coffeehouse consideration

[modlin.livejournal.com]

So. I like to work or study in coffeehouses as much as the next person. I also like to walk over to True Grounds on weekend mornings for coffee and a bagel or breakfast burrito. And I like to sit at a table while eating my bagel or breakfast burrito. True Grounds isn't a very big place, and to all of you who bring your laptops and textbooks and sit there for long periods of time: have some consideration, please! It might be that 10:00 on Sunday morning isn't the best time to tie up a table for an hour. As for the woman who walked in the door, bypassed all the people standing in line, grabbed the table that had just opened up, opened up her laptop, and hadn't ordered anything 20 minutes later... am I the only one who considers this bad coffeehouse etiquette, even without the not ordering anything part?

Comments

[veek.livejournal.com]

Man, some commenters here are just vicious.

I'm one of the folk who will sometimes come in, settle in for a long while (2-4 hours) and buy something every hour (or a little more frequently). I happen to work almost exclusively using a computer, which results in mad cabin fever. So no, I can't always sit at home -- and don't have an office. TG is an excellent place to work.

The suggestion of little signs saying "hey, yes, I'm sharing this table! come on over!" is an excellent one, for Diesel and TG both.

Fifteen minutes to drink my coffee and get out is not reasonable for a coffeehouse, laptop or no.

[modlin.livejournal.com]

That's reasonable, and I like to do it too, in places that aren't too busy. My point was just that I think there are times when staying for 2-4 hours just isn't appropriate, like on busy weekend mornings. If there aren't enough tables and lots of other people would like to use the place also, it's only polite to limit the time.

Fifteen minutes, not so much. Nobody wants that.

[ifotismeni]

yea, 15 mins and then leave? there's no point in even having tables if there's no way to take your time. might as well just have all coffeeshops as drive throughs.

i too am a long-term loiterer, but usually at starbucks, and there's always empty seats.

[thedoubleduches.livejournal.com]

The Starbucks in Davis? Shortly after I started grad school I gave up going there to study since there was almost never a seat available, and most of the tables are too small to bother trying to share when both of you have books, notebooks, laptops etc. Maybe I was going at the wrong times. :)

[xjustquietx.livejournal.com]

I agree, it is unreasonable to think that everyone with a laptop is going to work at home. For many reasons.

Since Diesel charges for internet, I think laptop users have every right to be there. Paying for a day's worth of access is paying more than two people who each buy a regular cup. Who is to say who deserves the table more?

The fact is, laptops are in the world, the same way other potentially annoying machines are - cellphones, cars, etc. People will eventually get used to it. The best we can hope that everyone is considerate of everyone else.