Chope-ing (reserving) seats using tissue paper

[daisyt]

mummyjoyce:

This is a super unqiue way in Singapore. No one should stop this

Uniquely Singapore

[jedamum]

smurf:

agreed with ks2me. but hor, they weren't even with kids leh. whereas I was with DS2. and I was holding him while holding a tray with food.

when i go out with ds2 alone, i try to avoid the lunch crowd/period. and if really need to eat there, i will buy take away portions and then look for a seat. it is easier to handle take away packaging than a tray, and also in case eat halfway kid need to go toilet, i can also pack and go.

[tankee]

wow ! good advise on using takeway packs.


:celebrate:

[Funz]

jedamum:

smurf:

agreed with ks2me. but hor, they weren't even with kids leh. whereas I was with DS2. and I was holding him while holding a tray with food.

when i go out with ds2 alone, i try to avoid the lunch crowd/period. and if really need to eat there, i will buy take away portions and then look for a seat. it is easier to handle take away packaging than a tray, and also in case eat halfway kid need to go toilet, i can also pack and go.

Yah me too. If I am lunching alone, I will also tend to buy takeaways or just grab a sandwich.

Was trying to recall whether the tissue thing was as prevalent when I was still in the corporate world. Don't think so leh. Or maybe cos lunch is usually on the go or I tend to eat outside of the peak hours so not so crowded.

[tutormum]

Funz:

Yah me too. If I am lunching alone, I will also tend to buy takeaways or just grab a sandwich.


Was trying to recall whether the tissue thing was as prevalent when I was still in the corporate world. Don't think so leh. Or maybe cos lunch is usually on the go or I tend to eat outside of the peak hours so not so crowded.

It was very prevalent in Shenton Way and I think the practice started from there. My colleagues will put 1 packet of tissure on 1 seat per person. Got no choice as lunch time was only 1 hour and the place was crowded from 1130am to 2pm. I would avoid eating at these places when I was not working.

[hquek]

Pre-shenton way days, it was usually tissue left on table and pp will leave the table alone. In Shenton Way, I learnt that seats are booked per chair basis. Think this is a pretty good method also.


Quite interesting lah, to see such ‘cultural differences in SG’.

But yes, if eating the same food, someone will troop back to jaga instead of tissue.

[smurf]

I also try to avoid lunch crowd, but that day was really no choice, cos we went out too late.


actually I dun think it's a very nice way to do that, ie chopping seats with tissue paper. I hope that I've the courage to throw away that pack of tissue paper! :lol:

anyway, why I was so :x about that incident was that they just put 1 pack of tissue, instead of putting 2 pcks (to show 2 seats taken). that gave people an impression that only 1 person is chopping the seat. if they put 1 pack on each seat, then I wouldn't even go near that table. but it was after I put the tray down, then they quickly rushed over to put their tray down also.

[hquek]

hey smurf, I understand your frustration. Yep, 1 pack is very very misleading. They should have put umbrella or newspaper lah.


But I do support this ‘unethical’ means of getting a seat…cos I hate hate those pp who dwadle over food. Some pp love to take their own sweet time to finish that drink, or worse sit and chit/chat after their food is done. Please, such people, have mercy on those poor hapless pp waiting for a seat! Esp if the foodcourt is crowded.

[tankee]

I have seen people "booking" table using those free newspaper. And there was an occassion when there was sudden strong wind that sent all these newspaper flying … it was a sight … and a big mess.

[dimsum]

hquek:

Devil's advocate here. I like the custom of tissue choping for the following reasons:


1. when I'm by myself, there is none to help me chope seats. Then how? buy food and precariously balance it while looking anxiously for seat?

2. when I'm in a group of persons, assuming that everyone wants to eat different things. If one person stay behind to chope the seat. that fella will have to get up and look for food and queue AFTER someone else come back. Meaning there is longer leadtime for the table to be free.

But I think there should be a certain 'code of conduct'. Meaning, one pack of belonging for 1 chair - then pp will know if the other is taken/free.

:celebrate: I also like this practice esp. when I am alone or with my boy in a crowded foodcourt/hawker centre. Yup, it should be one tissue paper/umbrella for each chair.