How not to feel humiliated when dining alone — Page 3

I have occasionally had difficulty getting a reservation in an upscale restaurant when then know they will only be filling one seat. Now i just reserv for 2 and show up saying my guest canceled. So far it's worked.

First, I totally love this tread, including the middle section in the rabbit hole.

When I was read this article I was thinking about that scene in The First Wives Club when Brenda goes out to dinner and the waiter is like "By YOURSELF?" and she was all forlorn, and I thought, like SM2 said a few pages back, "Why not get takeout?"

As a person who has myriad anxieties, I totally get it, however, I think it's a quirky sort of anxiety that flies in the face of common sense, like mine for not wanting to call strangers on the phone to ask for things. That's my hangup and it's founded in nothing.

I generally don't like to eat dinner places alone. I'd rather order if I could but I don't think I've ever specifically thought to take myself to a fancy restaurant by myself. Not because I'd feel humiliated, but more that I don't really care about eating out way or another. I like to not have to cook, but I'm perfectly happy eating in my apartment.

I have eaten dinner in public alone, and have never felt shameful about it. I've gone to movies alone, theatre alone and never once worried that someone who I didn't know was going to look at me and decide I had no friends because I didn't have any with me at the moment, and seems to the underlying fear of all this, that everyone else is judging you for something.

I like that your options for reading material when you're out alone dining are Sports Illustrated and War and Peace.

Updated On: 1/22/10 at 11:43 PM

To echo everyone else: WHO CARES?

I can, admittedly, be one of the most ridiculously self-conscious people ever, but I have absolutely no problem with dining out alone or with going to the occasional movie by myself.

Marianne2, like you I prefer to be seated away from other people if I'm dining by myself.

At movies, when I go alone, my ideal is sort of middle/middle as far as seating goes and to have the seats on either side of me remain empty. I do my best, before the movie starts, to emit "I don't want any strangers sitting by me!" vibes, and not sure if I have voodoo powers or what, but nine times out of ten it seems to work.

yeah I know I sound like a nut! lol

"To echo everyone else: WHO CARES?"

To echo Craww - YOU should, you judgemental creep!

Not really, but okay. The modus operandi of this thread seems to be clowning me because I said something earnest, so I'll just accept your interpretation here.

Next stop, I organize a charity drive for people who are self conscious to dine alone. I wonder if Doctors Without Borders will return the donation I made last week so I have some seed money.

I've dined alone plenty of times when I've been in NY. I don't think about it when home in Jersey. If no one wants to go out to dinner, I guess I'd just rather get something and bring it back home.

---

I don't like to shower alone and feel very self conscious if I step in there by myself.

Mister Matt, that's a good way to be!

I want to thank all of you who offered support to me in my time of need! I just drove through Taco Bell, got a 10 taco pack, TOLD the cashier it was ALL for me, ate 'em, threw them up and then drove through Dunkin Donuts for a dozen apple fritters and did the same! I feel so much healthier now!