I might even get annoyed that someone ran up to me, and gigglingly told me that it's someone's birthday - the fuck do I care? Let them sort it out, it ain't my birthday, I don't know the guy. Hell, if I knew him, I don't like birthdays, except from the better food, as I can't afford it.

"Curb your enthusiasm and get the fuck out of my sight, I do this job because I don't want to interact with a piece of shit like you!" is what you should say. I wouldn't. That'd be stupid and low.

Anyway, I do agree with @Architect that this job is a piece of shit, and I wouldn't do it. I was asked repeatedly to do it by my mom when I was younger, I didn't do it. She thinks people leave huge tips, and she likes random people she don't know. In fact, I think I'd get fired pretty soon, unless I'd be doing even MORE than what I'd already be doing that I hate.

I don't see how you could possibly see this job as the best job... It's boring, mindless, doesn't pay well, there's lots of assholes, you gotta take med tests and irradiate yourself with no good reason, you gotta be nice to people when they talk to you, you gotta look good according to a certain "code;" in short, I don't see anything appealing about it AT ALL.

@Architect That guy is an asshole, I don't even know what I would've done: left him alone and walked away, or went for a word ramble, telling that he's an ignorant idiot. I think due to the low weight of the situation and potentially nasty consequences, I would've walked away; which means I wouldn't have listened to what he wants to say in the first place.

Are you sure, though, that all the people are idiots? I wouldn't mind eating at a restaurant, certain wouldn't take two hours to cook something good myself. The alternative is to get a woman, who would require time as well, and as long as I'm good with gadgets and shit, I don't think I need a woman, as she would take a lot of time from me. And besides, unless you eat at some hole in the poor neighborhood, you aren't going to get infected, or anything else happening to you, which means it's okay to eat the food, even though the kitchen might be a bit dirty.

P.S. Correct me if I'm wrong on the last part of my ramble here, I don't have much experience on eating at restaurants.

^thanks, I liked your rant, it is kind of what my very cynical and depressed mind wanted to say;

In a quirky INTP sadistic kinda way, I do really dig this job in a very "this shit still kinda sucks" way. All work is gonna have it's own suck. The money is what it is and that will always suck compared to anything else; regardless of what kind of job or what kind of clients, all people suck and are idiots at the end of the day; just meeting my own coworkers was the most socializing I've done for the last couple years so my favorite part is actually the social interaction; all the staff is pretty cool actually; AND, last but not least, lot of hot girls come into this restaurant yeaaaa buddy lol.

I'm going to both bitch and rave about this job. It really depends upon which bipolar mood I'm in when I log on I guess.

 

[intpz]

Some jobs suck 90%, some jobs suck 10%. I prefer to do a job that sucks <50% for starters, then move onto a job that sucks 10%.

 

[Particle]

irradiate yourself with no good reason

What sort of restaurant are you imagining? heh

 

[Da Blob]

For most of my life I had been in employed in jobs that will be done by robots at some point in the future. When I left school, I suffered a very bad case of culture shock. Despite what I was led to believe while I was in school, intelligence is not valued by employers, but rather quite the contrary in many venues. It seems as though few supervisors are actually comfortable having subordinates much more intelligent than they, themselves are. The few that do seem to have developed systems for taking credit for everything that their intelligent subordinates accomplish.

So I worked as a robot, instead of an intelligent human. I would train my body to do some routine task and then ignore it, while my mind took flight elsewhere. I accidentally set about a dozen production records, by finding the most efficient means of completing tasks and several of my supervisors were rewarded for reporting my innovations as being their own.

So It Goes! I once worked at a plant where I did not have a single conversation for the entire time I worked there, if one can discount closed ended queries that required monosyllabic responses.

I came to the conclusion that intelligence is not valued in real society, because intelligence is seen as a Wild Variable with potential of disrupting the status quo, where the Powers-that-Be have carved out their individual territories. Wild Cards are not desired in a game that has already been rigged.

WELCOME TO THE MACHINE!

 

[intpz]

What sort of restaurant are you imagining? heh

Mid-eastern, the ones where they deal Plutonium.

To be more serious... Any, we have Soviet Roentgen machines around here, it's a necessary part of health checkup.

 

[Particle]

I'm quite curious as to why. I don't know of any (ionizing) radiation sources that would be inside a restaurant.

