pie0:
Am I the only person who think it’s completely normal to go to a restaurant (or a movie theatre, or anywhere really) alone? I do it all the time.I can’t do it. I’ve done it once at a diner in San Fran. I took a paper so I didn’t look so odd.
about three years ago i spent ten weeks living 3 hours from home in a hotel thanks to a temporary reassignment for work. i got used to eating alone in restaurants REAL fast. now it doesn’t bug me much at all — i just bring a book and totally ignore everyone else. haha.
I think it’s totally normal. I’ve done it many times. I often take a book, though not as a “cover” — I actually want to be reading it. In my experience, it does draw some attention though, mainly from the waitstaff. Seems to depend on the atmosphere of the restaurant but in some places, they do kind of treat you like a pity case. I’ve had waiters not assigned to my table go out of their way to stop and make conversation with me, and top off my glass, and check on me. Usually if I’m out eating alone, I want to be left that way, and it has been a source of irritation at times. It saddens me that there’s this female (and male too I’m sure) perception that it’s actually strange to do something like eat in a restaurant alone, as if it’s something you should feel awkward about. WE CAN FUNCTION AS SINGLE UNITS, PEOPLE. Seriously.
