Pizza Epiphanies

[bcholmes]

Yesterday, I was at Pizza Pizza buying a pizza slice. After warming up the slice, the cashier asked me, "Is that to go?" I've bought enough slices from Pizza Pizza to know where this was leading, so I replied, "I don't need a bag for that". But there was something in my gut that screams at me, "You didn't answer the question that was asked!"

Comments

[king-tirian.livejournal.com]

Mine too. The question may be relevant beyond your interaction with the cashier. Maybe there's some wonk in the back room who goes through the register tapes to determine if there are enough tables to serve all the dine-in customers.

I nominate "Yes, but I don't need a bag for that."

[nellorat.livejournal.com]

Yes, or in New Yorkese, "Yeah but no bag."

[bcholmes.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately, I've all too often had the cashier stop listening after the "yeah". As they start reaching for a bag, I have to start saying, "I don't need a bag for that. I don't need a bag for that. I don't need a bag for that." Then I feel dorky.

[the-siobhan.livejournal.com]

I've yelled at sandwich makers for that. "No mayo, please. NO mayo. NO MAYO."

"OK, now throw that one away and make me one with no mayo."

[elissaann.livejournal.com]

I have seen many people eating pizza as they walk; cashiers in NYC must be used to the idea. So "yeah no bag" works here.

[king-tirian.livejournal.com]

Ah. Hmmm.

Then I think that the cashier needs to slow down enough to understand your complete order, and not answering the question immediately seems like a good way to accomplish that. If this happens with more than one cashier, then it's probably an institutional problem, so I'd stop caring about the wonk in the back room.

Eventually, I'd probably get to just lying, and ordering for here and then walking out with the pizza on the plate or wax paper or whatever.

[elissaann.livejournal.com]

Thank you! You have given me a reasonable way to answer the question, "Are you seeing anybody?" (at times when I actually am seeing somebody).

[futabachan.livejournal.com]

You don't want to date a bag?

[elissaann.livejournal.com]

That thing in my gut sometimes gets me to answer questions that I don't really want to answer, or that it would be in my best interests not to answer.

You have encountered Postel's Law for Verbal Transport Protocol

[hellsop.livejournal.com]

There is precision in answering the question as asked. There is accuracy in answering the correct question. Often, it's better to answer the right question when you suspect you've been presented with the wrong one. Common exceptions are when dealing with accountants or lawyers.

Re: You have encountered Postel's Law for Verbal Transport Protocol

[hobbitbabe.livejournal.com]

Or Customs and Immigration officials.

[deepforestowl.livejournal.com]

OT are you going to WisCon? When will you be there if you are going? Thurs night, a couple of us are going to go to Karaoke if you are interested...