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steve  ·  3656 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: Meantime, Null Anaphora (a.k.a. "Minor Grammar Issues That Bug steve")

    I don't know why it's so hard for people to say "may I have a."

I bristle EVERY time I'm in a restaurant or bar and some one says "I need a___" or "gimme a___"

Without exception I use the phrase "May I please have ___"

I haven't worked in food service or bars for a few years, but I think it's just common courtesy. You don't "need" a beer/burrito/burger… you would like one. And yes, it is the bartender/server's job to supply that item you want, but that doesn't remove basic courtesy from the equation.