NWR: Birthday Cake Etiquette

fmaon06

Hello all.  I am a long-time lurker and I appreciate all of the advice given on this website.  I was hoping that you could help me with a small irritation.

I am currently a graduate student and our student government graciously hosts birthday cakes for the monthly birthdays.  The cakes are setup in the breakroom and left there without supervision.  Last month they had 3 cakes for the May-Sept birthdays, which basically meant the everyone in the school was able to have a piece.  My birthday is in October and we received our 1 cake today, but I was not able to have a piece because of others.

I was upset because I had noticed other non-October students had taken pieces.  Some even had 2 pieces.

I discussed it with one of my peers and they stated that, "Everyone gets cake at birthday parties.  If only birthday students should get cake, then it should be posted somewhere.  Nothing like that is up though so it's free-for-all."

I countered that people should have the common courtesy so that those that have a birthday in the month get first dibs.  Everyone else can get whatever afterward.

I don't even care that I didn't get cake.  I do, however, find it interesting since we had just been discussion professionalism and how to treat others.

What do you think?

AdeleDazeem

I think you're thinking way too much about birthday cake. 

As a graduate student, I was taking free food from wherever it was offered.  We all were.  I don't think at that level you really need to invoke "professionalism." 

If cake is out, people are going to eat it.  Do you really want everyone to walk around the room going "When is your birthday?  Did you get cake yet?  May I have a slice?" because you're dreaming.

Girlie1030

Free food typically causes free-for-alls, even in a professional environment.  I've spent HOURS guard-dogging food at my office to keep the vultures from getting it before the meeting participants do. 

fmaon06

Thank you for the honest replies.  I understand that it is a petty thing to be upset about, and I understand that I should get over it.  Does it make a difference that the class was let out together and people with February and April birthdays ran up to be first in line?  I was just curious about the etiquette behind this.

RamonaFlowers

I think that if it's "publicly offered" cake, then all bets are pretty much off. Yes, it's your birthday this month, but that wasn't "your" personal cake to get dibs on.

Girlie1030

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_nwr-birthday-cake-etiquette?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:3579521d-69e4-448c-a70f-efb4fac3dee6Post:1577a198-819e-4459-9c6f-738637f20df2">Re: NWR: Birthday Cake Etiquette</a>:
[QUOTE]Thank you for the honest replies.  I understand that it is a petty thing to be upset about, and I understand that I should get over it.  <strong>Does it make a difference that the class was let out together and people with February and April birthdays ran up to be first in line? </strong> I was just curious about the etiquette behind this.
Posted by fmaon06[/QUOTE]

Nope.  Either put your elbows out next time or go without. 

fmaon06

Thanks guys!  I guess Imma get some cake next month then.  : )

vanityink

Yeah, it's free food. It doesn't say "for october birthdays" I would think the cake is there for everyone to celebrate the birthdays, not as a birthday present for that month's birthdays. Everyone at a birthday party gets a piece of cake to celebrate, not just the birthday boy/girl. I think it's completely fair. I throw my vote in with overreacting, honestly...sorry.

MrsGandthebeag

This totally made me think of Office Space too.  lol.

lauralaur

I'd be pissed that I didn't get cake but I do love me some cake so there's that. I wouldn't say anything to anyone about it though, if anything, it would just mean that I needed to go find cake. I would definitely find myself at the grocery store later that day.

crash2729

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_nwr-birthday-cake-etiquette?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:3579521d-69e4-448c-a70f-efb4fac3dee6Post:1577a198-819e-4459-9c6f-738637f20df2">Re: NWR: Birthday Cake Etiquette</a>:
[QUOTE]Thank you for the honest replies.  I understand that it is a petty thing to be upset about, and I understand that I should get over it.  Does it make a difference that the class was let out together and people with February and April birthdays ran up to be first in line?  I was just curious about the etiquette behind this.
Posted by fmaon06[/QUOTE]
I haven't finished the thread yet but no it makes no difference. It doesn't matter. <div>I see nothing wrong with someone having two pieces assuming everyone got one, which didn't happen here but what can you do now? </div><div>
</div><div>At my office, there is a lady who will literally get her food and then put more food in her desk before everyone gets there. My solution? Beat her to the food.</div>

Peledreamsofrain

My only question is this:  How many months have you had cake that arn't your birthday?

