I have problems sharing my food with anyone and this is something my wife often complains about. It’s quite strange how primal I get. My normally happy disposition seems to liquidate when I’m hungry. I hunch over my meal and I’ve almost growled at her when I see her maneuvering towards my plate!
I consume around 8 rotis for dinner if I can manage it, and our maid back in India used to make eight for me and 2-3 for her (at her request just to be clear :D). I jealously guard them and share only if I’ve been satiated. At first this used to upset my poor companion, but I think she’s learned to live with it. It’s not a reflection of how much I love her. It’s just that…well…I don’t know!
In restaurants, I always get pissed when others try and dig into my food. Anupa assures me that’s how it’s done. Everyone is supposed to order a dish and the food is shared by all. I never agreed with this perspective. After all, I ordered what I wanted. What right does anyone else have to eat it?! That’s why I appreciate buffets…
This behavior of mine goes back a long way. When I was college, I remember courting a particular girl. Her college’s fest was on and I’d managed to sidle her away from the crowd for a quite little tête-à-tête. Things were going well. I had a chicken frankie with me. Life was good. Then this:
Girl: I’d like something to eat
Me: Hmm. Want to go to the stall and pick up another frankie?
Girl: No it’s ok. I’ll just have some of yours
Me: …
Girl: (Leans over to take a bite)
Me: (Drawing back a little frostily) I think it’s best if you get your own Frankie!
Somehow things never worked out between us after that.
Hahaha!
Now I know what’s the cause of all that hunger problem in the world! ;)
More elaborate comment will follow. Interesting read!
I know the feeling. My nieces and nephews think I’m a mean aunt because I don’t share my food with them. In fact, I used to get really angry when they would come to me and want something, like if I had some candy, a burger, or anything they’d want it. And didn’t like it when I didn’t give them a bite.
In reply to RenKiss
There are others like me! Praise the Internet :D
ROFL!
hehe.. hilarious.. i share that trait i guess.. not at all comfortable with ppl having a share from my plate :)
In reply to Dr roshan
Wah! The Internet allows all of us to come out into the open without fear of retribution. Maybe I should have put up a poll!
Hahaha……..“I consume around 8 rotis for dinner “
Eight!!!!
I eat maximum 5.
To me it feels that you are just selfish. While I appreciate your effort to posting it in the open, why not just say it.
Sharing food is one of the best things I have learnt. While in school, I would never let anyone touch my tiffin. Even the big bullies of the class stayed away from my lunch box.
After school, I changed and it is one of the best things and I regret being such a jerk in my school days.
In reply to Geo V
There’s something very primal that takes over when I’m hungry :) Selfish/Unselfish etc are just tags we place on people.
When the Food is to my like and i am hungry then i also do not like to share with others but if someone is too eager then i give him/her to eat from my plate.
But its a personal thing, i guess many of us don’t like someone to eat from our plate but most of us don’t show the signs of it to others.
In reply to Abhishek
My wife thinks I’m abnormal – I’m going to enjoy watching her read this!
Bhagwad, I remember you munching Cadbury chocolates and biscuits during our MBA days. Those, you told me, were high in carbohydrates and you did explained the amount of energy and calories they provide….and in this boring lecture of yours I was getting lured by your chocolate, and then when I tried have one, you didn’t offered, and almost bent aside to save them…..Now I understood your selfish soul… If we have known that previously, we all classmate, who were already bored to death with your discussions with the economic teacher, you clearing all your doubts with him during his lecture, would have conspired against your energy food… :)
In reply to Sajid
See this is the danger of not being anonymous online. All your friends know who you are and are able to make connections you would rather they didn’t :)
Hilarious. I can be like that with some desserts that have chocolate in them….mine and others’. What is it called when one hogs another person’s dessert and does not allow them to finish it? Bhagwad’s cosmic opposite? :-D
In reply to Sangitha
Yeah, I never dig into other people’s food :) Do unto others and all that…
Bhagawad,
your openness is good. But you are selfish :)
In reply to prasanna raghavan
Actually given all the bad consequences this behavior of mine has engendered, it’s actually very stupid – not selfish at all!