injecting insulin at the dinner table

[Street Pharmacist]

I think th OPs question is both reasonable and relevant. Not sure why the "how dare you" posters are so upset.

While I do not see the injecting at the table is rude, I don't see asking if it's rude is either

[Hockeyguy15]

Originally Posted by Sliver

I mean seriously, we hold off doing a lot of things in a restaurant like:

• farting
• scratching our balls
• picking our nose
• flossing our teeth
• etc

I myself like a good fart and ball scratch after a good meal.

[Daradon]

Originally Posted by valo403

Basic manners? Look, if it's unavoidable then sure, but if it's being done at a restaurant table simply because he didn't feel like walking over to the bathroom I'd say it's more a case of lack of consideration. And as said previously I've never once seen anything like that, and I eat out a lot, which leads me to believe this isn't exactly common practice.

Well, we don't know if there was a reason he might not have wanted to do it in the restroom. Perhaps there was a good reason. Not being in his position, and not asking him, we don't know and it's hard to say we know better than the guy with the actual condition.

I can see how it's not the best manners in the world, but on the other hand, I don't think it's rude. I'm sure he's not excited about it either. And as I said above, instead of freaking out about it, one could take it as a reality check. A reason to be thankful or to understand others point of view.

[Zevo]

Originally Posted by Daradon

Well, we don't know if there was a reason he might not have wanted to do it in the restroom. Perhaps there was a good reason. Not being in his position, and not asking him, we don't know and it's hard to say we know better than the guy with the actual condition.

I can see how it's not the best manners in the world, but on the other hand, I don't think it's rude. I'm sure he's not excited about it either. And as I said above, instead of freaking out about it, one could take it as a reality check. A reason to be thankful or to understand others point of view.

Whose freaking out about it? The OP asked a legitimite question.

[Jbo]

Should someone with Asthema that is coughing and choking run to the bathroom to use an inhaler?

You admit you do not understand the condition, but put it in the same category as a bodily function like sneezing.

You could have looked away, or you could have focused on the company or the meal. Not like the guy was doing it on your lap.

[Locke]

This is a legitimate question.

Honestly, I think the guy should have had a little more discretion. Based on the fact that this has never occurred to me I would imagine that most diabetics do have more discretion.

A diabetic injection usually requires removing your shirt or something, so yeah, he probably should have gone to the washroom.

Granted if its an emergency or his is an extreme condition and he has no choice, then by all means, but otherwise he could probably do what all other diabetics do.

[Daradon]

Originally Posted by Sliver

I think most people handle their medical problems in private. Social spaces, like restaurants, are there for people to have pleasurable experiences. I think if it's possible to avoid bringing medical issues - like injecting ourselves with needles - to the table and in front of others, we should. That's not cold, that reasonable.

Your misunderstanding me slightly. I don't think the actual etiquette question is cold, just some of the underlying attitude that came out in the rest of the post. As I said, maybe it came off worse than your actual attitude.

I said right off the bat, that there may be a better place/way to do that. But maybe there wasn't We don't know for sure. And since we don't, I gotta side with the guy with the actual condition. He's not hurting anyone and it's something he's got to do. I guarantee he's probably LESS excited about having to do it than you are at having it around you.

The way you phrased the question after though, about keeping things like that away from people was the part I really had a problem with. I also thought of the MS/CF mentally handicapped example. Should we move those people to other tables in the back of the restaurant because they may be messy or loud, or not the best at etiquette? The way you phrased it does hint at a level of intolerance or apathy towards peoples problems or hurdles as well as an overvaluation of your own 'comfort rights'. This may be not be the case, maybe it's just one of those things that didn't come out right in the written word.

The restaurant is there for everyone to enjoy. It is a relevant etiquette discussion, but if you really did want discussion, and not just agreement on your position, then there are definitely other views to look at. My stance would be that it's not the most polite thing to do, but it isn't downright rude either. As well, we don't know for sure he had other good choices anyway.

[THE SCUD]

I don't think you can be upset, unless you know the circumstances. Perhaps he was having some sort of attack and was close to passing out and was unable to leave the table?

...Or maybe he wanted to rid the world of bears and decided to try his bear-to-human serum on himself first?

[Daradon]

Originally Posted by Zevo

Whose freaking out about it? The OP asked a legitimite question.