Be happy that apparently there is a plethora of cake in your work environment.  We havn't had cake once in the 6 years I've worked in mine.  Too many people making random complaints, so they shut it all down.

Sharpschruter22

Happy Birthday! Make sure your personal cake is the best in your life so far, then eat as much of it as you want. Problem solved. Also, I apologize to you that some members here are unnecessarily harsh which is disguised as truth in their replies. Not all. Just some. Their opinion is just that....their opinion. You don't have to belittle people asking for advice or call them names. To me, their behavior is grade school, not yours. Shake it off and enjoy your day when it comes.

Gustafson28

LMAO girlie.. no additional advice here but I just thought that pic was too funny not to post something

Maggie0829

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_nwr-birthday-cake-etiquette?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:3579521d-69e4-448c-a70f-efb4fac3dee6Post:82e9042a-b5e0-4b5d-83eb-43cd7064f8af">Re:NWR: Birthday Cake Etiquette</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re:NWR: Birthday Cake Etiquette : Clearly, you haven't lurked enough. <strong>You've got to be one of the most annoying newbs I've seen yet.
</strong>Posted by jcbsjr[/QUOTE]

I am having to agree.

OP, go buy yourself a nice piece of cake at a bakery and enjoy.  I mean, it is cake, if I didn't get a slice then that means 30 minutes less on the treadmill that night.

Girlie1030

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_nwr-birthday-cake-etiquette?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:3579521d-69e4-448c-a70f-efb4fac3dee6Post:218d93e1-0aec-4c46-b634-8f549fbff12a">Re:NWR: Birthday Cake Etiquette</a>:
[QUOTE]Happy Birthday! Make sure your personal cake is the best in your life so far, then eat as much of it as you want. Problem solved. Also, I apologize to you that some members here are unnecessarily harsh which is disguised as truth in their replies. Not all. Just some. Their opinion is just that....their opinion. You don't have to belittle people asking for advice or call them names. To me, their behavior is grade school, not yours. Shake it off and enjoy your day when it comes.
Posted by Sharpschruter22[/QUOTE]

Oh for crying out loud.  Lighten up Francis. 

Ali092011

"But... but last time, I didn't receive a piece, and I was told that next time..."

I remember being a grad student. Free food was much appreciated when offered and would be eaten promptly. All bets are off if it's something like cake.

And like Lia said, how do you even know that the people who devoured the last piece weren't October birthdays?

lcatterton

Hahaha. Office Space rocks.

I'd probably be a little put off, but would never complain that I didn't get any free food.

Bring your own personal cake and eat it for lunch in front of everyone!! Hahaha.

Sharpschruter22

In Response to Re:NWR: Birthday Cake Etiquette:[QUOTE]In Response to Re:NWR: Birthday Cake Etiquette:Happy Birthday! Make sure your personal cake is the best in your life so far, then eat as much of it as you want. Problem solved. Also, I apologize to you that some members here are unnecessarily harsh which is disguised as truth in their replies. Not all. Just some. Their opinion is just that....their opinion. You don't have to belittle people asking for advice or call them names. To me, their behavior is grade school, not yours. Shake it off and enjoy your day when it comes.Posted by Sharpschruter22Clearly, you haven't lurked enough.You've got to be one of the most annoying newbs I've seen yet. Posted by jcbsjr[/QUOTE

You don't like me. I'm heartbroken. You hear it all the time that how one replies to others is unnecessarily harsh, but posters continue to do it. Get a life.

fmaon06

Hey guys, I just wanted to thank you again for the advice and tough love.  I've finally finished midterm week and thought about my outburst the other day and I'm ashamed.  With tests, projects, work and sleep deprivation, I REALLY wanted that cake and just had poor judgement.  No excuse, but I've learned.  I wrote that post while still upset.  I guess emotions get the best of us sometimes.

Anyway, thanks again and I hope you guys are doing well.