Am I unreasonable?

[petered]

Would like someone to sense check this for me please, and let me know if it's me being unreasonable.

So recently in a small cafe/restaurant, I ordered coffee and sure enough the waitress brought it to me at my table (I was having food as well). I said thank you, and very politely asked if I could have some sweeteners. The girl (early 20's I'd guess) at first seemed to be thinking about my request for a second, then she just looked at me. So I smiled and again asked if she might have some sweeteners. All she did was point at the sugar bowl that was on the table, which I duly examined to make sure I hadn't missed a sachet or two of Candrell hiding in there, which there wasn't. So I looked back to her, all the while I'm very conscious of remaining very polite and friendly, and I just said that there was only sugar in the bowl, and that I was looking for sweetener.

At that point, the girl remained expressionless and silent, she broke eye contact and walked off. I presumed she would be back with the sweetener, but none ever arrived.

I have to wonder what I did wrong in the situation. I went out of my way to keep nice and friendly, but she seemed to take it all as being a most unreasonable and extravagant request, and she was stoically having none of my nonsense.

Could I have done better??

[Rockerman]

Was she foreign and didn't understand what you were on about?

Ireland is very diverse now. Certainly in Dublin most workers in cafes etc. tend to be foreign.

I'd say you're making a bit of a big deal to be putting up a thread about it now.

Also I have a "Complaints department" thread .

[AngelsFan]

I agree with Rockerman. It's a storm in an unsweetened teacup 🍵
Probably a failure to communicate as the Cool Hand Luke would have it.
You could perhaps have mentioned some brand names of sweeteners or used your phone to show an image.
We are all going to side with the attractive foreign waitress in this story so sympathy here will be lacking for you😋

[fingermouse]

maybe she read the report from the WHO which linked sweeteners to cancer and this was he politely saying that you shouldnt harm yourself

[Rockerman]

maybe she read the report from the WHO which linked sweeteners to cancer and this was he politely saying that you shouldnt harm yourself

Think I'd be ignoring W.H.O. myself. Just about everything gets linked to cancer apart from wanking.

The cures must be under lock and key.

[SteveB]

Think I'd be ignoring W.H.O. myself. Just about everything gets linked to cancer apart from wanking.

The cures must be under lock and key.

That makes you blind, according to a recent WHO report. Or, was it that great scientific institution the Catholic Church that made that pronouncement?

[EscortInspector]

"I said I want sweeteners"

[SteveB]

A "sweetener" can be a bribe. Word easily misunderstood.

[Rockerman]

"I said I want sweeteners"

Great movie! Have we all had that breakdown yet? I have !

[petered]

The girl had a thicker local accent than what I've got myself, one that most likely comes with being born and raised here. So I highly doubt it was any kind of language barrier thing.

I don't think I expect to be treated as some sort of king when I'm a customer, but I would expect a bit of common decency and manners. If you don't have sweeteners - fine, just tell me that and I'll be happy. If you do have sweeteners but you just couldn't be bothered - fine, just lie to me and say you have none, I'll be equally happy. But I don't want you treating me with some kind of contempt for even asking after what is a pretty common thing in cafes these days.

Thanks folks, appreciate the humour as well 😀