This is a debate?! We’ve always followed the “while you’re up” rule. Sometimes I fix her plate, sometimes she fixes mine, sometimes we’re on our own. People get too hung up on stupid crap.
My observation is that a lot of people feel powerless and hopeless these days. Sometimes, when I'm driving, I will see someone standing by the side of the road, waiting to cross. If traffic is heavy, I may stop and let them walk across.
In a great many cases, they. walk. as. slowly. as. they. can.
I see this as a statement: "I have no power or control in my life, but right now, I have power over you. Because you can't drive your damn car right now, can you? I'm blocking you. I'm walking here. I'm calling the shots.
The question of Who will fix my man's plate? It seems to be "who has control?" It turns out everyone demands control in one way or another. I think it is a symptom of a society in which everyone is scared and hopeless and feeling out of control. "I may be afraid of what will happen to the world tomorrow, but gosh darn it, I will make damn sure that no one but me fixes my man's plate!!!!"
“We’ve always followed the “while you’re up” rule.”
My dad was big on that too, the only problem was he always managed to say it at the exact second my mother would sit down!
Amen. A litle less self-importance, a little more getting along. Especialy on the smaller things.