MovieChat Forums > Mr. Mom (1983) Discussion > 'We have people to do that'

'We have people to do that'

posted 17 years ago by hereminton
6 replies | jump to latest

The 25th anniversary of Mr. Mom will be this year, so I'd like to point out two things from it. One, you may remember on Caroline's first day at work when she was with Ron and the other marketers at the table, right before their tuna marketing meeting began, she began to put some trash on the table into a container (tidying up really), and Ron noticed it and stopped her by saying this line. She then pulled back and said "Habit". And I'm sure it was, as she'd been a housewife for years until then (which included cleaning their house since the Butlers didn't have a maid). The people he meant were probably the janitors/housekeepers of his office building, and though he may not have been the best person to work for, he was correct, and that was not what he hired Caroline for. But I was 15 and beginning 10th grade when this movie came out, and began my advanced courses and knew I'd go to college in three years. I did, and in an unfortunate irony tried to major in business and marketing, and become this myself. I was not good at it, flunked out briefly and then never returned to college. Then in the mid 1990s I began a series of jobs, all lower hourly wage types, many of which involved, or were cleaning (tidying up). And in the nearly five year hiatus between college and this I was a homebody, and thourghly did this at our own house (similair to the Butler one, though in a small town in upstate SC, not the Detroit suburbs). But I really liked it, and have the last few years desperately wanted a career as a hotel housekeeper. I have not been able to get this job as of yet, but hope to very soon, and I now find myself, when I'm in restaurants, bookstores, and movie theaters, going around and picking all trash I see up and putting it in cans, wiping surfaces off, and neatly organizing books and magazines onto tables. I know the workers there are supposed to do this, and I certainly don't get anything for it, but it just makes me feel good to do it (I'll also pick up litter outside sometimes that I pass). And when I'm doing this I'll always think of this scene from Mr. Mom. Part of the reason I do this may be having extra time, though I think I'd still do it anyway, and I'd be certain never to leave a mess anywhere, as so many people seem to do. But does anyone else "tidy up" like this (or like she was doing then) in places when it is not their job-I'd like to know?

"I happen to be a vegetarian". Lex, from Jurrasic Park

[–] nbreyfogle-1 13 years ago

That was an interesting post to read.

To answer your question: No, I don't go around tidying up others' messes. At least, not in any consistent way.

Interesting post, though ... and I don't even know why it IS interesting to me. Go figure.

[–] msnell10 12 years ago

Whenever we eat out at a restaurant be it fancy or fast food, we always brush our crumbs off the table onto the empty plates and stack them neatly with the silverware and trash on top. When we stay at hotels we put all trash into the bins instead of tossing on the floor. Why make anyone's job harder? We've been waiters and have immediate family working in the hotel industry and those jobs are not easy.

I don't have low self esteem. I have low esteem for everyone else.

[–] daughterofolaf 12 years ago

It is considered poor etiquette to stack the plates and so on at a restaurant. So, no, I don't do it and anyone who does is oblivious and rude. My sister does this and it is embarrassing.

And how is it helpful to the wait staff? It's not. For one thing even waiters have pride in their work and are earning their pay so why would you try to do it for them? Secondly, waiters have their own way of carrying and balancing plates and dishes that is comfortable for them as individuals, so for someone who does not work there to assume that they are doing it the right way or the way that is best for the server is hilarious. You're not helping them, you are doing their job and certainly not making things easier.

In addition, the wait staff is never supposed to stack dishes on a customer's table, so if you stack dishes on your table you could be making it look like they did it which is wrong.

I am all for placing trash in bins and keeping a hotel room tidy but doing a waiter's job for them is not appropriate.

"It's Minnie Pearl's murder weapon."

[–] msnell10 12 years ago

Since when is putting the used napkins and silverware on the plate as opposed to leaving it strewn everywhere "rude" or "embarrassing"? We stack the DIRTY dishes when we are done. You must have misunderstood that.

I was just stating what WE do at restaurants. I wasn't expecting an attack from someone obliviously thinking waiters and busers are subordinates and should feel privaledged to pick up the fork you purposely drop on the floor because it's their job. And unless you have actually been a waiter don't try to educate anyone in proper plate-toting!

And I always leave a tip, or is that rude since they already get paid and you think it's undeserving?

Notice I didn't resort to name calling. Only using your own words against you hon.

"I try to know everyone. You never know who you may need."- Tyrian Lannister

[–] daughterofolaf 11 years ago

I didn't say it was rude to put silverware and napkins on plates. Did you even read what I wrote? Stacking dishes (dirty or not) is considered poor etiquette and I stated why. This isn't something I made up on my own, so I'm definitely not the one who is oblivious.

I never said I throw forks on the floor and enjoy that the waiters have to pick them up because I am above them. That's a good one. Is this how you behave in a restaurant?

I attacked no one and did not call anyone any names at all. And no, you didn't use my words against me--in fact you made up your own and claimed I said them. Nice try but anyone who reads my post can see that I didn't write what you're saying I did.

I don't think a wait staff is beneath me or should feel honored to clean up my mess. I said nothing of the sort. Sounds more like you think waiters are helpless, incapable and so inferior that they need help from you to do their jobs.

This whole thread is so old that I'd forgotten all about it til I came on the board tonight. Your response seriously ranks up in the top ten funniest and most nonsensical replies I've read. Referring to things I never said, assuming I've never been a waittress, that I purposely throw things on the floor to watch waiters pick them up (seriously, WTF was that comment about?) and getting all worked up over a message board. It's great! Thanks for the chuckle.

"The cover of this book is so misleading. It never snows like the cover implies that it does."

[–] Galagatron 11 years ago

One thing that comes to mind is that when I'm in a grocery store and take items off a neat shelf, I will pull the other items up to fill in that hole. Sometimes I pick stuff up from the floor and put it on the shelf as I pass. I worked in that kind of store as a teenager.