Is it appropriate to ask someone this?

Question

You’re about to wash dishes in about a half hour. The sink is pretty much filled with dirty dishes (ie silverware, plates, bowls, cups, etc). Someone has an appetite for cereal, so he starts to take a bowl from the cupboard and a spoon from a drawer. When you see him doing that, you ask him to use a paper bowl and a disposable plastic spoon instead, so you’d have less dishes to wash. Would it be appropriate to ask him that?

Update:

I meant the person was about to wash the dishes about a half hour LATER (eg it's currently 7:30 then the person will start at 8:00), not spend/take a half hour to wash those dirty dishes total.

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

Plastic is poisonous to the planet. Washing one more bowl and spoon isn’t going to kill you. 
Reduce
Reuse
Recycle

drip · Answer

Just tell them to wash their own dishes when done eating.

Anonymous · Answer

This is the strangest, most boring question I've ever read on this website.  You really do need a new hobby.

? · Answer

i dont see anything wrong with that

? · Answer

My goodness, it really is time you found yourself a life. When will you ever be done with your moans about people getting ahead of you to use the microwave and all that?

Perhaps if you were a rational human being and actually SPOKE to people once in a while instead of always expecting them to read your mind before they do anything?

? · Answer

It's ridiculous more than anything. What's washing up one plate going to do?

mischief · Answer

I think the issue is more about communication here. 
If you asked them to use the plastic and explained that it'd be helpful to you since it's less for you to clean later - then no it's not inappropriate. I don't see why one more bowl and utensil will make a difference, but whatever.If you just stated for them to use the plastic and ended the conversation there expecting them to just, well, comply, then yes it's inappropriate. If you're wanting them to do something then the reasoning needs to be explained so that they can see that if they comply with your request then it'll be helping you/the situation. If it came across to them that you were just making a random request, which if not explained may have seemed illogical, then I wouldn't be surprised if they simply didn't comply, or did so under protest.

JuanB · Answer

Highly inappropriate.  You can tough out 1 more bowl.  Wash dishes in half an hour?  My average time from taking a bowl for cereal to putting it in the sink is about 12 minutes.

Save the planet.

Anonymous · Answer

No, that would be petty and silly. What's one more bowl and spoon to wash.

choko_canyon · Answer

Somewhat appropriate, but misses the main point: We should be using less plastic and disposables in our lives, even if it means a bit more work.

Is it appropriate to ask someone this?

11 Answers