Sharing off your plate... anybody want some!!!

[Wishing on a star]

Okay, this is kind of a vent.

Lately it has really hit home with me that there are two or three people that I know who seem to INSIST that you eat after them!!!!

Now, I am not wanting to come off as a huge germ-a-phobe. But, hey, in the 21st century here, we all are well informed about germs, and once you have been eating off of something, picking at it with your fingers, etc... I DON"T WANT TO SHARE IT!!!! For example, at a restaurant, we all recieved our plates, and my friend wanted me to try something that was really good. Which is great!!! But, that wasn't enough, she took some on her fork, and wanted to hand her fork to me, to eat it off her fork, then pass the fork back to her!!!

I mean, these people take real personal offense if you don't want to share saliva with them!!!

I have come to the determination that this is a real emotional and psychological issue with these people. It is like sharing spit and germs means you 'accept' them, and if you don't happily share spit and germs, then maybe you do not 'accept' them. It is like a rite of bonding or something!

To me, I do not wish to share eating utensils, or food that has already been slobbered on, etc...

And, like with my DS, I have seen all the dread diseases that go around at school. The kids are discouraged from sharing their food. How in the world am I supposed to instill good hygiene habits with my son, when grown adults all expect to be giving him their 'leftovers'!!!!!

Anybody else agree???

How would you handle it with these emotional-food-sharers?

 

[NMAmy]

Umm...my name is Amy and I'm a food sharer. Wow, that feels better to come right out with it like that.

I don't insist that others share food with me but it's pretty common in my family for all of us to pick and choose off other people's plates. And, yes, we'll stick our fingers in there if there is something that interests us. I think my mom started it when we were kids by insisting that we all order something different so we could try several different dishes. However, this happens at home as well.

Now I wouldn't do it with someone who wasn't related to me or a very good friend. (I do have SOME manners.) And if it bothers you, why don't you just tell your friends that you don't like to share? I have one friend who IS a huge germ freak and I'd never dream of annoying her like that. She thinks I'm a crazy rebel because I actually lick envelopes to close the flap.

 

[bicker]

I think there is a distinction to be made between family sharing and sharing beyond the confines of the family. Perhaps that distinction comes from an assumption that if one member of a family "catches something" that they're all going to be exposed to it, somehow. I'm not sure that that logic really extends beyond family members who (ahem) shared bodily fluids (sorry), so personally, I'll share with my wife and that's about it. I think my extended family thinks I'm a little strange that way, but given how often my mother has caught a cold from my niece, it's well worth the precaution IMHO.

 

[pozey]

I could copy and paste Amy's reply and make it mine. I feel pretty much the same way.

I will share food with my immediate family and close friends. No problems.

A quick story that veers somewhat off-tangent....

My father used to travel the professional rodeo circuit with Reba McEntire's father. Back then, the money was not quite as good as it is now.

Anyway, if money was tight and they were eating at a restaurant, they would wait until the people at other tables would finish their meal. If there were any leftovers, they would eat what was left.

 

[NMAmy]

I could copy and paste Amy's reply and make it mine. I feel pretty much the same way.

I will share food with my immediate family and close friends. No problems.

A quick story that veers somewhat off-tangent....

My father used to travel the professional rodeo circuit with Reba McEntire's father. Back then, the money was not quite as good as it is now.

Anyway, if money was tight and they were eating at a restaurant, they would wait until the people at other tables would finish their meal. If there were any leftovers, they would eat what was left.

Oh, thank heavens, pozey! I didn't want to be the only one. Maybe we could start a support group?

And just for the record, I've never gone around eating strangers leftovers! But I told the waitress last week not to take dd's plate away because I wasn't done picking off it.

 

[diznygirl]

If what's on your plate is yummy enough, I'll be sure to help myself to some!!

 

[pozey]

Oh, thank heavens, pozey! I didn't want to be the only one. Maybe we could start a support group?

And just for the record, I've never gone around eating strangers leftovers! But I told the waitress last week not to take dd's plate away because I wasn't done picking off it.

I have never gone around eating strangers' leftovers either.....although as kids, we used to dare each other to do it.

And if we have leftovers that we take home in to-go boxes.....we usually just mix everyone's leftovers into the same box.