 

[ℜεмїηїs¢εη¢ε]

For most of my life I had been in employed in jobs that will be done by robots at some point in the future. When I left school, I suffered a very bad case of culture shock. Despite what I was led to believe while I was in school, intelligence is not valued by employers, but rather quite the contrary in many venues. It seems as though few supervisors are actually comfortable having subordinates much more intelligent than they, themselves are. The few that do seem to have developed systems for taking credit for everything that their intelligent subordinates accomplish.

So I worked as a robot, instead of an intelligent human. I would train my body to do some routine task and then ignore it, while my mind took flight elsewhere. I accidentally set about a dozen production records, by finding the most efficient means of completing tasks and several of my supervisors were rewarded for reporting my innovations as being their own.

So It Goes! I once worked at a plant where I did not have a single conversation for the entire time I worked there, if one can discount closed ended queries that required monosyllabic responses.

I came to the conclusion that intelligence is not valued in real society, because intelligence is seen as a Wild Variable with potential of disrupting the status quo, where the Powers-that-Be have carved out their individual territories. Wild Cards are not desired in a game that has already been rigged.

WELCOME TO THE MACHINE!

I'm surprised that wasn't obvious to you. Manual labor is for people that didn't go to school, if you want to use your brain get a detective job or something.

 

[intpz]

I'm quite curious as to why. I don't know of any (ionizing) radiation sources that would be inside a restaurant.

Read my post above, I've already answered your question.

 

[Particle]

You made a joke about serving plutonium, but that's not a serious answer. The only serious note you made was about having detection equipment onhand--but again, no explanation as to why.

 

[intpz]

Why there's that equipment? Because this country is a piece of shit.

 

[MissQuote]

@intpz

Naw, I was just making a joke - with an element of truth I think. There is something to restaurant culture that is fake. People aren't buying it for the food, or the supposed convenience, they are there mostly because of the idea they are out being entertained, and being entertaining.

I go out to eat (well I rarely go out to eat, but when I do) for the purpose of having a nice hot meal that I didn't have to stand and spend and hour or two hours or more making.

I don't know why other people are there.

This topic reminds me of my birthday several years ago, the kids informed the staff that it was my birthday, and this was at a restaurant a huge show is made of you being sung to loudly by the staff and given a giant hat and a desert and they make sure everyone else in the whole place sees and hears the fiasco. I was not aware that they did this at the place until the kids were laughing at me that they told the hostess.

I told the server that it wasn't really my birthday, the kids called me on it "yes it is! yes it is!" I tried to make it clear that I didn't want any song or hat. I thought they understood me. I thought I had dodged the bullet.

Then just as they were bringing our desserts the server guy sneaks up behind me and shoves a giant sombrero on my head and I swear the whole staff was there, kitchen staff and everything singing at the top of their lungs..

I was so mortified I nearly cried while it was happening.

Used the hat to cover my face.

Maybe you can take comfort in the idea that you are helping people to humiliate the fuck out of their friends.

 

[redbaron]

I want to go to that restaurant with a massive group, enter separately as if we don't all know each other and have one member of each table tell the staff that it's someone on that table's birthday.

I'd be so impressed if they actually sang to everyone with the enthusiasm you describe. I'd probably sing to them as a reward (may or may not be rewarding to them).

 

[NinjaSurfer]

I go out to eat (well I rarely go out to eat, but when I do) for the purpose of having a nice hot meal that I didn't have to stand and spend and hour or two hours or more making.

I don't know why other people are there.

This topic reminds me of my birthday several years ago, the kids informed the staff that it was my birthday, and this was at a restaurant a huge show is made of you being sung to loudly by the staff and given a giant hat and a desert and they make sure everyone else in the whole place sees and hears the fiasco. I was not aware that they did this at the place until the kids were laughing at me that they told the hostess.

I told the server that it wasn't really my birthday, the kids called me on it "yes it is! yes it is!" I tried to make it clear that I didn't want any song or hat. I thought they understood me. I thought I had dodged the bullet.

Then just as they were bringing our desserts the server guy sneaks up behind me and shoves a giant sombrero on my head and I swear the whole staff was there, kitchen staff and everything singing at the top of their lungs..

I was so mortified I nearly cried while it was happening.

Used the hat to cover my face.