The talk got ramped up on both sides since the original post, and that may have been a little of an exaggeration. As I mentioned I do think it's a fine question. Being sick doesn't give one a free pass to break etiquette rules, I do agree with that. They should still try their best.

[VladtheImpaler]

Holy over-reaction (as usual). Unless it's an emergency, the guy should have gone to the washroom to inject himself. Just common courtesy. Many people have needle phobia.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by THE SCUD

I don't think you can be upset, unless you know the circumstances. Perhaps he was having some sort of attack and was close to passing out and was unable to leave the table?

...Or maybe he wanted to rid the world of bears and decided to try his bear-to-human serum on himself first?

Jesus, what is with you Amorak? Let. It. Go.

[octothorp]

I can completely see the perspective that some people are uncomfortable with it; I don't think that's ridiculous. At the same time, anyone who has a chronic condition that requires constant attention should be given a little bit of slack when it comes to this sort of thing. I've never seen someone injecting themselves at the dinner table, and if it did happen, I think I would assume that they had their reasons, avert my eyes, and forget about it.

[Barnet Flame]

Originally Posted by Sliver

So I'm out for supper last night at a decent restaurant (entrees were about $20, so it's not McDonald's or anything), when the guy at the table across from me pulls out his little diabetes kit, fills up the syringe, and injects what I assume to be insulin.

I can handle needles fine, but seriously, this completely put me off my meal. I was sitting directly across from him and couldn't help but notice (our tables were in the middle of the restaurant, so we didn't have the small amount of privacy a booth could have afforded).

IDK, I thought this was totally rude. Not sure why he couldn't have done that in the bathroom or in his car or something. Am I out of line here? Should people do their best to keep their medical issues like that somewhat private so the rest of us don't have to be subjected to them (whenever possible)?

I don't think the mods would appreciate me posting what I think of your attitude. So I won't.

[valo403]

Originally Posted by Daradon

Well, we don't know if there was a reason he might not have wanted to do it in the restroom. Perhaps there was a good reason. Not being in his position, and not asking him, we don't know and it's hard to say we know better than the guy with the actual condition.

I can see how it's not the best manners in the world, but on the other hand, I don't think it's rude. I'm sure he's not excited about it either. And as I said above, instead of freaking out about it, one could take it as a reality check. A reason to be thankful or to understand others point of view.

All fair points, except I'm not really sure who was doing any freaking out about it. The only people in this thread freaking out about anything are the ones who seem to think that asking this question is completely inappropriate.

[Buff]

Originally Posted by Sliver

I think most people handle their medical problems in private. Social spaces, like restaurants, are there for people to have pleasurable experiences. I think if it's possible to avoid bringing medical issues - like injecting ourselves with needles - to the table and in front of others, we should. That's not cold, that reasonable.

I mean seriously, we hold off doing a lot of things in a restaurant like:

• farting
• scratching our balls
• picking our nose
• flossing our teeth
• etc

<snip>

Not me. I just make sure they are silent.

But seriously, I don't see how you can compare those to injecting insulin.

[djwazzy]

I have no problem with it. I can't imagine being diabetic and having to inject myself with insulin before every meal. It's a very small needle and a small injection. Literally under 5 seconds for the whole procedure.

[Daradon]

Originally Posted by valo403

All fair points, except I'm not really sure who was doing any freaking out about it. The only people in this thread freaking out about anything are the ones who seem to think that asking this question is completely inappropriate.

Lol, as I said above, 'freaking out' may have not been the best choice of words. I wasn't talking about the OP specifically, just how some may have handled the situation or similar situations. It was more of a general comment with words that may have been too strong.

[You Need a Thneed]

I have no problems with someone injecting insulin at the table.

[CaptainCrunch]

Why can't there be more naked chest breast feeding in the restaurants that I go to.

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by Buff

Not me. I just make sure they are silent.

But seriously, I don't see how you can compare those to injecting insulin.

I couldn't think of a good comparison so I just listed some things we elect not to do in a restaurant. Not saying injecting insulin is equivalent to any of those, just something I would think you could choose to do somewhere else.

Originally Posted by djwazzy

I have no problem with it. I can't imagine being diabetic and having to inject myself with insulin before every meal. It's a very small needle and a small injection. Literally under 5 seconds for the whole procedure.

It literally took longer than five seconds. The whole process was under 90 seconds, but not by much.