dulciusexasperis

You mean of course oriste ( ορίστε ), which is widely used in Greece, but does not have the meaning that you described.

“Oriste” means as much as at your service, or may I help you and is considered to be polite. Depending on the context it has other meanings too.
It definitely does not mean "what do you want" !!!!

Very often in shops they will also say Parakalo? which is polite as well.... ( and means Please)

Horista ( χωριστά) means separately in Greek....

I could write more about the codes of being polite when speaking Greek, which doesn't necessary apply to other languages, but that would be off topic :)

Do I really want a lesson in manners from a cafe owner? I think not. Unless you're in the business of teaching, lecturing, or training employees, manner lessons aimed at the customer don't belong in the food service business. It assumes a negative.

The owner may think he's clever. He may believe this style of notoriety helps his business. I think the idea turns him into a Mommy, and most shoppers already have one of those. Unless this guy is selling the best roast in town, I would find his sign a complete turn-off and go elsewhere for my coffee.

I was trying to write phonetically clausar, not spell properly. There is no real way to spell a greek word in English as you know of course, only an approximation as they don't share an alphabet.

Oriste or horista (as it sounds to an English language native's ear, can indeed have different meanings. But what it means is 'what do you want', not as a LITERAL translation but in intent. it is an abrupt, one word response. Which to someone used to more extended phrasing sounds abrupt and AS IF you were saying, 'what do you want'. You want to 'literally translate' while I am 'interpreting'. They are not one and the same.

Nor did I intend to say someone might not say , 'excuse me, can I have a loaf of bread please', or that someone answering a phone might not say, 'Yannis Soutakis speaking', or some other more polite phrase.

My point was that Greeks are often more direct in speech and it is not considered impolite. In fact, that is just what you are saying when you add that it is 'considered polite'.

Buy a package of cigarettes at a street kiosk. 'Steveson, kokino, sklero'. You walk up, the person looks at you and you simply say those 3 words. You get a package of Stuyvesant in the red, hard package. You don't have to say, 'signomi parakalo, ena ......., but you could if you want.

Abrupt, to the point is not considered rude is the point I was making. That differs from France. Not good, bad or better/worse, simply different.

NYCFood, your comment is a clear indication that you do not understand French culture. I once stopped in a town in France on a Sunday and tried a hotel for a room. The place was locked up. I inquired nearby and was told, 'It's Sunday, but I will call Monsieur Dupreis at home for you.' Monsieur Dupreis came and I got a room. When I said I was surprised there was no one on 'duty' in the hotel on a Sunday his response was quite clear. 'I have a life like everyone else and I do not expect to work on a Sunday.' or words to that affect.

On another occassion I went into a restaurant in the Alsace after 2pm. While the terrace was open for a drink, the restaurant was closed for food. When I asked the waiter if it might be possible to get a sandwich or something his reply was also clear. 'You are in France monsieur, the restaurant is closed at 2pm.' In other words, I the customer should not expect the restaurant to conform to me. I should expect to conform to them and while in France do things THEIR way.

Unlike the USA, the customer is not always right and good customer service does not mean you give up your life to satisfy them. The sign being talked about here makes perfect sense to me and is doesn't seem at all out of place. I imagine the owner simply got tired of annoying, impolite people and decided to make a point out of it.

Vous etes en France, monsieur.

<i><font color=#555555>"NYCFood, your comment is a clear indication that you do not understand French culture."</font></i>

Please. I've spent more time in France (and spent more money) than I care to admit. I love France, but I don't always agree with "the culture."

<i><font color=#555555>"I imagine the owner simply got tired of annoying, impolite people and decided to make a point out of it."</font></i>

And in the process, the owner became annoying. Not smart. (IMO)

You're entitled to an opinon NYC. I disagree with it however.

There is a reason why 'fast food' was invented in the USA. Life is led at a fast pace where 'time is money' and so fast food became pretty much a necessity for many people. The question is whether that is a good thing or a bad thing.

That and this topic are all part of the same fundamental differences in how life is viewed and what is important. In N. America we chase the almighty dollar and in much of Europe they do as well but in some places and for some people in Europe, it hasn't become the major priority in their life just yet.

For this cafe owner, impolite customers can probably walk right on by with his blessing. In fact, he would probably prefer that they do.