Maybe you can take comfort in the idea that you are helping people to humiliate the fuck out of their friends.

lol thanks for sharing, good point; it definitely could be worse-- I could be working at Disney Land wearing a Mickey Mouse costume.

It is kind of nice to see people have a good time. Although I've always been very understanding and empathetic to my waiters and waitresses past, this restaurant experience opens my eyes a bit more to the world. Fascinating, in a geeky sort of way, is the route that food takes from initial ordering to being served; and, the medley of people dancing around to make it all happen as efficiently as possible.

I can't help but try and think of ways to improve efficiency in the restaurant, but I think they've got it down pat. There's not much more I could think of to speed things up. I had pondered a fully automated robotic restaurant, but I don't think our technology is affordable enough to beat the cost of hiring people to do some of these tasks; but, I feel that THE fully-automated restaurant is not far off in the horizon. Did we ever think that there would be automated check-outs at the grocery store?

I'm imagining a restaurant that is run but 5 people but can seat 50-100 tables; the food is prepped and cooked by automated robots; it is served mechanically somehow. People order the food and drink with an ipad. There is a mechanical system attached to the table to dispose of the dishes and trash afterwords. Also, a mechanical system will sort and clean and dry the dishes.

I do believe an automated restaurant like this is in the future, and the only thing limiting this reality is the affordability of the technology to make it happen. I have already seen a sushi restaurant with food rotating on a conveyor belt. That still feels a little bit like a buffet although still a very cool and novel idea. I'm hoping that a pristine high quality restaurant atmosphere can be retained as much as possible.

Anyways, I've already lost interest in this idea as I don't think it's feasible in my foreseeable future.

 

[NinjaSurfer]

I want to go to that restaurant with a massive group, enter separately as if we don't all know each other and have one member of each table tell the staff that it's someone on that table's birthday.

I'd be so impressed if they actually sang to everyone with the enthusiasm you describe. I'd probably sing to them as a reward (may or may not be rewarding to them).

sounds like a great prank as long as I'm not on the receiving end

 

[skip]

For most of my life I had been in employed in jobs that will be done by robots at some point in the future. When I left school, I suffered a very bad case of culture shock. Despite what I was led to believe while I was in school, intelligence is not valued by employers, but rather quite the contrary in many venues. It seems as though few supervisors are actually comfortable having subordinates much more intelligent than they, themselves are. The few that do seem to have developed systems for taking credit for everything that their intelligent subordinates accomplish.

Very true.

So I worked as a robot, instead of an intelligent human. I would train my body to do some routine task and then ignore it, while my mind took flight elsewhere.

That's not always such a bad way to go. I have a friend who does home inspections because it's an automatic, non-thinking kind of chore which leaves his mind free to create poetry, which is all he really wants to do.

I could be working at Disney Land wearing a Mickey Mouse costume.

It's "Disneyland" and that's actually a difficult job to land. I've never known an introvert who did it. They're usually Cal State drama or dance majors and "Mickey" is often a woman, since there's a 5'2" height limit for the costume, IIRC.

 

[intpz]

The situation always can get worse or better, and thinking that it's okay only because it can be worse is idiotic. Life should become better, not stay in stagnation, while the living one is simply thinking "well, it could be worse..."

@skip Hah! That's funny, but true, I guess. Interesting info to be honest, about the Disneyland job.

 

[HiddenScholar]

I currently work as a fast food cook.... when doing something so simple i dont need to think about i just go into auto pilot doing the job while doing other things in my head so its not that bad
and I wont let myself work cashier because i know id get my self fired.... true story

 

[intpz]

I currently work as a fast food cook.... when doing something so simple i dont need to think about i just go into auto pilot doing the job while doing other things in my head so its not that bad
and I wont let myself work cashier because i know id get my self fired.... true story

Oh, the latter applies to me.

But yea, as long as people don't complain that there's a nail, hair, fly, cockroach, ashes, or simply wrong ingredient in the food, I guess you're okay. I wouldn't want that though.

 

[Minuend]

That's not always such a bad way to go. I have a friend who does home inspections because it's an automatic, non-thinking kind of chore which leaves his mind free to create poetry, which is all he really wants to do.

When first starting in my job, there was a lot of repetitive tasks. Which gave me a whole day to just think. That was delicious.

Now I always have to think efficiency and priority, so I only get to think on my spare time :,(