Can't use "smaller portions" card at buffet !?!

A “Restaurant Card" is a business cards sized card, often laminated, usually given by surgeons reading something to the effect of:

The holder of this card has had a surgical procedure which has permanently reduced their stomach capacity. Therefore… It is greatly appreciated if you would allow them to order from the children’s menu or to purchase half-sized adult entrees. Thank you for your consideration.

1. WLS Restaurant Cards differ from REAL Discount Cards such as AAA, Entertainment Book, etc. in one very important aspect: The REAL discounts are negotiated and agreed to by all parties in advance. The restaurant staff is briefed on how to handle the card. It is PRESUMPTUOUS to create and distribute a card asking/demanding a discount.

2. Restaurants are put into a losing position to start. If they say “no" to the card, which they had no part in creating or marketting, they are already making the customer unhappy. How is this fair even putting them in that position? Were I a restaurant owner, I would resent this card about as much as someone demanding a discount because they are a VIP (Very Important Person).

3. I had surgery. It was my choice to have my stomach modified so that I could only eat 3-5 ounces of food at a sitting. There are many people that have not had surgery that CHOOSE to eat 3-5 ounces of food at a sitting (imagine that!). I do not deserve a discount, or a special menu, any more than they do.

4. “I eat less than most children; I should pay what they pay". Children’s prices are a marketing tactic to get parents to bring their kids (and themselves) to a restaurant. Children’s menu’s are not because children eat so little. Children’s menus are designed for children’s tastes. Bland and greasy.

5. Seniors Menus are also a marketing tactic to get seniors to come to the restaurant. If you’re not a senior, you don’t DESERVE a discount because you eat less than a senior. Many restaurants offer a ‘For Smaller Appetites’ Menu, this you may qualify for.

6. I don’t want the hostess, waitress, people behind me or near by, the busboy, or anyone else to know my medical history. It is none of their business, and I should not be making it their business simply to get a discount.

7. Buffets are “All you can eat for…" If all you can eat is 3-5 ounces, the price is the same as when you ate 30-50 ounces or 300-500 ounces. When you could eat 2, 3, or 4 times what the average person could eat, did you ask to pay more? Of course not. To remain morally consistent, you cannot ask to pay less now.

8. “I didn’t choose the buffet, my family did… Why should I pay when I only eat 3-5 ounces." See #7. Further, you are there to be with your family or friends. Eating out now is even more about the company you keep rather that getting the most food for the least price. Actually, it should always have been about the company.

9. “I didn’t choose the buffet, my family did…" So, before WLS, did you pay less when you wanted Mexican food, but your family outvoted you and you ended up with Chinese? No, you went along to keep peace, to enjoy the company. Whatever your reasons were then, they’re the same now.

10. “I can’t eat all that, I can’t take leftovers home, I don’t want to waste it." Waste it. Leaving leftovers is not the end of the world. In spite of what your mama said, leaving food on your plate is not a sin, and it will not help starving children in China for you to clean your plate now. You are not obliged to clean your plate. IN FACT, restaurants try to serve enough to satisfy large appetites and they expect people NOT to eat it all. They have trash cans out back for all the left over food.

11. Do you demand a discount at convenience store on a bag of potato chips because you can’t eat the whole bag, and a lot will go to waste? Why not, it’s the SAME THING.

12. Dinner at Chili’s cost $15 before WLS, and you left satisfied. Post-op, the same dinner costs $15 and you leave satisfied. The only difference is you leave food on the plate rather than nose marks. Often, rather than ordering a $15 dinner, you can order $10 appetizer, and you are ahead of the game.

13. "Restaurants should be considerate of WLS Patients." Restaurants should be considerate of EVERYONE. There are many groups of adults that eat less than 'normal', yet they do not expect discounts.

Obviously, or perhaps not so obviously, these arguments presume that people have integrity and that they desire their actions and opinions to be rational, supportable, and consistent. There are those that will do whatever is necessary to get a discount, which these arguments will not dissuade from this course.
 

Ya know what???  I made a comment that the writing of the Asian woman's dialogue was offensive to ME  (the OP assumed that writing what  she said in a denigrating way by including the sterotypical intonation was in some way humorous).  In certain cir****tances I have done the same thing...one time when I was at work a correctional officer came to the Medical Unit where I worked and said, "I'm going to order some gook food for dinner."  I let him know that this was offensive to me as my son was Korean.  He politely apologized and never again in my presence said anything like that again.  In the work place you must first notify someone that they've offended you and if they continue after they've been notified you can file an act of discrimination against them.  I was merely politely letting this woman know that I was offended by her written words...end of story!!!

If it's my problem then so be it.  I'm not at all commenting on any other prejudicial issues, just this one because it offended me.   Just because a person is Black/Italian or whatever doesn't give them the right to offend anyone else as if they are sharing in the experience simply because they are of another ethnic culture.  Plain and simple the writing of this particular Asian woman's dialogue is and was offensive TO ME.  It may not be offensive to any one else, but it is TO ME.  I just wanted to let her know so that perhaps she would be more careful with what she writes as she might offend someone else at another time.

As far as the card...I don't have one and have never asked for one.

Get over it.  Calling Chinese food GOOK is totally different than repeating dialogue as it is spoken to you.  I am offended that you would make it a race thing. That isn't what this is about.

I'm offended that you have so little tolerance for the feelings of others. She very politely said she found the mimicking of an asian accent offensive. Why isnt she just as entitled to her opinion about what is offensive as you are? Do you feel bigger for making light of her feelings? My opinion is that you are as rude as hell.
Karen

Thank you Sunshine!  I think we can now let this thing go!  Jersey Girl meant no offense and I just spoke up maybe a bit too tart, but truly I don't think we need to make it worse. 

She's great at throwing around accusations.  It was okay for the OP not to be PC because the restaurant wasn't PC.  When asked how they were not PC she just didn't respond.  I have a hunch they were not PC because they have an accent.

She accused me of calling people names and twice she's been asked what names I have called anyone.  Again... no response.

She is entitled to opinions but not anyone else.

When the going gets tough the weenies go running with their tail between their legs. Heh...

I really don't ever want her defending me, she doesn't help the cause. ;o)

 "That isn't what this is about."


And it's not your fight... why do you keep interjecting?  Get out of the conversation, it's not ABOUT you!

I totally agree that it was offensive. There was no need to mimic the accent whatsoever.  That was incidental to the point she was trying to make.I'm sorry you are taking a bashing simply for politely saying you found it offensive. Obviously, some people have no tolerance for the opinions or feelings of others.
Karen

Well stated!

Every Chinese buffet I've gone to has a menu that you can order from.  I order my favorite dish and take the leftovers home to eat for another meal or two.  My husband does the buffet; we both get our money's worth.

Or you can be a butthole and create a scene with your stereotyped hateful screaming about mittens.