Not smart, if money is his prime motivator. Very smart if caring more about enjoying his life and not having to put up with impolite customers is more important than money to him.

dulciusexasperis

This is not how Greeks communicate and oriste does not mean what do you want.
In order to understand it you should speak Greek, Greeks don't say one bread... or one Stuyvesant.... when they ask for something at a shop.

It makes no sense to give lessons of Greek here, but there are many ways and phrases to ask for something politely and they are used in our every day's life.

<i><font color=#555555>Not smart, if money is his prime motivator."</font></i>

Sweetie, treating every customer with respect has nothing to do with money. Advertising is clearly not your profession or education background. You missed my point.

We've been to France a few times and I do say bonjour to the staff and it's a good habit to get into. However, it seems to me that the shop owner should greet the customer first. After all, when you walk in the door you are presumably giving them the opportunity to receive your business. Seems to me the customer should be welcomed, rather than the customer having to make the initial greeting. And if someone walks in the door unaware of the custom, it is rude and bad business to give your customer a lesson in manners.

That said, politeness on both sides of the counter should be the norm.

My guess is the owner would prefer that people who insist on not being polite, go elsewhere for their café.

I think the owner is a complete jerk exhibiting the alleged rudeness of some Parisians.

a publicity stunt that's all it is and everyone falls for it.

The Côte d'Azur is not exactly a banlieue of Paris, pal.

I wonder why anyone would expect someone else in another country to perform according to their own random standards.
Otherwise, the French "rudeness" exists only as a mostly foreign-driven urban myth.
There is no French rudeness. People just don't crawl up your youknowwhat just because you have a coffee or a steak frites at their café or restaurant. Which I prefer a zillion times better compared to the omnipresent US waitstaff getting on my nerves in their ongoing inquisition on how I am doing and if everything was still great.
What some perceive as "lacking service" is nothing no one over here wants.

There is no French rudeness>

My french son says the French are rude to each other and my in-laws often say the same.

To say there is no - NO - French rudeness indicates a complete naive look at the matter.

Rudeness is a way of life in France, unfortunately my years and years of living there off and on have shown me - is everyone rude - no but more than a few are IME.

I can see France from my window, and there is no rudeness.

I have encountered what one could describe as French rudeness in Paris.... but having been to many other touristy cities, this wasn't different from my experience in other countries.

What exactly is the French rudeness you have in mind PalenQ?

This is a good point to discuss with my French neighbour who is from Lille but is living now in Athens..... ( and who can be very rude at times)

Am I the only person that takes it as read that this café owner was <i>making a joke</i>? One with a bit of a point, certainly, but still a joke, nonetheless.

No Patrick, it was indeed a joke - as this thread has become, due to the social agenda of a lot of people.

Frankly, the French don't care if everybody does not adhere to their standards. Isn't this the same in every country?

Just to mention the United States, I can't really think of many instances where Americans have thought "oh, the foreigners think we are doing something wrong -- let's completely change our attitude!" And yet there are so many times that they seem to think that other countries should change their way of doing things just to please them.

Of course it's a joke.

All of this simply shows just how different cultures are.

For someone to write for example, "it seems to me that the shop owner should greet the customer first." (I use that ONLY as an example with no intent to say anything to or about the person who wrote it.)

That simple sentence shows how one person can without even realizing it, put his/her values on another person.

When I try to explain from MY point of view that a phone greeting sounds abrupt and where I come from would be the EQUIVALENT of saying, 'what do you want', I get a response that wants to literally translate the word and tells me that from THAT person's point of view it is considered polite.

Everyone attaching their own values to everyone else, including myself. And they wonder why we have wars. LOL

I agree Patrick, it was a joke with a point. I think that is obvious but it is the point the owner was making that is annoying some people. They don't think he should have made the point, from THEIR point of view.

NYCFood, please refrain from calling me 'sweetie'. I haven't given you permission to be that familiar with me. Also refrain from suggesting you have any knowledge of what my education or business background is. All that gets you is 'foot in mouth' itis.

My working life was spent in sales and marketing; I have an MBA and spent the last few years of my working life as a consultant which included among other things, facilitating seminars on Customer Service.

I didn't 'miss your point', I disagreed with it as I said. Stick to arguing/disagreeing with what is said about the topic and leave out trying to comment about the person disageeing with you.

<i><font color=#555555>"please refrain from calling me 'sweetie'"</font></i>

My sincere apologies. Unfortunately, that's my knee jerk reaction to people who lecture others.

dulciusexasperis

I am Greek, this is not my point of view, it is how that word is being used and what it really means.

Allow me to know better please !